Ex. 99(a)(iii)

BANCROFT FUND LTD.

STATEMENT OF PREFERENCES

OF

5.375% SERIES A CUMULATIVE PREFERRED SHARES

Bancroft Fund Ltd., a Delaware statutory trust (the “ Trust ”), hereby certifies that:

FIRST: The Board of Trustees of the Trust, at a meeting duly convened and held on May 18, 2016, (i) pursuant to authority expressly vested in it by the Declaration of Trust of the Trust, adopted resolutions classifying an unlimited number of shares as authorized but unissued preferred shares of the Trust, par value $0.01 per share, and (ii) authorized the designation, issuance and sale of up to $38,000,000 in liquidation preference of such preferred shares at such times, in such amounts and on such terms and conditions as a pricing committee of the Board of Trustees (the “ Pricing Committee ”) should determine.

SECOND: The Pricing Committee, at a meeting duly convened and held on August 4, 2016, pursuant to the authority granted it by the Board of Trustees at its May 18, 2016 meeting, approved the designation and issuance by the Trust of up to 1,200,000 shares of 5.375% Series A Cumulative Preferred Shares, par value $0.01 per share.

THIRD: The preferences, rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends and distributions, qualifications, and terms and conditions of redemption of the Trust’s 5.375% Series A Cumulative Preferred Shares, par value $0.01 per share, as set by the Pricing Committee and the Board of Trustees, are as follows:

DESIGNATION

5.375% Series A Cumulative Preferred Shares: A series of 1,200,000 preferred shares, par value $0.01 per share, liquidation preference $25.00 per share, is hereby designated “5.375% Series A Cumulative Preferred Shares” (the “ Series A Preferred Shares ”). Each Series A Preferred Share may be issued on a date to be determined by the Board of Trustees or its delegates and as are set forth in this Statement of Preferences; and shall have such other preferences, rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends and distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption, in addition to those required by applicable law or set forth in the Governing Documents applicable to preferred shares of the Trust (“ Preferred Shares ”), as are set forth in this Statement of Preferences. The Series A Preferred Shares shall constitute a separate series of Preferred Shares.

This Statement of Preferences sets forth the rights, powers, preferences and privileges of the holders of the Series A Preferred Shares and the provisions set forth herein shall operate either as additions to or modifications of the rights, powers, preferences and privileges of the holders of the Series A Preferred Shares under the Declaration (as defined herein), as the context may require. To the extent the provisions set forth herein conflict with the provisions of the Declaration with respect to any such rights, powers, preferences and privileges, this Statement of Preferences shall control. Except as contemplated by the immediately preceding sentence, the Declaration shall control as to the Trust generally and the rights, powers, preferences and privileges of the other shareholders of the Trust.

PART I

DEFINITIONS

Unless the context or use indicates another or different meaning or intent, each of the following terms when used in this Statement of Preferences shall have the meaning ascribed to it below, whether such term is used in the singular or plural and regardless of tense:

“ 1940 Act ” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or any successor statute.

“ Adjusted Value ” of each Eligible Asset shall be computed as follows:

(a) cash shall be valued at 100% of the face value thereof; and

(b) all other Eligible Assets shall be valued at the Discounted Value thereof; and

(c) each asset that is not an Eligible Asset shall be valued at zero.

“ Adviser ” means Gabelli Funds, LLC, a New York limited liability company, or such other Person as shall be serving as the investment adviser of the Trust.

“ Asset Coverage ” means asset coverage, as determined in accordance with Section 18(h) of the 1940 Act, of at least 200% with respect to all outstanding senior securities of the Trust which are stock, including all Outstanding Series A Preferred Shares (or such other asset coverage as may in the future be specified in or under the 1940 Act as the minimum asset coverage for senior securities which are stock of a closed-end investment company as a condition of declaring dividends on its common stock), determined on the basis of values calculated as of a time within 48 hours (not including Saturdays, Sundays or holidays) next preceding the time of such determination.

“ Basic Maintenance Amount ,” with respect to the Series A Preferred Shares, has the meaning set forth in the Moody’s Guidelines or, if any Other Rating Agency is rating the Series A Preferred Shares at the Trust’s request, the meaning set forth in the guidelines of the Other Rating Agency, and for the purposes of this Statement of Preferences shall have a correlative meaning with respect to any other series of Preferred Shares.

“ Basic Maintenance Amount Cure Date ” means, with respect to the Series A Preferred Shares, 10 Business Days following a Valuation Date, such date being the last day upon which the Trust’s failure to comply with paragraph 6(a)(ii) of Part II hereof could be cured, and for the purposes of this Statement of Preferences shall have a correlative meaning with respect to any other class or series of Preferred Shares.

“ Board of Trustees ” means the Board of Trustees of the Trust or any duly authorized committee thereof as permitted by applicable law.

“ Business Day ” means a day on which the NYSE MKT is open for trading and that is neither a Saturday nor a Sunday.

“ By-Laws ” means the By-Laws of the Trust, as amended from time to time.

“ Common Shares ” means the common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share, of the Trust.

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“ Cure Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Part II hereof.

“ Date of Original Issue ” means August 9, 2016 with respect to the Series A Preferred Shares, and for the purposes of this Statement of Preferences shall have a correlative meaning with respect to any other class or series of Preferred Shares.

“ Declaration ” means the Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Trust, dated as of January 16, 2006, as amended by the Amendment, dated as of September 9, 2015, and as further amended, supplemented or restated from time to time (including by this Statement of Preferences or by way of any other supplement or Statement of Preferences authorizing or creating a class of shares of beneficial interest in the Trust).

“ Deposit Assets ” means cash, Short-Term Money Market Instruments and U.S. Government Obligations. Except for determining whether the Trust has Eligible Assets with an Adjusted Value equal to or greater than the Basic Maintenance Amount, each Deposit Asset shall be deemed to have a value equal to its principal or face amount payable at maturity plus any interest payable thereon after delivery of such Deposit Asset but only if payable on or prior to the applicable payment date in advance of which the relevant deposit is made.

“ Discount Factor ” means (a) so long as Moody’s is rating the Series A Preferred Shares at the Trust’s request, the Moody’s Discount Factor, or (b) any applicable discount factor established by any Other Rating Agency, whichever is applicable.

“ Discounted Value ” means, as applicable, (a) the quotient of the Market Value of an Eligible Asset divided by the applicable Discount Factor or (b) such other formula for determining the discounted value of an Eligible Asset as may be established by an applicable Rating Agency, provided, in either case that with respect to an Eligible Asset that is currently callable, Discounted Value will be equal to the applicable quotient or product as calculated above or the call price, whichever is lower, and that with respect to an Eligible Asset that is prepayable, Discounted Value will be equal to the applicable quotient or product as calculated above or the par value, whichever is lower.

“ Dividend-Disbursing Agent ” means, with respect to the Series A Preferred Shares, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company and its successors or any other dividend-disbursing agent appointed by the Trust and, with respect to any other class or series of Preferred Shares, the Person appointed by the Trust as dividend-disbursing or paying agent with respect to such class or series.

“ Dividend Payment Date ” means with respect to the Series A Preferred Shares, any date on which dividends and distributions declared by, or under authority granted by, the Board of Trustees thereon are payable pursuant to the provisions of paragraph 2(a) of Part II of this Statement of Preferences and shall for the purposes of this Statement of Preferences have a correlative meaning with respect to any other class or series of Preferred Shares.

“ Dividend Period ” shall have the meaning set forth in paragraph 2(a) of Part II hereof, and for the purposes of this Statement of Preferences shall have a correlative meaning with respect to any other class or series of Preferred Shares.

“ Eligible Assets ” means Moody’s Eligible Assets (if Moody’s is then rating the Series A Preferred Shares at the request of the Trust) and/or Other Rating Agency Eligible Assets if any Other Rating Agency is then rating the Series A Preferred Shares, or any other outstanding series of Preferred Shares, at the request of the Trust, whichever is applicable.

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“ Governing Documents ” means the Declaration and the By-Laws.

“ Liquidation Preference ” shall, with respect to the Series A Preferred Shares, have the meaning set forth in paragraph 3(a) of Part II hereof, and for the purposes of this Statement of Preferences shall have a correlative meaning with respect to any other class or series of Preferred Shares.

“ Market Value ” means the amount determined by the Trust with respect to specific Eligible Assets in accordance with valuation policies adopted from time to time by the Board of Trustees as being in compliance with the requirements of the 1940 Act.

“ Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and its successors at law.

“ Moody’s Discount Factor ” means the discount factors set forth in the Moody’s Guidelines as eligible for inclusion in calculating the Discounted Value of the Trust’s assets in connection with Moody’s ratings of Preferred Shares.

“ Moody’s Eligible Assets ” means the assets of the Trust set forth in the Moody’s Guidelines as eligible for inclusion in calculating the Discounted Value of the Trust’s assets in connection with Moody’s ratings of the Series A Preferred Shares.

“ Moody’s Guidelines ” means the guidelines provided by Moody’s, as may be amended from time to time, in connection with Moody’s ratings of the Series A Preferred Shares at the rating then assigned.

“ Notice of Redemption ” shall have the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(c)(i) of Part II hereof.

“ Other Rating Agency ” means any rating agency other than Moody’s then providing a rating for the Series A Preferred Shares at the request of the Trust, and for the purpose of this Statement of Preferences shall have a correlative meaning with respect to any other series of Preferred Shares.

“ Outside Redemption Date ” means the 30 ^th Business Day after a Cure Date.

“ Other Rating Agency Eligible Assets ” means assets of the Trust designated by any Other Rating Agency as eligible for inclusion in calculating the Discounted Value of the Trust assets in connection with such Other Rating Agency’s rating of the Series A Preferred Shares.

“ Outstanding ” means, as of any date, Preferred Shares theretofore issued by the Trust except:

(a) any such Preferred Share theretofore cancelled by the Trust or delivered to the Trust for cancellation;

(b) any such Preferred Share as to which a notice of redemption shall have been given and for whose payment at the redemption thereof Deposit Assets in the necessary amount are held by the Trust in trust for, or have been irrevocably deposited with the relevant disbursing agent for payment to, the holder of such share pursuant to this Statement of Preferences with respect thereto; and

(c) any such Preferred Share in exchange for or in lieu of which other shares have been issued and delivered.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of voting rights (including the determination of the number of shares required to constitute a quorum), any Preferred Shares as to which the Trust or any subsidiary of the Trust is the holder will be disregarded and deemed not Outstanding.

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“ Person ” means and includes an individual, a partnership, the Trust, a trust, a corporation, a limited liability company, an unincorporated association, a joint venture or other entity or a government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

“ Preferred Shares ” means all series of the preferred shares, par value $0.01 per share, of the Trust, and includes the Series A Preferred Shares.

“ Rating Agency ” means Moody’s as long as Moody’s is then rating the Series A Preferred Shares at the Trust’s request or any Other Rating Agency then rating the Series A Preferred Shares at the Trust’s request.

“ Record Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in paragraph 2(a) of Part II hereof, and for the purposes of this Statement of Preferences shall have a correlative meaning with respect to any other class or series of Preferred Shares.

“ Redemption   Price ” has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Part II hereof, and for the purposes of this Statement of Preferences shall have a correlative meaning with respect to any other class or series of Preferred Shares.

“ Series A Preferred Shares ” means the 5.375% Series A Cumulative Preferred Shares, par value $0.01 per share, of the Trust.

“ Series A Asset Coverage Cure Date ” means, with respect to the failure by the Trust to maintain Asset Coverage (as required by paragraph 6(a)(i) of Part II hereof) as of the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December of each year, 49 days following such Business Day.

“ Short-Term Money Market Instruments ” means the following types of instruments if, on the date of purchase or other acquisition thereof by the Trust, the remaining term to maturity thereof is not in excess of 180 days:

“ Trust ” means Bancroft Fund Ltd., a Delaware statutory trust.

“ U.S.   Government Obligations ” means direct obligations of the United States or obligations issued by its agencies or instrumentalities that are entitled to the full faith and credit of the United States and that, other than United States Treasury Bills, provide for the periodic payment of interest and the full payment of principal at maturity or call for redemption.

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“ Valuation Date ” means the last Business Day of each month, or such other date as the Trust and the Rating Agency may agree to for purposes of determining the Basic Maintenance Amount.

“ Voting Period ” shall have the meaning set forth in paragraph 5(b) of Part II hereof.

PART II

5.375% SERIES A CUMULATIVE PREFERRED SHARES

1. Number of Shares; Ranking.

(a) The initial number of authorized Shares constituting the Series A Preferred Shares to be issued is 1,200,000. No fractional Series A Preferred Shares shall be issued.

(b) Series A Preferred Shares which at any time have been redeemed or purchased by the Trust shall, after such redemption or purchase, have the status of authorized but unissued Preferred Shares.

