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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549


FORM N-Q


QUARTERLY SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS OF REGISTERED

MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY


Investment Company Act file number 811-04656

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Ellsworth Fund Ltd.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)


65 Madison Avenue, Morristown, New Jersey 07960-7308

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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)


Thomas H. Dinsmore

Ellsworth Fund Ltd.

65 Madison Avenue

Morristown, New Jersey 07960-7308

(Name and address of agent for service)


Copy to:

Steven B. King, Esq.

Ballard Spahr LLP

1735 Market Street, 51st Floor

Philadelphia, PA 19103-7599



Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 973-631-1177


Date of fiscal year end:  September 30, 2012


Date of reporting period:  June 30, 2012


ITEM 1. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS.







Ellsworth Fund Ltd. - Schedule of Investments (unaudited)

 

 

June 30, 2012

 

 

 

 Principal

 Value

 

 Amount

 (Note 1)

CONVERTIBLE BONDS AND NOTES - 63.7%

 

 

 

 

 

Aerospace and Defense - 0.5%

 

 

Kaman Corp., 3.25%, Due 11/15/17, (BBB)

 $   500,000

 $      569,375

 

 

 

Automotive - 0.9%

 

 

Titan International, Inc., 5.625%, Due 1/15/17, (B)

375,000

         992,344

 

 

 

Computer Hardware - 3.6%

 

 

EMC Corp., 1.75%, Due 12/1/13, (A)

1,900,000

      3,101,750

NetApp Inc., 1.75%, Due 6/1/13, (BBB)

750,000

         860,625

 

 

      3,962,375

Computer Software - 7.2%

 

 

Digital River, Inc., 2.00%, Due 11/1/30, (BBB)

1,100,000

      1,032,625

Electronic Arts, Inc., 0.75%, Due 7/15/16, (BBB) (1)

1,000,000

         880,000

Microsoft Corp., 0.00%, Due 6/15/13, (AAA) (2)

500,000

         533,125

Nuance Communications, Inc., 2.75%, Due 8/15/27, (BB)

1,500,000

      2,075,625

Priceline.com Inc., 1.25%, Due 3/15/15, (BBB) (1)

200,000

         445,750

Priceline.com Inc., 1.00%, Due 3/15/18, (BBB) (1)

1,000,000

      1,058,750

Rovi Corp., 2.625%, Due 2/15/40, (B)

1,000,000

         967,500

THQ Inc., 5.00%, Due 8/15/14, (B)

750,000

         426,562

Tibco Software Inc., 2.25%, Due 5/1/32, (BBB) (1)

500,000

         488,125

 

 

      7,908,062

Construction Material - 0.8%

 

 

CEMEX S.A.B. de C.V., 4.875%, Due 3/15/15, (NR)

1,000,000

         887,500

 

 

 

Consumer Goods - 0.7%

 

 

Iconix Brand Group, Inc., 2.50%, Due 6/1/16, (BBB) (1)

750,000

         726,562

 

 

 

Data Processing - 0.8%

 

 

CSG Systems International, Inc., 3.00%, Due 3/1/17, (BBB) (1)

900,000

         912,375

 

 

 

Energy - 4.2%

 

 

Endeavour International Corp., 5.50%, Due 7/15/16, (CCC)

500,000

         435,000

Goodrich Petroleum Corp., 5.00%, Due 10/1/29, (CCC)

1,000,000

         936,250

JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd., 4.00%, Due 5/15/16, (NR)

500,000

         249,375

ReneSola Ltd., 4.125%, Due 3/15/18, (NR)

500,000

         277,500

Stone Energy Corp., 1.75%, Due 3/1/17, (B) (1)

250,000

         231,250

SunPower Corp., 4.75%, Due 4/15/14, (B)

500,000

         448,750

SunPower Corp., 4.50%, Due 3/15/15, (B)

1,250,000

      1,096,875

Trina Solar Ltd., 4.00%, Due 7/15/13, (NR)

1,000,000

         901,250

 

