IFN India Fund Inc

 

Exhibit 99.CODEETH

 

CODE OF ETHICS (SOX)

 

(Principal Executive Officer/President and Principal Financial Officer/Treasurer)

 

I.	Purpose of the Code/Covered Officers

 

Pursuant to Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) has adopted rules requiring annual disclosure of an investment company’s code of ethics applicable to its principal executive, principal financial and principal accounting officers. The Funds have adopted this Code of Ethics (the “Code”) pursuant to these rules. The Code applies to the series (each a “Fund”). The Code specifically applies to each Fund’s President/Principal Executive Officer and Treasurer/Principal Financial Officer (“Covered Officers”) for the purpose of promoting:

 

·

honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships;

 

·

full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that are filed with, or submits to, the SEC and in other public communications made by the Funds;

 

·

compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations;

 

·

an environment that encourages disclosure of ethical and compliance related concerns;

 

·

the prompt internal reporting of violations of the Code to an appropriate person or persons identified in the Code without fear of reprisal; and

 

·

accountability for adherence to the Code.

 

The Covered Officers are integral to the Funds’ goal of creating a culture of high ethical standards and commitment to compliance. In their roles, the Covered Officers will refrain from engaging in any activity that may compromise their professional ethics or otherwise prejudice their ability to carry out their duties to the Funds.’ They will act in good faith, with due care, competence and diligence, without misrepresenting material facts or allowing their independent judgment to be subordinated.

 

II.	Actual and Apparent Conflicts of Interest

 

Overview: A “conflict of interest” occurs when a Covered Officer’s private interest interferes with the interests of, or service to, the Funds. For example, a conflict of interest would arise if a Covered Officer, or a member of his or her family, receives improper benefits as a result of his or her position with the Funds.

 

Certain conflicts of interest arise out of the relationship between Covered Officers and each Fund and already are subject to conflict of interest provisions in the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the “Advisers Act”). For example, Covered Officers may not individually engage in certain transactions (such as the purchase or sale of securities or other property) with the Funds because of their status as “affiliated persons” of the Funds. Each Fund’s Adviser and Sub-adviser (the “adviser(s)”) have adopted and implemented respective compliance programs and procedures that are designed to prevent, or identify and correct, violations of these provisions. This Code does not, and is not intended to repeat or replace these programs and procedures, and such conflicts fall outside of the parameters of this Code. Each Covered Officer should be sensitive to situations that may give rise to actual as well as apparent conflicts of interest and should encourage his or her colleagues who provide service to the Funds, whether directly or indirectly, to do the same.

 

 

Although typically not presenting an opportunity for improper personal benefit, conflicts arise from, or as a result of, the contractual relationship between each Fund and the investment adviser (and distributor to the Aberdeen open-end funds) of which the Covered Officers are also officers or employees. As a result, this Code recognizes that the Covered Officers will, in the normal course of their duties (whether formally for the Fund or the investment adviser or for both), be involved in establishing policies and implementing decisions that will have different effects on the investment adviser, distributor and the Funds. The participation of the Covered Officers in such activities is inherent in the contractual relationship between the Funds and the Adviser and is consistent with the performance by the Covered Officers of their duties as officers of each Fund. Thus, if performed in conformity with the provisions of the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act, such activities will be deemed to have been handled ethically. In addition, it is recognized by the Funds’ Board that the Covered Officers may also be officers or employees of the Funds.

 

Other conflicts of interest are covered by this Code, even if such conflicts of interest are not subject to provisions in the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act. The overarching principle is that the personal interest of a Covered Officer should not be placed improperly before the interest of the Funds. A defining question is, “What is the long term interest of current shareholders?” The following list provides examples of conflicts of interest under this Code, but Covered Officers should keep in mind that these examples are not exhaustive.

 

Each Covered Officer must:

 

·

not use his or her personal influence or personal relationships improperly to influence investment decisions or financial reporting by the Funds whereby the Covered Officer would directly or indirectly benefit personally to the detriment of the Funds;

 

·

not cause the Funds to take action, or fail to take action, for the individual personal benefit of the Covered Officer rather than the benefit of the Funds;

 

·

not use material non-public knowledge of Fund transactions made or contemplated for the Funds to trade personally or cause others to trade personally in contemplation of the market effect of such transactions;

 

·

report at least annually affiliations or other relationships related to conflicts of interest covered by the Funds’ Directors and Officers Questionnaire.