(c) The Series A Preferred Shares shall rank on a parity with any other series of Preferred Shares as to the payment of dividends, distributions and liquidation preference to which such Shares are entitled.

(d) No holder of Series A Preferred Shares shall have, solely by reason of being such a holder, any preemptive or other right to acquire, purchase or subscribe for any Preferred Shares or Common Shares or other securities of the Trust which it may hereafter issue or sell.

2. Dividends and Distributions.

(a) Holders of Series A Preferred Shares shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by, or under authority granted by, the Board of Trustees, out of funds legally available therefor, cumulative cash dividends and distributions at the rate of 5.375% per annum (computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) of the Liquidation Preference on the Series A Preferred Shares and no more, payable quarterly on March 26, June 26, September 26 and December 26 in each year (each a “ Dividend Payment Date ”) commencing on September 26, 2016 (or, if any such day is not a Business Day, then on the next succeeding Business Day). Dividends and distributions will be payable to holders of record of Series A Preferred Shares as they appear on the share register of the Trust at the close of business on the fifth preceding Business Day (each, a “ Record Date ”) in preference to dividends and distributions on Common Shares and any other capital shares of the Trust ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Shares in payment of dividends and distributions. Dividends and distributions on Series A Preferred Shares that were originally issued on the Date of Original Issue shall accumulate from the Date of Original Issue. Dividends and distributions on all other Series A Preferred Shares shall accumulate from (i) the date on which such shares are originally issued if such date is a Dividend Payment Date, (ii) the immediately preceding Dividend Payment Date if the date on which such shares are originally issued is other than a Dividend Payment Date and is on or before a Record Date or (iii) the immediately following Dividend Payment Date if the date on which such shares are originally issued is during the period between a Record Date and a Dividend Payment Date. Each period beginning on and including a Dividend Payment Date (or the Date of Original Issue, in the case of the first dividend period after the issuance of such shares) and ending on but excluding the next succeeding Dividend Payment Date is referred to herein as a “ Dividend Period .” Dividends and distributions on account of arrears for any past Dividend Period or in connection with the redemption of Series A Preferred Shares may be declared and paid at any time, without reference to any Dividend Payment Date, to holders of record on such date not exceeding 30 days preceding the payment date thereof as shall be fixed by the Board of Trustees.

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(b) (i) No full dividends or distributions shall be declared or paid on Series A Preferred Shares for any Dividend Period or part thereof unless full cumulative dividends and distributions due through the most recent Dividend Payment Dates therefor for all series of Preferred Shares ranking on a parity with the Series A Preferred Shares as to the payment of dividends and distributions have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid through the most recent Dividend Payment Dates therefor. If full cumulative dividends and distributions due have not been paid on all such Outstanding Preferred Shares, any dividends and distributions being paid on such Preferred Shares (including the Series A Preferred Shares) will be paid as nearly pro rata as possible in proportion to the respective amounts of dividends and distributions accumulated but unpaid on each such series of Preferred Shares on the relevant Dividend Payment Date. No holders of Series A Preferred Shares shall be entitled to any dividends or distributions, whether payable in cash, property or shares, in excess of full cumulative dividends and distributions as provided in this paragraph 2(b)(i) on Series A Preferred Shares. No interest or sum of money in lieu of interest shall be payable in respect of any dividend payments on any Series A Preferred Shares that may be in arrears.

(ii) For so long as Series A Preferred Shares are Outstanding, the Trust shall not pay any dividend or other distribution (other than a dividend or distribution paid in Common Shares, or options, warrants or rights to subscribe for or purchase Common Shares or other shares, if any, ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Shares as to dividends and upon liquidation) in respect of the Common Shares or any other shares of the Trust ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Shares as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, or call for redemption, redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any Common Shares or any other shares of the Trust ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Shares as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation (except by conversion into or exchange for shares of the Trust ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Shares as to dividends and upon liquidation), unless, in each case, (A) immediately thereafter, the aggregate Adjusted Value of the Trust’s Eligible Assets shall equal or exceed the Basic Maintenance Amount and the Trust shall have Asset Coverage, (B) all cumulative dividends and distributions on all Series A Preferred Shares due on or prior to the date of the transaction have been declared and paid (or shall have been declared and sufficient funds for the payment thereof deposited with the applicable Dividend-Disbursing Agent) and (C) the Trust has redeemed the full number of Series A Preferred Shares to be redeemed mandatorily pursuant to any provision contained herein for mandatory redemption.

(iii) Any dividend payment made on the Series A Preferred Shares shall first be credited against the dividends and distributions accumulated with respect to the earliest Dividend Period for which dividends and distributions have not been paid.

(c) Not later than the Business Day immediately preceding each Dividend Payment Date, the Trust shall deposit with the Dividend-Disbursing Agent Deposit Assets having an initial combined value sufficient to pay the dividends and distributions that are payable on such Dividend Payment Date, which Deposit Assets shall mature (if such assets constitute debt securities or time deposits) on or prior to such Dividend Payment Date. The Trust may direct the Dividend-Disbursing Agent with respect to the investment of any such Deposit Assets, provided that such investment consists exclusively of Deposit Assets and provided further that the proceeds of any such investment will be available at the opening of business on such Dividend Payment Date.

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3. Liquidation Rights.

(a) In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Trust, whether voluntary or involuntary, the holders of Series A Preferred Shares shall be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Trust available for distribution to shareholders, after satisfying claims of creditors but before any distribution or payment shall be made in respect of the Common Shares or any other shares of the Trust ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Shares as to liquidation payments, a liquidation distribution in the amount of $25.00 per share (the “ Liquidation Preference ”), plus an amount equal to all unpaid dividends and distributions accumulated to and including the date fixed for such distribution or payment (whether or not earned or declared by the Trust, but excluding interest thereon), and such holders shall be entitled to no further participation in any distribution or payment in connection with any such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Trust.

(b) If, upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Trust, whether voluntary or involuntary, the assets of the Trust available for distribution among the holders of all Outstanding Series A Preferred Shares, and any other Outstanding class or series of Preferred Shares ranking on a parity with the Series A Preferred Shares as to payment upon liquidation, shall be insufficient to permit the payment in full to such holders of Series A Preferred Shares of the Liquidation Preference plus accumulated and unpaid dividends and distributions and the amounts due upon liquidation with respect to such other Preferred Shares, then such available assets shall be distributed among the holders of Series A Preferred Shares and such other Preferred Shares ratably in proportion to the respective preferential liquidation amounts to which they are entitled. Unless and until the Liquidation Preference plus accumulated and unpaid dividends and distributions has been paid in full to the holders of Series A Preferred Shares, no dividends or distributions will be made to holders of the Common Shares or any other shares of the Trust ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Shares as to liquidation.

4. Redemption.

The Series A Preferred Shares shall be redeemed by the Trust as provided below:

(a) Mandatory Redemptions.

If the Trust is required to redeem any Preferred Shares (which may include Series A Preferred Shares) pursuant to paragraphs 6(b) or 6(c) of Part II hereof, then the Trust shall, to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and Delaware law, by the close of business on such Series A Asset Coverage Cure Date or Basic Maintenance Amount Cure Date (herein collectively referred to as a “ Cure Date ”), as the case may be, fix a redemption date that is on or before the Outside Redemption Date and proceed to redeem shares as set forth in paragraph 4(c) hereof; provided, however, that the Trust may fix a redemption date that is after the Outside Redemption Date if the Board of Trustees determines in good faith that extraordinary market conditions exist as a result of which disposal by the Trust of securities owned by it is not reasonably practicable, or is not reasonably practicable at fair value. On such redemption date, the Trust shall redeem, out of funds legally available therefor, (i) the number of Preferred Shares, which, to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and Delaware law, at the option of the Trust may include any proportion of Series A Preferred Shares or any other series of Preferred Shares, equal to the minimum number of shares the redemption of which, if such redemption had occurred immediately prior to the opening of business on such Cure Date, would have resulted in the Trust having Asset Coverage or an Adjusted Value of its Eligible Assets equal to or greater than the Basic Maintenance Amount, as the case may be, immediately prior to the opening of business on such Cure Date or (ii) if such Asset Coverage or an Adjusted Value of its Eligible Assets equal to or greater than the Basic Maintenance Amount, as the case may be, cannot be so restored, all of the Outstanding Series A Preferred Shares, at a price equal to $25.00 per share plus accumulated but unpaid dividends and distributions (whether or not earned or declared by the Trust) through the date of redemption (the “ Redemption   Price ”). In the event that Preferred Shares are redeemed pursuant to paragraphs 6(b) or 6(c) of Part II hereof, the Trust may, but is

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not required to, redeem an additional number of Series A Preferred Shares pursuant to this paragraph 4(a) which, when aggregated with other Preferred Shares redeemed by the Trust, permits the Trust to have with respect to the Preferred Shares (including the Series A Preferred Shares) remaining Outstanding after such redemption (i) Asset Coverage of as much as 220% and (ii) Eligible Assets with Adjusted Value of as great as 110% of the Basic Maintenance Amount. In the event that all of the Series A Preferred Shares then Outstanding are required to be redeemed pursuant to paragraph 6 of Part II hereof, the Trust shall redeem such shares at the Redemption Price and proceed to do so as set forth in paragraph 4(c) hereof.

(b) Optional Redemptions.

Prior to August 9, 2021 the Series A Preferred Shares are not subject to optional redemption by the Trust unless such redemption is necessary, in the judgment of the Board of Trustees, to maintain the Trust’s status as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Commencing August 9, 2021, and thereafter, and prior thereto to the extent necessary to maintain the Trust’s status as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and Delaware law, the Trust may at any time upon Notice of Redemption redeem the Series A Preferred Shares in whole or in part at the Redemption Price per share, which notice shall specify a redemption date of not fewer than 15 days nor more than 40 days after the date of such notice.

(c) Procedures for Redemption.

(i) If the Trust shall determine or be required to redeem Series A Preferred Shares pursuant to this paragraph 4, it shall mail a written notice of redemption (“ Notice of Redemption ”) with respect to such redemption by first class mail, postage prepaid, to each holder of the shares to be redeemed at such holder’s address as the same appears on the share register of the Trust on the close of business on such date as the Board of Trustees or its delegatee may determine, which date shall not be earlier than the second Business Day prior to the date upon which such Notice of Redemption is mailed to the holders of Series A Preferred Shares. Each such Notice of Redemption shall state: (A) the redemption date as established by the Board of Trustees or its delegatee; (B) the number of Series A Preferred Shares to be redeemed; (C) the CUSIP number(s) of such shares; (D) the Redemption Price (specifying the amount of accumulated dividends and distributions to be included therein); (E) the place or places where the certificate(s) for such shares (properly endorsed or assigned for transfer, if the Board of Trustees or its delegatee shall so require and the Notice of Redemption shall so state), if any, are to be surrendered for payment in respect of such redemption; (F) that dividends and distributions on the shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue on such redemption date; (G) the provisions of this paragraph 4 under which such redemption is made; and (H) in the case of a redemption pursuant to paragraph 4(b), any conditions precedent to such redemption. If fewer than all Series A Preferred Shares held by any holder are to be redeemed, the Notice of Redemption mailed to such holder also shall specify the number or percentage of shares to be redeemed from such holder. No defect in the Notice of Redemption or the mailing thereof shall affect the validity of the redemption proceedings, except as required by applicable law.

(ii) If the Trust shall give a Notice of Redemption, then by the close of business on the Business Day preceding the redemption date specified in the Notice of Redemption (so long as any conditions precedent to such redemption have been met) or, if the Dividend-Disbursing Agent so agrees, another date not later than the redemption date, the Trust shall (A) deposit with the Dividend-Disbursing Agent Deposit Assets that shall mature (if such assets constitute debt securities or time deposits) on or prior to such redemption date having an initial combined value sufficient to effect the redemption of the Series A Preferred Shares to be redeemed and (B) give the Dividend-Disbursing Agent irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the Redemption Price to the holders of the Series A Preferred Shares called for redemption on the redemption date. The Trust may direct the Dividend-Disbursing Agent with respect to the investment of

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any Deposit Assets so deposited provided that the proceeds of any such investment will be available at the opening of business on such redemption date. Upon the date of such deposit (unless the Trust shall default in making payment of the Redemption Price), all rights of the holders of the Series A Preferred Shares so called for redemption shall cease and terminate except the right of the holders thereof to receive the Redemption Price thereof and such shares shall no longer be deemed Outstanding for any purpose. The Trust shall be entitled to receive, promptly after the date fixed for redemption, any cash in excess of the aggregate Redemption Price of the Series A Preferred Shares called for redemption on such date and any remaining Deposit Assets. Any assets so deposited that are unclaimed at the end of two years from such redemption date shall, to the extent permitted by law, be repaid to the Trust, after which the holders of the Series A Preferred Shares so called for redemption shall look only to the Trust for payment of the Redemption Price thereof. The Trust shall be entitled to receive, from time to time after the date fixed for redemption, any interest on the Deposit Assets so deposited.

