Washington, D.C. 20549
Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.
The India
Fund, Inc. (IFN)
Annual
Report
December
31, 2021
Image:
Bandra-Worli Sea Link, Mumbai, India |
|
Managed Distribution
Policy (unaudited)
The Board of Directors of The India Fund, Inc.
(the "Fund") has authorized a managed distribution policy ("MDP") of paying quarterly distributions at an annual
rate, set once a year, that is a percentage of the average daily net asset value ("NAV") for the previous three months as of
the month-end prior to declaration. With each distribution, the Fund will issue a notice to shareholders and an accompanying press release
which will provide detailed information regarding the amount and composition of the distribution and other
information required by the Fund's MDP exemptive
order. The Fund's Board of Directors may amend or terminate the MDP at any time without prior notice to shareholders; however, at this
time, there are no reasonably foreseeable circumstances that might cause the termination of the MDP. You should not draw any conclusions
about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of distributions or from the terms of the Fund's MDP.
Distribution Disclosure
Classification (unaudited)
The Fund's policy is to provide investors with
a stable distribution rate. Each quarterly distribution will be paid out of current income, supplemented by realized capital gains and,
to the extent necessary, paid-in capital.
The Fund is subject to U.S. corporate, tax and
securities laws. Under U.S. tax rules, the amount applicable to the Fund and character of distributable income for each fiscal period
depends on the actual exchange rates during the entire year between the U.S. Dollar and the currencies in which Fund assets are denominated
and on the aggregate gains and losses realized by the Fund during the entire year.
Therefore, the exact amount of distributable income
for each fiscal year can only be determined as of the end of the Fund's fiscal year, December 31, 2021. Under Section 19 of the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), the Fund is required to indicate
the sources of certain distributions to shareholders.
The estimated distribution composition may vary from quarter to quarter because it may be materially impacted by future income, expenses
and realized gains and losses on securities and fluctuations in the value of the currencies in which Fund assets are denominated.
Based on generally accepted accounting principles
(GAAP), the Fund estimates the distributions for the fiscal year commenced January 1, 2021 through the distribution paid on December
31, 2021 consisted of 2.7% net investment income and 97.3% net realized gains.
A Form 1099-DIV was sent to shareholders in January
2022, which states the amount and composition of distributions and provides information with respect to their appropriate tax treatment
for the 2021 calendar year.
The
India Fund, Inc.
Letter to Shareholders
(unaudited)
Dear Shareholder,
We present this Annual Report which covers the
activities of The India Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. The Fund's investment objective
is long-term capital appreciation, which the Fund seeks to achieve by investing primarily in the equity securities of Indian companies.
Total Investment Return1
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, the
total return to shareholders of the Fund based on the net asset value ("NAV") and market price of the Fund, respectively, compared
to the Fund's benchmark are as follows:
|
1
Year |
NAV2,3 |
17.7% |
Market Price2 |
21.9% |
MSCI
India Index (Net Dividends)4 |
26.2% |
For more information about Fund performance please
see the Report of the Investment Manager (page xx) and Total Investment Returns (page xx).
NAV, Market Price and Premium/Discount
The below table represents comparison from current
fiscal year end to prior fiscal year end of market price to NAV and associated premium(+)/discount(-).
|
|
Closing |
|
|
|
Market |
Premium(+)/ |
|
NAV |
Price |
Discount(-) |
12/31/2021 |
$23.47 |
$21.10 |
-10.1% |
12/31/2020 |
$22.99 |
$19.96 |
-13.2% |
Throughout the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021,
the Fund's NAV was within a range of $22.05 to $26.68 and the Fund's market price was within a range $19.52 to $23.75. Throughout the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund's shares traded within a range of premium(+)/discount(-) of -6.0% to -14.6%.
Managed Distribution Policy
The Fund has a managed distribution policy of paying
quarterly distributions at an annual rate, set once a year, that is a percentage of the average daily NAV for the previous three months
as of the month-end prior to declaration. In February 2022, the Board determined the rolling distribution rate to be 10% for the 12-month
period commencing with the distribution payable in March 2022. This policy will be subject to regular review by the Board. The distributions
will be made from current income, supplemented by realized capital gains and, to the extent necessary, paid-in capital, which is a nontaxable
return of capital.
On February 23, 2022, the Board approved an amendment
to the Fund's quarterly distribution policy such that distributions will be paid in newly issued shares of common stock of the Fund to
all shareholders who have not otherwise elected to receive cash, effective with the distribution payable in June 2022.
This stock distribution will automatically be paid
in newly issued shares of the Fund unless otherwise instructed by the shareholder. Shares of common stock will be issued at the lower
of the net asset value ("NAV") per share or the market price per share with a floor for the NAV of not less than 95% of the
market price. Fractional shares will generally be settled in cash, except for registered shareholders with book entry accounts at Computershare
Investor Services who will have whole and fractional shares added to their account.
Shareholders will be able to request to be paid
their quarterly distributions in cash instead of shares of common stock by providing advance notice to the bank, brokerage or nominee
who holds their shares if the shares are in "street name" or by filling out in advance an election card received from Computershare
Investor Services if the shares are in registered form.
The Fund is covered under exemptive relief received
by the Fund's investment manager from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that allows the Fund to distribute long-term
capital gains as frequently as monthly in any one taxable year.
| 1 | Past performance is no
guarantee of future results. Investment returns and principal value will fluctuate and shares,
when sold, may be worth more or less than original cost. Current performance may be lower
or higher than the performance quoted. Net asset value return data include investment management
fees, custodial charges and administrative fees (such as Director and legal fees) and assumes
the reinvestment of all distributions. |
| 2 | Assuming the reinvestment
of dividends and distributions. |
| 3 | The Fund's total return
is based on the reported net asset value ("NAV") for each financial reporting period
end and may differ from what is reported on the Financial Highlights due to financial statement
rounding or adjustments. |
| 4 | The MSCI India Index (Net
Dividends) is designed to measure the performance of the large and mid-cap segments of the
Indian market. With 84 constituents, the index covers approximately 85% of the Indian equity
universe. The returns of the MSCI India Index (Net Dividends) are calculated net of withholding
taxes, to which the Fund is generally subject. Indexes are unmanaged and have been provided
for comparison purposes only. No fees or expenses are reflected. You cannot invest directly
in an index. Index performance is not an indication of the performance of the Fund itself.
For more information about Fund performance, please visit http://www.aberdeenifn.com. |
The
India Fund, Inc. 1
Letter to Shareholders
(unaudited) (continued)
Elective Stock Distribution
On December 9, 2021, the Board of Directors declared
the payment of an elective cash distribution to be paid in the amount of $0.80 per share of common stock, on January 31, 2022, to shareholders
of record at the close of business on December 20, 2021. As announced, the distribution was payable in shares of the Fund's common stock.
However, stockholders had the option to request that their distributions be paid in cash in lieu of common stock. The aggregate amount
of cash paid out in the distribution was not limited. The common stock distributed was valued at $21.77 per share, which equaled the
average trading price of the Fund's common shares on the NYSE as of the close of trading during a three-business day period ended on
January 20, 2022. Following the closing of the elective cash distribution, the Fund's number of outstanding shares was 27,317,259.
Open Market Repurchase Program
The Board has authorized Fund management to make
open market purchases from time to time in an amount up to 10% of the Fund's outstanding shares, in accordance with Rule 10b-18 under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and other applicable federal securities laws. Such purchases
may be made when, in the reasonable judgment of Fund management, such repurchases may enhance shareholder value. During the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2021, the Fund did not repurchase any shares. The Fund reports repurchase activity on the Fund's website on a monthly
basis.
Portfolio Holdings Disclosure
The Fund's complete schedule of portfolio holdings
for the second and fourth quarters of each fiscal year are included in the Fund's semiannual and annual reports to shareholders. The
Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") for the first
and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. These reports are available on the SEC's website
at http://www.sec.gov. The Fund makes the information available to shareholders upon request and without charge by calling Investor relations
toll-free at 1-800-522-5465.
Proxy Voting
A description of the policies and procedures that
the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities and information regarding how the Fund voted proxies
relating to portfolio securities during the most recent twelve months ended June 30 is available by August 31 of the relevant year: (i)
upon request and without charge by calling Investor Relations toll-free at 1-800-522-5465 and (ii) on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov.
Unclaimed Share Accounts
Please be advised that abandoned or unclaimed property
laws for certain states require financial organizations to transfer (escheat) unclaimed property (including Fund shares) to the state.
Each state has its own definition of unclaimed property, and Fund shares could be considered "unclaimed property" due to account
inactivity (e.g., no owner-generated activity for a certain period), returned mail (e.g., when mail sent to a shareholder is returned
to the Fund's transfer agent as undeliverable), or a combination of both. If your Fund shares are categorized as unclaimed, your financial
advisor or the Fund's transfer agent will follow the applicable state's statutory requirements to contact you, but if unsuccessful, laws
may require that the shares be escheated to the appropriate state. If this happens, you will have to contact the state to recover your
property, which may involve time and expense. For more information on unclaimed property and how to maintain an active account, please
contact your financial adviser or the Fund's transfer agent.
COVID-19
Beginning in the first quarter of 2020, the illness
caused by a novel coronavirus, COVID-19, has resulted in a global pandemic and major disruption to economies and markets around the world,
including the United States. Financial markets have experienced extreme volatility and severe losses. Some sectors of the economy and
individual issuers have experienced particularly large losses. These circumstances may continue for an extended period of time, and as
a result may affect adversely the value and liquidity of the Fund's investments. The rapid development and fluidity of this situation
precludes any prediction as to the ultimate adverse impact of COVID-19 on economic and market conditions, and, as a result, present uncertainty
and risk with respect to the Fund and the performance of its investments and ability to pay distributions. The full extent of the impact
and effects of COVID-19 will depend on future developments, including, among other factors, the duration and spread of the outbreak,
along with related travel advisories, quarantines and restrictions, the recovery time of the disrupted supply chains and industries,
the impact of labor market interruptions, the impact of government interventions, and uncertainty with respect to the duration of the
global economic slowdown.
abrdn
abrdn plc, formerly known as Standard Life Aberdeen
plc, was renamed on September 27, 2021. In connection with this re-branding, the entities within abrdn plc group, including investment
advisory entities, have been or will be renamed in the near future. In addition, certain fund names may be re-branded over the next year.
2
The India Fund, Inc.
Letter to Shareholders
(unaudited) (concluded)
Investor Relations Information
As part of abrdn's commitment to shareholders,
we invite you to visit the Fund on the web at www.aberdeenifn.com. Here, you can view monthly fact sheets, quarterly commentary, distribution
performance information, updated daily data courtesy of Morningstar®, portfolio charting and other Fund literature.
Enroll in abrdn's email services and be among the
first to receive the latest closed-end fund news, announcements, videos and other information. In addition, you can receive electronic
versions of important Fund documents including annual reports, semi-annual reports, prospectuses, and proxy statements. Sign up today
at https://www.abrdn.com/en-us/cefinvestorcenter/contact-us/preferences
Contact Us:
| • | Visit: https://www.abrdn.com/en-us/cefinvestorcenter; |
| • | Email: Investor.Relations@abrdn.com;
or |
| • | Call: 1-800-522-5465
(toll-free in the U.S.). |
Yours
sincerely,
/s/
Alan R. Goodson
Alan
R. Goodson
President
All
amounts are U.S. Dollars unless otherwise stated.
The
India Fund, Inc. 3
Report of the Investment Manager
Market review
Indian equities,
as measured by the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) India Index (net dividends), returned 26.2% in U.S. dollar terms for the
12-month period ended December 31, 2021 – the strongest performance for Indian stocks in four years. At the end of 2021, India
was one of the top-performing markets in Asia and globally. A record-breaking number of new firms also made their market debut, with
a significant portion of the capital raised going to technology companies, including several start-ups. These listings drew renewed investor
interest in larger-cap companies over smaller- and mid-cap companies.
Underpinning the double-digit market rally during
the reporting period was the loose monetary policy environment and Indian government policies that supported local businesses. Rising
inflation caused some worry, as the cost of imported crude oil spiked. However, the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) monetary policy remained
accommodative and it expanded bond purchases, buoying investors' risk appetite. In terms of policy, New Delhi's generous pro-business
budget, its expansive plans to sell infrastructure assets to the private sector, as well as incentives to boost employment in the auto
and related components sectors, fueled hopes that the economy was on its way to a robust recovery after a downturn in 2020.
Regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, the government
of India implemented one of the world's largest vaccination drives. According to India's Ministry of Health and Family welfare, more
than 60% of India's adult population was fully vaccinated as of late December 2021, and booster shots also have been rolled out. The
government's decision to avoid a blanket lockdown when new coronavirus variants caused spikes in infections also bolstered the market.
Nonetheless, these new waves of infections led to the reimposition of mobility restrictions that hampered domestic consumption, which
in turn, led to downgrades to gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecasts.
Fund performance review
The India Fund returned 17.7%1 on a
net asset value (NAV) basis for the 12-month period ended December 31, 2021, versus the 26.2% return of its benchmark, the MSCI India
Index
The Fund's overweight allocation to the banking
sector relative to the benchmark was the main reason for the underperformance, notwithstanding the Fund's double-digit return for the
reporting period. In particular, the holdings in HDFC Bank and Kotak Mahindra
Bank weighed
on the Fund's relative performance, as high-quality lenders lagged the overall banking sector,
with investors rotating into faster-growing companies in anticipation of more conducive lending
conditions. However, we maintain our conviction in HDFC Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank, as well as
the Fund's other financial holdings, which we believe offer good exposure to India's longer-term
consumer growth, especially as digital banking initiatives help to broaden inclusion to previously
underpenetrated regions and states. The lack of exposure to ICICI Bank over most of the reporting
period hampered Fund performance, as the commercial lender delivered strong growth and improved
shareholder returns. We had been monitoring ICICI Bank following its management change and felt
that it met the fundamentals that we look for in financial holdings, such as good asset quality,
sound non-performing loans management and quality growth. ICICI Bank has managed to leverage on
its scale, as well as retail and digital franchise, to grow in mortgages. We were convinced of
the way that ICICI Bank articulates its growth approach, and therefore initiated a position in
the company in December 2021.
While the accommodative lending environment was
detrimental for banks over the reporting period, real estate stocks and companies in the materials sector benefited from the increased
liquidity in the market. The Indian government's focus on infrastructure spending also had a positive impact on these two sectors. The
Fund's substantial exposure to the real estate sector was a key contributor to the relative performance, led by Godrej Properties and
Prestige Estates, as their share prices rose on the back of favorable mortgage rates by lenders, government rebates on stamp duties,
and expectations of a healthy economic recovery. The Fund's holding in UltraTech Cement was also buoyed by increased housing demand and
infrastructure spending.
Elsewhere, consumer stocks faced tough challenges
over the reporting period, especially large brand owners who previously had been beneficiaries of mobility restrictions during the COVID-19
pandemic as they could make their products available to consumers through their own logistics networks and distribution channels. These
companies include Hindustan Unilever, a Fund holding, as its shares moved lower over the reporting period due to the increasing risk
of inflation challenging its margins. However, we believe that that the Fund's holdings in high- quality consumer staples stocks have
the balance sheet, pricing power and strong brands to allow them to be most resilient against inflationary challenges.
1 |
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investment
returns and principal value will fluctuate and shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Current performance
may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. Net asset value return data include investment management fees, custodial charges
and administrative fees (such as Director and legal fees) and assumes the reinvestment of all distributions. |
4 The
India Fund, Inc.
Report of the Investment Manager (continued)
Energy stocks
posted gains over the reporting period, but the Fund's underweight allocation to the sector contributed
positively to the relative performance. The absence of a holding in Reliance Industries benefited
performance as shares of the multinational conglomerate lagged the market during the reporting period.
We maintain our reservations about Reliance Industries' aggressive seeding of businesses and subsequent
write-offs, as well as capital allocation and the treatment of minority shareholders.
Fund performance benefited from an overweight position
in utility stocks, namely Gujarat Gas and Power Grid Corp., which delivered positive returns for the reporting period. Gas distributor
Gujarat Gas beat earnings expectations during the reporting period as its volumes reached new highs due to increasing demand, supported
also by tax breaks for industrial companies that switched to gas. Power Grid's strong stock-price performance was underpinned by completed
projects, with its pipeline also improving on the back of demand for renewable energy.
At the stock level, the Fund's holdings in Mphasis
and Fortis Healthcare were the top contributors to Fund performance for the reporting period. The IT services sector was a primary beneficiary
of the accelerated digitalization trend that the COVID-19 pandemic triggered worldwide. Consequently, Mphasis, a provider of consulting,
IT and software development, and business process outsourcing (BPO) services, was a key contributor as its share price rose on the back
of record deal wins and strong earnings, allowing it to maintain its leading position within its segment. Meanwhile, shares of Fortis
Healthcare performed well, bolstered by India's COVID-19 vaccination rollouts and the resumption of hospital operations beyond pandemic-related
services. Additionally, we think that investors took a positive view on the growth of Fortis Healthcare's diagnostics services.
The Fund pays a quarterly distribution to shareholders.
This policy did not have a significant impact on the Fund's investment strategy over the reporting period. During the 12-month period
ended December 31, 2021, the distributions comprised ordinary income and realized capital gains. The Fund issued distributions totalling
$3.21 per share for the 12-month period ended December 31, 2021.
Environmental, social, and governance (ESG)
Over the course of the review period, we met with
management of several of the Fund's holdings as part of our ongoing ESG efforts. Key highlights of these discussions are as follows:
We spoke with Godrej Agrovet about animal welfare
at its poultry operations, as well as crop protection at its palm oil business. We were
pleased by
its accomplishments and encouraged greater disclosure of its achievements. Notably, in our view,
the company is implementing best practices in poultry management and appears to be well ahead of
its 2025 timeline to becoming sustainable on the palm oil front.
We met with UltraTech Cement and raised the issue
of carbon emissions, a key challenge for the cement industry. The company has taken the initiative in approaching the issue using science-based
targets, which we believe reflects its forward thinking. These verifiable goals allow the company to determine its carbon trajectory
and align it with global efforts to limit global warming to under two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) by 2100. Management had
promised better disclosure and, in our view, it delivered after divulging these targets externally.
We engaged with engineering conglomerate Larsen
& Toubro (L&T) twice over the fourth quarter of 2021. We initially discussed its operations in Myanmar, and later, we raised
our concerns around its defense, energy and power exposures, in the context of decarbonization and green investment. We were interested
in how the company had been managing the risks in Myanmar, given the political turmoil. The company affirmed its approach to international
operations and noted that the projects in Myanmar had already been completed several years ago. Regarding the latter point, L&T shared
that it has consciously avoided manufacturing ammunitions in its defense business. The company has been engaging with ESG-rating agencies2
and plans to provide greater clarity on this front. L&T is re-examining its entire energy exposure and hopes to better articulate
opportunities in its green portfolio in the coming months. The company also hopes to improve its disclosure and reporting, so that 2022
financial year disclosures would be in line with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures' recommendations. Finally, L&T
has committed to becoming water-neutral by 2035 and carbon-neutral by 2040.
Outlook
Despite the ongoing risks related to COVID-19 –
for example, the more infectious Omicron variant – the Indian government appears to be moving forward in its effort to reopen the
economy and reignite businesses. One reason for this is that data seem to point to a less deadly coronavirus variant, albeit a more transmissible
one. It is also worth noting that current vaccination rates in India are far higher than when the Delta variant surfaced earlier in 2021.
This should help keep severe case counts low in India. For example, more than 60% of India's adult population has had both COVID-19 vaccination
doses, and the hope is that vaccinations reduce hospitalization and fatality rates.
2 |
MSCI ESG Research provides MSCI ESG Ratings on global public
and a few private companies on a scale of AAA (leader) to CCC (laggard), according to exposure to industry-specific ESG risks and
the ability to manage those risks relative to peers. |
The
India Fund, Inc. 5
Report of the Investment Manager (concluded)
In the near
term, we anticipate that investors will keep a watchful eye on the upcoming Indian federal budget
and some key state elections over the coming months. Policy reform in India is also picking up pace,
helped by an improving fiscal position. With better job creation and government programs to attract
more manufacturing, we think that India's economy could be in the early stages of a capital expenditure
investment cycle. Meanwhile, we are monitoring inflation, particularly in view of the recent spike
in the oil price. We are confident that the pricing power3 of the Fund's holdings and
their ability to sustain margins provide a measure of comfort.
Over the longer term, we believe that India remains
attractive to investors. The Indian market benefits from a rapidly growing middle class that is increasingly affluent. Digital adoption
has accelerated, and we believe there will be more listed investment opportunities in the new-economy space. India is home to many of
Asia's most successful companies that have been tested by prior economic crises.
We remain highly selective in the positioning of
the Fund's portfolio, preferring what we believe are high-quality companies with robust balance sheets led by good management. This should
help them
weather storms
better than many of their peers. We remain focused on identifying companies that in our view have
clear prospects for earnings growth, a secure competitive position, and prudent capital management.
We believe that these companies should deliver sustainable returns over time.
Risk Considerations
Past performance is not an indication of future
results. International investing entails special risk considerations, including currency fluctuations, lower liquidity, economic and
political risks, and differences in accounting methods. Concentrating investments in the India region subjects the Fund to more volatility
and greater risk of loss than geographically diverse funds. Equity stocks of small and mid-cap companies carry greater risk and more
volatility than equity stocks of larger, more established companies. Dividends are not guaranteed and a company's future ability to pay
dividends may be limited.
abrdn
Asia Limited (formerly known as Aberdeen Standard Investments (Asia) Limited)
3 |
Pricing power refers to a company's ability to raise prices without reducing demand
for its products. |
6 The
India Fund, Inc.