 

      4,576,250







Ellsworth Fund Ltd. - Schedule of Investments (continued)

 

 

June 30, 2012

 

 

 

 Principal

 Value

 

 Amount

 (Note 1)

CONVERTIBLE BONDS AND NOTES - continued

 

 

 

 

 

Financial Services - 5.8%

 

 

Am Trust Financial Services, Inc., 5.50%, Due 12/15/21, (AAA)

1,000,000

 $    1,170,000

Annaly Capital Management, Inc., 4.00%, Due 2/15/15, (BB)

750,000

         924,375

BGC Partners, Inc., 4.50%, Due 7/15/16, (BBB)

250,000

         233,750

DFC Global Corp., 3.25%, Due 4/15/17, (B) (1)

500,000

         540,625

Euronet Worldwide, Inc., 3.50%, Due 10/15/25, (BBB) (3)

500,000

         505,000

Knight Capital Group, Inc., 3.50%, Due 3/15/15, (BB)

750,000

         705,000

National Financial Partners Corp., 4.00%, Due 6/15/17, (BBB)

750,000

         923,438

Tower Group, Inc., 5.00%, Due 9/15/14, (A)

1,250,000

      1,314,062

 

 

      6,316,250

Foods - 0.4%

 

 

Chiquita Brands International, 4.25%, Due 8/15/16, (B)

581,000

         423,404

 

 

 

Healthcare - 2.3%

 

 

Chemed Corp., 1.875%, Due 5/15/14, (A)

890,000

         896,675

Insulet Corp., 3.75%, Due 6/15/16, (BBB)

750,000

         837,188

Lifepoint Hospitals, Inc., 3.50%, Due 5/15/14, (B)

500,000

         536,875

Omnicare, Inc., 3.25%, Due 12/15/35, (B) (3)

254,000

         242,888

 

 

      2,513,626

Machinery - 1.0%

 

 

Chart Industries, Inc., 2.00%, Due 8/1/18, (B)

500,000

         618,125

Titan Machinery Inc., 3.75%, Due 5/1/19, (B) (1)

500,000

         500,000

 

 

      1,118,125

Media and Entertainment - 1.3%

 

 

Liberty Interactive (CBS/VIA), 3.25%, Due 3/15/31, (BB)

1,000,000

         878,750

Omnicom Group Inc., 0.00%, Due 7/13/32, (BBB) (2,3)

500,000

         511,250

 

 

      1,390,000

Metals and Mining - 3.3%

 

 

Am Castle & Co., 7.00%, Due 12/15/17, (B)

250,000

         321,575

Kaiser Aluminum Corp., 4.50%, Due 4/1/15, (BB)

1,000,000

      1,237,500

Newmont Mining Corp., 1.625%, Due 7/15/17, (BBB)

250,000

         332,812

Northgate Minerals Corp., 3.50%, Due 10/1/16, (NR)

600,000

         653,250

RTI International Metals, Inc., 3.00%, Due 12/1/15, (BB)

600,000

         612,000

United States Steel Corp., 4.00%, Due 5/15/14, (BB)

500,000

         508,750

 

 

      3,665,887







Ellsworth Fund Ltd. - Schedule of Investments (continued)

 

 

June 30, 2012

 

 

 

 Principal

 Value

 

 Amount

 (Note 1)

CONVERTIBLE BONDS AND NOTES - continued

 

 

 

 

 

Pharmaceuticals - 8.4%

 

 

Amgen Inc., 0.375%, Due 2/1/13, (A)

1,000,000

 $    1,045,000

Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2.25%, Due 6/15/13, (A)

750,000

         974,062

Endo Health Solutions, Inc., 1.75%, Due 4/15/15, (BB)

500,000

         603,750

Gilead Sciences, Inc., 1.00%, Due 5/1/14, (A)

750,000

         935,625

Gilead Sciences, Inc., 1.625%, Due 5/1/16, (A)