(iii) On or after the redemption date, each holder of Series A Preferred Shares that are subject to redemption shall surrender such shares to the Trust as instructed in the Notice of Redemption and shall then be entitled to receive the cash Redemption Price, without interest.

(iv) In the case of any redemption of less than all of the Series A Preferred Shares pursuant to this Statement of Preferences, such redemption shall be made pro rata from each holder of Series A Preferred Shares in accordance with the respective number of shares held by each such holder on the record date for such redemption.

(v) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this paragraph 4, the Trust shall not redeem any Series A Preferred Shares unless all accumulated and unpaid dividends and distributions on all Outstanding Series A Preferred Shares and other Preferred Shares ranking on a parity with the Series A Preferred Shares with respect to dividends and distributions for all applicable past Dividend Periods (whether or not earned or declared by the Trust) shall have been or are contemporaneously paid or declared and Deposit Assets for the payment of such dividends and distributions shall have been deposited with the Dividend-Disbursing Agent as set forth in paragraph 2(c) of Part II hereof, provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prevent the purchase or acquisition of Outstanding Preferred Shares pursuant to the successful completion of an otherwise lawful purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to holders of all Outstanding Series A Preferred Shares.

If the Trust shall not have funds legally available for the redemption of, or is otherwise unable to redeem, all the Series A Preferred Shares or other Preferred Shares designated to be redeemed on any redemption date, the Trust shall redeem on such redemption date the number of Series A Preferred Shares and other Preferred Shares so designated as it shall have legally available funds, or is otherwise able, to redeem ratably on the basis of the Redemption Price from each holder whose shares are to be redeemed, and the remainder of the Series A Preferred Shares and other Preferred Shares designated to be redeemed shall be redeemed on the earliest practicable date on which the Trust shall have funds legally available for the redemption of, or is otherwise able to redeem, such shares upon Notice of Redemption.

5. Voting Rights.

(a) General.

Except as otherwise provided in the Governing Documents or a resolution of the Board of Trustees, or as required by applicable law, holders of Series A Preferred Shares shall have no power to vote on any matter except matters submitted to a vote of the Common Shares. In any matter submitted to a vote of the holders of the Common Shares, each holder of Series A Preferred Shares shall be entitled to one vote for each Series A Preferred Share held and the holders of the Outstanding Preferred Shares, including Series A

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Preferred Shares, and the Common Shares shall vote together as a single class; provided, however, that the holders of the Outstanding Preferred Shares, including Series A Preferred Shares, shall be entitled, as a separate class, to the exclusion of the holders of all other securities and classes of capital shares of the Trust, to elect two of the Trust’s trustees. Subject to paragraph 5(b) of Part II hereof, the holders of the outstanding capital shares of the Trust, including the holders of the Outstanding Preferred Shares, including the Series A Preferred Shares, voting as a single class, shall elect the balance of the trustees.

(b) Right to Elect Majority of Board of Trustees.

During any period in which any one or more of the conditions described below shall exist (such period being referred to herein as a “ Voting Period ”), the number and/or composition of trustees constituting the Board of Trustees shall be automatically adjusted as necessary to permit the holders of Outstanding Preferred Shares, including the Series A Preferred Shares, voting separately as one class (to the exclusion of the holders of all other securities and classes of capital shares of the Trust) to elect the number of trustees that, when added to the two trustees elected exclusively by the holders of Preferred Shares pursuant to paragraph 5(a) above, would constitute a simple majority of the Board of Trustees as so adjusted. The Trust and the Board of Trustees shall take all necessary actions, including effecting the removal of trustees or amendment of the Declaration, to effect an adjustment of the number and/or composition of trustees as described in the preceding sentence. A Voting Period shall commence:

(i) if at any time accumulated dividends and distributions (whether or not earned or declared, and whether or not funds are then legally available in an amount sufficient therefor) on the Outstanding Series A Preferred Shares equal to at least two full years’ dividends and distributions shall be due and unpaid and sufficient Deposit Assets shall not have been deposited with the Dividend-Disbursing Agent for the payment of such accumulated dividends and distributions; or

(ii) if at any time holders of any other Preferred Shares are entitled to elect a majority of the trustees of the Trust under the 1940 Act or Statement of Preferences creating such shares.

Upon the termination of a Voting Period, the voting rights described in this paragraph 5(b) shall cease, subject always, however, to the reverting of such voting rights in the holders of Preferred Shares upon the further occurrence of any of the events described in this paragraph 5(b).

(c) Right to Vote with Respect to Certain Other Matters.

Subject to paragraph 1 of Part III of this Statement of Preferences, so long as any Series A Preferred Shares are Outstanding, the Trust shall not, without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Preferred Shares Outstanding at the time, voting separately as one class, amend, alter or repeal the provisions of this Statement of Preferences so as to in the aggregate adversely affect the rights and preferences set forth in any Statement of Preferences, including the Series A Preferred Shares. To the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, in the event that more than one series of Preferred Shares are Outstanding, the Trust shall not effect any of the actions set forth in the preceding sentence which in the aggregate adversely affects the rights and preferences set forth in the Statement of Preferences for a series of Preferred Shares differently than such rights and preferences for any other series of Preferred Shares without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the Preferred Shares Outstanding of each series adversely affected (each such adversely affected series voting separately as a class to the extent its rights are affected differently). The holders of the Series A Preferred Shares shall not be entitled to vote on any matter that affects the rights or interests of only one or more other series of Preferred Shares. The Trust shall notify the relevant Rating Agency ten Business Days prior to any such vote described above. Unless a higher percentage is required under the Governing Documents or applicable provisions of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act or the 1940 Act, the affirmative

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vote of the holders of a majority of the Outstanding Preferred Shares, including Series A Preferred Shares, voting together as a single class, will be required to approve any plan of reorganization adversely affecting the Preferred Shares or any action requiring a vote of security holders under Section 13(a) of the 1940 Act. For purposes of this paragraph 5(c), the phrase “vote of the holders of a majority of the Outstanding Preferred Shares” (or any like phrase) shall mean, in accordance with Section 2(a)(42) of the 1940 Act, the vote, at the annual or a special meeting of the shareholders of the Trust duly called (i) of 67 percent or more of the Preferred Shares present at such meeting, if the holders of more than 50 percent of the Outstanding Preferred Shares are present or represented by proxy; or (ii) of more than 50 percent of the Outstanding Preferred Shares, whichever is less. The class vote of holders of Preferred Shares described above will in each case be in addition to a separate vote of the requisite percentage of Common Shares and Preferred Shares, including Series A Preferred Shares, voting together as a single class, necessary to authorize the action in question. An increase in the number of authorized Preferred Shares pursuant to the Governing Documents or the issuance of additional shares of any series of Preferred Shares (including Series A Preferred Shares) pursuant to the Governing Documents shall not in and of itself be considered to adversely affect the rights and preferences of the Preferred Shares.

(d) Voting Procedures.

(i) As soon as practicable after the accrual of any right of the holders of Preferred Shares to elect additional trustees as described in paragraph 5(b) above, the Trust shall call a special meeting of such holders and instruct the Dividend-Disbursing Agent to mail a notice of such special meeting to such holders, such meeting to be held not less than 10 nor more than 20 days after the date of mailing of such notice. If the Trust fails to send such notice to the Dividend-Disbursing Agent or if the Trust does not call such a special meeting, it may be called by any such holder on like notice. The record date for determining the holders entitled to notice of and to vote at such special meeting shall be the close of business on the day on which such notice is mailed or such other date as the Board of Trustees shall determine. At any such special meeting and at each meeting held during a Voting Period, such holders of Preferred Shares, voting together as a class (to the exclusion of the holders of all other securities and classes of capital shares of the Trust), shall be entitled to elect the number of trustees prescribed in paragraph 5(b) above on a one-vote-per-share basis. At any such meeting, or adjournment thereof in the absence of a quorum, a majority of such holders present in person or by proxy shall have the power to adjourn the meeting without notice, other than by an announcement at the meeting, to a date not more than 120 days after the original record date.

(ii) For purposes of determining any rights of the holders of Series A Preferred Shares to vote on any matter or the number of shares required to constitute a quorum, whether such right is created by this Statement of Preferences, by the other provisions of the Governing Documents, by statute or otherwise, any Series A Preferred Share which is not Outstanding shall not be counted.

(iii) The terms of office of all persons who are trustees of the Trust at the time of a special meeting of holders of Preferred Shares to elect trustees and who remain trustees following such meeting shall continue, notwithstanding the election at such meeting by such holders of the number of trustees that they are entitled to elect, and the persons so elected by such holders, together with the two incumbent trustees elected by the holders of Preferred Shares and the remaining incumbent trustees elected by the holders of the Common Shares and Preferred Shares, shall constitute the duly elected trustees of the Trust.

(iv) Upon the expiration of a Voting Period, the terms of office of the additional trustees elected by the holders of Preferred Shares pursuant to paragraph 5(b) above shall expire at the earliest time permitted by law and the remaining trustees shall constitute the trustees of the Trust and the voting rights of such holders of Preferred Shares, including Series A Preferred Shares, to elect additional trustees pursuant to paragraph 5(b) above shall cease, subject to the provisions of the last sentence of paragraph 5(b). Upon

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the expiration of the terms of the trustees elected by the holders of Preferred Shares pursuant to paragraph 5(b) above, the number of trustees shall be automatically reduced to the number of trustees on the Board immediately preceding such Voting Period.

(e) Exclusive Remedy.

Unless otherwise required by law, the holders of Series A Preferred Shares shall not have any rights or preferences other than those specifically set forth herein. The holders of Series A Preferred Shares shall have no preemptive rights or rights to cumulative voting. In the event that the Trust fails to pay any dividends and distributions on the Series A Preferred Shares, the exclusive remedy of the holders shall be the right to vote for trustees pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph 5.

(f) Notification to Rating Agency.

In the event a vote of holders of Series A Preferred Shares is required pursuant to the provisions of Section 13(a) of the 1940 Act, as long as the Series A Preferred Shares are then rated by a Rating Agency at the Trust’s request, the Trust shall, not later than ten Business Days prior to the date on which such vote is to be taken, notify the relevant Rating Agency that such vote is to be taken and the nature of the action with respect to which such vote is to be taken and, not later than ten Business Days after the date on which such vote is taken, notify such Rating Agency of the result of such vote.

6. Coverage Tests.

(a) Determination of Compliance.

For so long as any Series A Preferred Shares are Outstanding, the Trust shall make the following determinations:

(i) Asset Coverage. The Trust shall have Asset Coverage as of the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December of each year in which any Series A Preferred Shares are Outstanding.

(ii) Basic Maintenance Amount Requirement.

For so long as any Series A Preferred Shares are Outstanding and are rated by a Rating Agency at the Trust’s request, the Trust shall maintain, on each Valuation Date, Eligible Assets having an Adjusted Value at least equal to the Basic Maintenance Amount, as of such Valuation Date. Upon any failure to maintain Eligible Assets having an Adjusted Value at least equal to the Basic Maintenance Amount, the Trust shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to retain Eligible Assets having an Adjusted Value at least equal to the Basic Maintenance Amount on or prior to the Basic Maintenance Amount Cure Date, by altering the composition of its portfolio or otherwise.

(b) Failure to Meet Asset Coverage.

If the Trust fails to have Asset Coverage as provided in paragraph 6(a)(i) hereof and such failure is not cured as of the related Series A Asset Coverage Cure Date, (i) the Trust shall give a Notice of Redemption as described in paragraph 4 of Part II hereof with respect to the redemption of a sufficient number of Preferred Shares, which at the Trust’s determination (to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and Delaware law) may include any proportion of Series A Preferred Shares, to enable it to meet the requirements of paragraph 6(a)(i) above, and, at the Trust’s discretion, such additional number of Series A Preferred Shares or other Preferred Shares in order that the Trust have Asset Coverage with respect to the Series A Preferred Shares and any other Preferred Shares remaining Outstanding after such redemption as

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great as 220%, and (ii) deposit with the Dividend-Disbursing Agent Deposit Assets having an initial combined value sufficient to effect the redemption of the Series A Preferred Shares or other Preferred Shares to be redeemed, as contemplated by paragraph 4 of Part II hereof.

(c) Failure to Maintain Eligible Assets having an Adjusted Value at Least Equal to the Basic Maintenance Amount.