Total Investment Returns (unaudited)
The following table summarizes the average annual
Fund total investment return compared to the Fund's primary benchmark for the 1-year, 3-year, 5-year and 10-year periods as of December
31, 2021.
| |
1
Year | |
3
Years | |
5
Years | |
10
Years | |
Net
Asset Value (NAV) | |
17.7% | |
12.6% | |
13.7% | |
12.0% | |
Market
Price | |
21.9% | |
14.8% | |
14.2% | |
12.2% | |
MSCI
India Index (Net Dividends) | |
26.2% | |
16.2% | |
15.1% | |
10.9% | |
Performance
of a $10,000 Investment (as of December 31, 2021)
This graph shows the change in value of a hypothetical
investment of $10,000 in the Fund for the period indicated. For comparison, the same investment is shown in the indicated index.
Returns
represent past performance. Total investment return at NAV is based on changes in the NAV of Fund shares and assumes reinvestment of
dividends and distributions, if any, at market prices pursuant to the Fund's dividend reinvestment program. All return data includes
fees charged to the Fund, which are listed in the Fund's Statement of Operations under "Expenses." The Fund's total investment
return is based on the reported NAV on each financial reporting period end. Total investment return at market value is based on changes
in the market price at which the Fund's shares traded on the NYSE during the period and assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions,
if any, at market prices pursuant to the Fund's dividend reinvestment program. Because the Fund's shares trade in the stock market based
on investor demand, the Fund may trade at a price higher or lower than its NAV. Therefore, returns are calculated based on both market
price and NAV. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. The performance information provided does not reflect the deduction
of taxes that a shareholder would pay on distributions received from the Fund. The current performance of the Fund may be lower or higher
than the figures shown. The Fund's yield, return, market price and NAV will fluctuate. Performance information current to the most recent
month-end is available at www.aberdeenifn.com or by calling 800-522-5465.
The net operating
expense ratio based on the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 was 1.35%.
The
India Fund, Inc. 7
Portfolio Summary (unaudited)
The following table summarizes the sector composition of the Fund's
portfolio, in S&P Global Inc.'s Global Industry Classification Standard ("GICS"), Sectors expressed as a percentage of
net assets as of December 31, 2021.
Sectors | |
As
a Percentage of Net Assets | |
Financials | |
28.9%*
|
Information
Technology | |
22.4% | |
Consumer
Staples | |
13.4% | |
Materials | |
8.1% | |
Consumer
Discretionary | |
8.1% | |
Health
Care | |
6.5% | |
Communication
Services | |
6.2% | |
Utilities | |
5.8% | |
Industrials | |
5.4% | |
Real
Estate | |
3.8% | |
Energy | |
1.4% | |
Short-Term
Investments | |
0.1% | |
Liabilities
in Excess of Other Assets | |
(10.1)% | |
| |
100.0% | |
* |
The sectors, as classified by GICS, are comprised of several
industries. As of December 31, 2021, the Fund did not have more than 25% of its assets invested in any industry. As of December 31,
2021, the Fund's holdings in the Financials sector consisted of four industries: Banks, Thrifts and Mortgage Finance, Insurance and
Diversified Financial Services which represented 11.9%, 10.4%, 4.1% and 2.5%, respectively, of the Fund's net assets. |
Top Ten Equity Holdings (unaudited)
The following were the Fund's top ten equity holdings as of December
31, 2021:
Name
of Security | |
As
a Percentage of Net Assets |
|
Infosys
Ltd. | |
11.1% |
|
Housing
Development Finance Corp. Ltd. | |
9.8% |
|
Tata
Consultancy Services Ltd. | |
8.1% |
|
Hindustan
Unilever Ltd. | |
6.5% |
|
UltraTech
Cement Ltd. | |
4.5% |
|
HDFC
Bank Ltd. | |
4.4% |
|
Kotak
Mahindra Bank Ltd. | |
4.2% |
|
Asian
Paints Ltd. | |
3.6% |
|
SBI
Life Insurance Co. Ltd. | |
3.3% |
|
Bharti
Airtel Ltd. | |
3.0% |
|
8 The
India Fund, Inc.
Portfolio of
Investments
December 31,
2021
|
|
Shares
or
Principal
Amount |
|
Value |
|
LONG-TERM
INVESTMENTS—110.0% |
|
|
COMMON
STOCKS—110.0% |
|
|
INDIA—110.0% |
|
|
Communication
Services—6.2% |
|
|
Affle
India Ltd.(a) |
|
876,340 |
|
$ 13,272,797 |
|
Bharti
Airtel Ltd.(a) |
|
2,226,920 |
|
19,796,949 |
|
Info
Edge India Ltd. |
|
80,500 |
|
6,009,919 |
|
|
|
39,079,665 |
|
Consumer
Discretionary—8.1% |
|
|
Bosch
Ltd. |
|
30,023 |
|
6,985,785 |
|
Crompton
Greaves Consumer Electricals Ltd. |
|
1,546,914 |
|
9,067,386 |
|
FSN
E-Commerce Ventures Ltd.(a) |
|
126,638 |
|
3,589,479 |
|
Maruti
Suzuki India Ltd. |
|
174,174 |
|
17,325,340 |
|
PB
Fintech Ltd.(a) |
|
529,266 |
|
6,798,839 |
|
Zomato
Ltd.(a) |
|
3,883,296 |
|
7,151,659 |
|
|
|
50,918,488 |
|
Consumer
Staples—13.4% |
|
|
Godrej
Agrovet Ltd.(b) |
|
681,080 |
|
4,730,036 |
|
Godrej
Consumer Products Ltd.(a) |
|
749,867 |
|
9,741,528 |
|
Hindustan
Unilever Ltd. |
|
1,295,818 |
|
41,034,559 |
|
ITC
Ltd. |
|
6,147,277 |
|
17,982,147 |
|
Nestle
India Ltd. |
|
42,700 |
|
11,292,434 |
|
|
|
84,780,704 |
|
Energy—1.4% |
|
|
Aegis
Logistics Ltd. |
|
2,898,500 |
|
8,630,667 |
|
Financials—28.9% |
|
|
Aptus
Value Housing Finance India Ltd.(a) |
|
744,526 |
|
3,441,309 |
|
Axis
Bank Ltd.(a) |
|
1,166,079 |
|
10,616,764 |
|
HDFC
Bank Ltd. |
|
1,388,000 |
|
27,508,257 |
|
Housing
Development Finance Corp. Ltd. |
|
1,792,921 |
|
62,046,610 |
|
ICICI
Bank Ltd. |
|
1,047,000 |
|
10,417,319 |
|
Kotak
Mahindra Bank Ltd. |
|
1,092,476 |
|
26,321,678 |
|
Piramal
Enterprises Ltd. |
|
456,331 |
|
16,146,357 |
|
SBI
Life Insurance Co. Ltd.(b) |
|
1,316,258 |
|
21,088,630 |
|
Star
Health & Allied Insurance Co. Ltd.(a) |
|
444,512 |
|
4,718,059 |
|
|
|
182,304,983 |
|
Health
Care—6.5% |
|
|
Fortis
Healthcare Ltd.(a) |
|
3,733,200 |
|
14,904,543 |
|
Sanofi
India Ltd. |
|
68,770 |
|
7,329,903 |
|
Syngene
International Ltd.(a)(b) |
|
1,325,000 |
|
10,997,078 |
|
Vijaya
Diagnostic Centre Pvt Ltd.(a) |
|
1,036,588 |
|
8,098,978 |
|
|
|
41,330,502 |
|
The India Fund, Inc. 9
Portfolio
of Investments (concluded)
December 31,
2021
|
|
Shares
or
Principal
Amount |
|
Value |
|
LONG-TERM
INVESTMENTS (continued) |
|
|
COMMON
STOCKS (continued) |
|
|
INDIA
(continued) |
|
|
Industrials—5.4% |
|
|
Container
Corp. of India Ltd. |
|
1,609,015 |
|
$ 13,254,377 |
|
IndiaMart
InterMesh Ltd.(b) |
|
30,000 |
|
2,606,981 |
|
Larsen
& Toubro Ltd. |
|
720,407 |
|
18,306,945 |
|
|
|
34,168,303 |
|
Information
Technology—22.4% |
|
|
Infosys
Ltd. |
|
2,766,974 |
|
70,270,501 |
|
Mphasis
Ltd. |
|
337,748 |
|
15,409,223 |
|
One
97 Communications Ltd.(a) |
|
271,740 |
|
4,876,545 |
|
Tata
Consultancy Services Ltd. |
|
1,019,044 |
|
51,133,230 |
|
|
|
141,689,499 |
|
Materials—8.1% |
|
|
Asian
Paints Ltd. |
|
495,434 |
|
22,519,369 |
|
UltraTech
Cement Ltd. |
|
280,786 |
|
28,645,714 |
|
|
|
51,165,083 |
|
Real
Estate—3.8% |
|
|
Godrej
Properties Ltd.(a) |
|
388,528 |
|
9,762,882 |
|
Prestige
Estates Projects Ltd. |
|
2,269,469 |
|
14,423,061 |
|
|
|
24,185,943 |
|
Utilities—5.8% |
|
|
Azure
Power Global Ltd.(a) |
|
276,800 |
|
5,023,920 |
|
Gujarat
Gas Ltd. |
|
1,278,540 |
|
10,886,330 |
|
Power
Grid Corp. of India Ltd. |
|
6,424,333 |
|
17,638,149 |
|
ReNew
Energy Global PLC, Class A(a) |
|
369,900 |
|
2,877,822 |
|
|
|
36,426,221 |
|
Total
Common Stocks |
|
|
694,680,058 |
|
UNITED
STATES—0.1% |
|
|
State
Street Institutional U.S. Government Money Market Fund, Premier Class, 0.03%(c) |
|
721,052 |
|
721,052 |
|
Total
Money Market Funds |
|
|
721,052 |
|
Total
Investments (Cost $352,837,832)(d)—110.1% |
|
|
695,401,110 |
|
Liabilities
in Excess of Other Assets—(10.1)% |
|
|
(63,976,897 |
) |
Net
Assets—100.0% |
|
|
$ 631,424,213 |
|
(a) Non-income
producing security.
(b) Denotes
a security issued under Regulation S or Rule 144A.
(c) Registered
investment company advised by State Street Global Advisors. The rate shown is the 7 day yield as of December 31, 2021.
(d) See
accompanying Notes to Financial Statements for tax unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) of securities.
PLC Public Limited
Company
See accompanying
Notes to Financial Statements.
10
The India Fund, Inc.
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
As of December 31, 2021
Assets |
|
|
Investments,
at value (cost $352,116,780) |
$ |
694,680,058 |
|
Short-term
investments, at value (cost $721,052) |
|
721,052 |
|
Foreign
currency, at value (cost $5,971,917) |
|
6,057,118 |
|
Interest
and dividends receivable |
|
483,981 |
|
Prepaid
expenses |
|
161,596 |
|
Total
assets |
|
702,103,805 |
|
Liabilities |
|
|
Dividends
payable to common shareholders |
|
38,742,588 |
|
Deferred
foreign capital gains tax |
|
30,731,515 |
|
Investment
management fees payable (Note 3) |
|
579,546 |
|
Payable
for investments purchased |
|
68,354 |
|
Administration
fees payable (Note 3) |
|
43,966 |
|
Investor
relations fees payable (Note 3) |
|
35,633 |
|
Director
fees payable |
|
24,000 |
|
Other
accrued expenses |
|
453,990 |
|
Total
liabilities |
|
70,679,592 |
|
|
|
|
|
Net
Assets |
$ |
631,424,213 |
|
Composition
of Net Assets: |
|
|
Capital
stock (par value $.001 per share) (Note 5) |
$ |
26,905 |
|
Paid-in
capital in excess of par |
|
296,269,504 |
|
Distributable
earnings |
|
335,127,804 |
|
Net
Assets |
$ |
631,424,213 |
|
Net
asset value per share based on 26,904,575 shares issued and outstanding |
$ |
23.47 |
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
The India Fund, Inc.
11
Statement of Operations
For the Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net
Investment Income |
Income |
|
|
Dividends
and other income (net of foreign withholding taxes of $1,711,799) |
$ |
5,660,269 |
|
Total
Investment Income |
|
5,660,269 |
|
Expenses |
|
|
Investment
management fee (Note 3) |
|
6,865,163 |
|
Administration
fee (Note 3) |
|
521,348 |
|
Legal
fees and expenses |
|
288,021 |
|
Directors'
fees and expenses |
|
277,500 |
|
Custodian's
fees and expenses |
|
233,132 |
|
Insurance
expense |
|
169,478 |
|
Investor
relations fees and expenses (Note 3) |
|
142,532 |
|
Independent
auditors' fees and expenses |
|
106,179 |
|
Reports
to shareholders and proxy solicitation |
|
88,755 |
|
Miscellaneous |
|
55,169 |
|
Transfer
agent's fees and expenses |
|
24,552 |
|
Net
expenses |
|
8,771,829 |
|
|
|
|
|
Net
Investment Loss |
|
(3,111,560 |
) |
|
|
|
Net
Realized/Unrealized Gain/(Loss) from Investments and Foreign Currency Related Transactions: |
|
|
|
|
|
Net
realized gain/(loss) from: |
|
|
Investment
transactions |
|
106,825,134 |
|
Foreign
currency transactions |
|
(250,885 |
) |
|
|
106,574,249 |
|
Net
change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on: |
|
|
Investments
(including $6,662,788 change in deferred capital gains tax) (Note 2f) |
|
(4,179,103 |
) |
Foreign
currency translation |
|
73,386 |
|
|
|
(4,105,717 |
) |
Net
realized and unrealized gain from investments and foreign currency transactions |
|
102,468,532 |
|
Net
Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations |
$ |
99,356,972 |
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
12
The India Fund, Inc.
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
| |
For
the | | |
For
the | |
| |
Year
Ended December 31, 2021 | | |
Year
Ended December 31, 2020 | |
Increase/(Decrease)
in Net Assets |
|
|
|
|
|
Operations: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
investment loss | |
| $ (3,111,560 | ) | |
| $ (1,032,624 | ) |
Net
realized gain from investment and foreign currency related transactions | |
| 106,574,249 | | |
| 32,627,696 | |
Net
change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on investments and foreign currency translation | |
| (4,105,717 | ) | |
| 31,311,339 | |
Net
increase in net assets resulting from operations | |
| 99,356,972 | | |
| 62,906,411 | |
Distributions
to Shareholders From: | |
| | | |
| | |
Distributable
earnings | |
| (86,363,686 | ) | |
| (29,535,051 | ) |
Tax
return of capital | |
| – | | |
| (22,928,870 | ) |
Net
decrease in net assets from distributions | |
| (86,363,686 | ) | |
| (52,463,921 | ) |
Change
in net assets resulting from operations | |
| 12,993,286 | | |
| 10,442,490 | |
Net
Assets: | |
| | | |
| | |
Beginning
of year | |
| 618,430,927 | | |
| 607,988,437 | |
End
of year | |
| $ 631,424,213 | | |
| $ 618,430,927 | |
Amounts listed as "–"
are $0 or round to $0.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
The
India Fund, Inc. 13
Financial Highlights
| |
For
the Fiscal Years Ended December 31, | |
| |
2021 | |
2020 | |
2019 | |
2018 | |
2017 | |
PER
SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE(a): |
Net
asset value, beginning of year | |
$22.99 | |
$22.60 | |
$23.84 | |
$29.50 | |
$24.24 | |
Net
investment income/(loss) | |
(0.12 | ) |
(0.04 | ) |
0.03 | |
(0.04 | ) |
(0.01 | ) |
Net
realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments and foreign currency transactions | |
3.81 | |
2.38 | |
1.06 | |
(1.25 | ) |
8.37 | |
Total
from investment operations | |
3.69 | |
2.34 | |
1.09 | |
(1.29 | ) |
8.36 | |
Dividends
and distributions to shareholders from: | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
Net
investment income | |
(0.09 | ) |
(1.10 | ) |
(0.01 | ) |
(0.77 | ) |
– | |
Net
realized gains | |
(3.12 | ) |
– | |
(2.32 | ) |
(3.73 | ) |
(3.16 | ) |
Tax
return of capital | |
– | |
(0.85 | ) |
– | |
– | |
– | |
Total
dividends and distributions to shareholders | |
(3.21 | ) |
(1.95 | ) |
(2.33 | ) |
(4.50 | ) |
(3.16 | ) |
Capital
Share Transactions: | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
Impact
due to open market repurchase policy (Note 6) | |
– | |
– | |
– | |
0.13 | |
0.06 | |
Total
capital share transactions | |
– | |
– | |
– | |
0.13 | |
0.06 | |
Net
asset value, end of year | |
$23.47 | |
$22.99 | |
$22.60 | |
$23.84 | |
$29.50 | |
Market
value, end of year | |
$21.10 | |
$19.96 | |
$20.13 | |
$20.24 | |
$26.12 | |
Total
Investment Return Based on(b): | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
Market
value | |
21.89% | |
11.79% | |
10.90% | |
(6.00% | ) |
36.45% | |
Net
asset value | |
17.72% | |
14.69% | |
5.70% | |
(1.94% | ) |
35.98% | |
Ratio
to Average Net Assets/Supplementary Data: | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
Net
assets, end of year (000 omitted) | |
$631,424 | |
$618,431 | |
$607,988 | |
$642,079 | |
$825,611 | |
Average
net assets (000 omitted) | |
$651,685 | |
$525,841 | |
$623,568 | |
$756,480 | |
$836,037 | |
Net
expenses | |
1.35% | |
1.43% | |
1.35% | |
1.32% | |
1.26% | |
Net
investment income/(loss) | |
(0.48% | ) |
(0.20% | ) |
0.13% | |
(0.13% | ) |
(0.02% | ) |
Portfolio
turnover | |
22.34% | |
20.49% | |
14.43% | |
12.62% | |
12.15% | |
(a) | Based on average shares outstanding. |
(b) | Total investment return based on market value is
calculated assuming that shares of the Fund's common stock were purchased at the closing
market price as of the beginning of the period, dividends, capital gains, and other distributions
were reinvested as provided for in the Fund's dividend reinvestment plan and then sold at
the closing market price per share on the last day of the period. The computation does not
reflect any sales commission investors may incur in purchasing or selling shares of the Fund.
The total investment return based on the net asset value is similarly computed except that
the Fund's net asset value is substituted for the closing market value. |
Amounts listed as "–" are $0 or round to $0.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
14
The India Fund, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2021
1. Organization
The India Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") was
incorporated in Maryland on December 27, 1993 and commenced operations on February 23, 1994. The Fund is registered under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), as a non-diversified closed-end management investment company.
The Fund's investment objective is long-term
capital appreciation, which it seeks to achieve by investing primarily in the equity securities of Indian companies.
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
The Fund is an investment company and accordingly
follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting
Standard Codification Topic 946 Financial Services-Investment Companies. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies
followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements. The policies conform to generally accepted accounting principles
("GAAP") in the United States of America. The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of
the financial statements, and the reported amounts of income and expenses for the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
The books and accounting records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. Dollars.
a. Security Valuation:
The Fund values its securities at current market
value or fair value, consistent with regulatory requirements. "Fair value" is defined in the Fund's Valuation and Liquidity
Procedures as the price that could be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between willing
market participants without a compulsion to transact at the measurement date.
Equity securities that are traded on an exchange
are valued at the last quoted sale price on the principal exchange on which the security is traded at the "Valuation Time"
subject to application, when appropriate, of the valuation factors described in the paragraph below. Under normal circumstances, the
Valuation Time is as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time).
In the absence of a sale price, the security is valued at the mean of the bid/ask price quoted at the close on the principal exchange
on which the security is traded. Securities traded on NASDAQ are valued at the NASDAQ official closing price. Closed-end funds and exchange-traded
funds ("ETFs") are valued at the market price of the security at the Valuation Time. A security using any of these pricing
methodologies is determined to be a Level 1 investment.
Foreign equity securities that are traded on
foreign exchanges that close prior to Valuation Time are valued by applying valuation factors to the last sale price or the mean price
as noted above. Valuation factors are provided by an independent pricing service provider approved by the Board. These valuation factors
are used when pricing the Fund's portfolio holdings to estimate market movements between the time foreign markets close and the time
the Fund values such foreign securities. These valuation factors are based on inputs such as depositary receipts, indices, futures, sector
indices/ETFs, exchange rates, and local exchange opening and closing prices of each security. When prices with the application of valuation
factors are utilized, the value assigned to the foreign securities may not be the same as quoted or published prices of the securities
on their primary markets. A security that applies a valuation factor is determined to be a Level 2 investment because the exchange-traded
price has been adjusted. Valuation factors are not utilized if the independent pricing service provider is unable to provide a valuation
factor or if the valuation factor falls below a predetermined threshold; in such case, the security is determined to be a Level 1 investment.
Short-term investments are comprised of cash
and cash equivalents invested in short-term investment funds which are redeemable daily. The Fund sweeps available cash into the State
Street Institutional U.S. Government Money Market Fund, which has elected to qualify as a "government money market fund" pursuant
to Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act, and has an objective to maintain a $1.00 per share net asset value ("NAV"), which is not guaranteed.
Generally, these investment types are categorized as Level 1 investments.
In the event that a security's market quotations
are not readily available or are deemed unreliable (for reasons other than because the foreign exchange on which it trades closes before
the Valuation Time), the security is valued at fair value as determined by the Fund's Pricing Committee, taking into account the relevant
factors and surrounding circumstances using valuation policies and procedures approved by the Fund's Board of Directors (the "Board").
A security that has been fair valued by the Fund's Pricing Committee may be classified as Level 2 or Level 3 depending on the nature
of the inputs.
In accordance with the authoritative guidance
on fair value measurements and disclosures under GAAP, the Fund discloses the fair value of its investments using a three-level hierarchy
that classifies the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure the fair value. The hierarchy assigns Level 1, the highest level,
measurements to valuations based upon unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets, Level 2 measurements to valuations
based upon other significant observable inputs, including adjusted quoted prices in active markets for similar assets, and Level 3, the
lowest level, measurements
The India Fund, Inc.