1,000,000

      1,298,750

The Medicines Company, 1.375%, Due 6/1/17, (A) (1)

250,000

         256,562

Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp., 1.375%, Due 6/1/17, (A)

500,000

         498,125

Mylan Inc., 3.75%, Due 9/15/15, (BB)

750,000

      1,293,750

Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 4.00%, Due 8/15/16, (A)

250,000

         455,938

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., 1.875%, Due 10/1/16, (BBB)

250,000

         379,375

Salix Pharmaceuticals Ltd., 2.75%, Due 5/15/15, (BBB)

500,000

         680,000

Salix Pharmaceuticals Ltd., 1.50%, Due 3/15/19, (BBB) (1)

125,000

         134,375

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc., 3.35%, Due 10/1/15, (BBB)

500,000

         655,625

 

 

      9,210,937

Real Estate - 1.6%

 

 

Corporate Office Properties Trust, 4.25%, Due 4/15/30, (NR)

500,000

         494,375

Lexington Realty Trust, 6.00%, Due 1/15/30, (BBB)

1,000,000

      1,312,500

 

 

      1,806,875

Semiconductors - 7.6%

 

 

Intel Corp., 2.95%, Due 12/15/35, (A) (3)

1,500,000

      1,704,375

Intel Corp., 3.25%, Due 8/1/39, (A)

1,000,000

      1,351,250

Lam Research Corp., 1.25%, Due 5/15/18, (BBB)

500,000

         495,625

Linear Technology Corp., 3.00%, Due 5/1/27, (A)

500,000

         518,750

Mentor Graphics Corp., 4.00%, Due 4/1/31, (BBB)

250,000

         267,812

Micron Technology, Inc., 1.50%, Due 8/1/31, (BB)

625,000

         556,250

Micron Technology, Inc., 3.125%, Due 5/1/32, (BB) (1)

500,000

         458,125

Novellus Systems, Inc., 2.625%, Due 5/15/41, (NR) (3)

250,000

         306,950

Photronics, Inc., 3.25%, Due 4/1/16, (BBB)

500,000

         488,750

Rudolph Technologies Inc., 3.75%, Due 7/15/16, (BBB)

500,000

         500,000

SanDisk Corp., 1.50%, Due 8/15/17, (BB)

1,000,000

      1,033,750

Xilinx, Inc., 2.625%, Due 6/15/17, (BBB)

500,000

         643,750

 

 

      8,325,387

Telecommunications - 9.3%

 

 

Alaska Communications Systems Inc., 6.25%, Due 5/1/18, (B)

1,000,000

         705,000

Anixter International Inc., 1.00%, Due 2/15/13, (B)

750,000

         793,125

Equinix, Inc., 3.00%, Due 10/15/14, (B)

2,000,000

      3,385,000

Finisar Corp., 5.00%, Due 10/15/29, (NR)

75,000

         129,000

General Cable Corp., 4.50%, Due 11/15/29, (B)

1,000,000

         978,750

Interdigital, Inc., 2.50%, Due 3/15/16, (NR)

1,000,000

         976,250

SBA Communications Corp., 4.00%, Due 10/1/14, (NR)

500,000

         966,875

SBA Communications Corp., 1.875%, Due 5/1/13, (NR)

1,000,000

      1,390,000

TeleCommunication Systems, Inc., 4.50%, Due 11/1/14, (NR)

1,000,000

         830,000

 

 

     10,154,000

Transportation - 1.9%

 

 

Dryships Inc., 5.00%, Due 12/1/14, (BB)

750,000

         549,375

Hawaiian Holdings, Inc., 5.00%, Due 3/15/16, (BB)

1,000,000

      1,098,750

Ultrapetrol (Bahamas) Ltd., 7.25%, Due 1/15/17, (NR)

750,000

         453,750

 

 

      2,101,875







Ellsworth Fund Ltd. - Schedule of Investments (continued)

 

 

June 30, 2012

 

 

 

 Principal

 Value

 

 Amount

 (Note 1)