If the Trust fails to have Eligible Assets having an Adjusted Value at least equal to the Basic Maintenance Amount as provided in paragraph 6(a)(ii) above and such failure is not cured, the Trust shall, on or prior to the Basic Maintenance Amount Cure Date, (i) give a Notice of Redemption as described in paragraph 4 of Part II hereof with respect to the redemption of a sufficient number of Series A Preferred Shares or other Preferred Shares to enable it to meet the requirements of paragraph 6(a)(ii) above, and, at the Trust’s discretion, such additional number of Series A Preferred Shares or other Preferred Shares in order that the Trust have Adjusted Assets with respect to the remaining Series A Preferred Shares and any other Preferred Shares remaining Outstanding after such redemption as great as 110% of the Basic Maintenance Amount, and (ii) deposit with the Dividend-Disbursing Agent Deposit Assets having an initial combined value sufficient to effect the redemption of the Series A Preferred Shares or other Preferred Shares to be redeemed, as contemplated by paragraph 4 of Part II hereof.

(d) Status of Shares Called for Redemption.

For purposes of determining whether the requirements of paragraphs 6(a)(i) and 6(a)(ii) hereof are satisfied, (i) no Series A Preferred Share shall be deemed to be Outstanding for purposes of any computation if, prior to or concurrently with such determination, sufficient Deposit Assets to pay the full Redemption Price for such share shall have been deposited in trust with the Dividend-Disbursing Agent (or applicable paying agent) and the requisite Notice of Redemption shall have been given, and (ii) such Deposit Assets deposited with the Dividend-Disbursing Agent (or paying agent) shall not be included.

7. Certain Other Restrictions.

(a) For so long as the Series A Preferred Shares are rated by a Rating Agency at the request of the Trust, the Trust will not, and will cause the Adviser not to, (i) knowingly and willfully purchase or sell any asset for the specific purpose of causing, and with the actual knowledge that the effect of such purchase or sale will be to cause, the Trust to have Eligible Assets having an Adjusted Value as of the date of such purchase or sale to be less than the Basic Maintenance Amount as of such date, (ii) in the event that, as of the immediately preceding Valuation Date, the Adjusted Value of the Trust’s Eligible Assets exceeded the Basic Maintenance Amount by 5% or less, alter the composition of the Trust’s assets in a manner reasonably expected to reduce the Adjusted Value of the Trust’s Eligible Assets, unless the Trust shall have confirmed that, after giving effect to such alteration, the Adjusted Value of the Trust’s Eligible Assets exceeded the Basic Maintenance Amount or (iii) declare or pay any dividend or other distribution on any Common Shares or repurchase any Common Shares, unless the Trust shall have confirmed that, after giving effect to such dividend, other distribution or repurchase, the Trust continued to satisfy the requirements of paragraph 6(a)(ii) of Part II hereof.

(b) For so long as the Series A Preferred Shares are rated by a Rating Agency at the request of the Trust, unless the Trust shall have received written confirmation from the relevant Rating Agency, the Trust may engage in the lending of its portfolio securities only in an amount of up to 20% of the Trust’s total assets, provided that the Trust receives cash collateral for such loaned securities which is maintained at all times in an amount equal to at least 100% of the current market value of the loaned securities and, if invested, is invested only in Short-Term Money Market Instruments or in money market mutual funds meeting the requirements of Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act that maintain a constant $1.00 per share net asset value and treat the loaned securities rather than the collateral as the assets of the Trust for purposes of determining compliance with paragraph 6 of Part II hereof.

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(c) For so long as the Series A Preferred Shares are rated by a Rating Agency at the request of the Trust, the Trust shall not consolidate the Trust with, merge the Trust into, sell or otherwise transfer all or substantially all of the Trust’s assets to another Person or adopt a plan of liquidation of the Trust, in each case without providing prior written notification to the relevant Rating Agency.

8. Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness and Issuance of Additional Preferred Shares

(a) So long as any Series A Preferred Shares are Outstanding, the Trust may issue and sell one or more series of a class of senior securities of the Trust representing indebtedness under Section 18 of the 1940 Act and/or otherwise create or incur indebtedness, provided that, immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of such indebtedness and to its receipt and application of the proceeds thereof, the Trust shall have an “asset coverage” for all senior securities representing indebtedness, as defined in Section 18(h) of the 1940 Act, of at least 300% of the amount of all indebtedness of the Trust then outstanding and no such additional indebtedness shall have any preference or priority over any other indebtedness of the Trust upon the distribution of the assets of the Trust or in respect of the payment of interest. Any possible liability resulting from lending and/or borrowing portfolio securities, entering into reverse repurchase agreements, entering into futures contracts and writing options, to the extent such transactions are made in accordance with the investment restrictions of the Trust then in effect, shall not be considered to be indebtedness limited by this paragraph 8(a).

(b) So long as any Series A Preferred Shares are Outstanding, the Trust may issue and sell shares of one or more other series of Preferred Shares constituting a series of a class of senior securities of the Trust representing stock under Section 18 of the 1940 Act in addition to the Series A Preferred Shares and other Preferred Shares then Outstanding, provided that (i) the Trust shall, immediately after giving effect to the issuance of such additional Preferred Shares and to its receipt and application of the proceeds thereof, including, without limitation, to the redemption of Preferred Shares for which a Notice of Redemption has been mailed prior to such issuance, have an “asset coverage” for all senior securities which are stock, as defined in Section 18(h) of the 1940 Act, of at least 200% of the sum of the Liquidation Preference of the Series A Preferred Shares and all other Preferred Shares then Outstanding, and (ii) no such additional Preferred Shares shall have any preference or priority over any other Preferred Shares upon liquidation or the distribution of the assets of the Trust or in respect of the payment of dividends.

PART III

ABILITY OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO MODIFY

THE STATEMENT OF PREFERENCES

1. Modification to Prevent Ratings Reduction or Withdrawal.

The Board of Trustees, without further action by the shareholders, may amend, alter, add to or repeal any provision of this Statement of Preferences that has been adopted by the Trust pursuant to the Rating Agency guidelines or add covenants and other obligations of the Trust to this Statement of Preferences, if the applicable Rating Agency confirms that such amendments or modifications are necessary to prevent a reduction in, or the withdrawal of, a rating of the Preferred Shares and such amendments and modifications do not adversely affect the rights and preferences of and are in the aggregate in the best interests of the holders of the Preferred Shares.

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2. Other Modification.

The Board of Trustees, without further action by the shareholders, may amend, alter, add to or repeal any provision of this Statement of Preferences including provisions that have been adopted by the Trust pursuant to the Rating Agency guidelines, if such amendments or modifications will not in the aggregate adversely affect the rights and preferences of the holders of any series of the Preferred Shares, provided, that the Trust has received confirmation from each applicable Rating Agency that such amendment or modification would not adversely affect such Rating Agency’s then-current rating of such series of the Trust’s Preferred Shares.

Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, to the extent permitted by law, the Board of Trustees or its delegetee, without the vote of the holders of the Series A Preferred Shares or any other shares of the Trust, may amend the provisions of this Statement of Preferences to resolve any inconsistency or ambiguity or to remedy any formal defect so long as the amendment does not in the aggregate adversely affect the rights and preferences of the Series A Preferred Shares.

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Bancroft Fund Ltd. has caused this Statement of Preferences to be signed in its name and on its behalf by a duly authorized officer, who acknowledges said instrument to be the statutory trust act of the Trust, and states that, to the best of such officer’s knowledge, information and belief under penalty of perjury, the matters and facts herein set forth with respect to approval are true in all material respects, as of August 4, 2016.

Attest:

[Bancroft Series A Statement of Preferences Signature Page]

Ex. 99(h)(i)

EXECUTION VERSION

BANCROFT FUND LTD.

(a Delaware Statutory Trust)

1,200,000 Shares of 5.375% Series A Cumulative Preferred Shares

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

August 4, 2016

Merrill Lynch, Pierce Fenner & Smith

   Incorporated

As Representative of the several Underwriters Listed on Schedule A hereto

c/o Merrill Lynch, Pierce Fenner & Smith

         Incorporated

One Bryant Park

New York, NY 10036

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The Bancroft Fund Ltd., a Delaware statutory trust (the “ Fund ”), and the Fund’s investment adviser, Gabelli Funds, LLC, a New York limited liability company (the “ Adviser ”), each confirms its agreement with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“ MLPF&S ”) and each of the other Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (collectively, the “ Underwriters ,” which term shall also include any underwriter substituted as hereinafter provided in Section 10 hereof), for whom MLPF&S is acting as representative (in such capacity, the “Representative”), with respect to the issue and sale by the Fund and the purchase by the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the respective number of shares set forth in said Schedule A hereto of an aggregate of 1,200,000 shares of the Fund’s 5.375% Series A Cumulative Preferred Shares (the “ Shares ”). The Shares will be authorized by, and subject to the terms and conditions of, the Fund’s Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended, and the Statement of Preferences for the Shares dated August 4, 2016 (collectively, the “ Statement ”).

The Fund understands that the Underwriters propose to make a public offering of the Shares as soon as the Representative deems advisable after this Agreement has been executed and delivered.

The Fund has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) a shelf registration statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-211322 and 811-02151) covering the registration of the Shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ 1933 Act ”), and a notification on Form N-8A of registration (the “ 1940 Act Notification ”) of the Fund as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “ 1940 Act ”), and the rules and regulations of the Commission under the 1933 Act (the “ 1933 Act Regulations ”) and the 1940 Act (the “ 1940 Act Regulations ” and, together with the 1933 Act Regulations, the “ Rules and Regulations ”). Such registration statement including the exhibits thereto and schedules thereto and the amendments thereto, is herein called the “ Registration Statement .” Pre-effective amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement, filed on July 20, 2016 (the registration statement at the time pre-effective amendment No. 2 became effective, the “ Original Registration Statement ”), is effective. The prospectus (including any statement of

additional information incorporated by reference therein) contained in the Original Registration Statement at the time it became effective is called the “ Basic Prospectus. ” The Basic Prospectus, together with any preliminary prospectus supplement (including any statement of additional information incorporated by reference therein) in the form first furnished to the Underwriters for use in connection with the offering of the Shares and used prior to the filing of the Prospectus (as defined below) is herein called the “ Preliminary Prospectus. ” Promptly after execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Fund will prepare and file a prospectus in accordance with the provisions of Rule 430B (“ Rule 430B ”) and Rule 497 (“ Rule 497 ”) of the 1933 Act Regulations. The information included in any such prospectus that was omitted from the Original Registration Statement at the time it became effective but that is deemed to be part of and included in such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430B is referred to as “ Rule 430B Information. ” The Basic Prospectus, together with the final prospectus supplement, including any statement of additional information incorporated by reference therein in the form furnished to the Underwriters for use in connection with the offering of the Shares is herein called the “ Prospectus .” For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Original Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (“ EDGAR ”).

All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information which is “contained,” “included” or “stated” in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (or other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information which is incorporated by reference in or otherwise deemed by the 1933 Act Regulations to be a part of or included in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be; and all references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to mean and include the filing of any document under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ 1934 Act ”) which is incorporated by reference in or otherwise deemed by 1933 Act Regulations to be a part of or included in the Registration Statement, such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be.

Section 1. Representations and Warranties.

(a) Representations and Warranties by the Fund and the Adviser . The Fund and the Adviser, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to each Underwriter as of the date hereof, as of the Applicable Time (as defined below) and as of the Closing Time referred to in Section 2(b) hereof, and agree with each Underwriter, as follows:

(i) Compliance With Registration Requirements . The Original Registration Statement became effective under the 1933 Act on July 21, 2016 and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Original Registration Statement has been issued under the 1933 Act, or order of suspension or revocation of registration pursuant to Section 8(e) of the 1940 Act, and no proceedings for any such purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of the Fund or the Adviser, are contemplated by the Commission, and any request on the part of the Commission for additional information has been complied with.

At the respective times the Original Registration Statement and any amendment thereto (filed before the Closing Time) became effective under the 1933 Act, at each deemed effective date with respect to the Underwriters pursuant to
Rule 430B(f)(2) of the 1933 Act Regulations and at the Closing Time, as hereinafter defined, the Original Registration Statement, the notification on Form N-8A and any amendments and supplements thereto complied and will

2

comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act and the Rules and Regulations and did not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or, except for the information included in the prospectus supplement relating to the Shares contained in the Prospectus, omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. Neither the Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement thereto, at the time the Prospectus or any such amendment or supplement was issued and at the Closing Time, included or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that the representations and warranties set forth in this paragraph do not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement, the Original Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Fund or the Adviser by or on behalf of any Underwriter for use therein.