15
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
December 31, 2021
to valuations based upon unobservable inputs
that are significant to the valuation. Observable inputs are inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing
the asset or liability, which are based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs
are inputs that reflect the reporting entity's own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset
or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. A financial instrument's level within the fair value
hierarchy is based upon the
lowest level of any input that is significant
to the fair value measurement. The three-level hierarchy of inputs is summarized below:
Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets
for identical investments;
Level 2 – other significant observable
inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, and credit risk); or
Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs
(including the Fund's own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments).
A summary of standard inputs is listed below:
Security
Type |
Standard
Inputs |
Foreign
equities utilizing a fair value factor |
Depositary
receipts, indices, futures, sector indices/ETFs, exchange rates, and local exchange opening and closing prices of each security. |
The following is a summary of the inputs used as of December 31, 2021
in valuing the Fund's investments at fair value. The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication
of the risk associated with investing in those securities. Please refer to the Portfolio of Investments for a detailed breakout of the
security types:
Investments,
at Value |
Level
1 – Quoted
Prices ($) |
Level
2 – Other Significant
Observable Inputs ($) |
Level
3 – Significant
Unobservable Inputs ($) |
Total
($) |
|
Investments
in Securities |
|
Common
Stocks |
$35,737,330 |
$658,942,728 |
$– |
$694,680,058 |
|
Money
Market Funds |
721,052 |
– |
– |
721,052 |
|
Total |
$36,458,382 |
$658,942,728 |
$– |
$695,401,110 |
|
Amounts listed as "–" are $0 or round to $0.
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021,
there were no significant changes to the fair valuation methodologies for the type of holdings in the Fund's portfolio.
The Fund held no Level 3 securities as of December
31, 2021.
b. Foreign Currency Translation:
Foreign securities, currencies, and other assets
and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. Dollars at the exchange rate of said currencies against the
U.S. Dollar, as of the Valuation Time, as provided by an independent pricing service approved by the Board.
Foreign currency amounts are translated into
U.S. Dollars on the following basis:
(i) market
value of investment securities, other assets and liabilities – at the current daily rates of exchange at the Valuation Time; and
(ii) purchases
and sales of investment securities, income and expenses – at the relevant rates of exchange prevailing on the respective dates
of such transactions.
The Fund does not isolate that portion of gains
and losses on investments in equity securities due to changes in the foreign exchange rates from the portion due to changes in market
prices of equity securities. Accordingly, realized and unrealized foreign currency gains and losses with respect to such securities are
included in the reported net realized and unrealized gains and losses on investment transactions balances.
The Fund reports certain foreign currency related
transactions and foreign taxes withheld on security transactions as components of realized gains for financial reporting purposes, whereas
such foreign currency related transactions are treated as ordinary income for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Net unrealized currency gains or losses from
valuing foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities at period end exchange rates are reflected as a component of net unrealized
appreciation/depreciation in value of investments, and translation of other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies.
16 The
India Fund, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
December 31, 2021
Net realized foreign exchange gains or losses
represent foreign exchange gains and losses from transactions in foreign currencies and forward foreign currency contracts, exchange
gains or losses realized between the trade date and settlement date on security transactions, and the difference between the amounts
of interest and dividends recorded on the Fund's books and the U.S. Dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received.
Foreign security and currency transactions may
involve certain considerations and risks not typically associated with those of domestic origin, including unanticipated movements in
the value of the foreign currency relative to the U.S. Dollar. Generally, when the U.S. Dollar rises in value against foreign currency,
the Fund's investments denominated in that foreign currency will lose value because the foreign currency is worth fewer U.S. Dollars;
the opposite effect occurs if the U.S. Dollar falls in relative value.
c. Security Transactions, Investment Income
and Expenses:
Security transactions are recorded on the trade
date. Realized and unrealized gains/(losses) from security and currency transactions are calculated on the identified cost basis. Dividend
income is recorded on the ex-dividend date except for certain dividends on foreign securities, which are recorded as soon as the Fund
is informed after the ex-dividend date. Interest income and expenses are recorded on an accrual basis. Certain distributions received
by the Fund could represent a return of capital or capital gain. The Fund determines the components of these distributions subsequent
to the ex-dividend date, based upon receipt of tax filings or other correspondence relating to the underlying investment. These distributions
are recorded as a reduction of cost of investments and/or as a realized gain.
d. Distributions:
The Fund has implemented a managed distribution
policy ("MDP") to pay distributions from net investment income supplemented by net realized foreign exchange gains, net realized
capital gains and return of capital distributions, if necessary, on a quarterly basis. The MDP is subject to regular review by the Board.
The Fund records dividends and distributions
payable to its shareholders on the ex-dividend date. The amount of dividends and distributions from net investment income and net realized
capital gains are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from GAAP. These book basis/tax basis
differences are either considered temporary or permanent in nature. To the extent these differences are permanent in nature, such amounts
are reclassified within the capital accounts based on their federal tax basis treatment; temporary differences do not require reclassification.
Dividends and distributions which exceed net
investment income and net realized capital gains for tax purposes are reported as return of capital.
e. Federal Income Taxes:
The Fund intends to continue to qualify as a
"regulated investment company" ("RIC") by complying with the provisions available to certain investment companies,
as defined in Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and to make distributions of net investment income and net
realized capital gains sufficient to relieve the Fund from all, or substantially all, federal income taxes. Therefore, no federal income
tax provision is required. The Fund recognizes the tax benefits of uncertain tax positions only where the position is "more likely
than not" to be sustained assuming examination by tax authorities. Management of the Fund has concluded that there are no significant
uncertain tax positions that would require recognition in the financial statements. Since tax authorities can examine previously filed
tax returns, the Fund's U.S. federal and state tax returns for each of the most recent four fiscal years up to the most recent fiscal
year ended December 31, 2021 are subject to such review.
f. Foreign Withholding Tax:
Dividend and interest income from non-U.S. sources
received by the Fund are generally subject to non-U.S. withholding taxes and are recorded on the Statement of Operations. The Fund files
for tax reclaims for the refund of such withholdings taxes according to tax treaties. Tax reclaims that are deemed collectible are booked
as tax reclaim receivable on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. In addition, the Fund may be subject to capital gains tax in certain
countries in which it invests. The above taxes may be reduced or eliminated under the terms of applicable U.S. income tax treaties with
some of these countries. The Fund accrues such taxes when the related income is earned.
In addition, when the Fund sells securities within
certain countries in which it invests, the capital gains realized may be subject to tax. Based on these market requirements and as required
under GAAP, the Fund accrues deferred capital gains tax on securities currently held that have unrealized appreciation within these countries.
The amount of deferred capital gains tax accrued is reported on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
The fund calculates 10% long term capital gains
tax for the gains realized after April 1, 2018. (See Deferred foreign capital gains tax on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities).
On February 1, 2020, the Union Budget of India
for 2020-2021 was announced in which effective April 1, 2020, dividends are now taxed in the hands of the shareholder, which means a
20% tax (plus surcharge and tax) will be withheld on dividend payments (potentially reduced
The India Fund, Inc.
17
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
December 31, 2021
by treaty if applicable). Previously, Indian
companies paid the tax rate prior to the distribution of dividends to shareholders.
g. Restricted Securities:
Restricted securities are privately-placed securities
whose resale is restricted under U.S. securities laws. The Fund may invest in restricted securities, including unregistered securities
eligible for resale without registration pursuant to Rule 144A and privately-placed securities of U.S. and non-U.S. issuers offered outside
the U.S. without registration pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Rule 144A securities may be freely
traded among certain qualified institutional investors, such as the Fund, but resale of such securities in the U.S. is permitted only
in limited circumstances.
3. Agreements and Transactions with Affiliates
a. Investment Manager:
abrdn Asia Limited ("abrdn Asia" or
the "Investment Manager"), formerly Aberdeen Standard Investments (Asia) Limited, serves as the Fund's investment manager with
respect to all investments. For its services, abrdn Asia receives fees at an annual rate of: (i) 1.10% for the first $500 million of
the Fund's average weekly Managed Assets; (ii) 0.90% for the next $500 million of the Fund's average weekly Managed Assets; (iii) 0.85%
for the next $500 million of the Fund's average weekly Managed Assets; and (iv) 0.75% for the Fund's average weekly Managed Assets in
excess of $1.5 billion. Managed Assets is defined in the investment management agreement as net assets plus the amount of any borrowings
for investment purposes. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, abrdn Asia earned a gross management fee of $6,865,163.
b. Fund Administration:
abrdn Inc. (formerly, Aberdeen Standard Investments
Inc.), an affiliate of abrdn Asia, serves as the Fund's administrator and receives a fee payable monthly by the Fund at an annual fee
rate of 0.08% of the value of the Fund's average monthly net assets. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund paid a
total of $521,348 in administrative fees to abrdn Inc.
c. Investor Relations:
Under the terms of the Investor Relations Services
Agreement, abrdn Inc. provides and/or engages third parties to provide investor relations services to the Fund and certain other funds
advised by abrdn Asia or its affiliates as part of an Investor Relations Program. Under the Investor Relations Services Agreement, the
Fund owes a portion of the fees related to the Investor Relations Program (the "Fund's Portion"). However, investor relations
services fees are limited by abrdn Inc. so that the Fund will only pay up to an annual rate of 0.05% of the Fund's average net assets
per annum. Any difference between
the capped rate of 0.05% of the Fund's average
net assets per annum and the Fund's Portion is paid for by abrdn Inc.
Pursuant to the terms of the Investor Relations
Services Agreement, abrdn Inc. (or third parties engaged by abrdn Inc.) among other things, provides objective and timely information
to shareholders based on publicly-available information; provides information efficiently through the use of technology while offering
shareholders immediate access to knowledgeable investor relations representatives; develops and maintains effective communications with
investment professionals from a wide variety of firms; creates and maintains investor relations communication materials such as fund
manager interviews, films and webcasts, publishes white papers, magazine articles and other relevant materials discussing the Fund's
investment results, portfolio positioning and outlook; develops and maintains effective communications with large institutional shareholders;
responds to specific shareholder questions; and reports activities and results to the Board and management detailing insight into general
shareholder sentiment.
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021,
the Fund incurred investor relations fees of approximately $142,532. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, abrdn Inc. did not
contribute to the investor relations fees for the Fund because the Fund's contribution was below 0.05% of the Fund's average weekly net
assets on an annual basis.
4. Investment Transactions
Purchases and sales of investment securities
(excluding short-term securities) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, were $148,799,790 and $209,841,886, respectively.
5. Capital
The authorized capital of the Fund is 100 million
shares of $0.001 par value per share of common stock. As of December 31, 2021, there were 26,904,575 shares of common stock issued and
outstanding.
6. Open Market Repurchase Policy
Under the open market repurchase policy, the
Fund did not repurchase any shares during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.
7. Portfolio Investment Risks
a. Risks Associated with Indian Markets
The Indian securities markets are, among other
things, substantially smaller, less developed, less liquid and more volatile than the major securities markets in the United States.
Consequently, acquisitions and dispositions of Indian securities involve special risks and considerations not present with respect to
U.S. securities.
India has undergone and may continue to undergo
rapid change and lack the social, political and economic stability of more developed countries. The value of the Fund's assets may be
adversely affected by
18 The
India Fund, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
December 31, 2021
political, economic, social and religious factors,
changes in Indian law or regulations and the status of India's relations with other countries. In addition, the economy of India may
differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as the rate of growth of gross domestic product, the rate of inflation,
capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of payments position.
The Indian government has exercised and continues
to exercise significant influence over many aspects of the economy, and the number of public sector enterprises in India is substantial.
Accordingly, Indian government actions in the future could have a significant effect on the Indian economy, which could affect private
sector companies and the Fund, market conditions, and prices and yields of securities in the Fund's portfolio.
Economic growth in India is constrained by inadequate
infrastructure, a cumbersome bureaucracy, corruption, labor market rigidities, regulatory and foreign investment controls, the "reservation"
of key products for small-scale industries and high fiscal deficits. Changes in economic policies, or lack of movement toward economic
liberalization, could negatively affect the general business and economic conditions in India, which could in turn affect the Fund's
investments.
There is also the possibility of nationalization,
expropriation or confiscatory taxation, political changes, government regulation, social instability or diplomatic developments (including
pandemic, war or terrorist attacks). All of these factors could adversely affect the economy of India, make the prices of Indian securities
generally more volatile than the prices of securities of companies in developed markets and increase the risk of loss to the Fund.
b. Sector Risk
To the extent that the Fund has a significant
portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a broadly related group of industries within an economic
sector, the Fund may be more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly.
In particular, being invested heavily in the
financial sector may make the Fund vulnerable to risks and pressures facing companies in that sector, such as regulatory, consolidation,
interest rate changes and general economic conditions.
Financial
Sector Risk. To the extent that the financial sector represents a significant portion of the Fund's investments, the Fund will be
sensitive to changes in, and its performance may depend to a greater extent on, factors impacting this sector. Performance of companies
in the financials sector may be adversely impacted by many factors,
including, among others, government regulations,
economic conditions, credit rating downgrades, changes in interest rates, and decreased liquidity in credit markets. The impact of more
stringent capital requirements, recent or future regulation of any individual financial company, or recent or future regulation of the
financials sector as a whole cannot be predicted. In recent years, cyber attacks and technology malfunctions and failures have become
increasingly frequent in this sector and have caused significant losses.
Information
Technology Sector Risk. To the extent that the information technology sector represents a significant portion of the Fund, the Fund
will be sensitive to changes in, and its performance may depend to a greater extent on, factors impacting this sector. Information technology
companies face intense competition, both domestically and internationally, which may have an adverse effect on their profit margins.
Like other technology companies, information technology companies may have limited product lines, markets, financial resources or personnel.
The products of information technology companies may face obsolescence due to rapid technological developments, frequent new product
introduction, unpredictable changes in growth rates and competition for the services of qualified personnel. Companies in the information
technology sector are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights. The loss or impairment of these rights may adversely
affect the profitability of these companies.
c. Valuation Risk:
The price that the Fund could receive upon the
sale of any particular portfolio investment may differ from the Fund's valuation of the investment, particularly for securities that
trade in thin or volatile markets or that are valued using a fair valuation methodology or a price provided by an independent pricing
service. As a result, the price received upon the sale of an investment may be less than the value ascribed by the Fund, and the Fund
could realize a greater than expected loss or lower than expected gain upon the sale of the investment. The Fund's ability to value its
investments may also be impacted by technological issues and/or errors by pricing services or other third-party service providers.
d. Market Events Risk:
Markets are affected by numerous factors, including
interest rates, the outlook for corporate profits, the health of the national and world economies, the fluctuation of other stock markets
around the world, and financial, economic and other global market developments and disruptions, such as those arising from war, terrorism,
market manipulation, government interventions, defaults and shutdowns, political changes or diplomatic developments, public health
The India Fund, Inc.
19
Notes
to Financial Statements (continued)
December
31, 2021
emergencies
and natural/environmental disasters. Such events can negatively impact the securities markets and cause the Fund to lose value.
One
such event is the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused major disruptions to economies and markets around the world, including the markets
in which the Fund invests, and which has and may continue to negatively impact the value of certain of the Fund's investments. Although
vaccines for COVID-19 and variants thereof are becoming more widely available, the COVID-19 pandemic and impacts thereof may continue
for an extended period of time and may vary from market to market. To the extent the impacts of COVID-19 continue, the Fund may experience
negative impacts to its business that could exacerbate other risks to which the Fund is subject. Policy and legislative changes in countries
around the world are affecting many aspects of financial regulation, and governmental and quasi-governmental authorities and regulators
throughout the world have previously responded to serious
economic
disruptions with a variety of significant fiscal and monetary policy changes.
In
addition, economies and financial markets throughout the world are becoming increasingly interconnected. As a result, whether or not
the Fund invests in securities of issuers located in or with significant exposure to countries experiencing economic and financial difficulties,
the value and liquidity of the Fund's investments may be negatively affected by such events.
8.
Contingencies
In
the normal course of business, the Fund may provide general indemnifications pursuant to certain contracts and organizational documents.
The Fund's maximum exposure under these arrangements is dependent on future claims that may be made against the Fund, and therefore,
cannot be estimated; however, the Fund expects the risk of loss from such claims to be remote.
9.
Tax Information
The
U.S. federal income tax basis of the Fund's investments (including derivatives, if applicable) and the net unrealized appreciation as
of December 31, 2021, were as follows:
Tax
Basis of Investments | |
Appreciation | |
Depreciation | |
Net
Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) |
$355,206,584 | |
$348,559,096 | |
$(8,364,570) | |
$340,194,526 |
The
tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 was as follows:
| |
December
31, 2021 | |
December
31, 2020 |
Distributions
paid from: | |
| |
|
Ordinary
Income | |
$2,354,440 | |
$– |
Net
long-term capital gains | |
84,009,246 | |
29,535,051 |
Tax
return of capital | |
– | |
22,928,870 |
Total
tax character of distributions | |
$86,363,686 | |
$52,463,921 |
20
The India Fund, Inc.
Notes
to Financial Statements (concluded)
December
31, 2021
As
of December 31, 2021, the components of accumulated earnings on a tax basis were as follows:
Undistributed
ordinary income – net | |
$– | |
Undistributed
long-term capital gains – net | |
| 24,667,621 | |
Total
undistributed earnings | |
| $24,667,621 | |
Capital
loss carryforward | |
| – | * |
Other
currency gains | |
| – | |
Other
temporary differences | |
| – | |
Unrealized
appreciation/(depreciation) | |
| 310,460,183 | |
Total
accumulated earnings/(losses) – net | |
| $335,127,804 | ** |
| * | During
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund did not utilize a capital loss carryforward. |
| ** | The
difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) is attributable
to the difference between the tax deferral of wash sales and passive foreign investment company
gain/(loss). |
GAAP
requires that certain components of net assets be adjusted to reflect permanent differences between financial and tax reporting. Accordingly,
the table below details the necessary reclassifications, which are a result of permanent differences primarily attributable to distributions
in excess of current earnings. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or net asset values per share.
Paid-in
Capital |
Distributable
Earnings/(Accumulated Loss) |
$(8,823,135) |
$8,823,135 |
10.
Recent Rulemaking
In
December 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") adopted Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, which establishes requirements
for determining fair value in good faith for purposes of the 1940 Act, including related oversight and reporting requirements. The rule
also defines when market quotations are "readily available" for purposes of the 1940 Act, the threshold for determining whether
a fund must fair value a security. The SEC also adopted new Rule 31a-4 under the 1940 Act, which sets forth the recordkeeping requirements
associated with fair value determinations. Finally, the SEC is rescinding previously issued guidance on related issues, including the
role of a board in determining fair value and the accounting and auditing of fund investments. Rule 2a-5 and Rule 31a-4 became effective
on March 8, 2021, with a compliance date of September 8, 2022. Management is currently evaluating this guidance.
11.
Subsequent Events
Management
has evaluated the need for disclosures and/or adjustments resulting from subsequent events through the date the financial statements
were issued. Based on this evaluation, no disclosures and/or adjustments were required to the financial statements as of December 31,
2021.
On
December 9, 2021, the Board of Directors declared the payment of an elective cash distribution to be paid in the amount of $0.80 per
share
of common stock, on January 31, 2022, to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 20, 2021. As announced, the distribution
was payable in shares of the Fund's common stock. However, stockholders had the option to request that their distributions be paid in
cash in lieu of common stock. The aggregate amount of cash paid out in the distribution was not limited. The common stock distributed
was valued at $21.77 per share, which equaled the average trading price of the Fund's common shares on the NYSE as of the close of trading
during a three-business day period ended on January 20, 2022. Following the closing of the elective cash distribution, the Fund's number
of outstanding shares was 27,317,259.
On
February 23, 2022, as part of the Fund's managed distribution policy, the Board approved a rolling distribution rate of 10% for the 12-month
period commencing with the distribution payable in March 2022. It was also approved that commencing with the distribution payable in
June 2022, the Fund's quarterly distribution will be paid in newly issued shares of common stock of the Fund to all shareholders who
have not otherwise elected to receive cash. This stock distribution will automatically be paid in newly issued shares of the Fund unless
otherwise instructed by the shareholder. Shares of common stock will be issued at the lower of the net asset value ("NAV")
per share or the market price per share with a floor for the NAV of not less than 95% of the market price. Fractional shares will generally
be settled in cash, except for registered shareholders with book entry accounts at Computershare Investor Services who will have whole
and fractional shares added to their account. Shareholders will be able to request to be paid their quarterly distributions in cash instead
of shares of common stock by providing advance notice to the bank, brokerage or nominee who holds their shares if the shares are in "street
name" or by filling out in advance an election card received from Computershare Investor Services if the shares are in registered
form.
The
India Fund, Inc. 21
Report
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To
the Shareholders and Board of Directors
The India Fund, Inc.:
Opinion
on the Financial Statements
We
have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of The India Fund, Inc. (the Fund), including the portfolio of investments,
as of December 31, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for the
each of the years in the two-year period then ended, and the related notes (collectively, the financial statements) and the financial
highlights for each of the years in the five-year period then ended. In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights
present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of December 31, 2021, the results of its operations for
the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, and the financial highlights
for each of the years in the five-year period then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Basis
for Opinion
These
financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion
on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public
Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance
with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We
conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement, whether due to
error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements and
financial highlights, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included
examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights. Such
procedures also included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2021, by correspondence with the custodian, brokers, or
by other appropriate auditing procedures when replies from brokers were not received. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting
principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements
and financial highlights. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
We
have served as the auditor of one or more Aberdeen investment companies since 2009.
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania
February 25, 2022
22 The
India Fund, Inc.