 

Any activity or relationship that would present a conflict for a Covered Officer would likely also present a conflict for the Covered Officer if a member of the Covered Officer’s family engages in such activity or has such a relationship. There are some conflict of interest situations that should always be discussed with the Compliance Officer prior to their occurrence, or if foreseen, as soon as reasonably possible after discovery. Examples of these include:

 

·

service on the board of any public company;

 

·

any outside business activity that detracts from the ability of a Covered Officer to devote appropriate time and attention to his or her responsibilities as a Covered Officer of the Funds;

 

·

the receipt of any non-nominal gifts in excess of $100.00;

 

·

the receipt of any entertainment from any company with which the Funds has current or prospective business dealings unless such entertainment is business-related, reasonable in cost, appropriate as to time and place, and not so frequent as to raise any question of impropriety;

 

 

·

any ownership interest in, or any consulting or employment relationship with any of the Funds’ service providers, other than its investment adviser, investment sub-adviser, principal underwriter, administrator or any affiliated person thereof;

 

·

a direct or indirect financial interest in commissions, transaction charges or spreads paid by the Funds for effecting Fund transactions or for selling or redeeming shares other than an interest arising from the Covered Officer’s employment, such as compensation or equity ownership.

 

III.	Definitions

 

(A)           “Covered Officer” with respect to a Fund means the principal executive officer of the Fund and senior financial officers of the Fund, including the principal financial officer, controller or principal accounting officer, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these persons are employed by the Fund or a third party.

 

(B)           “Executive Officer” of a Fund has the same meaning as set forth in Rule 3b-7 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Subject to any changes in that rule, the term “executive officer,” when used in the Code, means the president, any vice president, any officer who performs a policy making function, or any other person who performs similar policy making functions for a Fund.

 

(C)           “Waiver” means the approval by a Fund’s CCO of a material departure from a provision of the Code. “Waiver” includes an “Implicit Waiver,” which is a Fund’s failure to take action within a reasonable period of time regarding a material departure from a provision of this Code that has been made known to an Executive Officer of the Fund.

 

IV.	Disclosure and Compliance

 

Each Covered Officer:

 

·

should familiarize himself with the disclosure requirements generally applicable to the Funds;

 

·

should not knowingly misrepresent, or cause others to misrepresent, facts about the Funds to others, whether within or outside the Funds, including the Funds’ Board and auditors, and to governmental regulators and self-regulatory organizations;

 

·

should, to the extent appropriate within his or her area of responsibility, consult with other officers and employees of the Funds and the Advisers with the goal of promoting comprehensive, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents the Funds file with, or submit to, the SEC and in other public communications made by the Funds;

 

·

should cooperate with the each Fund’s independent accountants, regulatory agencies, and internal auditors in their review of the Funds and its operations;

 

·

should ensure the establishment of appropriate policies and procedures for the protection and retention of accounting records and information as required by applicable law, regulation, or regulatory guidelines and establish and administer financial controls that are appropriate to ensure the integrity of the financial reporting process and the availability of timely, relevant information for the Funds’ safe and sound operation; and

 

·

has the responsibility to promote compliance with the standards and restrictions imposed by applicable laws, rules and regulations.

 

 

V.	Reporting and Accountability

 

Each Covered Officer must:

 

·

upon adoption of this Code (or thereafter as applicable, upon becoming a Covered Officer), affirm in writing that he has received, read, and understands this Code;

 

·

annually thereafter affirm that he has complied with the requirements of this Code;

 

·

not retaliate against any other Covered Officer or any employee of the Adviser, or their affiliated persons, or any other employee of a private contractor that provides service to the Funds, for reports of potential violations that are made in good faith; and

 

·

notify the Funds’ CCO promptly if he or she knows or suspects that a violation of applicable laws, regulations, or of this Code has occurred, is occurring, or is about to occur. Failure to do so is itself a violation of this Code.

 

See Exhibit A for the form of PEO/PFO certification.

 

The Funds’ CCO is responsible for applying this Code to specific situations in which questions are presented under it and has the authority to interpret this Code in any particular situation. However, any approvals or Waivers sought by the President will be considered by the Funds’ Audit Committee.

 

The Funds will follow these procedures in investigating and enforcing this Code.