As of the Applicable Time (as defined below), (i) any Rule 482 Statement (as defined below) issued at or prior to the Applicable Time, if any, and (ii) the Preliminary Prospectus and the information included on Schedule C hereto, all considered together (collectively, the “ General Disclosure Package ”), did not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

As used in this subsection and elsewhere in this Agreement:

“ Applicable Time ” means 2:35 P.M. (Eastern time) on August 4, 2016 or such other time as agreed by the Fund and the Representative.

“ Rule 482 Statement ” means a document that contains the number of Shares issued, the offering price and other items dependent upon the offering price, prepared in accordance with the provisions of Rule 482 of the 1933 Act, a copy of which shall be attached as Schedule D hereto.

Each Preliminary Prospectus complied as to form when so filed in all material respects with the Rules and Regulations and each Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with this offering was identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

(ii) Incorporation of Documents by Reference . The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Original Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, when they became effective or at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the Commission, complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations or the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission under the 1934 Act (the “ 1934 Act Regulations ”) or the 1940 Act and the 1940 Act Regulations, as applicable, and, when read together with the other information in the Prospectus, (A) at the time the Original Registration Statement became effective, (B) at the earlier of the time the Prospectus was first used and the date and time of the first contract of sale of Shares in this offering and (C) at the Closing Time, did not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

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(iii) Independent Accountants . The accountants who certified the financial statements and supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement have confirmed to the Fund their status as independent public accountants as required by the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations.

(iv) Financial Statements . The financial statements included in the Original Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, together with the related schedules and notes, present fairly in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“ GAAP ”) in all material respects the investments and assets and liabilities of the Fund at the dates indicated and the statement of operations, changes in net assets, cash flows and financial highlights of the Fund for the periods specified; said financial statements have been prepared in conformity with GAAP. The supporting schedules, if any, present fairly in accordance with GAAP the information required to be stated therein. The selected financial data and the summary financial information included in the Prospectus present fairly the information shown therein and have been compiled on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements included in the Registration Statement.

(v) No Material Adverse Change . Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Original Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein, (A) there has been no material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Fund, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business (a “ Material Adverse Effect ”), (B) there have been no transactions entered into by the Fund, other than those in the ordinary course of business, which are material with respect to the Fund and (C) there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Fund on any class of its shares of beneficial interest, in each case, other than as disclosed in or contemplated by the Original Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus.

(vi) Good Standing of the Fund . The Fund has been duly organized and is validly existing as a statutory trust in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has the trust power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Original Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement; and the Fund is duly qualified as a foreign trust to transact business and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure so to qualify or to be in good standing would not result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect.

(vii) No Subsidiaries . The Fund has no subsidiaries.

(viii) Investment Company Status . The Fund is duly registered with the Commission under the 1940 Act as a diversified, closed-end management investment company, and no order of suspension or revocation of such registration has been issued or proceedings therefor initiated or, to the Fund’s knowledge, threatened by the Commission.

(ix) Officers and Trustees . No person is serving or acting as an officer, trustee or investment adviser of the Fund except in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act and the 1940 Act Regulations and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “ Advisers Act ”), and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated under the Advisers Act (the “ Advisers Act Rules and Regulations ”). Except as disclosed in the Original Registration

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Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, to the Fund’s knowledge after due inquiry, no trustee of the Fund is an “Interested Person” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund or an “Affiliated Person” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any Underwriter listed in Schedule A hereto. For purposes of the second sentence of this Section, the Fund is entitled to rely on representations from such trustees.

(x) Capitalization . The authorized, issued and outstanding shares of beneficial interest of the Fund is as set forth in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus as of the date thereof. All issued and outstanding common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share, of the Fund (the “ Common Shares ”) have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable. None of the outstanding Common Shares of the Fund were issued in violation of the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Fund.

(xi) Authorization of Agreement . This Agreement has been duly authorized and executed and will be delivered by the Fund.

(xii) Authorization and Description of Shares . The Shares to be purchased by the Underwriters from the Fund have been duly authorized for issuance and sale to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Fund pursuant to this Agreement against payment of the consideration set forth herein, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. The Shares conform to all statements relating thereto contained in the Basic Prospectus, Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and such description conforms in all material respects to the rights set forth in the instruments defining the same; and the issuance of the Shares is not subject to the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Fund.

(xiii) Absence of Defaults and Conflicts . The Fund is not in violation of the Statement or by-laws, each as amended or supplemented to date, or in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any material contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Fund is a party or by which it may be bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the Fund is subject (collectively, “ Agreements and Instruments ”) except for such violations or defaults (A) that do not involve Offering Agreements (as defined below) and (B) that would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Investment Advisory Agreement dated as of November 1, 2015 between the Fund and the Adviser, the Amended and Restated Master Custodian Agreement dated as of July 2, 2001 between the Fund, by amended appendix, and State Street Bank & Trust Company and the Registrar, Transfer Agency and Service Agreement dated as of December 28, 1999 between the Fund and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC referred to in the Registration Statement (as used herein, individually the “ Investment Advisory Agreement ,” the “ Custody Agreement ,” and the “ Transfer Agency Agreement ,” respectively and collectively the “ Offering Agreements ”) and the consummation of the transactions contemplated in the Offering Agreements and in the Registration Statement (including the issuance and sale of the Shares and the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Shares as described in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds”) and compliance by the Fund with its obligations thereunder have been duly authorized by all necessary trust action and do not and will not, whether with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or both, conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default or Repayment Event (as defined below) under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Fund pursuant to, the

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Agreements and Instruments (except for such conflicts, breaches, defaults or liens, charges or encumbrances that would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect), nor will such action result in (i) any violation of the provisions of the Statement or by-laws of the Fund or (ii) any applicable law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any government, government instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Fund or any of its assets, properties or operations, except with respect to (ii) only for such violations that would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect. As used herein, a “Repayment Event” means any event or condition which gives the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Fund.

(xiv) Absence of Proceedings . There is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or brought by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, now pending, or, to the knowledge of the Fund or the Adviser, as the case may be, threatened, against or affecting the Fund, which is required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Original Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (other than as disclosed therein), or which might reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect, or which might reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the properties or assets of the Fund or the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement or the performance by the Fund of its obligations hereunder. The aggregate of all pending legal or governmental proceedings to which the Fund is a party or of which any of its property or assets is the subject which are not described in the Registration Statement, Original Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectus and Prospectus including ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business, could not reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xv) Accuracy of Exhibits . There are no contracts or documents which are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Original Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (or the documents incorporated by reference therein) or to be filed as exhibits thereto which have not been so described and filed as required by the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act or by the Rules and Regulations.

(xvi) Absence of Manipulation . The Fund has not taken, and the Fund will not take (other than as contemplated in its dividend reinvestment plan or share repurchase plan), directly or indirectly, any action which is designed to or which has constituted or which would be expected to cause or result in manipulation of the price of any security of the Fund or to stabilize in connection with the offering of the Shares, except to the extent authorized by applicable law, including without limitation by Rule 104 of Regulation M (“ Reg M ”) under the 1934 Act.

(xvii) Possession of Intellectual Property; Fund Name . The Fund owns or possesses, or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate licenses, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets or confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks, trade names or other intellectual property (collectively, “ Intellectual Property ”) necessary to carry on the business now operated by the Fund, except where failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect, and the Fund has not received any notice or is not otherwise aware of any infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any Intellectual Property or of any facts or circumstances which would render any Intellectual Property invalid or inadequate to protect the interest of the Fund therein.

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(xviii) Absence of Further Requirements . No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or decree of, any court or governmental authority or agency is necessary or required for the performance by the Fund of its obligations hereunder, in connection with the offering, issuance or sale of the Shares hereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except such as have been already obtained or as may be required under the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act, the 1934 Act, the Rules and Regulations, or under the rules of the NYSE MKT LLC (the “ NYSE MKT ”) or the filing requirements and rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (the “ FINRA ”) or state securities laws.

(xix) Possession of Licenses and Permits . The Fund possesses such permits, licenses, approvals, consents, exemptive orders and other authorizations (collectively, “ Governmental Licenses ”) issued by the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to operate its properties and to conduct the business as contemplated in the Prospectus, except where failure to so possess would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Fund is in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such Governmental Licenses, except where the failure so to comply would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. All of the Governmental Licenses are valid and in full force and effect, except when the invalidity of such Governmental Licenses or the failure of such Governmental Licenses to be in full force and effect would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. The Fund has not received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such Governmental Licenses which, individually or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xx) Advertisements . Any advertising, sales literature or other promotional material (including “prospectus wrappers,” “broker kits,” “road show slides” and “road show scripts” and “electronic road show presentations”) authorized in writing by or prepared by the Fund or the Adviser used in connection with the public offering of the Shares (collectively, “ Sales Material ”) does not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Moreover, all Sales Material complied and will comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act, the Rules and Regulations and the rules and interpretations of the FINRA (except that this representation and warranty does not apply to statements in or omissions from the Sales Material made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information relating to the Underwriters furnished to the Fund or the Adviser on behalf of the Underwriters by the Representative expressly for use therein), including any requirement to file any Rule 482 Statement.

(xxi) Subchapter M . The Fund intends to direct the investment of the proceeds of the offering described in the Registration Statement in such a manner as to comply with the requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“ Subchapter M of the Code ” and the “ Code ,” respectively), and, at all times since its inception, has qualified as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code.

(xxii) Distribution of Offering Materials . The Fund has not distributed and, prior to the later to occur of (A) the Closing Time and (B) completion of the distribution of the Shares, will not distribute any offering material to the public in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares other than the Registration Statement, the Original Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, the Rule 482 Statement, the Prospectus, or other materials, if any, permitted by the 1933 Act or the 1940 Act or the Rules and Regulations.

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(xxiii) Accounting Controls and Disclosure Controls . The Fund maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization and with the applicable requirements of the 1940 Act and the 1940 Act Regulations; (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets and to maintain compliance with the books and records requirements under the 1940 Act and the 1940 Act Regulations; (C) access to Fund assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (D) the recorded accountability for Fund assets is compared with the existing Fund assets at reasonable intervals and action deemed appropriate by the Fund is taken with respect to any differences. The Fund has disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 30a-3 under the 1940 Act) that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Fund in the reports that it files or submits under the 1940 Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the Commission, including, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Fund in the reports that it files or submits under the 1940 Act is accumulated and communicated to the Fund’s management, including its principal executive officer or officers and its principal financial officer or officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Except as described in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, since the end of the Fund’s most recent audited fiscal year, there has been (I) no material weakness in the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and (II) no change in the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting.

(xxiv) Pending Proceedings and Examinations . The Registration Statement is not the subject of a pending proceeding or examination under Section 8(d) or 8(e) of the 1933 Act, and the Fund is not the subject of a pending proceeding under Section 8A of the 1933 Act in connection with the offering of the Shares.

(xxv) Absence of Undisclosed Payments . Neither the Fund nor, to the Fund’s knowledge, any employee or agent of the Fund, has made any payment of funds of the Fund or received or retained any funds, which payment, receipt or retention of funds is of a character required to be disclosed in the Original Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus and which payment has not been so disclosed.

(xxvi) Material Agreements . The Offering Agreements have each been duly authorized by all requisite action on the part of the Fund and executed and delivered by the Fund, as of the dates noted therein, and each complies with applicable provisions of the 1940 Act in all material respects. Assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties thereto with respect to this Agreement and the Offering Agreements, each Offering Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Fund, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as affected by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, and by general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing and except as rights to indemnification or contribution thereunder may be limited by equitable principles of general applicability or by federal or state laws.

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(xxvii) Registration Rights . There are no persons with registration rights or other similar rights to have any securities of the Fund registered pursuant to the Registration Statement or otherwise registered by the Fund under the 1933 Act.

(xxviii) NYSE MKT Listing . The Fund’s Common Shares are duly listed on the NYSE MKT.

(xxix) Investment Restrictions . There are no material restrictions, limitations or regulations with respect to the ability of the Fund to invest its assets as described in the Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectus and Prospectus, other than as described therein.

(xxx) Ratings. The Shares have been, or prior to the Closing Time will be, assigned a rating of “A1” by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

(xxxi) Payment of Taxes . All United States federal income tax returns of the Fund required by law to be filed have been filed and all taxes shown by such returns or otherwise assessed, which are due and payable, have been paid, except assessments that are being contested in good faith and as to which adequate reserves have been provided. The Fund has filed all other tax returns that are required to have been filed by it pursuant to applicable foreign, state, local or other law except insofar as the failure to file such returns would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, and has paid all taxes due pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the Fund, except for such taxes, if any, as are being contested in good faith and as to which adequate reserves have been provided. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Fund in respect of any income and corporation tax liability for any years not finally determined are adequate to meet any assessments or re-assessments for additional tax for any years not finally determined, except to the extent of any inadequacy that would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect. All material taxes which the Fund is required by law to withhold or to collect for payment have been duly withheld and collected and have been paid to the appropriate governmental authority or agency or have been accrued, reserved against and entered on the books of the Fund.