Federal
Tax Information: Dividends and Distributions (unaudited)
The
following information is provided with respect to the distributions paid by Aberdeen India Fund, Inc. during the fiscal year ended December
31, 2021:
Payable
Date | |
Total
Cash Distribution | |
Long-Term
Capital Gain | |
Return
of Capital | |
Net
Ordinary Dividend | |
Foreign
Taxes Paid(1) | |
Gross
Ordinary Dividend | |
Qualified
Dividends(2) | |
Foreign
Source Income |
3/31/21 | |
0.580000 | |
0.558939 | |
0.000000 | |
0.021061 | |
0.078924 | |
0.099985 | |
0.065795 | |
0.099758 |
6/30/21 | |
0.580000 | |
0.558939 | |
0.000000 | |
0.021061 | |
0.078924 | |
0.099985 | |
0.065795 | |
0.099758 |
9/30/21 | |
0.610000 | |
0.587850 | |
0.000000 | |
0.022150 | |
0.083006 | |
0.105156 | |
0.069198 | |
0.104918 |
1/11/22 | |
0.640000 | |
0.616761 | |
0.000000 | |
0.023239 | |
0.087088 | |
0.110327 | |
0.072602 | |
0.110078 |
1/31/22 | |
0.800000 | |
0.800000 | |
0.000000 | |
0.000000 | |
0.000000 | |
0.000000 | |
0.000000 | |
0.000000 |
Total | |
3.210000 | |
3.122489 | |
0.000000 | |
0.087511 | |
0.327942 | |
0.415453 | |
0.273390 | |
0.414512 |
| (1) | The
foreign taxes paid represent taxes incurred by the Fund on interest received from foreign
sources. Foreign taxes paid may be included in taxable income with an offsetting deduction
from gross income or may be taken as a credit for taxes paid to foreign governments. You
should consult your tax advisor regarding the appropriate treatment of foreign taxes paid. |
| (2) | The
Fund hereby designates the amount indicated above or the maximum amount allowable by law. |
Supplemental
Information (unaudited)
Board
Approval of Investment Management Agreement
The
Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act") and the terms of the investment management agreement (the "Management
Agreement") between The India Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") and abrdn Asia Limited, formerly known as Aberdeen Standard Investments
(Asia) Limited, (the "Investment Manager" or "abrdn Asia") require that the Management Agreement be approved annually
at an in-person meeting by the Board of Directors (the "Board"), including a majority of the Directors who have no direct or
indirect interest in the Management Agreement and are not "interested persons" of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act (the
"Independent Directors").
At
a regularly scheduled quarterly meeting held on July 27, 2021 (the "Quarterly Meeting"), the Board voted unanimously to renew
the Management Agreement between the Fund and the Investment Manager. Pursuant to relief granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "SEC") in light of the COVID-19 pandemic (the "Order") and a determination by the Board that reliance on the
Order was appropriate due to circumstances related to the current or potential effects of COVID-19, the Quarterly Meeting was held via
teleconference. In considering whether to approve the continuation of the Fund's Management Agreement, the Board members received and
considered a variety of information provided by the Investment Manager relating to the Fund, the Management Agreement and the Investment
Manager, including information regarding the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Investment Manager under the Management
Agreement, comparative investment performance, fee and expense information of a peer group of funds consisting of other comparable closed-end
funds (the "Peer Group") selected by Strategic Insight Mutual Fund Research and Consulting, LLC ("SI"), an independent
third-party provider of investment company data and other performance information for relevant benchmark indices. In addition, the Independent
Directors of the Fund held a separate telephonic meeting on July 21, 2021 (together with the Quarterly Meeting held on July 27, 2021,
the "Meetings") to review the materials provided and the relevant legal considerations and met in executive session at the
Quarterly Meeting with their independent legal counsel to discuss the Management Agreement.
In
connection with their consideration of whether to approve the continuation of the Fund's Management Agreement, the Board members received
and reviewed a variety of information provided by the Investment Manager relating to the Fund, the Management Agreement and the Investment
Manager, including comparative performance, fee and expense information and other information regarding the nature and quality of services
provided by the Investment Manager under the Management Agreement. The materials provided to the Board generally included, among other
items: (i) information regarding the Fund's expenses and management fees, including information comparing the Fund's expenses to those
of the Peer Group and information about applicable fee "breakpoints" and expense limitations; (ii) information regarding the
profitability of the
The
India Fund, Inc. 23
Supplemental
Information (unaudited) (continued)
Management
Agreement to the Investment Manager; (iii) information on the investment performance of the Fund and the performance of the Peer Group
and the Fund's performance benchmark; (iv) a report prepared by the Investment Manager in response to a request submitted by the Independent
Directors' independent legal counsel on behalf of the Independent Directors; and (v) a memorandum from the Independent Directors' independent
legal counsel on the responsibilities of the Board in considering the approval of the investment management arrangement under the 1940
Act and Maryland law.
The
Independent Directors were advised by separate independent legal counsel throughout the process and also consulted in executive sessions
with their counsel regarding consideration of the renewal of the Management Agreement. In determining whether to approve the continuation
of the Management Agreement, the Board, including the Independent Directors, did not identify any single factor as determinative. Individual
Directors may have evaluated the information presented differently from one another and given different weights to various factors. Matters
considered by the Board, including the Independent Directors, in connection with its approval of the continuation of the Management Agreement
include the factors listed below.
In
addition, the Board considered other matters such as: (i) the Fund's investment objective and strategy, (ii) the Investment Manager's
investment personnel and operations, (iii) the resources devoted by the Investment Manager to the Fund, (iv) the Investment Manager's
financial condition and stability, (v) the Investment Manager's record of compliance with the Fund's investment policies and restrictions,
policies on personal securities transactions and other compliance policies, (vi) the allocation of the Fund's brokerage, and the use,
if any, of "soft" commission dollars to pay the Fund's expenses and to pay for research and other similar services, and (vii)
possible conflicts of interest. Throughout the process, the Board members had the opportunity to ask questions of and request additional
information from management.
The
Board also noted that in addition to the materials provided by the Investment Manager in connection with the Board's consideration of
the renewal of the Management Agreement at the Meeting, the Board received and reviewed materials in advance of each regular quarterly
meeting that contained information about the Fund's investment performance and information relating to the services provided by the Investment
Manager.
As
part of their deliberations, the Board members considered the following:
The
nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Fund under the Management Agreement. The Directors also considered the
nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Investment Manager to the Fund and the resources dedicated to the Fund by
the Investment Manager and its affiliates. Among other things, The Board reviewed the background and experience of the Investment Manager's
senior management personnel and the qualifications, background and responsibilities of the portfolio managers primarily responsible for
the day-to-day portfolio management services for the Fund. The Directors also considered the financial condition of the Investment Manager
and the Investment Manager's ability to provide quality service to the Fund. Management reported to the Board on, among other things,
its business plans and organizational changes. The Directors also took into account the Investment Manager's investment experience and
considered information regarding the Investment Manager's compliance with applicable laws and Securities and Exchange Commission and
other regulatory inquiries or audits of the Fund and/or the Investment Manager. The Board considered the Investment Manager's risk management
processes. The Board noted that they received information on a regular basis from the Fund's Chief Compliance Officer regarding the Investment
Manager's compliance policies and procedures and considered the Investment Manager's brokerage policies and practices. The Directors
took into account their knowledge of management and the quality of the performance of management's duties through Board meetings, discussion
and reports during the preceding year.
Investment
performance of the Fund and the Investment Manager. The Board received and reviewed with the Fund's management, among other performance
data, information that compared the Fund's return to comparable investment companies. The Board also received and considered performance
information compiled by SI as compared with the fund in the Fund's Morningstar category (the "Morningstar Group"). Additionally,
because of the limited number of funds in the Fund's Morningstar Group, the Fund's performance was also compared against the Peer Group.
In
addition, the Board received and reviewed: information regarding the Fund's total return on a net and gross basis and relative to the
Fund's benchmark and the Fund's share performance and premium/discount information. The Board also received and considered information
about the Fund's total return against the respective Morningstar Group and Peer Group averages and against other comparable abrdn-managed
funds. The Directors considered management's discussion of the factors contributing to differences in performance, including differences
in the investment strategies, restrictions and risks of each of these other funds. Additionally, the Board took into account information
about the Fund's discount/premium ranking relative to its Morningstar Group and Peer Group and management's discussion of the Fund's
performance. The Board
24 The
India Fund, Inc.
Supplemental
Information (unaudited) (concluded)
also
considered the Investment Manager's performance and reputation generally, the responsiveness of the Investment Manager to Director concerns
about performance and the willingness of the Investment Manager to take steps intended to improve performance. The Board concluded that
overall Fund performance supported continuation of the Management Agreement.
The
costs of the services provided and profits realized by the Investment Manager and its affiliates from their relationships with the Fund.
The Board reviewed with management the effective annual management fee rate paid by the Fund to the Investment Manager for investment
management services. The Board received and took into account information compiled at the request of the Fund by SI that compared the
Fund's effective annual management fee rate with the fees paid by its Peer Group. The Board considered the management fee structure,
including that management fees for the Fund were based on the Fund's average weekly managed assets, defined as total assets of the Fund,
including any assets attributable to leverage, minus all liabilities, but not excluding any liabilities or obligations attributable to
the Fund for investment purposes through (i) the issuance or incurrence of indebtedness of any type (including, without limitation, borrowing
through a credit facility or the issuance of debt securities), (ii) the issuance of preferred stock or other similar preference securities,
and/or (iii) any other means, but not including any collateral received for securities loaned by the Fund. Management noted that due
to the unique strategy and structure of the Fund, abrdn did not have any closed-end funds that were directly comparable to the Fund.
Although there were no other substantially similar abrdn Asia-managed closed-end funds against which to compare the Fund's management
fees, the Investment Manager provided information for other Aberdeen products with similar investment strategies to those of the Fund
where available. In evaluating the Fund's management fees, the Board took into account the demands, complexity and quality of the investment
management of the Fund.
In
addition to the foregoing, the Board considered the Fund's fees and expenses as compared to its Peer Group, consisting of closed-end
funds in the Fund's Morningstar expense category as compiled by SI.
Economies
of Scale. The Board considered management's discussion of the Fund's management fee structure and determined that the management
fee structure was reasonable and reflected economies of scale being shared between each of the Fund and the Investment Manager. The Board
based its determination on various factors, including how the Fund's management fees compared relative to the Peer Group at higher asset
levels and that the Fund's management fee schedule provided breakpoints at higher asset levels to adjust for anticipated economies in
the event of asset increases.
The
Board also considered other factors, which included but were not limited to the following:
• | whether
the Fund has operated in accordance with its investment objective, the Fund's record of compliance
with its investment restrictions, and the compliance programs of the Investment Manager. |
• | the
effect of any market and economic volatility on the performance, asset levels and expense
ratios of the Fund. |
• | the
nature, quality, cost and extent of administrative services performed by abrdn Inc. (formerly
known as Aberdeen Standard Investments Inc.), an affiliate of the Investment Manager, under
a separate agreement covering administrative services. |
• | so-called
"fallout benefits" to the Investment Manager or abrdn Inc., such as the benefits
of research made available to the Investment Manager or abrdn Inc. by reason of brokerage
commissions generated by the Fund's securities transactions or reputational and other indirect
benefits. The Board considered any possible conflicts of interest associated with these fallout
and other benefits, and the reporting, disclosure and other processes in place to disclose
and monitor such possible conflicts of interest. |
Based
on their evaluation of all factors that they deemed to be material, including those factors described above, and assisted by the advice
of independent counsel, the Directors, including the Independent Directors, voting separately, approved the Fund's Management Agreement
for an additional one-year period. Pursuant to the SEC Order, the Board determined that the Directors, including the Independent Directors,
voting separately, would ratify their approval at the next in-person Board meeting.
The
India Fund, Inc. 25
Additional
Information Regarding the Fund (unaudited)
Recent
Changes
The
following information is a summary of certain changes during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. This information may not reflect
all of the changes that have occurred since you purchased the Fund.
During
the applicable period, there have been: (i) no material changes to the Fund's investment objective and policies that constitute its principal
portfolio emphasis that have not been approved by shareholders; (ii) no material changes to the Fund's principal risks; (iii) no changes
to the persons primarily responsible for day-to-day management of the Fund; and (iv) no changes to the Fund's charter or by-laws that
would delay or prevent a change of control.
Investment
Objective and Policies
The
investment objective of the Fund is long-term capital appreciation, which it seeks to achieve by investing primarily in the equity securities
of Indian companies.
Equity
securities include common and preferred stock (including convertible preferred stock), American, global or other types of depositary
receipts, or ADRs, convertible bonds, notes and debentures, equity interests in trusts, partnerships, joint ventures or similar enterprises
and common stock purchase warrants and rights. Most of the equity securities purchased by the Fund are expected to be traded on an Indian
stock exchange or in an Indian over-the-counter market.
The
Fund's investment objective and its policy to invest, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its total assets in equity securities
of Indian companies are fundamental policies of the Fund that may not be changed without the approval of a majority of the Fund's outstanding
voting securities.
Portfolio
Structure
Under
normal market conditions, at least 80% of the Fund's total assets are invested in equity securities of Indian companies. "Indian
companies" are companies that:
| • | are
organized under the laws of India, |
| • | regardless
of where organized, derive at least 50% of their revenues or profits from goods produced
or sold, investments made, or services performed, in India, or have at least 50% of their
assets in India, or |
| • | have
securities which are traded principally on any Indian stock exchange or in the Indian over-the-counter
market. |
Up
to 20% of the Fund's total assets may be invested, subject to certain restrictions, in:
| • | equity
securities of companies (other than companies considered "Indian companies" under
the above criteria), regardless of where organized, which the Investment Manager believes
derive, or will |
derive,
at least 25% of their revenues from business in or with India, or have at least 25% of their
assets in India,
| • | debt
securities including high yield/high risk and unrated debt (commonly referred to as "junk
bonds"), denominated in Indian rupees or issued or guaranteed by an Indian company,
the Government of India or an Indian governmental entity, and |
| • | debt
securities of the type described below under "– Temporary Investments." We
refer to these securities as "temporary investments." |
Up
to 20% of the Fund's assets may also be utilized to purchase and sell options on securities, financial futures, fixed income indices
and other financial futures contracts, enter into interest rate transactions and to enter into currency transactions, sell securities
short and loan portfolio securities. The Fund will only invest in such assets in order to hedge against financial risks. With respect
to interest rate transactions, the Fund may enter into interest rate swaps and may purchase or sell interest rate caps and floors. Currency
transactions may include currency forward contracts, exchange listed currency futures contracts, exchange listed and over-the-counter
options on currencies and currency swaps. Although the Fund does not presently do so or intend to do so to any significant extent, the
Fund may from time to time sell securities short. The Fund will not be obligated, however, to do any hedging and makes no representation
as to the availability of these techniques at this time or at any time in the future.
The
Fund's assets may be invested in debt securities, other than temporary investments, when the Investment Manager believes that, based
upon factors such as relative interest rate levels and foreign exchange rates, such securities offer opportunities for long-term capital
appreciation. The Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in temporary investments for temporary defensive purposes due to political,
market or other factors affecting markets in India.
The
Fund may invest in investment funds, including unregistered funds, that invest at least 80% of their total assets in the equity securities
of Indian companies in which the Fund is authorized to invest. The Fund may invest in investment funds as a means of investing in other
equity securities in which the Fund is authorized to invest when the Investment Manager believes that such investments may be more advantageous
to the Fund than a direct market purchase of such securities. Under the 1940 Act, the Fund is restricted in the amount it may invest
in such funds.
The
Fund may invest its assets in a broad spectrum of industries. In selecting industries and companies for investment, the Investment Manager
may, among other factors, consider overall growth prospects, financial condition, competitive position, technology, research and development,
productivity, labor costs, raw material costs and sources, profit margins, return on investment, structural changes in local
26
The India Fund, Inc.
Additional
Information Regarding the Fund (unaudited) (continued)
economies,
capital resources, the degree of government regulation or deregulation, management and other factors.
While
the Fund invests a substantial portion of its assets in the securities of established Indian companies, it also may invest in the securities
of less seasoned and smaller and mid-capitalization Indian companies. There are risks associated with investments in securities of small
and medium capitalization companies that are not customarily associated with investments in securities of more established and larger
capitalized companies. Although the opportunities for growth may be greater with these companies, they also involve greater risks. For
example, they are more susceptible to abrupt and erratic price movements and adverse general market and economic developments, and it
may be more difficult to obtain information about these companies because they tend to be less well known and followed by fewer securities
analysts.
In
seeking to achieve the Fund's investment objective, the Investment Manager invests in quality companies and are active, engaged owners.
The Investment Manager evaluates every company against quality criteria and build conviction using a team-based approach and peer review
process. The quality assessment covers five key factors: (1) durability of the business model, (2) the attractiveness of the industry,
(3) the strength of financials, (4) the capability of management, and (5) assessment of the company's Environmental, Social and Governance
("ESG") credentials.
ESG
analysis is integrated into the Investment Manager's investment process in order to manage risk and to seek to generate better returns.
Analysis covers ESG opportunities, risks and financial materiality and the Investment Manager restricts investments in companies with
low proprietary ESG ratings. Once invested, the Investment Manager actively engages with companies to seek to raise ESG standards and
governance practices and support those companies identified as leaders.
The
Investment Manager seeks to understand what is changing in companies, industries and markets but isn't being priced into the market or
is being mispriced. Through deep, fundamental research, supported by a global research presence and proprietary tools, the Investment
Manager seeks to identify companies whose quality is not yet fully recognized by the market.
The
Investment Manager may sell a security when they perceive that a company's business direction or growth potential has changed or the
company's valuations no longer offer attractive relative value.
Temporary
Investments
The
Fund may hold and/or invest its assets in cash and/or temporary investments for cash management purposes, pending investment in accordance
with the Fund's investment objective and policies and to
meet operating
expenses. In addition, the Fund may take a temporary defensive posture and invest without limitation
in temporary investments. The Fund may assume a temporary defensive posture when, due to political,
market or other factors broadly affecting markets, the Investment Manager determines that either
opportunities for capital appreciation in those markets may be significantly limited or that significant
diminution in value of the securities traded in those markets may occur. To the extent that the
Fund invests in temporary investments, it may not achieve its investment objective.
Specifically,
"temporary investments" are debt securities denominated in U.S. dollars or in another freely convertible currency including:
| • | short-term
(less than 12 months to maturity) and medium-term (not greater than five years to maturity)
obligations issued or guaranteed by: |
| • | the
U.S. government or the Indian government or their agencies or instrumentalities, or |
| • | international
organizations designated or supported by multiple foreign governmental entities to promote
economic reconstruction or development; |
| • | finance
company obligations, corporate commercial paper and other short-term commercial obligations,
in each case rated, or issued by companies with similar securities outstanding that are rated,
Prime-1 or A or better by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or A-1 or A or better by Standard
& Poor's Ratings Services, a division of the McGraw Hill Companies, Inc., or, if unrated,
of comparable quality as determined by the Investment Manager; |
| • | obligations
(including certificates of deposit, time deposits, demand deposits and bankers' acceptances)
of banks, subject to the restriction that the Fund may not invest more than 25% of its total
assets in bank securities; and |
| • | repurchase
agreements with respect to securities in which the Fund may invest. The banks whose obligations
may be purchased by the Fund and the banks and broker-dealers with which the Fund may enter
into repurchase agreements include any member bank of the U.S. Federal Reserve System and
any broker-dealer or any foreign bank that has been determined by the Investment Manager
to be creditworthy. |
Repurchase
agreements are contracts pursuant to which the seller of a security agrees at the time of sale to repurchase the security at an agreed
upon price and date. When the Fund enters into a repurchase agreement, the seller will be required to maintain the value of the securities
subject to the repurchase agreement, marked to market daily, at not less than their repurchase price. Repurchase agreements may involve
risks in the event of insolvency or other default by the seller,
The
India Fund, Inc. 27
Additional
Information Regarding the Fund (unaudited) (continued)
including possible delays or restrictions upon
the Fund's ability to dispose of the underlying securities.
Other
Investments
Illiquid
securities. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its total assets in illiquid securities for which there may be no or only a limited trading
market and for which a low trading volume of a particular security may result in abrupt and erratic price movements. The Fund does not
currently intend to invest in privately placed securities other than those where no term, other than price and payment terms, is negotiated.
The Fund may be unable to dispose of its holdings in illiquid securities at then-current market prices and may have to dispose of such
securities over extended periods of time. In some cases, illiquid securities will be subject to contractual or legal restrictions on
transfer. In addition, issuers whose securities are not publicly traded may not be subject to the disclosure and other investor protection
requirements that may be applicable if their securities were publicly traded.
Rule
144A securities. The Fund may purchase certain restricted securities, or Rule 144A securities, for which there is a secondary market
of qualified institutional buyers, as contemplated by Rule 144A under the 1933 Act. Rule 144A provides an exemption from the registration
requirements of the 1933 Act for the resale of certain restricted securities to qualified institutional buyers. One effect of Rule 144A
is that certain restricted securities may now have liquidity, though there is no assurance that a liquid market for Rule 144A securities
will develop or be maintained. To the extent that the number of qualified institutional buyers is reduced, a previously liquid Rule 144A
security may be determined to be illiquid, thus increasing the percentage of illiquid assets in the Fund's portfolio. The Board of Directors
has adopted policies and procedures for the purpose of determining whether securities that are eligible for resale under Rule 144A are
liquid or illiquid securities. Pursuant to those policies and procedures, the Board of Directors has delegated to the Investment Manager
the determination as to whether a particular security is liquid or illiquid.
Convertible
securities. A convertible security is a bond, debenture, note, preferred stock or other security that may be converted into or exchanged
for a prescribed amount of common stock of the same or a different issuer within a particular period of time at a specified price or
formula. A convertible security entitles the holder to receive interest generally paid or accrued on debt or the dividend paid on preferred
stock until the convertible security matures or is redeemed, converted or exchanged. Convertible securities have several unique investment
characteristics such as:
| • | higher
yields than common stocks but lower yields than comparable nonconvertible securities; |
| • | a
lesser degree of fluctuation in value than the underlying stock since they have fixed income
characteristics; and |
| • | the
potential for capital appreciation if the market price of the underlying common stock increases. |
A
convertible security may be subject to redemption at the option of the issuer at a price established in the convertible security's governing
instrument. If a convertible security held by the Fund is called for redemption, the Fund may be required to permit the issuer to redeem
the security, convert it into the underlying common stock or sell it to a third party. Any of these actions could have an adverse effect
on the Fund's ability to achieve its investment objective.