 

·

The Funds’ Compliance Officer will take all appropriate action to investigate any potential violations reported to him/her.

 

·

If, after such investigation, the Compliance Officer believes that no violation has occurred, he or she is not required to take any further action. The Compliance Officer is authorized to consult, as appropriate, with the chair of the Audit Committee and Counsel to the Independent Board, and is encouraged to do so after consultation with each Fund’s President when, in the Compliance Officer’s opinion such consultation will not increase the risk to shareholders.

 

·

Any matter that the Compliance Officer believes is a violation will be reported to the Audit Committee (the “Committee”).

 

·

If the Committee concurs that a violation has occurred, it will inform and make a recommendation to the full Board, which will consider appropriate action, which may include review of and appropriate modifications to, applicable policies and procedures; notification to appropriate personnel of the Adviser or its Board; or a recommendation to dismiss the Covered Officer.

 

·

Each Fund’s Board will be responsible for granting Waivers, as appropriate.

 

·

Any changes to or Waivers of this Code will, to the extent required, be disclosed as provided by the SEC rules.

 

VI.

Sanctions

 

The matters covered in the Code are of the utmost importance to the Funds and their stockholders and are essential to each Fund’s ability to conduct its business in accordance with its stated values. Each Covered Officer and each Executive Officer is expected to adhere to these rules (to the extent applicable) in carrying out his or her duties for the Funds. The conduct of each Covered Officer and each Executive Officer can reinforce an ethical atmosphere and positively influence the conduct of all officers, employees and agents of the Funds. A Fund will, if appropriate, take action against any Covered Officer whose actions are found to violate the Code. Appropriate sanctions for violations of the Code will depend on the materiality of the violation to the Fund.

 

 

Sanctions may include, among other things, a requirement that the violator undergo training related to the violation, a letter or sanction or written censure by the Board, the imposition of a monetary penalty, suspension of the violator as an officer of a Fund or termination of the employment of the violator. If a Fund has suffered a loss because of violations of the Code, the Fund may pursue remedies against the individuals or entities responsible.

 

VII.	Other Policies and Procedures

 

This Code shall be the sole code of ethics adopted by the Funds for the purposes of Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the rules and forms applicable to registered investment companies thereunder. Insofar as other policies or procedures of the Funds, the Adviser, principal underwriter, or other service providers govern or purport to govern the behavior or activities if the Covered Officers who are subject to this Code, they are superseded by this Code to the extent that they overlap or conflict with the provisions of this Code. The Funds’ and Adviser’s code of ethics under Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 are not part of this Code.

 

VIII.

Amendments

 

Any amendments to this Code must be approved or ratified by a majority vote of the each Fund’s Board, including a majority of Independent Board members.

 

IX.	Confidentiality

 

All reports and records prepared or maintained pursuant to this Code will be considered confidential and shall be maintained and protected accordingly. Except as otherwise required by law or this Code, such matters shall not be disclosed to anyone other than the appropriate Board and its Counsel.

 

X.	Internal Use

 

This Code is intended solely for internal use by the Funds and does not constitute an admission, by or on behalf of the Funds, as to any fact, circumstance, or legal conclusion. This Code is a statement of certain fundamental principles, policies, and procedures that govern the Covered Officers in the conduct of each Fund’s business. It is not intended and does not create any rights in any employee, investor, supplier, creditor, shareholder or any other person.

 

 

Exhibit A

 

CODE OF ETHICS 

PURSUANT TO THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

Initial and Annual Certification of Compliance

 

________________________________

Name (please print)

 

This is to certify that I have received a copy of the Code of Ethics Pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“Code”) for the following Funds:

 

List of Funds

 

 

 

 

 

I have read and understand the Code. Moreover, I agree to promptly report to the Chief Compliance Officer any violation or possible violation of this Code of which I become aware. I understand that violation of the Code will be grounds for disciplinary action or dismissal.

 

Check one:

 

Initial

 

¨          I further certify that I am subject to the Code and will comply with each of the Code’s provisions to which I am subject.

 

Annual

 

¨          I further certify that I have complied with and will continue to comply with each of the provisions of the Code to which I am subject.

 

Signature	Date
Received by (name and title):	Date

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.CERT

 

Certification Pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the 1940 Act and Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act

 

I, Sharon Ferrari, certify that:

 

1.