(xxxii) Insurance . The Fund carries or is entitled to the benefits of insurance, with financially sound and reputable insurers, in such amounts and covering such risks as are generally maintained by companies of established repute engaged in the same or similar business, and all such insurance is in full force and effect. The Fund has no reason to believe that it will not be able to (A) renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or (B) obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct its business as now conducted and at a cost that would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xxxiii) Statistical and Market-Related Data . Any statistical and market-related data included in the Original Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Fund believes to be reliable and accurate, and the Fund has obtained written consent to the use of such data from such sources.

(xxxiv) Tax Treatment of the Preferred Shares . For United States federal income tax purposes, the Shares will constitute equity of the Fund.

(xxxv) Foreign Corrupt Practices Act . Neither the Fund nor, to the knowledge of the Fund, any trustee, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Fund is aware of or has taken any

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action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “ FCPA ”), including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA, and the Fund and, to the knowledge of the Fund, its affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with the FCPA and to the extent required by applicable law have instituted and maintain policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.

(xxxvi) Money Laundering Laws . The operations of the Fund are and have been conducted at all times in compliance in all material respects with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and such other U.S. anti-money laundering or similar U.S. laws applicable to the Fund, including any rules or regulations, issued, administered or enforced by any U.S. governmental agency (collectively, “ Money Laundering Laws ”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Fund with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Fund, threatened.

(xxxvii) OFAC . Neither the Fund nor, to the knowledge of the Fund, any trustee, director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or person acting on behalf of the Fund is currently the subject or target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the United States Government, including, without limitation, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“ OFAC ”), the United Nations Security Council (“ UNSC ”), the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury (“ HMT ”), or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “ Sanctions ”); and the Fund will not use any of the proceeds received by the Fund from the sale of the Shares, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiaries, joint venture partners or other person, to fund any activities of or business with any person, or in any country or territory, that, at the time of such funding, is the subject of Sanctions or in any other manner that will result in a violation by any person (including any person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions.

(xxxviii)  Compliance with the Sarbanes Oxley Act . There is and has been no failure on the part of the Fund or any of the Fund’s trustees or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith (the “ Sarbanes Oxley Act ”).

(b) Representations and Warranties by the Adviser. The Adviser represents and warrants to each Underwriter as of the date hereof, as of the Applicable Time and as of the Closing Time referred to in Section 2(b) hereof, as follows:

(i) Good Standing of the Adviser . The Adviser has been duly organized and is validly existing and in good standing as a limited liability company under the laws of the State of New York with full limited liability company power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, Original

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Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and is duly qualified as a foreign entity to transact business and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which such qualification is required except where the failure so to register or to qualify would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Adviser’s ability to provide services to the Fund under the Investment Advisory Agreement or on the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Adviser, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business (an “ Adviser Material Adverse Effect ”).

(ii) Investment Adviser Status . The Adviser is duly registered and in good standing with the Commission as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act, and is not prohibited by the Advisers Act, the Adviser Act Rules and Regulations, the 1940 Act, or the 1940 Act Regulations, from acting under the Investment Advisory Agreement for the Fund as contemplated by the Prospectus.

(iii) Description of Adviser . The description of the Adviser in the Registration Statement, the Original Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus (including any amendment or supplement thereto) complied and comply in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, the Rules and Regulations and the Advisers Act Rules and Regulations and is true and correct in all material respects and does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(iv) Capitalization . The Adviser has the financial resources available to it necessary for the performance of its services and obligations as contemplated in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and in the Investment Advisory Agreement.

(v) Authorization of Offering Agreements; Absence of Defaults and Conflicts . This Agreement and the Investment Advisory Agreement have each been duly authorized and executed, and in the case of the Investment Advisory Agreement, delivered by the Adviser, and the Investment Advisory Agreement constitutes, and the Agreement when executed and delivered (assuming the due execution and delivery by the Underwriters) will constitute, a valid and binding obligation of the Adviser, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as affected by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) or an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing and except as rights to indemnification or contribution thereunder may be limited by equitable principles of general applicability or by federal or state laws; and neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the Investment Advisory Agreement nor the performance by the Adviser of its obligations hereunder or thereunder will conflict with, or result in a breach of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute, with or without the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, a default under, (A) any agreement or instrument to which the Adviser is a party or by which it is bound, (B) the limited liability company agreement and other organizational documents of the Adviser, or (C) to the Adviser’s knowledge, any law, order, decree, rule or regulation applicable to it of any jurisdiction, court, federal or state regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental body, stock exchange or securities association having jurisdiction over the Adviser or its respective properties or operations other than any conflict, breach or default that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in an Adviser Material Adverse Effect; and no consent, approval, authorization or order of any court or governmental authority or agency is required for the consummation by the

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Adviser of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Investment Advisory Agreement, except (A) as have been obtained or will be obtained prior to the Closing Time or may be required under the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act, the 1934 Act, the Advisers Act or state and foreign securities or “blue sky” laws, (B) may be required by the NYSE MKT, the FINRA or any other applicable self-regulatory organization and securities depository, or (C) such as which the failure to obtain would not have an Adviser Material Adverse Effect or a Material Adverse Effect or impede the ability of the Adviser to perform its obligations under this Agreement.

(vi)  No Material Adverse Change . Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Original Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein, there has not occurred any event which should reasonably be expected to have an Adviser Material Adverse Effect.

(vii) Absence of Proceedings . There is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or brought by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, now pending, or, to the knowledge of the Adviser, threatened against or affecting the Adviser or any parent or subsidiary of the Adviser or any partners, directors, officers or employees of the foregoing, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, which might reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in an Adviser Material Adverse Effect, or materially and adversely affect the ability of the Adviser to perform its obligations under this Agreement, or which is required to be disclosed in the Original Registration Statement, Basic Prospectus, Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus that has not been disclosed.

(viii) Absence of Violation or Default . The Adviser is not in violation of its limited liability company agreement or other organizational documents or in default under any agreement, indenture or instrument, except for such violations or defaults that would not reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in an Adviser Material Adverse Effect.

(ix) Money Laundering Laws . The operations of the Adviser and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance in all material respects with applicable Money Laundering Laws and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Adviser or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Adviser, threatened.

(x)  Foreign Corrupt Practices Act . Neither the Adviser nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Adviser, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Adviser or any of its subsidiaries is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of the FCPA, including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA, and the Adviser, its subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Adviser, its affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with the FCPA and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.

(xi)  OFAC . Neither the Adviser or any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Adviser, any director, officer, agent, employee or person acting on behalf of the Adviser is currently the subject or target of any Sanctions.

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(c) Officer’s Certificates . Any certificate signed by any officer of the Fund or the Adviser delivered to the Underwriters or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Fund or the Adviser, as the case may be, to the Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.

Section 2. Sale and Delivery To Underwriters; Closing.

(a) Shares . On the basis of the representations and warranties contained herein and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Fund agrees to sell to each Underwriter, and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Fund, at the price per share set forth in Schedule B, the number of Shares set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter, plus any additional number of Shares which such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 10 hereof.

(b) Payment . Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery in electronic form of the Shares shall be made at the offices of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, 425 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10017 or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Fund, at 10:00 A.M. (Eastern time) on the third business day after the date hereof (unless postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 10), or such other time not later than ten business days after such date as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Fund (such time and date of payment and delivery being herein called “ Closing Time ”).

Payment shall be made to the Fund by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account designated by the Fund, against delivery to the Representative for the respective accounts of the Underwriters of the Shares, in electronic book entry form, to be purchased by them. It is understood that each Underwriter has authorized the Representative, for its account, to accept delivery of, receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the Shares which it has agreed to purchase. MLPF&S, individually and not as representative of the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment of the purchase price for the Shares to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds have not been received by the Closing Time, but such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from its obligations hereunder. The Shares to be purchased hereunder shall be delivered to you at the Closing Time through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company or another mutually agreeable facility, against payment of the purchase price therefor in immediately available funds to the order of the Fund.

Section 3. Covenants.

(a) The Fund and Adviser, jointly and severally, covenant with each Underwriter as follows:

(i) Compliance With Securities Regulations and Commission Requests . The Fund, subject to Section 3(a)(ii), will comply with the applicable requirements of Rule 430B of the 1933 Act Regulations and will notify the Representative as soon as practicable, and confirm the notice in writing, (A) when any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement shall become effective, or any supplement to the Prospectus, the Preliminary Prospectus or any amended Prospectus shall have been filed, (B) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission, (C) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus (or any document incorporated by reference therein or otherwise deemed to be a part thereof) or for additional information, (D) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, or of the suspension of

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the qualification of the Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes, and (E) if the Fund becomes the subject of a proceeding under Section 8A of the 1933 Act in connection with the offering of the Shares. The Fund will effect the filings necessary under Rule 497 of the 1933 Act Regulations in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 497 of the 1933 Act Regulations and will take such steps as it deems necessary to ascertain promptly whether the form of prospectus transmitted for filing under Rule 497 was received for filing by the Commission and, in the event that it was not, it will promptly file such prospectus. The Fund will make every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any stop order and, if any stop order or order of suspension or revocation of registration pursuant to Section 8(e) of the 1940 Act is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment.

(ii) Filing of Amendments and Exchange Act Documents . So long as this Agreement remains in effect, the Fund will give the Representative notice of its intention to file or prepare any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment, supplement or revision to either any Preliminary Prospectus (including any prospectus included in the Original Registration Statement or any amendment thereto at the time it became effective) or to the Prospectus, and will furnish the Representative with copies of any such documents a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing or use, as the case may be, and will not file or use any such documents to which the Representative or counsel for the Underwriters shall reasonably object. The Fund has given the Representative notice of any filings made pursuant to the 1934 Act or the 1934 Act Regulations within 48 hours prior to the Applicable Time; the Fund will give the Representative notice of its intention to make any such filing from the Applicable Time to the Closing Time and will furnish the Representative with copies of any such documents a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing and will not, unless required by law, file or use any such document to which the Representative or counsel for the Underwriters shall object; provided, however that this covenant shall not apply to any post-effective amendment required by Rule 8b-16 of the 1940 Act which is filed with the Commission after the later of (x) one year from the date of this Agreement or (y) the date on which the distribution of the Shares is completed.

(iii) Delivery of Registration Statements . The Fund has furnished or will deliver to the Representative and counsel for the Underwriters, without charge, copies of the Original Registration Statement and of each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith or incorporated by reference therein and documents incorporated by reference therein) and copies of all consents and certificates of experts, and will also deliver to the Representative, without charge, a conformed copy of the Original Registration Statement and, for so long as this Agreement remains in effect, of each amendment thereto (without exhibits) for each of the Underwriters. The copies of the Original Registration Statement and each amendment thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

(iv) Delivery of Prospectuses . The Fund has delivered to each Underwriter, without charge, as many copies of each Preliminary Prospectus as such Underwriter reasonably requested, and the Fund hereby consents to the use of such copies for purposes permitted by the 1933 Act. The Fund will furnish to each Underwriter, without charge, during the period when a prospectus is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act, such number of copies of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) as such Underwriter may reasonably request. The Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

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(v) Continued Compliance With Securities Laws . The Fund will comply with the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the 1934 Act, the 1934 Act Regulations, the 1940 Act and the 1940 Act Regulations so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the Shares as contemplated in this Agreement and in the Prospectus. If at any time when a prospectus is required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the Shares, any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the reasonable opinion of counsel for the Underwriters or for the Fund, to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Prospectus in order that the Prospectus will not include any untrue statements of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to a purchaser, or if it shall be necessary, in the opinion of such counsel, at any such time to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to comply with the requirements of the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations, the Fund will promptly prepare and file with the Commission, subject to
Section 3(a)(ii), such amendment or supplement as may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to comply with such requirements, and the Fund will furnish to the Underwriter such number of copies of such amendment or supplement as the Underwriter may reasonably request. If at any time following issuance of a Rule 482 Statement, there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Rule 482 Statement included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances, prevailing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Fund will promptly notify the Representative and will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Rule 482 Statement to eliminate or correct such untrue statement or omission.

(vi) Blue Sky Qualifications . The Fund will use its best efforts, in cooperation with the Underwriters, to qualify the Shares for offering and sale under the applicable securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions of the United States as the Representative may designate and to maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Shares; provided, however, that the Fund shall not be obligated to file any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject.

(vii) Rule 158 . The Fund will timely file such reports pursuant to the 1934 Act or 1940 Act as are necessary in order to make generally available to its securityholders as soon as practicable an earnings statement for the purposes of, and to provide to the Underwriter the benefits contemplated by, the last paragraph of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act.