In
selecting convertible debt securities for the Fund, the following factors, among others, may be considered by the Investment Manager:
| • | the
creditworthiness of the issuers of the securities; |
| • | the
interest income generated by the securities; |
| • | the
potential for capital appreciation of the securities and the underlying stock; |
| • | the
conversion prices of the securities relative to the underlying stocks; and |
| • | the
conversion prices of the securities relative to other comparable securities. |
Warrants.
The Fund may invest in warrants, which are securities permitting but not obligating their holder to subscribe for other securities. Warrants
do not carry with them the right to dividends or voting rights with respect to the securities that they entitle their holder to purchase,
and they do not represent any rights in the assets of an issuer. As a result, an investment in warrants may be considered more speculative
than certain other types of investments. In addition, the value of a warrant does not necessarily change with the value of the underlying
securities, and a warrant ceases to have value if it is not exercised prior to its expiration date.
Equity-linked
debt securities. The Fund may invest in equity-linked debt securities. The amount of interest and/or principal payments that an issuer
of equity-linked debt securities is obligated to make is linked to the performance of a specified index of equity securities and may
be significantly greater or less than payment obligations in respect of other types of debt securities. As a result, an investment in
equity-linked debt securities may be considered more speculative than other types of debt securities. In selecting equity-linked debt
securities for the Fund, the Investment Manager may consider, among other factors, the creditworthiness of the issuers of the securities
and the volatility of the index of equity securities.
28
The India Fund, Inc.
Additional
Information Regarding the Fund (unaudited) (continued)
ADDITIONAL
INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES
In
addition to the investment policies discussed above, the Fund may engage in certain additional investment activities. These activities
may be limited by Indian law or regulations.
Hedging
The
Fund is authorized to use various hedging and investment strategies. From time to time and as permitted by the 1940 Act, the Fund may
engage in certain hedging activities described below to hedge various market risks (such as broad or specific market movements and interest
rates and currency exchange rates).
In
addition, techniques and instruments may change over time as new instruments and strategies are developed or regulatory changes occur.
Subject
to the constraints described above, the Fund may purchase and sell interest rate, currency or stock index futures contracts and enter
into currency forward contracts and currency swaps. It may purchase and sell (or write) exchange listed and over-the-counter put and
call options on debt and equity securities, currencies, futures contracts, fixed income and stock indices and other financial instruments.
And it may enter into interest rate transactions, equity swaps and related transactions and other similar transactions that may be developed
to the extent the Investment Manager determines are consistent with the Fund's investment objective and policies and applicable regulatory
requirements. The Fund's futures transactions will be entered into for hedging purposes. There is, however, no limit on the Fund's assets
that can be put at risk through the use of futures contracts and options thereon, and the value of the Fund's futures contracts and options
thereon may equal or exceed 100% of the Fund's total assets. The Fund's interest rate transactions may take the form of swaps, caps,
floors and collars, currency forward contracts, currency futures contracts, currency swaps and options on currency or currency futures
contracts.
When-Issued
and Delayed Delivery Securities
The
Fund may purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis. Securities purchased on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis
are purchased for delivery beyond the normal settlement date at a stated price. No income accrues to the purchaser of a security on a
when-issued or delayed delivery basis prior to delivery. Such securities are recorded as an asset and are subject to changes in value
based upon changes in market prices. Purchasing a security on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis can involve a risk that the market
price at the time of delivery may be lower than the agreed-upon purchase price, in which case there could be an unrealized loss at the
time of delivery. The Fund will only make commitments to purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis with the intention
of actually acquiring the securities, but it may sell them before the settlement
date
if it is deemed advisable. The Fund generally will establish a segregated account in which it will maintain liquid assets in an amount
at least equal in value to the Fund's commitments to purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis. If the value of
these assets declines, the Fund will place additional liquid assets in the account on a daily basis so that the value of the assets in
the account is equal to the amount of such commitments. As an alternative, the Fund may elect to treat when-issued or delayed delivery
securities as senior securities representing indebtedness, which are subject to asset coverage requirements under the 1940 Act.
Loans
of Portfolio Securities
The
Fund may lend portfolio securities. By doing so, the Fund attempts to earn income through the receipt of interest on the loan. In the
event of the bankruptcy of the other party to a securities loan, the Fund could experience delays in recovering the securities that it
lent. To the extent that, in the meantime, the value of the securities that the Fund has lent has increased, the Fund could experience
a loss.
The
Fund may lend securities from its portfolio if liquid assets in an amount at least equal to the current market value of the securities
lent (including accrued interest thereon) plus the interest payable to the Fund with respect to the loan is maintained by the Fund in
a segregated account. Any securities that the Fund may receive as collateral will not become a part of its portfolio at the time of the
loan and, in the event of a default by the borrower, the Fund will, if permitted by law, dispose of such collateral except for such part
thereof that is a security in which the Fund is permitted to invest. During the time that securities are on loan, the borrower will pay
the Fund any accrued income on those securities, and the Fund may invest the cash collateral and earn additional income or receive an
agreed-upon fee from a borrower that has delivered cash equivalent collateral. Cash collateral received by the Fund will be invested
in securities in which the Fund is permitted to invest. The value of securities lent will be marked to market daily. Portfolio securities
purchased with cash collateral are subject to possible depreciation. Loans of securities by the Fund will be subject to termination at
the Fund's or the borrower's option. The Fund may pay reasonable negotiated fees in connection with loaned securities, so long as such
fees are set forth in a written contract and approved by the Fund's Board of Directors.
Investment
Funds
The
Fund may invest in investment funds, including unregistered funds, other than those for which the Investment Manager serve as investment
adviser or sponsor and which invest principally in securities in which the Fund is authorized to invest. Under the 1940 Act, the Fund
is restricted in the amount it may invest in such funds. To the extent that the Fund invests in other investment funds, including unregistered
The India Fund, Inc. 29
Additional
Information Regarding the Fund (unaudited) (continued)
funds, the
Fund's stockholders will incur certain fees and expenses, including investment advisory fees. As a stockholder in an investment fund,
the Fund will bear its ratable share of the investment fund's expenses and will remain subject to payment of the Fund's advisory and
other fees and expenses with respect to assets so invested.
Short Sales
Although the
Fund does not presently do so or intend to do so to any significant extent, the Fund may from time to time sell securities short. A short
sale is a transaction in which the Fund would sell securities it does not own but has borrowed. In the event the Fund elects to sell
securities short, the Fund's intention would be to seek to take advantage of decreases in the market prices of securities in order to
increase the Fund's return on its investments. When the Fund makes a short sale, the proceeds it receives from the sale will be held
on behalf of a broker until the Fund replaces the borrowed securities. To deliver the securities to the buyer, the Fund will need to
arrange through a broker to borrow the securities, and, in so doing, the Fund will become obligated to replace the securities borrowed
at their market price at the time of replacement, whatever that price may be. The Fund may have to pay a premium to borrow the securities
and must pay any dividends or interest payable on the securities until they are replaced.
The Fund's
obligation to replace the securities borrowed in connection with a short sale will be secured by collateral deposited with the broker
that consists of cash, U.S. government securities or other liquid debt obligations. In addition, the Fund will place in a segregated
account with its custodian, or designated sub-custodian, an amount of cash, U.S. government securities or other liquid debt obligations
equal to the difference, if any, between the market value of the securities sold at the time they were sold short and any cash, U.S.
government securities or other liquid obligations deposited as collateral with the broker in connection with the short sale (not including
the proceeds of the short sale). Until it replaces the borrowed securities, the Fund will maintain the segregated account daily at a
level so that the amount deposited in the account plus the amount deposited with the broker (not including the proceeds from the short
sale) will equal the current market value of the securities sold short and the amount deposited in the account plus the amount deposited
with the broker (not including the proceeds from the short sale) will not be less than the market value of the securities at the time
they were sold short.
Short sales
by the Fund involve certain risks and special considerations. Possible losses from short sales differ from losses that could be incurred
from a purchase of a security because losses from short sales may be unlimited whereas losses from purchases can equal only the total
amount invested.
Leverage
Although the
Fund does not presently do so or intend to do so in the upcoming year, the Fund may utilize leverage by borrowing or by issuing preferred
stock or short-term debt securities in an amount up to 25% of the Fund's total assets. Borrowings may be secured by the Fund's assets.
Temporary borrowings in an additional amount of up to 5% of the Fund's total assets may be made without regard to the foregoing limitation
for temporary or emergency purposes such as clearance of portfolio transactions, share repurchases and payment of dividends.
Leverage by
the Fund creates an opportunity for increased return but, at the same time, creates special risks. For example, leverage may exaggerate
changes in the net asset value of the common stock and in the return on the Fund's portfolio. Although the principal of any leverage
will be fixed, the Fund's assets may change in value during the time the leverage is outstanding. Leverage will create expenses for the
Fund that can exceed the income from the assets acquired with the proceeds of the leverage. All expenses associated with leverage would
be borne by common stockholders. Furthermore, an increase in interest rates could reduce or eliminate the benefits of leverage and could
reduce the value of the Fund's common stock.
The Fund also
may enter into reverse repurchase agreements with any member bank of the U.S. Federal Reserve System and any broker-dealer or any foreign
bank that has been determined by the Investment Manager to be creditworthy. Under a reverse repurchase agreement, the Fund would sell
securities and agree to repurchase them at a mutually agreed upon date and price. At the time the Fund enters into a reverse repurchase
agreement, it may establish and maintain a segregated account with its custodian or a designated sub-custodian that contains cash, U.S.
government securities or other liquid debt obligations that have a value not less than the repurchase price (including accrued interest).
Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the market value of the securities purchased with the proceeds of the sale of securities
received by the Fund may decline below the price of the securities that the Fund is obligated to repurchase. In the event that the buyer
of securities under a reverse repurchase agreement files for bankruptcy or becomes insolvent, the buyer or its trustee or receiver may
receive an extension of time to determine whether to enforce the Fund's obligations to repurchase the securities, and the Fund's use
of proceeds of the reverse repurchase agreement may effectively be restricted pending the decision. Reverse repurchase agreements will
be treated as borrowings for purposes of calculating the Fund's borrowing limitation to the extent the Fund does not establish and maintain
a segregated account.
30 The
India Fund, Inc.
Additional
Information Regarding the Fund (unaudited) (continued)
Asset Coverage Requirements
The 1940 Act
generally prohibits the Fund from engaging in most forms of leverage representing indebtedness other than preferred shares unless immediately
after such incurrence the Fund's total assets less all liabilities and indebtedness not represented by senior securities (for these purposes,
"total net assets") is at least 300% of the aggregate senior securities representing indebtedness (i.e., the use of leverage
through senior securities representing indebtedness may not exceed 33 1/3% of the Fund's total net assets (including the proceeds from
leverage)). Additionally, under the 1940 Act, the Fund generally may not declare any dividend or other distribution upon any class of
its capital shares, or purchase any such capital shares, unless at the time of such declaration or purchase, this asset coverage test
is satisfied. The staff at the SEC's Division of Investment Management has taken the position that short sales of securities, reverse
repurchase agreements, use of margin, sales of put and call options on specific securities or indices, investments in certain other types
of instruments (including certain derivatives, such as swap agreements) and the purchase and sale of securities on a when-issued or forward
commitment basis may be deemed to constitute indebtedness subject to the asset coverage requirement.
The SEC's staff
has stated, however, that it will not deem a portfolio position involving these instruments to be subject to the asset coverage requirement
if an investment company "covers" its position by segregating liquid securities on its books or in an account with its custodian
in an amount sufficient to offset the liability associated with the position. Generally, in conjunction with portfolio positions that
are deemed to constitute senior securities, the Fund must:
• | observe the asset coverage requirement; |
• | maintain daily a segregated account in cash or
liquid securities at such a level that the amount segregated plus any amounts pledged to
a broker as collateral will equal the current value of the position; or |
• | otherwise cover the portfolio position with offsetting
portfolio securities. |
Segregation
of assets or covering portfolio positions with offsetting portfolio positions may limit the Fund's ability to otherwise invest those
assets or dispose of those securities.
With respect
to asset coverage for preferred shares, under the 1940 Act, the Fund is not permitted to issue preferred shares unless immediately after
such issuance the value of the Fund's total net assets (as defined above) is at least 200% of the liquidation value of the outstanding
preferred shares and the newly issued preferred shares plus the aggregate amount of any senior securities of the Fund representing indebtedness
(i.e., such liquidation value plus the aggregate amount
of senior securities
representing indebtedness may not exceed 50% of the Fund's total net assets). In addition, the Fund is not permitted to declare any cash
dividend or other distribution on its Common Shares unless, at the time of such declaration, the value of the Fund's total net assets
(determined after deducting the amount of such dividend or other distribution) satisfies the above-referenced 200% coverage requirement.
Risk Factors
General
The Fund is
a non-diversified, closed-end investment company designed primarily as a long-term investment and not as a trading tool. An investment
in the Fund's Shares may be speculative and involves a high degree of risk. The Fund should not be considered a complete investment program.
Due to the uncertainty in all investments, there can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
Equity Risk
The value of
equity securities, including common stock, preferred stock and convertible stock, will fluctuate in response to factors affecting the
particular company, as well as broader market and economic conditions. Moreover, in the event of the company's bankruptcy, claims of
certain creditors, including bondholders, will have priority over claims of common stock holders and are likely to have varying types
of priority over holders of preferred and convertible stock.
As an investment
company that holds primarily common stocks, the Fund's portfolio is subject to the possibility that common stock prices will decline
over short or even extended periods. The Fund may remain substantially fully invested during periods when stock prices generally rise
and also during periods when they generally decline. Moreover, as a holder of common stock, the Fund's rights to the assets of the companies
in which it invests will be subordinated to such companies' holders of preferred stock and debt in the event of a bankruptcy, liquidation
or similar proceeding. Accordingly, if such an event were to occur to such a company in which the Fund invests, the Fund would be entitled
to such a company's assets only after such company's preferred stockholders and debt holders have been paid. Risks are inherent in investments
in equities, and Fund stockholders should be able to tolerate significant fluctuations in the value of their investment in the Fund.
Fixed Income Risk
The Fund may
invest up to 20% of its assets in debt securities whose value will tend to decrease as interest rates rise.
The
India Fund, Inc. 31
Additional
Information Regarding the Fund (unaudited) (continued)
Investment and Market Risk
Deteriorating
market conditions might cause a general weakness in the market that reduces the prices of securities in that market. Developments in
the stock market could also adversely affect the Fund by reducing the relative attractiveness of stocks as an investment. Also, to the
extent that the Fund emphasizes stocks from any given industry, it could be hurt if that industry does not do well.
Additionally,
the Fund could lose value if the individual stocks in which it maintains long positions and/or the overall stock markets on which the
stocks trade decline in price. Stocks and stock markets may experience short-term volatility (price fluctuation) as well as extended
periods of price decline or increase. Individual stocks are affected by many factors, including:
• | market trends, including investor demand for a
particular type of stock, such as growth or value stocks, small or large stocks, or stocks
within a particular industry. |
Stock markets
are affected by numerous factors, including interest rates, the outlook for corporate profits, the health of the national and world economies,
national and world social and political events, and the fluctuation of other stock market around the world.
Market Events Risk
Markets are
affected by numerous factors, including interest rates, the outlook for corporate profits, the health of the national and world economies,
the fluctuation of other stock markets around the world, and financial, economic and other global market developments and disruptions,
such as those arising from war, terrorism, market manipulation, government interventions, defaults and shutdowns, political changes or
diplomatic developments, including unfavorable international trade policies or developments, public health emergencies and natural/environmental
disasters. In addition, any spread of an infectious illness, public health threat or similar issue could reduce consumer demand or economic
output, result in market closures, travel restrictions or quarantines, and generally have a significant impact on the world economy,
which in turn could adversely affect the Fund's investments. Such events can negatively impact the securities markets and cause the Fund
to lose value. These events can also impair the technology and other operational systems upon which the Fund's service providers rely
and could otherwise disrupt the Fund's service providers' ability to fulfill their obligations to the Fund.
Policy and
legislative changes in the United States and in other countries are affecting many aspects of financial regulation, and governmental
and quasi-governmental authorities and regulators throughout the world have responded to serious economic disruptions with a variety
of significant fiscal and monetary policy changes, including but not limited to, direct capital infusions into companies, new monetary
programs and dramatically lower interest rates. The impact of these policies and legislative changes on the markets, and the practical
implications for market participants, may not be fully known for some time. A reversal of these policies, or the ineffectiveness of these
policies, could increase volatility in securities markets, which could adversely impact the Fund's investments. The current market environment
could make identifying investment risks and opportunities especially difficult for the Investment Manager.
The current
contentious domestic political environment, as well as political and diplomatic events within the United States and abroad, such as presidential
elections in the U.S. or abroad or the U.S. government's inability at times to agree on a long-term budget and deficit reduction plan,
has in the past resulted, and may in the future result, in a government shutdown or otherwise adversely affect the U.S. regulatory landscape,
the general market environment and/or investor sentiment, which could have an adverse impact on the Fund's investments and operations.
Additional and/or prolonged U.S. federal government shutdowns may affect investor and consumer confidence and may adversely impact financial
markets and the broader economy, perhaps suddenly and to a significant degree.
Economies and
financial markets throughout the world are becoming increasingly interconnected. As a result, whether or not the Fund invests in securities
of issuers located in or with significant exposure to countries experiencing economic and financial difficulties, the value and liquidity
of the Fund's investments may be negatively affected by such events.
COVID-19.
Beginning in the first quarter of 2020, the illness COVID-19 caused by a novel coronavirus has resulted in a global pandemic and
major disruption to economies and markets around the world, including the United States. Financial markets have experienced extreme volatility
and severe losses. Some sectors of the economy and individual issuers have experienced particularly large losses. These circumstances
may continue for an extended period of time, and as a result may affect adversely the value and liquidity of the Fund's investments.
To the extent the impacts of COVID-19 continue, the Fund may experience negative impacts to its business that could exacerbate other
risks described in the Fund's prospectus, including:
• | significant mark-downs in the fair value of the
Fund's investments and decreases in NAV per share; |
32
The India Fund, Inc.
Additional
Information Regarding the Fund (unaudited) (continued)
| • | the
Fund's investments may require a workout, restructuring, recapitalization or reorganizations
that involve additional investment from the Fund and/or that result in greater risks and
losses to the Fund; |
| • | operational
impacts on and availability of key personnel of the Investment Manager, custodian, and/or
any of the Fund's other third-party service providers, vendors and counterparties as they
face changed circumstances and/or illness related to the pandemic; |
| • | difficulty
in valuing the Fund's assets in light of significant changes in the financial markets, including
difficulty in forecasting discount rates and making market comparisons, and circumstances
affecting the Investment Manager, and the Fund's service providers' personnel during the
pandemic; |
| • | significant
changes to the valuations of pending or prospective investments; and |
| • | limitations
on the Fund's ability to make distributions or dividends, as applicable, to the Fund's common
shareholders. |
The rapid development
and fluidity of this situation precludes any prediction as to the ultimate adverse impact of COVID-19 on economic and market conditions,
and, as a result, present uncertainty and risk with respect to the Fund and the performance of its investments and ability to pay distributions.
The full extent of the impact and effects of COVID-19 will depend on future developments, including, among other factors, the duration
and spread of the outbreak, along with related travel advisories, quarantines and restrictions, the recovery time of the disrupted supply
chains and industries, the impact of labor market interruptions, the impact of government interventions, and uncertainty with respect
to the duration of the global economic slowdown.
Brexit.
The ongoing negotiations surrounding the future relationship between the UK and the EU following UK's exit from the EU on January
31, 2020 ("Brexit") have yet to provide clarity on what the outcome will be for the UK, Europe, and the worldwide economy.
On December 24, 2020, negotiators representing the United Kingdom and the EU came to a preliminary trade agreement, the EU-UK Trade and
Cooperation Agreement ("TCA"), which is an agreement on the terms governing certain aspects of the EU's and United Kingdom's
relationship following the transition period that expired on December 31, 2020. On December 30, 2020, the United Kingdom and the EU signed
the TCA, which was ratified by the British Parliament on the same day. The TCA was subsequently ratified by the EU Parliament and entered
into force on May 1, 2021. Even under the TCA, many aspects of the United Kingdom-EU trade relationship remain subject to further negotiation.
Due to political uncertainty, it is not possible to anticipate the form or nature of the future trading relationship between the United
Kingdom and the EU. Whether or not the Fund invests in securities of issuers located in Europe (whether the EU, Eurozone or UK) or with
significant
exposure to
European, EU, Eurozone or UK issuers or countries, the unavoidable uncertainties and events related to Brexit could negatively affect
the value and liquidity of the Fund's investments, increase taxes and costs of business and cause volatility in currency exchange rates
and interest rates. Brexit could adversely affect the performance of contracts in existence at the date of Brexit and European, UK or
worldwide political, regulatory, economic or market conditions and could contribute to instability in political institutions, regulatory
agencies and financial markets. Brexit could also lead to legal uncertainty and politically divergent national laws and regulations as
a new relationship between the UK and EU is defined and the UK determines which EU laws to replace or replicate. Any of these effects
of Brexit, and other effects that cannot be anticipated, could adversely affect the Fund's business, results of operations and financial
condition. In addition, the risk that abrdn plc, the parent of the companies that provide investment management, investment advisory
and administration services to the Fund and which is headquartered in the UK, fails to adequately prepare for Brexit could have significant
customer, reputation and capital impacts for abrdn plc and its subsidiaries, including those providing services to the Fund; however,
abrdn plc has detailed contingency planning in place to seek to manage the consequences of Brexit on the Fund and to avoid any disruption
to the Fund and to the services its subsidiaries provide. Given the fluidity and complexity of the situation, however, it cannot assured
that the Fund will not be adversely impacted by Brexit despite preparations.