CONVERTIBLE BONDS AND NOTES - continued

 

 

 

 

 

Travel and Leisure - 2.1%

 

 

Home Inns & Hotels Management Inc., 2.00%, Due 12/15/15, (NR)

500,000

 $      391,875

MGM Resorts International, 4.25%, Due 4/15/15, (B)

1,000,000

      1,016,250

Morgans Hotel Group Co., 2.375%, Due 10/15/14, (B)

1,000,000

         880,000

 

 

      2,288,125

 

 

 

TOTAL CONVERTIBLE BONDS AND NOTES

 

     69,849,334

 

 

 

CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCKS - 11.6%

 

 

 

Shares

 

Banking/Savings and Loan - 6.0%

 

 

Bank of America Corp., 7.25%, (BB)

1,600

      1,560,000

Fifth Third Bancorp, 8.50%, (BB)

12,000

      1,641,600

New York Community Capital Trust V, 6.00%, (BB)

24,000

      1,151,280

Wells Fargo & Co., 7.50%, (BBB)

2,000

      2,250,000

 

 

      6,602,880

Energy - 1.8%

 

 

ATP Oil & Gas Corp., 8.00%, (NR)

7,500

         132,475

Chesapeake Energy Corp., 5.75%, (B)

2,050

      1,791,290

Whiting Petroleum Corp., 6.25%, (B)

131

           24,848

 

 

      1,948,613

Foods - 0.7%

 

 

Bunge Ltd., 4.875%, (BB)

7,500

         717,188

 

 

 

Media and Entertainment - 0.9%

 

 

The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc., 5.25%, (B)

1,000

      1,037,750

 

 

 

Real Estate - 0.5%

 

 

Health Care REIT, Inc., 6.50%, (BB)

10,000

         540,000

 

 

 

Retail - 0.7%

 

 

Amerivon Holdings LLC, 4.00%, (NR) (1,4,5)

594,409

         717,273

Amerivon Holdings LLC, common equity units, (NR) (1,4,5)

272,728

          32,727

 

 

         750,000

 

 

 

Tools - 1.1%

 

 

Stanley Black & Decker, Inc., 4.75%, (BBB)

10,000

      1,170,100

 

 

 

TOTAL CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCKS

 

     12,766,531







Ellsworth Fund Ltd. - Schedule of Investments (continued)

 

 

June 30, 2012

 

 

 

 

 Value

 

 Shares

 (Note 1)

MANDATORY CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES - 9.3% (6)

 

 

 

 

 

Automotive - 1.2%

 

 

General Motors Co., 4.75%, Due 12/1/13, (NR)

40,000

 $    1,328,000

 

 

 

Data Processing - 0.3%

 

 

Unisys Corp., 6.25%, Due 3/1/14, (B)

5,000

         296,200

 

 

 

Energy - 1.6%

 

 

Apache Corp., 6.00%, Due 8/1/13, (A)

25,000

      1,256,000

UBS AG Exchangeable Note (GTAT), 6.75%, Due 9/15/13, (A)

30,000

         541,875

 

 

      1,797,875

Financial Services - 2.2%

 

 

Citigroup Inc., 7.50%, Due 12/15/12, (BBB)

14,000

      1,197,840

MetLife, Inc., 5.00%, Due 10/8/14, (BBB)

20,000

      1,237,400

 

 

      2,435,240

Foods - 0.5%

 

 

2009 Dole Food ACES Trust, 7.00%, Due 11/1/12, (NR)

60,000

         530,628

 

 

 

Metals and Mining - 0.2%

 

 

AngloGold Ashanti Ltd., 6.00%, Due 9/15/13, (NR)

5,900

         243,080

 

 

 

Multi-Industry - 0.5%

 

 

United Technologies Corp., 7.50%, Due 8/1/22, (A)

10,000

         526,900

 

 

 

Transportation - 0.5%

 

 

2010 Swift Mandatory Common Exchange Security Trust, 6.00%,

60,000

         570,228

Due 12/31/13, (NR)