(viii) Use of Proceeds . The Fund will use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the Shares in the manner specified in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus under “Use of Proceeds.”

(ix) Listing . The Fund will use its best efforts to effect the listing of the Shares on the NYSE MKT, subject to notice of issuance.

(x) Restriction on Sale of Shares . During a period of 90 days from the date of the Prospectus, the Fund will not, without the prior written consent of MLPF&S, directly or indirectly, offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or lend or otherwise

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transfer or dispose of preferred shares or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for preferred shares or file any registration statement under the 1933 Act with respect to any of the foregoing, whether any such transaction described above is to be settled by delivery of preferred shares or such other securities, in cash or otherwise. The foregoing sentence shall not apply to the Shares to be sold hereunder or the preferred shares issued pursuant to any dividend reinvestment plan.

(xi) Reporting Requirements . The Fund, during the period when the Prospectus is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act, will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the 1940 Act and the 1934 Act within the time periods required by the 1940 Act, the 1940 Act Regulations and the 1934 Act Regulations, respectively.

(xii) No Manipulation of Market for Shares . Except for the authorization of actions permitted to be taken by the Underwriters as contemplated herein, in the Preliminary Prospectus or in the Prospectus, the Fund will not (A) take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or to result in, or that might reasonably be expected to constitute, the manipulation of the price of any security of the Fund or to stabilize in connection with the offering of the Shares, except to the extent authorized by applicable law, including without limitation by Rule 104 of Reg M under the 1934 Act, and (B) until the Closing Time, (i) sell, bid for or purchase the Shares or pay any person any compensation for soliciting purchases of the Shares or (ii) pay or agree to pay to any person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any other securities of the Fund. It is acknowledged and agreed that nothing in this subsection shall prohibit the operation of the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan or share repurchase plan.

Section 4. Payment of Expenses.

(a) Expenses. The Fund will pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including (i) the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits) as originally filed and of each amendment thereto, (ii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the Shares to the Underwriters, including any stock or other transfer taxes and any stamp or other duties payable upon the sale, issuance or delivery of the Shares to the Underwriters, (iii) the fees and disbursements of the Fund’s counsel, accountants and other advisers, (iv) the qualification of the Shares under securities laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(vi) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection therewith and in connection with the preparation of the Blue Sky Survey and any supplement thereto, (v) the printing and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of each Preliminary Prospectus, any Rule 482 Statement and of the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto and any reasonable costs associated with electronic delivery of any of the foregoing by the Underwriter to investors, (vi) the preparation, printing and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of the Blue Sky Survey and any supplement thereto, (vii) the fees and expenses of any transfer agent or registrar for the Shares associated with the purchase by the Underwriters of the Shares, (viii) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Shares on the NYSE MKT, (ix) the printing of any Sales Material, and (x) the transportation and other expenses incurred by or on behalf of Fund representatives in connection with presentations to prospective purchasers of the Shares.

(b) Termination of Agreement. If this Agreement is terminated by the Representative in accordance with the provisions of Section 5, Section 9(a)(i) or Section 9(a)(iii) (with respect to the first clause only) hereof, the Fund agrees that it shall reimburse the Underwriters for all of their reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses, including reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters.

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Section 5. Conditions of Underwriter’s Obligations.

The obligations of the several Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Fund and the Adviser contained in Section 1 hereof or in certificates of any officer of the Fund or the Adviser delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Fund and the Adviser of their respective covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to the following further conditions:

(a) Effectiveness of Registration Statement. The Original Registration Statement has become effective and at Closing Time no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Original Registration Statement shall have been issued under the 1933 Act, no notice or order pursuant to Section 8(e) of the 1940 Act shall have been issued, and no proceedings with respect to either shall have been initiated or, to the Fund’s knowledge, threatened by the Commission, and any request on the part of the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of counsel to the Underwriters. A prospectus containing the Rule 430B Information shall have been filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 497 (or a post-effective amendment providing such information shall have been filed and declared effective in accordance with the requirements of Rule 430B).

(b) Opinions of Counsel.

(i) Opinion of Counsel for the Fund . At Closing Time, the Representative shall have received the favorable opinion, dated as of Closing Time, from Skadden, Arps, Slate Meagher & Flom LLP, special counsel for the Fund, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters to the effect set forth on Schedule E hereto.

(ii) Opinion of Counsel for the Adviser. At Closing Time, the Representative shall have received the favorable opinions, dated as of Closing Time, from (x) Skadden, Arps, Slate Meagher & Flom LLP, special counsel for the Adviser, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters to the effect set forth on Schedule F-1 hereto, and (y) internal counsel for the Adviser in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters to the effect set forth on Schedule F-2 hereto.

(iii) Opinion of Counsel for the Underwriters . At Closing Time, the Underwriters shall have received the favorable opinion, dated as of Closing Time, from Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, which opinion shall be in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters. Insofar as the opinion expressed above is related to or dependent upon matters governed by Delaware law, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP will be permitted to rely on the opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate Meagher & Flom LLP.

(c) Officers’ Certificates.   At Closing Time, there shall not have been, since the date hereof or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Original Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, any material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Fund, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, and the Representative shall have received (x) a certificate of a duly authorized officer of the Fund and of the chief financial or chief accounting officer of the Fund and of the President or a Vice President or Managing Director (or person holding similar office)

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of the Adviser, dated as of Closing Time, to the effect that (i) there has been no such material adverse change, (ii) the representations and warranties in Sections l(a) and (b) hereof are true and correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made at and as of Closing Time, (iii) the Fund or the Adviser, as applicable, has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to Closing Time, and (iv) to the knowledge of such officers, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Original Registration Statement, or order of suspension or revocation of registration pursuant to Section 8(e) of the 1940 Act, has been issued and no proceedings for any such purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of such officers, contemplated by the Commission and (y) a certificate of the Fund’s chief financial officer, dated the date hereof, substantially in the form of Schedule G hereto.

(d) Accountant’s Comfort Letter. At the time of the execution of this Agreement, the Representative shall have received from Tait, Weller & Baker, LLP a letter dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the Original Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus.

(e) Bring-Down Comfort Letter. At Closing Time, the Representative shall have received from Tait, Weller & Baker, LLP a letter, dated as of Closing Time, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the letter furnished pursuant to subsection (d) of this Section, except that the specified date referred to shall be a date not more than three (3) business days prior to Closing Time.

(f) Maintenance of Ratings . The Fund shall have delivered to the Representative evidence satisfactory to the Representative that the Shares are rated “A1” by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. as of the Closing Time, and since the date of this Agreement there shall not have been received by the Fund or the Adviser any notice of any intended or potential downgrading, or any review for a potential downgrading, in the rating assigned to the Shares by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

(g) Approval of Listing. At Closing Time, the Shares shall have been approved for listing on the NYSE MKT, subject only to official notice of issuance.

(h) Filing of Statement . At Closing Time, the Fund shall have filed the Statement with the Commission.

(i) Additional Documents . At Closing Time, counsel for the Underwriters shall have been furnished with such documents and opinions as they may reasonably require for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Shares as herein contemplated, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations or warranties, or the fulfillment of any of the conditions herein contained; and all proceedings taken by the Fund and the Adviser in connection with the organization and registration of the Fund under the 1940 Act and the issuance and sale of the Shares as herein contemplated shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Representative and counsel for the Underwriters.

(j) Termination of Agreement. If any condition specified in this Section shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled, this Agreement may be terminated by the Representative by notice to the Fund at any time at or prior to Closing Time, and such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 4 and except that Sections 1, 6, 7, 8, 16 and 18 shall survive any such termination and remain in full force and effect.

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Section 6. Indemnification.

(a) Indemnification of Underwriters. The Fund and the Adviser agree, jointly and severally, to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, affiliates of each Underwriter (as such term is defined in Rule 501(b) under the 1933 Act, each an “ Affiliate ”), and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act as follows:

(i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Original Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including any Rule 430B Information, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in any Rule 482 Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

(ii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that (subject to Section 6(e) below) any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Fund; and

(iii) against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including the reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by MLPF&S), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above;

provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Fund or the Adviser by any Underwriter through MLPF&S expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430B Information, or any Rule 482 Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).

Notwithstanding this paragraph (a), the Adviser shall be liable to any party to be indemnified under the Section 6(a) in any case only to the extent that the Fund fails to indemnify and hold harmless the indemnified party.

(b) Indemnification of Fund, Adviser, Trustees and Officers. Each Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund and the Adviser, their respective trustees, directors and officers, and each person, if any, who controls the Fund or the Adviser within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act and any director, trustee, officer, or affiliate thereof, against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in subsection (a) of this Section, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including any

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Rule 430B Information, or the Rule 482 Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Fund or the Adviser by such Underwriter through MLPF&S expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including any Rule 430B Information, or the Rule 482 Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).

(c) Indemnification for Marketing Materials. In addition to the foregoing indemnification, the Fund and the Adviser also agree, jointly and severally, to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in Section 6(a), as limited by the proviso set forth therein, with respect to any Sales Material in the form approved in writing by the Fund or the Adviser for use by the Underwriters and securities firms to whom the Fund or the Adviser shall have disseminated materials in connection with the public offering of the Shares.

(d) Actions Against Parties; Notification. Each indemnified party shall give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying party of any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability hereunder to the extent it is not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity agreement. In the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(a) above, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by MLPF&S, and, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(b) above, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by the Fund and the Adviser. An indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the defense of any such action; provided, however, that counsel to the indemnifying party shall not (except with the consent of the indemnified party) also be counsel to the indemnified party. In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 6 or Section 7 hereof (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

(e) Settlement Without Consent if Failure to Reimburse. If at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 6(a)(ii) effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.

(f) Limitations on Indemnification. Any indemnification by the Fund shall be subject to the requirements and limitations of Section 17(i) of the 1940 Act and 1940 Act Release No. 11330.

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Section 7. Contribution.

If the indemnification provided for in Section 6 hereof is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by such indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Fund and the Adviser on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand from the offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Fund and the Adviser on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.

The relative benefits received by the Fund and the Adviser on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Fund and the total underwriting discount received by the Underwriters (whether from the Fund or otherwise), in each case as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate public offering price of the Shares as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus.

The relative fault of the Fund and the Adviser on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Fund or the Adviser or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

The Fund, the Adviser and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 7. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 7 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Shares underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

For purposes of this Section 7, each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act and each Underwriter’s Affiliates shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each trustee of the Fund and each member or director of the Adviser, respectively, each officer of the Fund who signed the Registration

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Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Fund or the Adviser, within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Fund and the Adviser, respectively. The Underwriters’ respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 7 are several in proportion to the number of Shares set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule A hereto and not joint.

Any contribution by the Fund shall be subject to the requirements and limitations of Section 17(i) of the 1940 Act and 1940 Act Release No. 11330.

Section 8. Representations and Warranties To Survive Delivery.

All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Fund or the Adviser submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or controlling person, or by or on behalf of the Fund or the Adviser, and shall survive delivery of the Shares to the Underwriters.

Section 9. Termination of Agreement.

(a) Termination; General. The Representative may terminate this Agreement, by notice to the Fund, at any time at or prior to Closing Time (i) if there has been, since the time of execution of this Agreement or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus or General Disclosure Package, any material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Fund or the Adviser, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, or (ii) if there has occurred any material adverse change in the financial markets in the United States or the international financial markets, any material outbreak of hostilities or material escalation thereof or other calamity or crisis or any change or development involving a prospective change in national or international political, financial or economic conditions, in each case the effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Representative, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Shares, or (iii) if trading in the Shares of the Fund has been suspended or materially limited by the Commission or the NYSE MKT, or if trading generally on the NYSE MKT, the New York Stock Exchange or in the NASDAQ Stock Market has been suspended or materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices for trading have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices have been required, by any of said exchanges or by such system or by order of the Commission, the FINRA or any other governmental authority, or (iv) a material disruption has occurred in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States, or (v) if a banking moratorium has been declared by either U.S. or New York authorities.

(b) Liabilities. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section 9, such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 4 hereof, and provided further that Sections 1, 6, 7, 8, 16 and 18 shall survive such termination and remain in full force and effect.

Section 10. Default by One or More of the Underwriters.

If one or more of the Underwriters shall fail at Closing Time to purchase the Shares which it or they are obligated to purchase under this Agreement (the “Defaulted Securities”), the Representative shall have the right, within 24 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one or more of the non-defaulting Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Defaulted Securities in such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms herein set forth; if, however, the Representative shall not have completed such arrangements within such 24-hour period, then:

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(a) if the number of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of the number of the Shares to be purchased hereunder, each of the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated, severally and not jointly, to purchase the full amount thereof in the proportions that their respective underwriting obligations hereunder bear to the underwriting obligations of all non-defaulting Underwriters, or

(b) if the number of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the number of the Shares to be purchased hereunder, this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter.