Inflation Risk
Inflation risk
is the risk that the value of assets or income from investments will be worth less in the future as inflation decreases the value of
money. As inflation increases, the real value of the Fund's Common Stock and dividends can decline.
Management Risk
The Investment
Manager's judgment about the attractiveness, relative value or potential appreciation of a particular security or investment strategy
may prove to be incorrect.
Risks Related to the Fund's Operations
Country/Regional Focus Risk
Focusing on
a single country involves increased currency, political, regulatory and other risks. Market swings in the targeted country will have
a greater effect on portfolio performance than they would in a more geographically diversified fund.
India Investing Risk
Political,
economic, social and other factors in India may adversely affect the Fund's performance.
The
India Fund, Inc. 33
Additional
Information Regarding the Fund (unaudited) (continued)
An emerging
market such as India has undergone and may continue to undergo rapid change and lack the social, political and economic stability of
more developed countries. The value of the Fund's assets may be adversely affected by political, economic, social and religious factors,
changes in Indian law or regulations and the status of India's relations with other countries. In addition, the economy of India may
differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as the rate of growth of gross domestic product, the rate of inflation,
capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of payments position. Agriculture occupies a more prominent position in the
Indian economy than in the United States, and the Indian economy therefore is more susceptible to adverse changes in weather. The Indian
government has exercised and continues to exercise significant influence over many aspects of the economy, and the number of public sector
enterprises in India is substantial. Accordingly, Indian government actions in the future could have a significant effect on the Indian
economy, which could affect private sector companies and the Fund, market conditions, and prices and yields of securities in the Fund's
portfolio.
Economic growth
in India is constrained by inadequate infrastructure, a cumbersome bureaucracy, corruption, labor market rigidities, regulatory and foreign
investment controls, the "reservation" of key products for small-scale industries and high fiscal deficits. Changes in economic
policies, or lack of movement toward economic liberalization, could negatively affect the general business and economic conditions in
India, which could in turn affect the Fund's investments.
Further, the
economies of developing countries such as India generally are heavily dependent upon international trade and, accordingly, have been
and may continue to be adversely affected by trade barriers, exchange controls, managed adjustments in relative currency values and other
protectionist measures imposed or negotiated by the countries with which they trade. The Indian economy also has been and may continue
to be adversely affected by economic conditions in the countries with which it trades.
There is also
the possibility of nationalization, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, political changes, government regulation, social instability
or diplomatic developments (including war or terrorist attacks). All of these factors could adversely affect the economy of India, make
the prices of Indian securities generally more volatile than the prices of securities of companies in developed markets and increase
the risk of loss to the Fund.
There are over
20 recognized stock exchanges in India, including The Over the Counter Exchange of India. Most stock exchanges are governed by regulatory
boards. The securities market in India is substantially smaller, less liquid and significantly more volatile than
the securities
market in the United States. The relatively small market capitalizations of, and trading values on, Indian stock exchanges may cause
the Fund's investments in securities listed on these exchanges to be comparatively less liquid and subject to greater price volatility
than comparable U.S. investments.
A high proportion
of the shares of many Indian issuers are held by a limited number of persons, which may limit the number of shares available for investment
by the Fund. In addition, further issuances, or the perception that such issuances may occur, of securities by Indian issuers in which
the Fund has invested could dilute the earnings per share of the Fund's investment and could adversely affect the market price of such
securities. Sales of securities by such issuer's major stockholders, or the perception that such sales may occur, may also significantly
and adversely affect the market price of such securities and, in turn, the Fund's investment. A limited number of issuers represent a
disproportionately large percentage of market capitalization and trading value. The limited liquidity of the Indian securities markets
may also affect the Fund's ability to acquire or dispose of securities at the price and time that it desires.
Indian stock
exchanges have in the past experienced substantial fluctuations in the prices of their listed securities. They have also experienced
problems such as temporary exchange closures, broker defaults, settlement delays and broker strikes that, if they occur again in the
future, could affect the market price and liquidity of the Indian securities in which the Fund invests. In addition, the governing bodies
of the various Indian stock exchanges have from time to time imposed restrictions on trading in certain securities, limitations on price
movements and margin requirements. Disputes have also occurred from time to time among listed companies, the stock exchanges and other
regulatory bodies, and in some cases those disputes have had a negative effect on overall market sentiment.
The foregoing
factors could impede the ability of the Fund to effect portfolio transactions on a timely basis and could have an adverse effect on the
net asset value of the Fund's shares of common stock and the price at which those shares trade.
In addition,
the stock market in India is volatile. Indian stocks, like those in other emerging markets, have a history of extreme volatility with
sharp advances and rapid declines, which can be sudden and unpredictable. In addition to their smaller size, lesser liquidity and greater
volatility, Indian securities markets are less developed than U.S. securities markets. Disclosure and regulatory standards are in many
respects less stringent than U.S. standards. Issuers in India are subject to accounting, auditing and financial standards and requirements
that differ, in some cases significantly, from those applicable to U.S. issuers. In particular, the assets and profits appearing on the
financial statements of an Indian issuer may not reflect its financial position or
34
The India Fund, Inc.
Additional Information Regarding the
Fund (unaudited) (continued)
results of operations in the way they would be
reflected had such financial statements been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. There is substantially
less publicly available information about Indian issuers than there is about U.S. issuers.
There is less regulation and monitoring of Indian
securities markets and the activities of investors, brokers and other participants than in the United States. Moreover, issuers of securities
in India are not subject to the same degree of regulation as are U.S. issuers with respect to such matters as insider trading rules,
tender offer regulation, stockholder proxy requirements and the timely disclosure of information.
Legal principles relating to corporate affairs
and the validity of corporate procedures, directors' fiduciary duties and liabilities and stockholders' rights may differ from those
that may apply in other jurisdictions. Stockholders' rights under Indian law may not be as extensive as those that exist under the laws
of the United States. The Fund may therefore have more difficulty asserting its rights as a stockholder of an Indian company in which
it invests than it would as a stockholder of a comparable American company. The Fund may also have difficulty enforcing foreign judgments
against Indian companies or their management.
The Fund will invest in India as a sub-account
of the Investment Manager, which is registered as a foreign institutional investor ("FII") with the Securities and Exchange
Board of India ("SEBI"). There are limits on to the total investments permitted to be made by the Investment Manager in the
Indian markets and on the amount of equity and debt securities the Investment Manager may hold of a particular Indian company, on behalf
of all of the sub-accounts for which it is investing, and by each individual sub-account, subject to certain exceptions.
FIIs are also limited in their ability to invest
in certain industries, such as the banking sector, insurance sector, telecom sector, etc. In such industries, there is often a ceiling
on total foreign holdings.. This may further restrict the ability of the Fund to invest in Indian companies that operate in sectors that
are subject to foreign investment caps.
The due diligence that the Fund can conduct may
be limited by Indian regulations that restrict the ability to conduct inside due diligence on listed companies. Indian insider trading
regulations prohibit any dealings in securities on the basis of unpublished price sensitive information. This restriction will impact
the ability of the Fund's Investment Manager to receive and analyze such information, which could adversely affect the quality and effectiveness
of the due diligence. In addition, any dealings on the basis of unpublished price sensitive information may expose the recipient to insider
trading charges.
There can be no assurance that the Investment
Manager will continue to qualify as an FII or that the Indian regulatory authorities will continue to grant such qualifications, and
the loss of such qualifications could adversely impact the ability of the Fund to make and dispose of investments in India. Investments
by FIIs in Indian securities are also subject to certain limits and restrictions under applicable law, and the application of such limits
and restrictions could adversely impact the ability of the Fund to make investments in India. The registration of the Fund as a sub-account
is co-terminus with the Investment Manager's registration as an FII. Any cancellation of such FII registration will result in the cancellation
of the sub-account registration. If the sub-account registration of the Fund is cancelled, the Fund will not be permitted to trade in
the Indian securities markets any further, and will be required to sell its holdings in the Indian securities markets within a specified
time. Such unintended sale of holdings of Indian securities by the Fund may adversely impact the value of the Fund's assets and thereby
the Fund's shareholders. If the FII's status is lost, the Fund may, subject to the compliances, register itself as a sub-account of another
FII.
Under certain circumstances such as a change
in law or regulation or loss of FII authorization, governmental regulation or approval for the repatriation of investment income, capital
or the proceeds of sales of securities by foreign investors may be required.
The ability of the Fund to invest in Indian securities,
exchange Indian rupees into U.S. dollars (see "Foreign Currency Risk" below) and repatriate investment income, capital and
proceeds of sales realized from its investments in Indian securities is subject to the Indian Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 and
the rules, regulations and notifications issued thereunder.
Under certain circumstances, such as a change
in law or regulation or loss of FII authorization, governmental regulation or approval for the repatriation of investment income, capital
or the proceeds of sales of securities by foreign investors may be required. In addition, there can be no assurance that the Indian government
in the future, whether for purposes of managing its balance of payments or for other reasons, will not impose restrictions on foreign
capital remittances abroad or otherwise modify the exchange control regime applicable to FIIs in such a way that may adversely affect
the ability of the Fund to repatriate its income and capital. If for any reason the Fund is unable, through borrowing or otherwise, to
distribute an amount equal to substantially all of its investment company taxable income (as defined for U.S. tax purposes, without regard
to the deduction for dividends paid) within the applicable time periods, the Fund would cease to qualify for the favorable tax treatment
afforded to regulated investment companies under the Internal Revenue Code.
The India Fund, Inc.
35
Additional Information Regarding the
Fund (unaudited) (continued)
Investments in Other Investment Companies
The Fund's estimated annual operating expenses
may be higher than those of most other investment companies that invest predominately in the securities of U.S. companies, primarily
because of the additional time and expense required of the Investment Manager in pursuing the Fund's objective of long-term capital appreciation
through investing in equity securities of Indian companies. Investments in Indian equity securities require additional time and expense
because the available public information regarding such securities is more limited in comparison to, and not as comprehensive as, the
information available for U.S. equity securities. In addition, brokerage commissions, custodial fees and other fees are generally higher
for investments in foreign securities markets. As a result of these higher expected operating expenses, the Fund needs to generate higher
relative returns to provide investors with an equivalent economic return.
In addition, indirect foreign investment in the
securities of companies listed and traded on the stock exchanges in India may be permitted through investment funds that have been specially
authorized. The Fund may invest in these investment funds subject to the provisions of the 1940 Act. If the Fund invests in investment
funds, the Fund's stockholders will bear not only their proportionate share of the expenses of the Fund (including operating expenses
and the fees of the Investment Manager), but also will indirectly bear similar expenses of the underlying investment funds.
Foreign Currency Risk
Foreign currency fluctuations could adversely
affect the Fund's performance.
The Fund's assets will be invested principally
in securities of Indian issuers and substantially all of the income received by the Fund will be in Indian rupees. However, the Fund
will compute and distribute its income in U.S. dollars, and the computation of income will be made on the date that the income is earned
by the Fund at the foreign exchange rate on that date. Therefore, if the value of the Indian rupee falls relative to the U.S. dollar
between the earning of the income and the time at which the Fund converts the Indian rupees to U.S. dollars, the Fund may be required
to liquidate securities in order to make distributions if the Fund has insufficient cash in U.S. dollars to meet distribution requirements.
The liquidation of investments, if required, may have an adverse impact on the Fund's performance.
Furthermore, the Fund may incur costs in connection
with conversions between U.S. dollars and Indian rupees. Foreign exchange dealers realize a profit based on the difference between the
prices at which they are buying and selling various currencies. Thus, a dealer normally will offer to sell a foreign currency to the
Fund at one rate, while offering a lesser rate of exchange should the Fund desire immediately to resell that currency to the dealer.
The Fund will conduct its foreign
currency exchange transactions either at the
spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market or through entering into forward, futures or options contracts to purchase
or sell foreign currencies, if available.
Small and Mid-Cap Company Risk
Investments in unseasoned and small and mid-capitalization
Indian companies may expose the Fund to greater investment risk.
While the Fund invests a substantial portion
of its assets in the securities of established Indian companies, it also may invest in the securities of less seasoned and smaller and
mid-capitalization Indian companies. Investments in the securities of these companies may present greater opportunities for growth but
also involve greater risks than are customarily associated with investments in securities of more established and larger capitalized
companies. The securities of less seasoned and smaller capitalized companies are often traded in the over-the-counter market and have
fewer market makers and wider price spreads, which may in turn result in more abrupt and erratic market price movements and make the
Fund's investments more vulnerable to adverse general market or economic developments than would investments only in large, more established
Indian companies.
The Fund has not established any minimum capitalization
or length of operating history for the smaller, less seasoned issuers in whose securities it may invest.
Illiquid Securities Risk
The Fund's investments in illiquid securities
may restrict its ability to dispose of its investments in a timely fashion and at a price approximating the value at which the Fund carries
the securities on its books.
The Fund may invest up to 20% of its total assets
in illiquid securities. Illiquid securities are securities that are not readily marketable. The prices of such securities may change
abruptly and erratically, and investment of the Fund's assets in illiquid securities may restrict the ability of the Fund to dispose
of its investments in a timely fashion and at a price approximating the value at which the Fund carries the securities on its books,
as well as restrict its ability to take advantage of market opportunities. The risks associated with illiquidity will be particularly
acute in situations in which the Fund's operations require cash, such as when the Fund repurchases shares or pays dividends or distributions,
and could result in the Fund borrowing to meet short-term cash requirements or incurring capital losses on the sale of illiquid investments.
Further, companies whose securities are not publicly traded are not subject to the disclosure and other investor protection requirements
that would be applicable if their securities were publicly traded.
36 The
India Fund, Inc.
Additional Information Regarding the
Fund (unaudited) (continued)
Sector Risk
To the extent that the Fund has a significant
portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a broadly related group of industries within an economic
sector, the Fund may be more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly.
Financials
Sector Risk. To the extent that the financials sector continues to represent a significant portion of the Fund, the Fund will be
sensitive to changes in, and its performance may depend to a greater extent on, factors impacting this sector. Performance of companies
in the financials sector may be adversely impacted by many factors, including, among others, government regulations, economic conditions,
credit rating downgrades, changes in interest rates, and decreased liquidity in credit markets. The impact of more stringent capital
requirements, recent or future regulation of any individual financial company, or recent or future regulation of the financials sector
as a whole cannot be predicted. In recent years, cyber attacks and technology malfunctions and failures have become increasingly frequent
in this sector and have caused significant losses.
Market Discount Risk
The Fund's common stock may trade at a discount
relative to NAV. Common shares of closed-end investment companies, including the Fund, frequently trade at prices lower than their NAV,
but in some cases trade above NAV. The provisions of the 1940 Act require, as a condition to the completion of an offering, that the
public offering price of the shares of common stock, less the sales load and discounts, must equal or exceed the NAV per share of the
Fund's common stock (calculated within 48 hours of pricing). An investor who buys the Fund's common stock in an offering at a price that
reflects a premium to NAV may experience a decline in the market value of the shares of common stock independent of any change in the
NAV. Whether stockholders will realize a gain or loss upon the sale of the Fund's shares of common stock depends upon whether the market
value of the shares at the time of sale is above or below the price the stockholder paid, taking into account transaction costs for the
shares, and is not directly dependent upon the Fund's NAV. Because the market value of the Fund's shares of common stock will be determined
by factors such as the relative demand for and supply of the shares in the market, general market conditions and other factors beyond
the control of the Fund, the Fund cannot predict whether its shares of common stock will trade at, below or above NAV, or below or above
the public offering price for the shares of common stock. Any substantial dispositions or acquisitions of common stock by large shareholders
of the Fund could affect the supply or demand for, and possibly the market price of, the common stock. The Fund's common stock is designed
primarily for long-term investors, and you should not purchase shares of common stock if you intend to sell them shortly after purchase.
Non-Diversified Status
The Fund is classified as a "non-diversified"
management investment company under the 1940 Act. This means that the Fund is not subject to limits under the 1940 Act as to the proportion
of its assets that may be invested in the securities of a single issuer. As a non-diversified investment company, the Fund may therefore
invest its assets in securities of a smaller number of issuers, and, as a result, would be subject to greater risk with respect to its
portfolio securities than would a fund with a diversified investment portfolio. Although the Fund must comply with certain diversification
requirements in order to qualify as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"),
the Fund may be more susceptible to any single economic, political or regulatory occurrence than would be the case if it had elected
to diversify its holdings sufficiently to be classified as a "diversified" management investment company under the 1940 Act.
The Fund, however, intends to comply with the diversification requirements imposed by the Code for qualification as a regulated investment
company.
High Yield Securities Risk
The extent to which the Fund invests in high
yield/high risk and unrated debt may adversely affect the Fund's performance.
The Fund has not established any rating criteria
for the debt securities in which it may invest and such securities may not be rated at all for creditworthiness. Securities rated in
medium to low rating categories by nationally recognized statistical rating organizations and unrated securities of comparable quality,
or "high yield/high risk securities," are speculative with respect to the capacity to pay interest and repay principal in accordance
with the terms of the security and generally involve a greater volatility of price than securities in higher rated categories. These
securities are commonly referred to as "junk bonds," and credit ratings issued with respect to such securities evaluate only
the safety of principal and interest in respect of such securities and not the risk of change in market value. In purchasing such securities,
the Fund will rely on the Investment Manager's analysis, judgment and experience in evaluating the creditworthiness of an issuer of such
securities. The Investment Manager will take into consideration, among other things, the issuer's financial resources, its operating
history, its sensitivity to economic conditions and trends, the quality of the issuer's management and regulatory matters.
The market values of high yield/high risk securities
tend to reflect individual issuer developments to a greater extent than do higher rated securities, which react primarily to fluctuations
in the general level of interest rates. Issuers of high yield/high risk securities may be highly leveraged and may not have available
to them more traditional methods of financing. Therefore, the risks associated with acquiring the securities of such issuers generally
are greater than is the case with higher rated securities. For example, during a sustained period of rising
The India Fund, Inc.
37
Additional Information Regarding the
Fund (unaudited) (continued)
interest rates or an economic downturn, issuers
of high yield/high risk securities may be more likely to experience financial stress, especially if such issuers are highly leveraged.
During such periods, service of debt obligations also may be adversely affected by the issuer's inability to meet specific projected
business forecasts, specific issuer developments or the unavailability of additional financing. The risk of loss due to default by the
issuer is significantly greater for the holders of high yield/high risk securities because such securities may be unsecured and may be
subordinated to other creditors of the issuer.
High yield/high risk securities may have redemption
or call features that would permit an issuer to repurchase the securities from the Fund. If a call were exercised by the issuer during
a period of declining interest rates, the Fund in all likelihood would have to replace the called securities with lower yielding securities,
thus decreasing the net investment income to the Fund and dividends to stockholders.
The Fund may have difficulty disposing of certain
high yield/high risk securities, as there may be a thin trading market for such securities. To the extent that a secondary trading market
for high yield/high risk securities does exist, it is generally not as liquid as the secondary market for higher rated securities. Reduced
secondary market liquidity may have an adverse impact on market price and the Fund's ability to dispose of particular issues when necessary
to meet the Fund's liquidity needs or in response to a specific economic event, such as a deterioration in the creditworthiness of the
issuer. Reduced secondary market liquidity for certain high yield/high risk securities may also make it more difficult for the Fund to
obtain accurate market quotations for purposes of valuing the Fund's portfolio. Market quotations are generally available on many high
yield/high risk securities only from a limited number of dealers and may not necessarily represent firm bids of such dealers of prices
for actual sales. The Fund's Board of Directors or the Investment Manager will carefully consider the factors affecting the market for
high yield/high risk securities in determining whether any particular security is liquid or illiquid and whether current market quotations
are readily available. Adverse publicity and investor perceptions, which may not be based on fundamental analysis, also may decrease
the value and liquidity of high yield/high risk securities, particularly in a thinly traded market. Factors adversely affecting the market
value of high yield/high risk securities are likely to adversely affect the Fund's net asset value. In addition, the Fund may incur additional
expenses to the extent it is required to seek recovery upon a default on a portfolio holding or to participate in the restructuring of
the obligations.
Leverage Risk
The extent to which the Fund utilizes leverage
to hedge against financial risks may increase its expenses and adversely affect the Fund's performance.
Although the Fund does not presently do so or
intend to do so in the upcoming year, the Fund may utilize leverage by borrowing or by issuing preferred stock or short-term debt securities
in an amount up to 25% of the Fund's total assets. Leverage by the Fund creates an opportunity for increased return but, at the same
time, creates special risks. For example, leverage may exaggerate changes in the net asset value of the common stock and in the return
on the Fund's portfolio. Although the principal of any leverage will be fixed, the Fund's assets may change in value during the time
the leverage is outstanding. Leverage will create expenses for the Fund that can, during any period, exceed the income from the assets
acquired with the proceeds of the leverage. All expenses associated with leverage would be borne by common stockholders. Furthermore,
an increase in interest rates could reduce or eliminate the benefits of leverage and could reduce the value of the Fund's securities.
The Fund may also borrow by entering into reverse repurchase agreements, which will subject the Fund to additional market risk as well
as credit risks with respect to the buyer of the securities under the agreement.
Anti-Takeover Charter Provisions
The Fund's charter and amended and restated by-laws
and Maryland law contain certain anti-takeover provisions that, among other things, may have the effect of inhibiting the Fund's possible
conversion to open-end status and delaying or limiting the ability of other persons to acquire control of the Fund. In certain circumstances,
these provisions might also inhibit the ability of holders of common stock to sell their shares at a premium over prevailing market prices
by discouraging a third party from seeking to obtain control of the Fund. The Fund's Board of Directors has determined that these provisions
are in the best interests of the Fund and its stockholders.
