John C. Ball
About John C. Ball
John C. Ball is Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer of Bancroft Fund Ltd. (BCV) and has served as an officer of the Gabelli Fund Complex since 2017; his year of birth is 1976 . He is also Senior Vice President of GAMCO Investors, Inc. (since 2018) and Chief Executive Officer of G. Distributors, LLC (since 2020) . Fund-level performance metrics tied to his compensation are not disclosed in BCV’s proxy materials .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Strategic Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMG Funds | Vice President and Assistant Treasurer | 2014–2017 | — |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| GAMCO Investors, Inc. | Senior Vice President | 2018–present | Affiliated asset manager |
| G. Distributors, LLC | Chief Executive Officer | 2020–present | Distribution affiliate |
| Gabelli Fund Complex | Officer of registered investment companies | 2017–present | Broad complex responsibilities |
Fixed Compensation
- BCV’s DEF 14A discloses compensation for Trustees and officers only if compensated directly by the Fund; John C. Ball is not listed in the Fund-paid officer compensation, indicating compensation is paid by the Adviser (Gabelli Funds, LLC) and specifics (base salary, bonus) are not disclosed at the Fund level .
Performance Compensation
- No disclosure of equity awards (RSUs/PSUs/options), performance metrics, or annual incentive plan details for BCV officers; the proxy materials do not present officer performance-based pay structures for BCV .
Equity Ownership & Alignment
Ownership has been minimal but increased modestly into 2024 year-end.
| Metric | As of Dec 31, 2022 | As of Dec 31, 2023 | As of Dec 31, 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common Shares Owned (#) | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| Percent of Shares Outstanding | <1% | <1% | <1% |
- Group-level note: Officers and Trustees as a group owned 3.5% of Common Shares as of Dec 31, 2024; John C. Ball individually held 16 shares (<1%) .
- No pledging/hedging or stock ownership guideline disclosures are presented for executive officers in BCV’s proxy materials .
Employment Terms
- Office start: Officer since 2017; Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer role noted in BCV .
- Term: Officers hold office for an indefinite term until resignation/retirement or until a successor is duly elected and qualified .
- Contracts: The proxy does not disclose individual employment agreements, severance, change-of-control terms, or non-compete/nonsolicit provisions for BCV officers .
- Section 16 compliance: BCV reports full compliance for FY ended September 30, 2024, and notes one late Form 4 filing for a Trustee (van Ekris) in the prior year; no officer delinquencies referenced, including Ball .
Investment Implications
- Pay-for-performance visibility is limited: Officer compensation specifics (cash/equity mix, targets, vesting) are not disclosed at the Fund level, reducing transparency on incentive alignment and potential insider selling pressure from vesting events .
- Skin-in-the-game is low: Ball’s direct ownership rose from 0 to 16 shares by Dec 31, 2024 but remains <1% of outstanding, indicating limited direct equity alignment at BCV .
- Continuity in financial control functions: Tenure since 2017 as Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer suggests stability in reporting and controls, but the absence of disclosed severance/change-of-control terms limits assessment of retention risk and potential transition economics .