No action taken pursuant to this Section shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of its default.

In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination of this Agreement, either the Representative or the Fund shall have the right to postpone Closing Time for a period not exceeding seven days in order to effect any required changes in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements. As used herein, the term “Underwriter” includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under this Section 10.

Section 11. Notices.

All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be directed to the Representative, c/o Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, 50 Rockefeller Plaza, NY1-050-12-01, New York, NY 10020, attention of Capital Markets Transaction Management/Legal; and notices to the Fund or the Adviser shall be directed, as appropriate, to the office of the Adviser, One Corporate Center, Rye, New York 10580-1422, attention of Andrea Mango, with a copy to Richard Prins, Skadden, Arps, Slate Meagher & Flom LLP, 4 Times Square, New York, New York 10036.

Section 12. No Advisory or Fiduciary Relationship.

The Fund and the Adviser each acknowledge and agree that (a) the purchase and sale of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement, including the determination of the public offering price of the Shares and any related discounts and commissions, is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Fund, on the one hand, and the several Underwriters, on the other hand, (b) in connection with the offering contemplated hereby and the process leading to such transaction each Underwriter is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the agent or fiduciary of the Fund or the Adviser, or any of their respective stockholders, creditors or employees or any other party, (c) no Underwriter has assumed or will assume an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Fund or the Adviser with respect to the offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Fund or the Adviser on other matters) and no Underwriter has any obligation to the Fund or the Adviser with respect to the offering contemplated hereby except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement, (d) the Underwriters and their respective affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Fund or the Adviser, and (e) the Underwriters have not provided legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering contemplated hereby and the Fund and the Adviser each has consulted its own respective legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate.

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Section 13. Parties.

This Agreement shall each inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Underwriters, the Fund, the Adviser and their respective partners and successors. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation, other than the Underwriters, the Fund, the Adviser and their respective successors and the controlling persons and officers and directors referred to in Sections 6 and 7 and their heirs and legal representatives, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. This Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Underwriters, the Fund, the Adviser and their respective partners and successors, and said controlling persons and officers, directors and their heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation. No purchaser of Shares from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase.

Section 14. Tax Disclosure.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, immediately upon commencement of discussions with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby, the Fund and the Adviser (and each employee, representative or other agent of the Fund) may disclose to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to the Fund relating to such tax treatment and tax structure. For purposes of the foregoing, the term “tax treatment” is the purported or claimed federal income tax treatment of the transactions contemplated hereby, and the term “tax structure” includes any fact that may be relevant to understanding the purported or claimed federal income tax treatment of the transactions contemplated hereby.

Section 15. Integration.

This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) among the Fund, the Adviser and the Underwriters, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

Section 16. Governing Law.

THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN SAID STATE.

Section 17. Time.

TIME SHALL BE OF THE ESSENCE OF THIS AGREEMENT. UNLESS OTHERWISE EXPLICITLY PROVIDED, SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME.

Section 18. Submission to Jurisdiction/Jury Trial Waiver.

Except as set forth below, no suits, actions, claims, counterclaims or proceedings (each, a “ Proceeding ”) which relates to the terms of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (each, a “ Claim ”) may be commenced, prosecuted or continued in any court other than the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, or in the event that court lacks jurisdiction to hear such Claims, in the courts of the State of New York located in the City and County of New York, which courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction over the adjudication of such claims. Each of the Fund, the Adviser and the Underwriters hereby submits to and accepts generally and unconditionally the exclusive jurisdiction

24

of those for the purposes of the adjudication of such Claims and irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such Proceeding brought in such court and any claim that any such Proceeding brought in such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Each of the Underwriters, the Fund (on its behalf and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, on behalf of its shareholders and affiliates) and the Adviser (on its behalf and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, on behalf of its shareholders and affiliates) hereby waives all right to trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim (whether based upon contract, tort or otherwise) in any way arising out of or relating to this Agreement. Each of the Fund, the Adviser and the Underwriters agrees that a final judgment in any such action, proceeding or counterclaim brought in any such court shall be conclusive and binding upon the Fund, the Adviser or the Underwriters, as the case may be, and may be enforced in any other courts in the jurisdiction of which the Fund, the Adviser or the Underwriters, as the case may be, is or may be subject, by suit upon such judgment.

Section 19. Counterparts.

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement.

Section 20. Assignment.

The parties hereby agree that MLPF&S may, without notice to the Fund or the Adviser, assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any other registered broker-dealer wholly-owned by Bank of America Corporation to which all or substantially all of MLPF&S’s capital markets, investment banking or related businesses may be transferred following the date of this Agreement.

Section 21. Effect of Headings.

The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to MLPF&S a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement among the Underwriters, the Fund and the Adviser in accordance with its terms.

CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED,

As of the date first above written:

For themselves and as Representative of the other Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto.

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27

SCHEDULE B

The purchase price to be paid by the Underwriters for the Shares shall be $24.2125 per share.

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SCHEDULE C

Number of Securities: 1,200,000

Dividend Rate (cumulative from August 9, 2016): 5.375%

Settlement Date: August 9, 2016

Underwriting Discount per share: $0.7875

Optional Redemption Date: On or after August 9, 2021

Net Proceeds: $29,055,000

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SCHEDULE D

Rule 482 Statement

Rule 482 ad filed under Rule 497 on August 4, 2016.

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SCHEDULE E

Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate Meagher & Flom LLP

31

SCHEDULE F-1

Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate Meagher & Flom LLP

32

SCHEDULE F-2

Opinion of Internal Counsel to the Adviser

33

SCHEDULE G

BANCROFT FUND LTD.

TREASURER’S CERTIFICATE

August 4, 2016

I, Agnes Mullady, Treasurer of Bancroft Fund Ltd. (the “Fund”) do hereby certify that I am the Treasurer and principal financial officer of the Fund. In that capacity, I have reviewed the Fund’s registration statement dated July 21, 2016 (the “Registration Statement”) and the preliminary prospectus supplement dated August 4, 2016 (the “Preliminary Prospectus Supplement”), each relating to the offering of 1,200,000 of the Fund’s Series A Cumulative Preferred Shares, liquidation preference $25.00 per share, par value $0.01 per share (the “Offering”). Based upon a review of the Fund’s financial records, schedules and analyses undertaken by myself or by members of my staff who are responsible for the Fund’s financial and accounting matters, I do hereby certify to the Underwriters, to the best of my information, knowledge and belief, that:

Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Underwriting Agreement.

[Signature Page Follows]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this certificate as of the date first set forth above.

- 35 -

[CFO Certificate]

Ex. 99(k)(ii)

ADDENDUM TO

TRANSFER AGENCY AND REGISTRAR SERVICES AGREEMENT

This Addendum (this “ Addendum ”), is made as of August 9, 2016, by and between Bancroft Fund Ltd., a Delaware statutory trust (the “ Company ”) and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, a New York limited liability trust company (“ AST ”).

WHEREAS, the parties entered into that certain Transfer Agency and Registrar Services Agreement (the “ Agreement ”), dated as of February 22, 2000; and

WHEREAS, the parties now desire to supplement the Agreement as more fully described herein.

NOW THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, and intending to be legally bound, the parties hereby execute this Addendum in order to supplement the Agreement as follows:

1. Definitions . Except as set forth herein, all of the terms and conditions of the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. In the event of conflicting or additional terms between the terms of the Agreement and this Addendum, the terms of this Addendum shall prevail over those in the Agreement with respect to the subject matter hereof. Any capitalized term used in this Amendment shall have the same meaning as in the Agreement unless the context herein specifically states otherwise.

2. Additional Classes of Securities . The Company hereby appoints AST to act as sole transfer agent and registrar for 5.375% Series A Cumulative Preferred Shares issued by the Company and AST hereby accepts such appointment.

Ex. 99(l)(ii)

[Letterhead of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP]

August 8, 2016

Bancroft Fund Ltd.

One Corporate Center

Rye, New York 10580-1422

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special counsel to Bancroft Fund Ltd., a statutory trust (the “Trust”) created under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act (the “DSTA”), in connection with the issuance and sale by the Trust of up to 1,200,000 shares (the “Shares”) of the Trust’s 5.375% Series A Cumulative Preferred Shares, par value $0.01 per share, with a liquidation preference of $25.00 per share (the “Series A Preferred Shares”), pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, dated August 4, 2016, among Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as representative of the underwriters listed therein, the Trust and Gabelli Funds, LLC, a New York limited liability company (the “Underwriting Agreement”).

This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of sub-paragraph (l) of item 25.2 of part C of Form N-2 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).

In rendering the opinions stated herein, we have examined and relied upon the following:

(i) the registration statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-211322 and 811-02151) of the Trust, filed with the Commission on May 12, 2016 under the Securities Act and the 1940 Act, allowing for delayed offerings pursuant to Rule 415 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Act (the “Securities Act Rules and Regulations”), as amended by Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 on July 18, 2016, Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 on July 20, 2016 and as proposed to be amended by Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 on the date hereof, including information deemed to be a part of the registration statement pursuant to Rule 430B of the Securities Act Rules and Regulations (such registration statement, as so amended and proposed to be amended, being hereinafter referred to as the “Registration Statement”);

(ii) the prospectus and Statement of Additional Information of the Trust, each dated July 21, 2016, in the form filed with the Commission on August 4, 2016 pursuant to Rule 497 of the Securities Act Rules and Regulations;

Bancroft Fund Ltd.

August 8, 2016

Page 2

(iii) the prospectus supplement of the Trust, dated August 4, 2016, relating to the offering of the Shares, in the form filed with the Commission on August 4, 2016 pursuant to Rule 497 of the Securities Act Rules and Regulations;

(iv) an executed copy of a certificate of Andrea R. Mango, Secretary of the Trust, dated the date hereof (the “Secretary’s Certificate”);

(v) a copy of the Trust’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Trust (the “Certificate of Trust”), as certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as of July 25, 2016 and certified pursuant to the Secretary’s Certificate;

(vi) a copy of the Trust’s Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust, by the trustees of the Trust, dated as of January 16, 2006, as amended and supplemented by the Amendment to the Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust, dated as of September 9, 2015 (as so amended and supplemented, the “Declaration of Trust”), certified pursuant to the Secretary’s Certificate;

(vii) a copy of the Trust’s Amended and Restated By-Laws, as amended and in effect as of the date hereof (the “By-Laws”), certified pursuant to the Secretary’s Certificate;

(viii) the Statement of Preferences for the Series A Preferred Shares, dated August 4, 2016, certified pursuant to the Secretary’s Certificate;

(ix) copies of certain resolutions relating to the issuance, sale and registration of the Shares and related matters, adopted (i) by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board of Trustees”) on February 24, 2016, May 18, 2016 and August 1, 2016 and (ii) by the Pricing Committee of the Board of Trustees on August 4, 2016, each certified pursuant to the Secretary’s Certificate (collectively, the “Board Resolutions”);

(x) a copy of a certificate, dated the date hereof, from the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware with respect to the Trust’s existence and good standing in the State of Delaware; and

(xi) an executed copy of the Underwriting Agreement.

We have also examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such records of the Trust and such agreements, certificates and receipts of public officials, certificates of officers or other representatives of the Trust and others, and such other documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions stated below.

In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, including endorsements, the legal capacity and competency of all natural persons, the authenticity of all

Bancroft Fund Ltd.

August 8, 2016

Page 3

documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as facsimile, electronic, certified or photostatic copies, and the authenticity of the originals of such copies. As to any facts relevant to the opinions stated herein that we did not independently establish or verify, we have relied upon statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Trust and others and of public officials, including the facts and conclusions set forth in the Secretary’s Certificate and the factual representations and warranties contained in the Underwriting Agreement.

We do not express any opinion as to any laws other than the DSTA.

Based upon the foregoing and subject to the qualifications and assumptions stated herein, we are of the opinion that the Shares have been duly authorized by all requisite statutory trust action on the part of the Trust under the DSTA and when the issuance of the Shares has been duly registered in the share record books of the Trust and the Shares are delivered and paid for by the underwriters in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement and Board Resolutions, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

In rendering the above opinion, we have assumed that if a holder of Shares requests a certificate representing such holder’s Shares, such certificate will have been signed manually or by facsimile by an authorized officer of the transfer agent and registrar for the Shares and registered by such transfer agent and registrar.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. We also hereby consent to the reference to our firm under the headings “Legal Matters” in the prospectus forming part of the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the Securities Act Rules and Regulations. This opinion is expressed as of the date hereof unless otherwise expressly stated, and we disclaim any undertaking to advise you of any subsequent changes in the facts stated or assumed herein or of any subsequent changes in applicable laws.

R.T.P.