 

 

 

 

 

Utilities - 2.3%

 

 

NextEra Energy, Inc., 7.00%, Due 9/1/13, (NR)

20,000

      1,095,400

NextEra Energy, Inc., 5.599%, Due 6/1/17, (NR)

7,500

         383,475

PPL Corp., 8.75%, Due 5/1/19, (NR)

18,500

         989,195

 

 

      2,468,070

 

 

 

TOTAL MANDATORY CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES (6)

 

     10,196,221

 

 

 

COMMON STOCKS - 12.4%

 

 

 

 

 

Computer Software - 1.2%

 

 

Facebook, Inc. (2)

3,000

           93,360

Microsoft Corp.

40,000

      1,223,600

 

 

      1,316,960

Energy - 1.2%

 

 

ConocoPhillips, 3.75%

23,782

      1,328,938

 

 

 

Media and Entertainment - 0.7%

 

 

The Walt Disney Co.

15,000

         727,500







Ellsworth Fund Ltd. - Schedule of Investments (continued)

 

 

June 30, 2012

 

 

 

 

 Value

 

 Shares

 (Note 1)

COMMON STOCKS (continued)

 

 

 

 

 

Metals and Mining - 1.1%

 

 

Vale S.A.

58,601

 $    1,156,381

 

 

 

Pharmaceuticals - 3.6%

 

 

Abbott Laboratories

18,000

      1,160,460

Bristol Myers Squibb Co.

30,000

      1,078,500

Merck & Co., Inc.

27,651

      1,154,429

Pfizer Inc.

24,000

         552,000

 

 

      3,945,389

Telecommunications - 4.7%

 

 

AT&T Inc.

70,000

      2,496,200

Verizon Communications Inc.

60,000

      2,666,400

 

 

      5,162,600

 

 

 

TOTAL COMMON STOCKS

 

     13,637,768

 

 

 

Total Convertible Bonds and Notes - 63.7%

 

     69,849,334

Total Convertible Preferred Stocks - 11.7%

 

     12,766,531

Total Mandatory Convertible Securities - 9.3%

 

     10,196,221

Total Common Stocks - 12.4%

 

     13,637,768

Total Investments - 97.1%

 

   106,449,854

 

 

 

Other Assets and Liabilities - 2.9%

 

      3,168,573

Total Net Assets - 100.0%

 

 $ 109,618,427






Ellsworth Fund Ltd. - Schedule of Investments (continued)

June 30, 2012

 

(1) Security not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") (e.g., the security was purchased in a Rule 144A or a Regulation D transaction).  The security may be resold only pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act, typically to qualified institutional buyers. The Fund generally has no rights to demand registration of such securities. The aggregate market value of these unregistered securities at June 30, 2012 was $7,382,500 which represented 6.7% of the Fund's net assets.

 

(2) Non-income producing security.

 

(3) Contingent payment debt instrument which accrues contingent interest.  

 

(4) Investment is valued at fair value as determined in good faith pursuant to procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees.  It is possible that the estimated value may differ significantly from the amount that might ultimately be realized in the near term, and the difference could be material.  The fair value of these securities amounted to $750,000 at June 30, 2012, which represented 0.7% of the Fund's net assets.

 

(5) Restricted securities include securities that have not been registered under the Securities Act and securities that are subject to restrictions on resale. The Fund may invest in restricted securities that are consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and investment strategies. In some cases, the issuer of restricted securities has agreed to register such securities for resale at the issuer’s expense, either upon demand by the Fund or in connection with another registered offering of the securities. Investments in restricted securities are valued at fair value as determined in good faith in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees. It is possible that the estimated value may differ significantly from the amount that might ultimately be realized in the near term, and the difference could be material. As of June 30, 2012, the Fund was invested in the following restricted securities:

Security Acquisition Date Shares Cost Price per Share Value % Net Assets

Amerivon Holdings LLC

series A 4.00% cv. pfd.