Private Placements and Other Restricted
Securities Risk
Private placement and other restricted securities
include securities that have been privately placed and are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933 ("1933 Act"), such
as unregistered securities eligible for resale without registration pursuant to Rule 144A ("Rule 144A Securities") and privately
placed securities of U.S. and non-U.S. issuers offered outside of the U.S. without registration with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to Regulation S ("Regulation S Securities").
Private placements may offer attractive opportunities
for investment not otherwise available on the open market.
Private placement securities typically may be
sold only to qualified institutional buyers (or, in the case of the initial sale of certain securities, such as those issued in collateralized
debt obligations or collateralized loan obligations, to accredited investors (as defined in Rule 501(a) under the 1933 Act)), or in a
privately negotiated transaction or to a limited number of purchasers, or in limited
38 The
India Fund, Inc.
Additional Information Regarding the
Fund (unaudited) (continued)
quantities
after they have been held for a specified period of time and other conditions are met pursuant to
an exemption from registration. Rule 144A Securities and Regulation S Securities may be freely traded
among certain qualified institutional investors, such as the Funds, but their resale in the U.S.
is permitted only in limited circumstances.
Private placements typically are subject to restrictions
on resale as a matter of contract or under federal securities laws. Because there may be relatively few potential purchasers for such
securities, especially under adverse market or economic conditions or in the event of adverse changes in the financial condition of the
issuer, the Fund could find it more difficult to sell such securities when it may be advisable to do so or it may be able to sell such
securities only at prices lower than if such securities were more widely held. At times, it also may be more difficult to determine the
fair value of such securities for purposes of computing the Fund's net asset value due to the absence of a trading market.
Private placements and restricted securities
may be considered illiquid securities, which could have the effect of increasing the level of the Fund's illiquidity. Additionally, a
restricted security that was liquid at the time of purchase may subsequently become illiquid. Restricted securities that are determined
to be illiquid may not exceed the Fund's limit on investments in illiquid securities.
Foreign Custody
The Fund's custodian generally holds the Fund's
non-U.S. securities and cash in non-U.S. bank sub-custodians and securities depositories. Regulatory oversight of non-U.S. banks and
securities depositories may differ from that in the U.S. Additionally, laws applicable to non-U.S. banks and securities depositories
may limit the Fund's ability to recover its assets in the event the non-U.S. bank, securities depository or issuer of a security held
by the Fund goes bankrupt.
Convertible Securities Risk
Convertible securities generally offer lower
interest or dividend yields than non-convertible securities of similar quality. As with all debt securities, the market values of convertible
securities tend to decline as interest rates increase and, conversely, to increase as interest rates decline. However, when the market
price of the common stock underlying a convertible security exceeds the conversion price, the convertible security tends to reflect the
market price of the underlying common stock. As the market price of the underlying common stock declines, the convertible security tends
to trade increasingly on a yield basis and thus may not decline in price to the same extent as the underlying common stock. Convertible
securities rank senior to common stock in an issuer's capital structure and consequently entail less risk than the issuer's common stock.
A convertible debt security is not counted as an equity security for purposes of the Fund's 80% policy.
Depositary
Receipts
Depositary receipts are typically issued by a
bank or trust company and represent the ownership of underlying securities that are issued by a foreign company and held by the bank
or trust company. American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs") are usually issued by a U.S. bank trust or trust company and traded
on a U.S. exchange. Depositary receipts may or may not be jointly sponsored by the underlying issuer. The issuers of unsponsored depositary
receipts are not obligated to disclose information that is, in the United States, considered material. Therefore, there may be less information
available regarding these issuers and there may not be a correlation between such information and the market value of the depositary
receipts. Certain depositary receipts are not listed on an exchange and therefore may be considered to be illiquid securities.
Valuation Risk
The price the Fund could receive upon the sale
of any particular portfolio investment may differ from the Fund's valuation of the investment, particularly for securities that trade
in thin or volatile markets or that are valued using a fair valuation methodology or a price provided by an independent pricing service.
As a result, the price received upon the sale of an investment may be less than the value ascribed to it by the Fund, and the Fund could
realize a greater than expected loss or lesser than expected gain upon the sale of the investment.
Pricing services that value fixed-income securities
generally utilize a range of market-based and security-specific inputs and assumptions, as well as considerations about general market
conditions, to establish a price. Pricing services generally value fixed-income securities assuming orderly transactions of an institutional
round lot size and the strategies employed by the Investment Manager generally trade in round lot sizes. In certain circumstances, fixed
income securities may be held or transactions may be conducted in smaller, odd lot sizes. Odd lots may trade at lower or, occasionally,
higher prices than institutional round lots. The Fund's ability to value its investments may also be impacted by technological issues
and/or errors by pricing services or other third-party service providers.
In addition, since foreign exchanges may be open
on days when the Fund does not price its shares, the value of the securities in the Fund's portfolio may change on days when shareholders
are not be able to purchase or sell the Fund's shares on the NYSE American.
Cybersecurity Risk
Cybersecurity incidents may allow an unauthorized
party to gain access to Fund assets, customer data (including private shareholder information), or proprietary information, or cause
the Fund, the Investment Manager and/or its service providers (including, but not
The
India Fund, Inc. 39
Additional Information
Regarding the Fund (unaudited) (continued)
limited
to, Fund accountants, custodians, sub-custodians, transfer agents and financial intermediaries)
to suffer data breaches, data corruption or lose operational functionality.
Fundamental Investment Restrictions
The following restrictions,
along with the Fund's investment objective, its policy to invest at least 80% of the Fund's total assets in the equity securities of
Indian companies under normal market conditions, are, subject to the next sentence, the Fund's only fundamental policies, that is, policies
that cannot be changed without the approval of the holders of a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting securities. In addition, as
a matter of fundamental policy and notwithstanding any other fundamental investment policy or limitation, the Fund may invest all or
a portion of its assets invested in India through a subsidiary, trust or other similar arrangement (including a branch) established by
the Fund at any such time that the Board of Directors of the Fund determines that it is in the best interests of the Fund's stockholders.
As used in here, a "majority of the Fund's outstanding voting securities" means the lesser of (i) 67% of the shares represented
at a meeting at which more than 50% of the outstanding shares are represented or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding shares. The other
policies and investment restrictions referred to in this report are not fundamental policies of the Fund and may be changed by the Fund's
Board of Directors without stockholder approval. If a percentage restriction set forth below is adhered to at the time a transaction
is effected, later changes in any percentage resulting from any cause other than actions by the Fund will not be considered a violation.
Under its fundamental restrictions,
the Fund may not:
| • | purchase any securities
that would cause 25% or more of the value of its total assets at the time of such purchase
to be invested in securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities
in the same industry, except that there is no limitation with respect to investment in obligations
issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities; |
| • | issue senior securities
or borrow money, except for (a) senior securities (including borrowing money, margin transactions
if the margin securities are owned and entering into reverse repurchase agreements, or any
similar transactions) not in excess of 25% of its total assets (including the amount borrowed)
and (b) borrowings of up to 5% of its total assets (including the amount borrowed) for temporary
or emergency purposes (including for the clearance of transactions, repurchase of its shares
or payment of dividends), without regard to the amount of senior securities outstanding under
clause (a) above. However, with respect to the above, the Fund's obligations under when-issued
and delayed delivery and similar transactions and reverse repurchase agreements are not |
| | treated as senior securities
if covering assets are appropriately segregated, and the use of hedging shall not be treated
as involving the issuance of a "senior security" or a "borrowing." Also,
for purposes of clauses (a) and (b) above, the term "total assets" shall be calculated
after giving effect to the net proceeds of senior securities issued by the Fund reduced by
any liabilities and indebtedness not constituting senior securities, except for such liabilities
and indebtedness as are excluded from treatment as senior securities by this second bullet.
The Fund's obligations under interest rate, currency and equity swaps are not treated as
senior securities; |
| • | purchase or sell commodities
or commodity contracts, including futures contracts and options thereon, except that the
Fund may engage in hedging, as described in the section titled "Additional Investment
Activities – Hedging"; |
| • | make loans, except
that: (1) the Fund may (a) purchase and hold debt instruments (including bonds, debentures
or other obligations and certificates of deposit, bankers' acceptances and fixed time deposits)
in accordance with its investment objective and policies, (b) enter into repurchase agreements
with respect to portfolio securities and (c) make loans of portfolio securities; and (2)
delays in the settlement of securities transactions will not be considered loans; |
| • | underwrite the securities
of other issuers, except to the extent that, in connection with the disposition of portfolio
securities, it may be deemed to be an underwriter; |
| • | purchase real estate,
real estate mortgage loans or real estate limited partnership interests (other than securities
secured by real estate or interests therein or securities issued by companies that invest
in real estate or interests therein); |
| • | purchase securities
on margin, except (1) as provided in the second bullet above and (2) (a) for delayed delivery
or when-issued transactions, (b) such short-term credits as are necessary for the clearance
of transactions and (c) margin deposits in connection with transactions in futures contracts,
options on futures contracts, options on securities and securities indices and currency transactions);
or |
| • | invest for the purpose
of exercising control over the management of any company. |
For
purposes of the above restrictions on senior securities and as further described above under "Additional Investment Activities –
Asset Coverage Requirements," the 1940 Act requires the Fund to satisfy an asset coverage requirement of 300% of its indebtedness,
including amounts borrowed, measured at the time the Fund incurs the
40 The
India Fund, Inc.
Additional Information Regarding the Fund (unaudited)
(concluded)
|
indebtedness. Short sales of securities, reverse
repurchase agreements, use of margin, sales of put and call options on specific securities or indices, investments in certain other types
of instruments (including certain derivatives, such as swap agreements) and the purchase and sale of securities on a when-issued or forward
commitment basis may be deemed to constitute indebtedness subject to this requirement.
|
|
For
purposes of the above restrictions on loans of portfolio securities and as further described
under "Additional Investment Activities – Loans of Portfolio Securities,"
the Fund may make loans of portfolio securities if liquid assets in an amount at least equal
to the current market value of the securities lent (including accrued interest thereon) plus
the interest payable to the Fund with respect to the loan is maintained by the Fund in a
segregated account.
The
India Fund, Inc. 41
|
Dividend
Reinvestment and Optional Cash Purchase Plan (unaudited)
|
The
Fund intends to distribute to stockholders substantially all of its net investment income
and to distribute any net realized capital gains at least annually. Net investment income
for this purpose is income other than net realized long-term and short-term capital gains
net of expenses. Pursuant to the Dividend Reinvestment and Optional Cash Purchase Plan (the
"Plan"), stockholders whose shares of common stock are registered in their own
names will be deemed to have elected to have all distributions automatically reinvested by
Computershare Trust Company N.A. (the "Plan Agent") in the Fund shares pursuant
to the Plan, unless such stockholders elect to receive distributions in cash. Stockholders
who elect to receive distributions in cash will receive such distributions paid by check
in U.S. Dollars mailed directly to the stockholder by the Plan Agent, as dividend paying
agent. In the case of stockholders such as banks, brokers or nominees that hold shares for
others who are beneficial owners, the Plan Agent will administer the Plan on the basis of
the number of shares certified from time to time by the stockholders as representing the
total amount registered in such stockholders' names and held for the account of beneficial
owners that have not elected to receive distributions in cash. Investors that own shares
registered in the name of a bank, broker or other nominee should consult with such nominee
as to participation in the Plan through such nominee and may be required to have their shares
registered in their own names in order to participate in the Plan. Please note that the Fund
does not issue certificates so all shares will be registered in book entry form.
The Plan Agent serves as agent for the stockholders
in administering the Plan. If the Directors of the Fund declare an income dividend or a capital gains distribution payable either in
the Fund's common stock or in cash, nonparticipants in the Plan will receive cash and participants in the Plan will receive common stock,
to be issued by the Fund or purchased by the Plan Agent in the open market, as provided below. If the market price per share on the valuation
date equals or exceeds NAV per share on that date, the Fund will issue new shares to participants at NAV; provided, however, that if
the NAV is less than 95% of the market price on the valuation date, then such shares will be issued at 95% of the market price. The valuation
date will be the dividend or distribution payment date or, if that date is not a New York Stock Exchange trading day, the next trading
day. If NAV exceeds the market price of Fund shares at such time, or if the Fund should declare an income dividend or capital gains distribution
payable only in cash, the Plan Agent will, as agent for the participants, buy Fund shares in the open market, on the New York Stock Exchange
or elsewhere, for the participants' accounts on, or shortly after, the payment date. If, before the Plan Agent has completed its purchases,
the market price exceeds the NAV of a Fund share, the average per share purchase price paid by the Plan Agent may exceed the NAV of the
Fund's shares, resulting in the acquisition of fewer shares than if the distribution had been paid in shares issued by the Fund on the
dividend payment date.
42 The
India Fund, Inc.
|
|
Because
of the foregoing difficulty with respect to open-market purchases, the Plan provides that
if the Plan Agent is unable to invest the full dividend amount in open- market purchases
during the purchase period or if the market discount shifts to a market premium during the
purchase period, the Plan Agent will cease making open-market purchases and will receive
the uninvested portion of the dividend amount in newly issued shares at the close of business
on the last purchase date.
Participants have the option of making additional
cash payments of a minimum of $50 per investment to the Plan Agent for investment in the Fund's common stock, with an annual maximum
contribution of $250,000. The Plan Agent will wait up to three business days after receipt of a check or electronic funds transfer to
ensure it receives good funds. Following confirmation of receipt of good funds, the Plan Agent will use all such funds received from
participants to purchase Fund shares in the open market within five business days after receiving the funds.
If the participant sets up recurring automatic
monthly ACH debits, funds will be withdrawn from his or her U.S. bank account on the 20th of each month or the next business day if the
20th is not a banking business day and invested on the next investment date. The Plan Agent maintains all shareholder accounts in the
Plan and furnishes written confirmations of all transactions in an account, including information needed by stockholders for personal
and tax records. Shares in the account of each Plan participant will be held by the Plan Agent in the name of the participant, and each
shareholder's proxy will include those shares purchased pursuant to the Plan. There is no charge to participants for reinvesting dividends
or capital gains distributions or voluntary cash payments. The Plan Agent's fees for the reinvestment of dividends, capital gains distributions
and voluntary cash payments will be paid by the Fund. There will be no charges with respect to shares issued directly by the Fund as
a result of dividends or capital gains distributions payable either in stock or in cash. However, each participant will pay a per share
fee (currently $0.02) incurred with respect to the Plan Agent's open market purchases in connection with the reinvestment of dividends,
capital gains distributions and voluntary cash payments made by the participant. Per share fees include any applicable brokerage commissions
the Plan Agent is required to pay.
Participants also have the option of selling their
shares through the Plan. The Plan supports two types of sales orders. Batch order sales are submitted on each market day and will be
grouped with other sale requests to be sold. The price will be the average sale price obtained by Computershare's broker, net of fees,
for each batch order and will be sold generally within 2 business days of the request during regular open market hours. Please note that
all written sales requests are always processed by Batch Order. ($10 and $0.12 per share). Market Order sales will sell at the next available
trade. The shares are sold real
|
Dividend
Reinvestment and Optional Cash Purchase Plan (unaudited) (concluded)
|
time
when they hit the market, however an available trade must be presented to complete this transaction.
Market Order sales may only be requested by phone or using Investor Center. ($25 and $0.12
per share).
The receipt of dividends and distributions under the Plan will not relieve
participants of any income tax that may be payable on such dividends or distributions. Experience under the Plan may indicate that changes
in the Plan are desirable. Accordingly, the Fund and the Plan Agent reserve the right to terminate the Plan as applied to any voluntary
cash payments made and any dividend or distribution paid subsequent to
|
|
notice
of the termination sent to members of the Plan at least 30 days before the record date for
such dividend or distribution. The Plan also may be amended by the Fund or the Plan Agent,
but (except when necessary or appropriate to comply with applicable law, rules or policies
of a regulatory authority) only by at least 30 days' written notice to participants in the
Plan. All correspondence concerning the Plan should be directed to the Plan Agent at Computershare
Trust Company N.A., P.O. Box 505000, Louisville, KY 40233-5000.
The
India Fund, Inc. 43
|
Management of the
Fund (unaudited)
The names, years of birth and business addresses
of the directors and officers of the Fund, their principal occupations during the past five years, the number of portfolios each director
oversees and other directorships they hold are provided in the tables below. Directors that are deemed "interested persons"
(as that term is defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) of the Fund or the Fund's investment
adviser are included in the table below under the heading "Interested Directors." Directors who are not interested persons,
as described above, are referred to in the table below under the heading "Independent Directors." abrdn, Inc. (formerly abrdn
Inc.), its parent company abrdn plc, and its advisory affiliates are collectively referred to as "abrdn" in the tables below.
Name,
Address and
Year of Birth |
|
Position(s)
Held
with the Fund |
|
Term
of Office
and Length of
Time Served |
|
Principal
Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years |
|
Number
of
Funds in
Fund Complex*
Overseen by
Director |
|
Other
Directorships
Held by
Director** |
|
Interested
Directors |
|
|
|
Alan
Goodson***
c/o abrdn Inc.,
1900 Market Street,
Suite 200
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Year of Birth: 1955 |
|
Class
I Director & President |
|
Term
expires 2024; Director since 2021 |
|
Currently,
Director, Vice President and Head of Product & Client Solutions – Americas for abrdn Inc., overseeing Product Management
& Governance, Product Development and Client Solutions for registered and unregistered investment companies in the U.S., Brazil
and Canada. Mr. Goodson is Director and Vice President of abrdn Inc. and joined abrdn Inc. in 2000. |
|
1. |
|
None. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hugh
Young***
abrdn Asia Ltd.
21 Church Street,
#01-01 Capital Square Two
Singapore 049480
Year of Birth: 1958 |
|
Class
III Director |
|
Term
expires 2022; Director since 2012 |
|
Currently,
Chairman of abrdn Asia Limited (since 1991). Mr. Young joined abrdn in 1991. |
|
1 |
|
None. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Independent
Directors |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nisha
Kumar
c/o abrdn Inc.,
1900 Market Street,
Suite 200
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Year of Birth: 1970 |
|
Class
II Director |
|
Term
expires 2023; Director since 2016 |
|
Ms.
Kumar has been a Managing Director and the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer of Greenbriar Equity Group LLC since
2011. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Director of The Asia Tigers Fund, Inc. from 2016 to 2018. |
|
1 |
|
Director
of 24 Registered Investment Companies advised by Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC and its affiliates. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nancy
Yao Maasbach c/o abrdn Inc. 1900 Market Street,
Suite 200 Philadelphia, PA 19103
Year
of Birth: 1972 |
|
Class
III Director |
|
Term
expires 2022; Director since 2016 |
|
Ms.
Maasbach is the President of the Museum of Chinese in America since 2015. Ms. Maasbach has also been a member of the Council on Foreign
Relations since 2015. Director of The Asia Tigers Fund, Inc. from 2016 to 2018. |
|
7 |
|
None. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Luis
F. Rubio
c/o abrdn Inc.
1900 Market Street,
Suite 200
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Year of Birth: 1955 |
|
Class
II Director |
|
Term
expires 2023; Director since 1993 |
|
Mr.
Rubio has been Chairman of Mexico Evalua-CIDAC since 2000 and Chairman, Mexican Council on Foreign Relations (2017-2020). He is also
a frequent contributor of op-ed pieces to The Wall Street Journal and the author and editor of 51 books. Former Director of The Asia
Tigers Fund,Inc. Director of Coca-cola Femsa. |
|
1 |
|
Director
of one registered investment company advised by Advantage Advisers LLC or its affiliates. |
|
44 The
India Fund, Inc.
Management of the
Fund (unaudited) (continued)
Name,
Address and
Year of Birth |
|
Position(s)
Held
with the Fund |
|
Term
of Office
and Length of
Time Served |
|
Principal
Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years |
|
Number
of
Funds in
Fund Complex*
Overseen by
Director |
|
Other
Directorships
Held by
Director** |
|
|
|
Jeswald
W. Salacuse
c/o abrdn Inc.