I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of The India Fund, Inc.;

 

2.

Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement of cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.

The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have:

 

(a)

Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

(b)

Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

(c)

Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report based on such evaluation; and

 

(d)

Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5.

The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

(a)

All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and

 

(b)

Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: March 11, 2024
/s/ Sharon Ferrari
Sharon Ferrari
Principal Financial Officer

 

 

Certification Pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the 1940 Act and Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act

 

I, Alan Goodson, certify that:

 

1.

I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of The India Fund, Inc.;

 

2.

Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement of cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.

The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have:

 

(a)

Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

(b)

Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

(c)

Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report based on such evaluation; and

 

(d)

Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5.

The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

(a)

All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and

 

(b)

Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: March 11, 2024
/s/ Alan Goodson
Alan Goodson
Principal Executive Officer

  

 

 

Exhibit 99.906CERT

 

Certification Pursuant to Rule 30a-2(b) under the 1940 Act and Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act

 

Alan Goodson, Principal Executive Officer, and Sharon Ferrari, Principal Financial Officer, of The India Fund, Inc. (the “Registrant”), each certify that:

 

1.

The Registrant’s periodic report on Form N-CSR for the period ended December 31, 2023 (the “Form N-CSR”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as applicable; and

 

2.

The information contained in the Form N-CSR fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Registrant.

 

PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER
The India Fund, Inc.
/s/ Alan Goodson
Alan Goodson
Date: March 11, 2024
PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER
The India Fund, Inc.
/s/ Sharon Ferrari
Sharon Ferrari
Date: March 11, 2024

 

This certification is being furnished solely pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and is not being filed as part of Form N-CSR or as a separate disclosure document. A signed original of this written statement, or other document authenticating, acknowledging, or otherwise adopting the signature that appears in typed form within the electronic version of this written statement required by Section 906, has been provided to the Registrant and will be retained by the Registrant and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.14c

 

PROXY VOTING POLICY

 

I.            Generally

 

Rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) require the Funds to disclose publicly its proxy voting policies and procedures, as well as its actual proxy votes. The SEC rules also permit the Funds to delegate its proxy voting responsibilities to the Funds’ Investment Manager, Investment Adviser, and Sub-advisers (collectively “the Advisers”). In connection with this ability to delegate proxy voting responsibilities, the SEC has adopted rules under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, that require the Advisers to adopt and implement written proxy voting policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to ensure that it votes proxies on behalf of its clients, when given such authority, in the best interests of those clients.

 

Consistent with the SEC’s requirements, the Funds have delegated responsibility for voting its proxy to the Funds’ Investment Manager, Investment Adviser and Sub-advisers. The Advisers have adopted proxy voting policies and procedures to ensure the proper, and timely, voting of the proxies on behalf of the Funds. Moreover, the Advisers will assist the Funds in the preparation of each Fund’s complete proxy voting record on Form N-PX for the twelve-month period ended June 30, by no later than August 31 of each year.

 

II.            Procedures

 

Each Fund shall ensure that its investment manager, investment adviser and sub-advisers are compliant with applicable rules and regulations. These rules and regulations require, in part, that each Fund disclose how it votes each proxy. The rules and regulations also require that the Advisers disclose that they have (1) adopted and implemented proxy voting policies; and (2) adopted procedures regarding how each portfolio security is voted in relation to each Fund. The Adviser must disclose that the procedures are the following:

 

1.

are written;

 

2.

are reasonably designed to ensure that the adviser votes proxies in the best interest of the adviser’s clients;

 

3.

describe the adviser’s proxy voting procedures to the adviser’s clients and provides copies of the adviser’s proxy voting procedures on request;

 

4.

set forth the process by which the adviser evaluates the issues presented by a proxy and records the adviser’s decision about how the proxy will be voted;

 

5.

establish procedures for the identification and handling of proxies that involve material conflicts of interest with the adviser’s clients; and

 

6.

disclose to the adviser’s clients how the clients may obtain information on how the adviser voted the clients’ proxies.