 

April 1, 2010

 

 

594,409

 

 

$1,500,000

$1.207

 

$717,273

 

0.7%

 

 

Amerivon Holdings LLC

common equity units

 

April 1, 2010

 

272,728

 

 

0

0.120

 

32,727

 

0.0%

 

 

(6) Mandatory Convertible Securities are required to be converted on the dates listed; they generally may be converted prior to these dates at the option of the holder.

 

PORTFOLIO RATINGS:


Where a security is rated by Standard & Poor’s (S&P), such rating appears in parentheses next to such security (but without any applicable + or - that might apply).


Where a security is rated by S&P and at least one other rating agency and the Fund believes the ratings to be functionally equivalent to one another, the S&P rating appears in parentheses next to such security (but without any applicable + or - that might apply).


Where a security is rated by S&P and at least one other rating agency and the Fund believes the ratings not to be functionally equivalent to one another, the Fund puts in parentheses next to such security the S&P rating which it believes approximates the average of all such ratings (but without any applicable + or - that might apply).


Where a security is not rated by S&P, but is rated by at least one other rating agency or service, the Fund puts in parentheses next to such security the S&P rating which it believes approximates the average of all such ratings (but without any applicable + or - that might apply). NR is used whenever a rating is unavailable.










SUMMARY OF PORTFOLIO RATINGS *

AAA

2%

 

AA

2%

 

A

18%

 

BBB

20%

 

BB

22%

 

B

14%

 

CCC & below

3%

 

Not Rated

19%

 

 

 

 

* Excludes common stocks and cash.

See accompanying notes









Ellsworth Fund Ltd. - Selected Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited)

June 30, 2012


Ellsworth Fund Ltd. (the “Fund”), is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (the “Act”), as a diversified, closed-end management investment company.


Security Valuation - Investments in securities traded on a national securities exchange are valued at market using the last reported sales price, supplied by an independent pricing service, as of the close of regular trading.  Listed securities, for which no sales were reported, are valued at the mean between closing reported bid and asked prices as of the close of regular trading.  Unlisted securities traded in the over-the-counter market are valued using an evaluated quote provided by the independent pricing service, or, if an evaluated quote is unavailable, such securities are valued using prices received from dealers, provided that if the dealer supplies both bid and asked prices, the price to be used is the mean of the bid and asked prices.  The independent pricing service derives an evaluated quote by obtaining dealer quotes, analyzing the listed markets, reviewing trade execution data and employing sensitivity analysis.  Evaluated quotes may also reflect appropriate factors such as individual characteristics of the issue, communications with broker-dealers, and other market data.  Securities for which quotations are not readily available, restricted securities and other assets are valued at fair value as determined in good faith pursuant to procedures approved by the Board of Trustees.  Short-term debt securities with original maturities of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost.

 

The Fund has adopted authoritative fair valuation accounting standards which establish an authoritative definition of fair value and set out a hierarchy for measuring fair value.  These standards require additional disclosures about the various inputs and valuation techniques used to develop the measurements of fair value and a discussion in changes in valuation techniques and related inputs during the period.  These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:


Level 1 - Quoted unadjusted prices for identical instruments in active markets.

 

Level 2 - Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-driven valuation in which all significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets.  Level 2 inputs are those in markets for which there are few transactions, the prices are not current, little public information exists or instances where prices vary substantially over time or among brokered market makers, and those received from an independent pricing service.


Level 3 - Model derived valuations in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable.  Unobservable inputs are those inputs that reflect the Fund’s own assumptions that market participants would use to price an asset or liability based on the best available information.


The availability of observable inputs can vary from security to security and is affected by a wide variety of factors, including, for example, the type of security, whether the security is new and not yet established in the marketplace, the liquidity of the markets, and other characteristics particular to the security.  To the extent that valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment.  Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3.


