January 14, 2008 – Bancroft Fund Ltd. (AMEX: BCV) today announced that it had entered into an agreement with certain Bancroft shareholders owning approximately 6.04% of Bancroft’s shares of beneficial interest, pursuant to which Bancroft agreed to commence a cash tender offer for up to 758,754 shares of its beneficial interest at a price of not less than 95% of net asset value per share. The tender offer will remain open for at least 20 business days.

The tender offer price will be based on the net asset value of a Bancroft share of beneficial interest at 5:00 p.m. on the expiration date of the tender offer. If there were no change in net asset value between the date of this press release and the expiration of the tender offer, the tender offer price would not be less than $19.77 per share.

Bancroft expects to commence the tender offer on or before February 25, 2008. The tender offer may be terminated or withdrawn in the event any one or more of certain enumerated events should occur.

Bancroft reserves the right in its sole discretion to accept and pay for tendered shares in excess of 758,754 shares, but if more than 758,754 shares are tendered and Bancroft does not elect to take up and pay for all such shares, the tendered shares will be accepted on a pro rata basis.

In the Agreement, the Bancroft shareholder group agreed to tender all of their shares in the upcoming tender offer, to sell their Bancroft shares whenever the price reaches at least 95% of net asset value per share, to discontinue its planned proxy contest for two seats on the Bancroft Board which will be filled at the 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders scheduled to be held on February 11, 2008 and instead to vote for the two Bancroft nominees, and to withdraw their shareholder proposal with respect to consideration of a monthly managed distribution policy.

This announcement is not an offer to purchase or the solicitation of an offer to sell shares of Bancroft or a prospectus, circular or representation intended for use in the purchase or sale of Bancroft shares. The tender offer referred to in this announcement will be made only by the offer to purchase and related letter of transmittal. Bancroft shareholders should carefully read the tender offer materials when they are made available because they will contain important information about Bancroft and the tender offer. Further information will be forthcoming when the tender offer commences.

Shares of closed-end funds frequently trade at a discount to net asset value. The price of Bancroft’s shares is determined by a number of factors, several of which are beyond the control of Bancroft. Therefore, Bancroft cannot predict whether its shares will trade at, below or above net asset value.

Bancroft shares are not FDIC-insured and are not deposits or other obligations of, or guaranteed by, any bank. Bancroft shares involve investment risk, including possible loss of principal.

Bancroft Fund Ltd. operates as a closed-end, diversified management investment company and invests primarily in convertible securities, with the objectives of providing income and the potential for capital appreciation; which objectives Bancroft considers to be relatively equal, over the long-term, due to the nature of the securities in which it invests. Bancroft shares are traded on the American Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol BCV.

AMEX - BCV      Cusip 059695106

For further information please contact:
Gary I. Levine
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

info@bancroftfund.com
Ph. (973) 631-1177
Fax (973) 631-9893

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