1900 Market Street,
Suite 200
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Year of Birth: 1938 |
|
Chairman
of the Fund; Class I Director |
|
Term
expires 2024; Director since 1993 |
|
Dean
Emeritus and Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Tufts University since 2020. Formerly, Henry J. Braker Professor of Commercial Law
at The Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy, Tufts University, from 1986 to 2020. He has also served as an International Arbitrator,
Arbitration Tribunal, ICSID, World Bank since 2004. Director and Chairman of The Asia Tigers Fund, Inc. from 1993 to 2018. |
|
1 |
|
Former
Director of 30 registered investment companies advised by Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC and its affiliates. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| * | As
of December 31, 2021, the Fund Complex consists of: Aberdeen Income Credit Strategies Fund,
Aberdeen Asia-Pacific Income Fund, Inc., Aberdeen Global Income Fund, Inc., Aberdeen Australia
Equity Fund, Inc., Aberdeen Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund, Inc., Aberdeen Japan Equity
Fund, Inc., The India Fund, Inc., Aberdeen Global Dynamic Dividend Fund, Aberdeen Total Dynamic
Dividend Fund, Aberdeen Global Premier Properties Fund, Aberdeen Standard Global Infrastructure
Income Fund, Aberdeen Funds (which consists of 17 portfolios) and abrdn ETFs (which consists
of 3 portfolios). |
| ** | Current directorships
(excluding Fund Complex) as of December 31, 2021 held in (1) any other investment companies
registered under the 1940 Act, (2) any company with a class of securities registered pursuant
to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)
or (3) any company subject to the requirements of Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. |
| *** | Mr. Goodson
and Mr. Young are deemed to be interested persons because of their affiliation with the Fund’s
investment adviser. |
Name,
Address and
Year of Birth |
|
Position(s)
Held
with the Fund |
|
Term
of Office*
and Length of
Time Served |
|
Principal
Occupation(s) During Past Five Years |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joseph
Andolina**
c/o abrdn Inc.,
1900 Market Street,
Suite 200
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Year of Birth: 1978 |
|
Chief
Compliance
Officer
and
Vice President |
|
Since
2017 |
|
Currently,
Chief Risk Officer – Americas for abrdn Inc. and serves as the Chief Compliance Officer for abrdn Inc. Prior to joining the
Risk and Compliance Department, he was a member of abrdn Inc.’s Legal Department, where he served as US Counsel since 2012. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chris
Demetriou**
c/o abrdn Inc.,
1900 Market Street,
Suite 200
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Year of Birth: 1983 |
|
Vice
President |
|
Since
2020 |
|
Currently,
Chief Executive Officer – UK, EMEA and Americas. Mr. Demetriou joined abrdn Inc. in 2013, as a result of the acquisition of
SVG, a FTSE 250 private equity investor based in London. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sharon
Ferrari**
c/o abrdn Inc.,
1900 Market Street,
Suite 200
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Year of Birth: 1977 |
|
Vice
President |
|
Since
2013 |
|
Currently,
Senior Product Manager US for abrdn Inc. Ms. Ferrari joined abrdn Inc. as a Senior Fund Administrator in 2008. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The
India Fund, Inc. 45
Management of the Fund (unaudited)
(continued)
Name,
Address and
Year of Birth |
|
Position(s)
Held
with the Fund |
|
Term
of Office*
and Length of
Time Served |
|
Principal
Occupation(s) During Past Five Years |
Heather
Hasson** c/o abrdn Inc., 1900 Market Street, Suite 200 Philadelphia,
PA 19103
Year
of Birth: 1982 |
|
Vice
President |
|
Since
2018 |
|
Currently,
Senior Product Manager, Product Governance US for abrdn. Ms. Hasson joined abrdn Inc. as a Fund Administrator in 2006. |
Bev
Hendry** c/o abrdn Inc., 1900 Market Street, Suite 200 Philadelphia,
PA 19103
Year
of Birth: 1953 |
|
Vice
President |
|
Since
2014 |
|
Currently,
Chairman – Americas for abrdn (2018-present). Mr. Hendry was Chief Executive Officer – Americas for abrdn (2014 to 2018). |
Megan
Kennedy** c/o abrdn Inc., 1900 Market Street, Suite 200 Philadelphia,
PA 19103
Year
of Birth: 1974 |
|
Vice
President and Secretary |
|
Since
2011 |
|
Currently,
Senior Director, Product Governance for abrdn Inc. Ms. Kennedy joined abrdn Inc. as a Senior Fund Administrator in 2005. |
Adrian
Lim c/o abrdn Inc., 1900 Market Street, Suite 200 Philadelphia, PA 19103
Year
of Birth: 1971 |
|
Vice
President |
|
Since
2011 |
|
Currently,
Investment Director on the Asian Equities Team at abrdn. Adrian joined the company in 2000. |
Andrew
Kim** abrdnabrdn Inc. 1900 Market Street, Suite 200 Philadelphia, PA
19103
Year
of Birth: 1983 |
|
Vice
President |
|
Since
2022 |
|
Currently.
Senior Product Governance Manager, Product Governance US for abrdn Inc.. Mr. Kim joined abrdn Inc. in 2013. |
Brian
Kordeck** abrdn Inc. 1900 Market Street, Suite 200 Philadelphia, PA
19103
Year
of Birth: 1978 |
|
Vice
President |
|
Since
2022 |
|
Currently,
Senior Product Manager, Product Governance US for abrdn. Mr. Kordeck joined abrdn Inc. iin 2013. |
Michael
Marsico** abrdn Inc. 1900 Market Street, Suite 200 Philadelphia, PA
19103
Year
of Birth: 1980 |
|
Vice
President |
|
Since
2022 |
|
Currently,
Senior Product Manager, Product Governance US for abrdn Inc.. Mr. Marsico joined abrdn Inc. in 2014. |
46 The
India Fund, Inc.
Management
of the Fund (unaudited) (concluded)
Name,
Address and
Year of Birth |
|
Position(s)
Held
with the Fund |
|
Term
of Office*
and Length of
Time Served |
|
Principal
Occupation(s) During Past Five Years |
Andrea
Melia** c/o abrdn Inc., 1900 Market Street, Suite 200 Philadelphia, PA
19103
Year
of Birth: 1969 |
|
Treasurer |
|
Since
2011 |
|
Currently,
Vice President and Senior Director, Product Management – Americas for abrdn Inc. Ms. Melia joined abrdn Inc. in September 2009. |
Yoojeong
Oh c/o abrdn Inc., 1900 Market Street, Suite 200 Philadelphia, PA 19103
Year
of Birth: 1981 |
|
Vice
President |
|
Since
2019 |
|
Currently,
Investment Director on the Asian Equities Team at abrdn. Yoojeong joined the company in 2005. |
Christian
Pittard** c/o abrdn Inc., 1900 Market Street, Suite 200 Philadelphia,
PA 19103
Year
of Birth: 1973 |
|
Vice
President |
|
Since
2011 |
|
Currently,
Group Head of Product Opportunities at abrdn and a Director of Aberdeen Asset Management PLC since 2010. Mr. Pittard joined abrdn
from KPMG in 1999. |
Lucia
Sitar** c/o abrdn Inc., 1900 Market Street, Suite 200 Philadelphia, PA
19103
Year
of Birth: 1971 |
|
Vice
President |
|
Since
2012 |
|
Currently,
Vice President and Head of Product Management and Governance – Americas since 2021. Previously, Ms. Sitar served as Managing
U.S. Counsel for abrdn Inc. Ms. Sitar joined abrdn Inc. as U.S. Counsel in July 2007. |
James
Thom c/o abrdn Inc., 1900 Market Street, Suite 200 Philadelphia, PA 19103
Year
of Birth: 1977 |
|
Vice
President |
|
Since
2019 |
|
Currently,
a Senior Investment Director on the Asian Equities Team at abrdn. Mr. Thom joined the company in 2010. |
* | Officers
hold their positions with the Fund until a successor has been duly elected and qualifies. |
** | Each
officer may hold officer position(s) in one or more other funds which are part of the Fund
Complex. |
The
India Fund, Inc. 47
Corporate Information
Directors
Alan
Goodson
Nisha Kumar
Nancy Yao Maasbach
Luis F. Rubio
Jeswald W. Salacuse, Chairman
Hugh Young
Investment Manager
abrdn Asia Limited
21 Church Street
#01-01 Capital Square Two
Singapore 049480
Administrator
Aberdeen Standard Investments Inc.
1900 Market Street, Suite 200
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Custodians
State Street Bank and Trust Company
1 Heritage Drive, 3rd Floor
North Quincy, MA 02171
Transfer Agent
Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
P.O. Box 505000
Louisville, KY 40233
Independent Registered Public
Accounting Firm
KPMG LLP
1601 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Fund Legal Counsel
Dechert LLP
1900 K Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20006
Investor Relations
Aberdeen Standard Investments Inc.
1900 Market Street, Suite 200
Philadelphia, PA 19103
1-800-522-5465
Investor.Relations@abrdn.com
abrdn
Asia Limited
Notice is hereby
given in accordance with Section 23(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, that the Fund may purchase, from time to time,
shares of its common stock in the open market.
Shares of The India Fund, Inc. are
traded on the NYSE under the symbol "IFN". Information about the Fund's net asset value and market price is available at www.aberdeenifn.com.
This report,
including the financial information herein, is transmitted to the shareholders of The India Fund, Inc. for their general information
only. It does not have regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation and the particular needs of any specific person.
Past performance is no guarantee of future returns.
IFN-Annual
Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End
Management Investment Companies.
Pursuant to the Registrant's Proxy Voting Policy
and Procedures, the Registrant has delegated responsibility for its proxy voting to its Adviser, provided that the Registrant's Board
of Directors has the opportunity to periodically review the Adviser's proxy voting policies and material amendments thereto.
The proxy voting policies of the Registrant are
included herewith as Exhibit (d) and policies of the Adviser are included as Exhibit (e).
Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
(a)(1) PORTFOLIO MANAGER BIOGRAPHIES
The Fund is managed by abrdn’s Asian Equities team. The Asian
Equities team works in a collaborative fashion; all team members have both portfolio management and research responsibilities. The team
is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund. As of the date of filing this report, the following individuals have primary
responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio:
Individual & Position |
Past Business Experience |
Hugh Young
Chairman, abrdn Asia |
Hugh Young is the Chairman for abrdn’s business in Asia. He was previously the Head of Asia Pacific for abrdn. Previously, he served as Head of Asia Pacific, a main board director and Head of Investments for Aberdeen Asset Management (before its merger with Standard Life plc in 2017). He joined the company in 1985 to manage Asian equities from London, having started his investment career in 1980. He founded Singapore-based abrdn Asia in 1992 as the regional headquarters. He is a director of a number of group subsidiary companies and group-managed investment trusts and funds. He graduated with a BA (Hons) in Politics from Exeter University. |
Adrian Lim
Investment Director |
Adrian Lim is an Investment Director on the Asian Equities team. He originally joined abrdn in 2001 as a Manager on the Private Equity team, on the acquisition of Murray Johnstone, but transferred to his current post soon afterwards. Previously, he worked for Arthur Andersen as an Associate Director advising clients on mergers & acquisitions in the region. He graduated with a BAcc from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore and is a CFA® charterholder. |
Kristy Fong
Senior Investment Director |
Currently a Senior Investment Director on the Asian Equities team. Kristy joined abrdn in 2004 from UOB KayHian Pte Ltd where she was an analyst. She graduated with a BA (Hons) in Accountancy from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore and is a CFA® charterholder. |
Flavia Cheong
Head of Equities – Asia Pacific |
Flavia Cheong is the Head of Equities - Asia Pacific on the Asian Equities team, where, as well as sharing responsibility for company research, she oversees regional portfolio construction. Before joining abrdn in 1996, she was an economist with the Investment Company of the People’s Republic of China, and earlier with the Development Bank of Singapore. She graduated with a BA in Economics and an MA (Hons) in Economics from the University of Auckland. She is a CFA® charterholder. |
James Thom
Senior Investment Director |
Currently a Senior Investment Director on the Asian Equities team. He joined abrdn in 2010 from Actis, an Emerging Markets Private Equity firm. He graduated with an MBA from INSEAD, an MA from Johns Hopkins University and a BSc from University College London. |
(a)(2) OTHER ACCOUNTS
MANAGED BY PORTFOLIO MANAGERS.
The following chart summarizes information regarding
other accounts for which each portfolio manager has day-to-day management responsibilities. Accounts are grouped into the following three
categories: (1) registered investment companies; (2) other pooled investment vehicles; and (3) other accounts. To the extent
that any of these accounts pay advisory fees that are based on account performance (“performance-based fees”), information
on those accounts is provided separately. The figures in the chart below for the category of “registered investment companies”
do not include the Fund. The “Other Accounts Managed” represents the accounts managed by the teams of which the portfolio
manager is a member. The information in the table below is as of December 31, 2021.
Name of Portfolio Manager | |
Type of Accounts | |
Other Accounts
Managed | | |
Total Assets ($M) | | |
Number of Accounts Managed for Which Advisory Fee is Based on Performance | | |
Total Assets for Which Advisory Fee is Based on Performance ($M) | |
Hugh Young1 | |
Registered Investment Companies | |
| 5 | | |
$ | 662.68 | | |
| 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
| |
Pooled Investment Vehicles | |
| 49 | | |
$ | 13,178.51 | | |
| 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
| |
Other Accounts | |
| 37 | | |
$ | 11,227.95 | | |
| 8 | | |
$ | 3,097.27 | |
Adrian Lim1 | |
Registered Investment Companies | |
| 5 | | |
$ | 662.68 | | |
| 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
| |
Pooled Investment Vehicles | |
| 49 | | |
$ | 13,178.51 | | |
| 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
| |
Other Accounts | |
| 37 | | |
$ | 11,227.95 | | |
| 8 | | |
$ | 3,097.27 | |
Kristy Fong1 | |
Registered Investment Companies | |
| 5 | | |
$ | 662.68 | | |
| 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
| |
Pooled Investment Vehicles | |
| 49 | | |
$ | 13,178.51 | | |
| 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
| |
Other Accounts | |
| 37 | | |
$ | 11,227.95 | | |
| 8 | | |
$ | 3,097.27 | |
Flavia Cheong1 | |
Registered Investment Companies | |
| 5 | | |
$ | 662.68 | | |
| 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
| |
Pooled Investment Vehicles | |
| 49 | | |
$ | 13,178.51 | | |
| 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
| |
Other Accounts | |
| 37 | | |
$ | 11,227.95 | | |
| 8 | | |
$ | 3,097.27 | |
James Thom1 | |
Registered Investment Companies | |
| 5 | | |
$ | 662.68 | | |
| 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
| |
Pooled Investment Vehicles | |
| 49 | | |
$ | 13,178.51 | | |
| 0 | | |
$ | 0 | |
| |
Other Accounts | |
| 37 | | |
$ | 11,227.95 | | |
| 8 | | |
$ | 3,097.27 | |
1Includes accounts managed by the Asian Equities Team, of
which the portfolio manager is a member.
POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
The Adviser and its affiliates (collectively referred
to herein as “abrdn”) serve as investment advisers for multiple clients, including the Registrant and other investment companies
registered under the 1940 Act and private funds (such clients are also referred to below as “accounts”). The portfolio managers’
management of “other accounts” may give rise to potential conflicts of interest in connection with their management of the
Registrant’s investments, on the one hand, and the investments of the other accounts, on the other. The other accounts may have
the same investment objective as the Registrant. Therefore, a potential conflict of interest may arise as a result of the identical investment
objectives, whereby the portfolio manager could favor one account over another. However, the Adviser believes that these risks are mitigated
by the fact that: (i) accounts with like investment strategies managed by a particular portfolio manager are generally managed in
a similar fashion, subject to exceptions to account for particular investment restrictions or policies applicable only to certain accounts,
differences in cash flows and account sizes, and similar factors; and (ii) portfolio manager personal trading is monitored to avoid
potential conflicts. In addition, the Adviser has adopted trade allocation procedures that require equitable allocation of trade orders
for a particular security among participating accounts.
In some cases, another account managed by the
same portfolio manager may compensate Aberdeen based on the performance-based fees with qualified clients. The existence of such a performance-based
fee may create additional conflicts of interest for the portfolio manager in the allocation of management time, resources and investment
opportunities.
Another potential conflict could include instances
in which securities considered as investments for the Registrant also may be appropriate for other investment accounts managed by the
Adviser or its affiliates. Whenever decisions are made to buy or sell securities for the Registrant and one or more of the other accounts
simultaneously, the Adviser may aggregate the purchases and sales of the securities and will allocate the securities transactions in a
manner that it believes to be equitable under the circumstances. As a result of the allocations, there may be instances where the Registrant
will not participate in a transaction that is allocated among other accounts. While these aggregation and allocation policies could have
a detrimental effect on the price or amount of the securities available to the Registrant from time to time, it is the opinion of the
Adviser that the benefits from the policies outweigh any disadvantage that may arise from exposure to simultaneous transactions. The Registrant
has adopted policies that are designed to eliminate or minimize conflicts of interest, although there is no guarantee that procedures
adopted under such policies will detect each and every situation in which a conflict arises.
With respect to non-discretionary
model delivery accounts, abrdn will deliver model changes subsequent to commencing trading on behalf of discretionary accounts. Model
changes are typically delivered on a security by security basis. The timing of such delivery is determined by abrdn and will depend on
the anticipated market impact of trading. Market impact includes, but is not limited to, factors such as liquidity and price impact. When
minimal market impact is anticipated, abrdn typically delivers security level model changes after such time when approximately two-thirds
of the full discretionary order has been executed. Although abrdn anticipates delivering model changes of such securities after approximately
two-thirds of the discretionary order has been executed, abrdn may deliver model changes prior to or substantially after two-thirds have
been executed depending on prevailing market conditions and trader discretion. With respect to securities for which abrdn anticipates
a more significant market impact, abrdn intends to withhold model deliver changes until such time when the entire discretionary order
has been fully executed. Anticipated market impact on any given security is determined at the sole discretion of abrdn based on prior
market experience and current market conditions. Actual market impact may vary significantly from anticipated market impact. Notwithstanding
the aforementioned, abrdn may provide order instructions simultaneously or prior to completion of trading for other accounts if the trade
represents a relatively small proportion of the average daily trading volume of the particular security or other instrument.
abrdn does not trade for non-discretionary
model delivery clients. Because model changes may be delivered to non-discretionary model clients prior to the completion of abrdn’s
discretionary account trading, abrdn may compete against these clients in the market when attempting to execute its orders for its discretionary
accounts. As a result, discretionary clients may experience negative price and liquidity impact due to multiple market participants attempting
to trade in a similar direction on the same security.
Timing delays or other operational factors associated
with the implementation of trades may result in non-discretionary and model delivery clients receiving materially different prices relative
to other client accounts. This may create performance dispersions within accounts with the same or similar investment mandate.
(a)(3)
DESCRIPTION OF COMPENSATION STRUCTURE
abrdn’s remuneration policies are designed
to support its business strategy as a leading international asset manager. The objective is to attract, retain and reward talented
individuals for the delivery of sustained, superior returns for abrdn’s clients and shareholders. abrdn operates in a highly
competitive international employment market, and aims to maintain its strong track record of success in developing and retaining talent.
abrdn’s policy is to recognize corporate
and individual achievements each year through an appropriate annual bonus scheme. The bonus is a single, fully discretionary variable
pay award. The aggregate value of awards in any year is dependent on the group’s overall performance and profitability. Consideration
is also given to the levels of bonuses paid in the market. Individual awards, which are payable to all members of staff, are determined
by a rigorous assessment of achievement against defined objectives.
The variable pay award is composed of a mixture
of cash and a deferred award, the portion of which varies based on the size of the award. Deferred awards are by default abrdn plc
shares, with an option to put up to 50% of the deferred award into funds managed by abrdn. Overall compensation packages are designed
to be competitive relative to the investment management industry.
Base Salary
abrdn’s policy is to pay a fair salary commensurate
with the individual’s role, responsibilities and experience, and having regard to the market rates being offered for similar roles
in the asset management sector and other comparable companies. Any increase is generally to reflect inflation and is applied in a manner
consistent with other abrdn employees; any other increases must be justified by reference to promotion or changes in responsibilities.
Annual Bonus
The Remuneration Committee determines the key performance
indicators that will be applied in considering the overall size of the bonus pool. In line with practices amongst other asset management
companies, individual bonuses are not subject to an absolute cap. However, the aggregate size of the bonus pool is dependent on
the group’s overall performance and profitability. Consideration is also given to the levels of bonuses paid in the market.
Individual awards are determined by a rigorous assessment of achievement against defined objectives, and are reviewed and approved by
the Remuneration Committee.
abrdn has a deferral policy which is intended to
assist in the retention of talent and to create additional alignment of executives’ interests with abrdn’s sustained performance
and, in respect of the deferral into funds managed by abrdn, to align the interest of portfolio managers with our clients.
Staff performance is reviewed formally at least
once a year. The review process evaluates the various aspects that the individual has contributed to abrdn, and specifically, in the case
of portfolio managers, to the relevant investment team. Discretionary bonuses are based on client service, asset growth and the performance
of the respective portfolio manager. Overall participation in team meetings, generation of original research ideas and contribution to
presenting the team externally are also evaluated.
In the calculation of a portfolio management team’s
bonus, abrdn takes into consideration investment matters (which include the performance of funds, adherence to the company investment
process, and quality of company meetings) as well as more subjective issues such as team participation and effectiveness at client presentations
through key performance indicator scorecards. To the extent performance is factored in, such performance is not judged against any
specific benchmark and is evaluated over the period of a year - January to December. The pre- or after-tax performance of an individual
account is not considered in the determination of a portfolio manager’s discretionary bonus; rather the review process evaluates
the overall performance of the team for all of the accounts the team manages.
Portfolio manager performance on investment matters
is judged over all of the accounts the portfolio manager contributes to and is documented in the appraisal process. A combination
of the team’s and individual’s performance is considered and evaluated.
Although performance is not a substantial portion
of a portfolio manager’s compensation, abrdn also recognizes that fund performance can often be driven by factors outside one’s
control, such as (irrational) markets, and as such pays attention to the effort by portfolio managers to ensure integrity of our core
process by sticking to disciplines and processes set, regardless of momentum and ‘hot’ themes. Short-terming is thus
discouraged and trading-oriented managers will thus find it difficult to thrive in the abrdn environment. Additionally, if any of
the aforementioned undue risks were to be taken by a portfolio manager, such trend would be identified via abrdn’s dynamic compliance
monitoring system.
In rendering investment management
services, the Adviser may use the resources of additional investment adviser subsidiaries of abrdn plc. These affiliates have entered
into a memorandum of understanding (“MOU”) pursuant to which investment professionals from each affiliate may render portfolio
management, research or trading services to abrdn clients. Each investment professional who renders portfolio management, research or
trading services under a MOU or personnel sharing arrangement (“Participating Affiliate”) must comply with the provisions
of the Advisers Act, the 1940 Act, the Securities Act of 1933, the Exchange Act, and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
and the laws of states or countries in which the Adviser does business or has clients. No remuneration is paid by the Fund with respect
to the MOU/personnel sharing arrangements.
(a)(4)
Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the
Registrant Beneficially Owned by the Portfolio
Manager as of December 31, 2021 |
|
Hugh Young |
|
$10,001-$50,000 |
Adrian Lim |
|
None |
Kristy Fong |
|
None |
Flavia Cheong |
|
None |
James Thom |
|
None |
(b) Not applicable.
Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management
Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.
No such purchases were made by or on behalf of the Registrant during
the period covered by the report.
Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
During the period ended December 31, 2021, there were no material
changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the Registrant’s Board of Directors.