In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2011-04 “Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”)”. ASU 2011-04 includes common requirements for measurement of and disclosure about fair value between U.S. GAAP and IFRS.  ASU 2011-04 will require reporting to entities to disclose the following information for fair value measurements categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy: quantitative information about the unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement, the valuation processes used by the reporting entity, and a     narrative description of the sensitivity of the fair value measurement to changes in observable inputs and the interrelationships between those unobservable inputs.  In addition, ASU 2011-04 will require reporting to entities to make disclosures about amounts and reasons for all transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements.  The new and revised disclosures are effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2011.  At this time, management is evaluating the implications of ASU 2011-04 and its impact on the financial statements.








Ellsworth Fund Ltd. - Selected Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

June 30, 2012


The following is a summary of the inputs used to value the investments of the Fund as of June 30, 2012:


  Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
       
Investments in Securities:      
Common Stocks:      
  Computer Software $1,316,960 $            --- $        ---
  Energy 1,328,938 --- ---
  Media and Entertainment 727,500 --- ---
  Metals and Mining 1,156,381 --- ---
  Pharmaceuticals 3,945,389 --- ---
  Telecommunications 5,162,600 --- ---
  13,637,768    
Total Common Stocks      
Convertible Bonds and Notes --- 69,849,334         ---
Convertible Preferred Stocks   --- 12,016,531   750,000
Mandatory Convertible Securities   --- 10,196,221   ---
       
Total Investments $13,637,768 $92,062,086 $750,000


The following is a reconciliation of assets for which Level 3 inputs were used in determining value:


 

 

Convertible Preferred Stocks

Total

 

 

 

 

Beginning balance

 

$750,000

$750,000

 

 

 

 

Change in unrealized

appreciation (depreciation)

 

---

---

 

 

 

 

Net transfers in/out of Level 3

 

---

---

 

 

 

 

Ending balance

 

$750,000

$750,000



Securities Transactions and Related Investment Income - Securities transactions are accounted for on the trade date (the date the order to buy or sell is executed) with gain or loss on the sale of securities being determined based upon identified cost.  Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date and interest income is recorded on the accrual basis, including accretion of discounts and amortization of non-equity premium.  For certain securities, known as “contingent payment debt instruments,” Federal tax   regulations require the Fund to record non-cash, “contingent” interest income in addition to interest income actually received.  Contingent interest income amounted to approximately $0.02 per share for the nine months ended June 30, 2012.  In addition, Federal tax regulations require the Fund to reclassify realized gains (losses) on contingent payment debt instruments to interest income.  At June 30, 2012, there were unrealized losses of approximately $0.02 per share on contingent payment debt instruments.


Federal Income Tax Cost - At June 30, 2012, the cost basis of investments for federal income tax purposes, as well as the gross unrealized appreciation from investments for those securities having an excess of value over cost, gross unrealized depreciation from investments for those securities having an excess of cost over value and the net unrealized appreciation from investments were $103,881,404, $11,384,607, $(8,816,162) and $2,568,445, respectively.








ITEM 2. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.


Conclusions of principal officers concerning controls and procedures.


(a) The Fund’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the Fund’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(c)) are effective as of August 29, 2012 based on the evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(b)) and Rule 13a-15(b) or 15d-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (17 CFR 240.13a-15(b) or 240.15d-15(b)).


(b) There have been no changes in the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(d)) that occurred during the Fund’s last fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting.


ITEM 3. EXHIBITS.


Certifications of the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer of the Fund, as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2(a)), are filed herewith.



SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


Ellsworth Fund Ltd.


By: /s/Thomas H. Dinsmore

    Thomas H. Dinsmore

    Chairman of the Board and

    Chief Executive Officer

    (Principal Executive Officer)


Date: August 29, 2012



Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.


By: /s/Thomas H. Dinsmore

    Thomas H. Dinsmore

    Chairman of the Board and

    Chief Executive Officer

    (Principal Executive Officer)


Date: August 29, 2012


By: /s/Gary I. Levine

    Gary I. Levine

    Chief Financial Officer

    (Principal Financial Officer)


Date: August 29, 2012