 

The Funds also shall disclose to shareholders the policies and procedures that are used to determine how to vote proxies. The Funds include in the Funds’ statement of additional information appropriate summary disclosure regarding the proxy voting policies and procedures of the Funds’ adviser and sub-advisers, and any third party retained by the Funds’ investment adviser or sub-adviser to determine how to vote proxies. In addition, as required by the financial statements’ requirements of Form N-1A and N-2, the Funds’ financial statements must include a statement that a description of the policies and procedures that the Funds use to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available, without charge: (i) upon request, by calling a specified toll-free (or collect) telephone number; or (ii) on the Funds’ website; and (iii) on the SEC website at www.sec.gov.

 

 

The Funds also shall file with the SEC, on an annual basis, the complete proxy voting record of each Fund on Form N-PX for the twelve-month period ending June 30^th, by no later than August 31^st of each year, which Report on Form N-PX shall be executed by the principal executive officer of the each Fund. Each Fund’s proxy voting record on the Form N-PX Report shall be made available by each Fund, without charge, upon request, by calling specified toll-free (or collect) telephone number (but is not available on the Funds’ website). If a Fund receives a telephonic request for a proxy voting record, the Fund shall send the requested information disclosed in the Fund’s most-recently filed Report on Form N-PX within three (3) business days of the receipt of the request for this information, by first-class mail or other means designed to ensure equally prompt delivery.

 

Sub-advisers to the Funds must have procedures and internal controls to ensure compliance with proxy voting regulations. Specifically, the sub-advisers must have procedures for the reporting of proxy voting, and communicating changes in proxy voting policies to the Funds. Prior to Board approval of new advisers, the Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) reviews the proxy voting policies and procedures of the sub-adviser. The CCO ensures that any inadequate procedures or controls of a sub-adviser are reported to the Board and must be corrected in a timely manner.

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.14d

 

U.S. Registered Advisers

Summary of Proxy Voting Guidelines 

as of October 26, 2022

 

Where clients appoint abrdn Inc. to vote proxies on their behalf, policies have been established to vote these proxies in the best interests of our clients.

 

We employ ISS as a service provider to facilitate electronic voting. We require ISS to provide recommendations based on our own set of parameters tailored to abrdn’s assessment and approach, but remain conscious that all voting decisions are our own on behalf of our clients. We consider ISS’s recommendations and those based on our custom parameters as input to our voting decisions. We make use of the ISS standard research and recommendations and those based on our own custom policy as input to our voting decisions. Where our analysts make a voting decision that is different from the recommendations based on our custom policy they will provide a rationale for such a decisions which will be made publicly available in our voting disclosures.

 

In order to make proxy voting decisions, an abrdn analyst assesses the resolutions at general meetings in our active investment portfolios. This analysis will be based on our knowledge of the company, but will also make use of the custom and standard recommendations provided by ISS as described above. The product of this analysis will be a final voting decision instructed through ISS and applied to all funds for which abrdn have been appointed to vote. For funds managed by a sub-adviser, we may delegate to the sub-adviser the authority to vote proxies; however, the sub-adviser will be required to either follow our policies and procedures or to demonstrate that their policies and procedures are consistent with ours, or otherwise implemented in the best interest of clients.

 

There may be certain circumstances where abrdn Inc. may take a more limited role in voting proxies. We will not vote proxies for client accounts in which the client contract specifies that abrdn Inc. will not vote. We may abstain from voting a client proxy if the voting is uneconomic or otherwise not in clients’ best interests. For companies held only in passively managed portfolios, abrdn Inc. custom recommendations provided by ISS will be used to automatically apply our voting approach; we have scope to intervene to test that this delivers appropriate results, and will on occasions intrude to apply a vote more fully in clients’ best interests. If voting securities are part of a securities lending program, we may be unable to vote while the securities are on loan. However, we have the ability to recall shares on loan or to restrict lending when required, in order to ensure all shares have voted. In addition, certain jurisdictions may impose share-blocking restrictions at various times which may prevent abrdn Inc. from exercising our voting authority.

 

We recognize that there may be situations in which we vote at a company meeting where we encounter a conflict of interest. Such situations include:

 

·

Where a portfolio manager owns the holding in a personal account.

 

·

An investee company that is also a segregated client.

 

·

An investee company where an Executive Director or Officer of our company or that of abrdn plc or another affiliate is also a Director of that company.

 

·

An investee company where an employee of abrdn plc or an affiliate or subsidiary is a Director of that company.

 

·

A significant distributor of our products.

 

·

Any other companies which may be relevant from time to time.

 

We have adopted procedures within our proxy voting process to identify where a conflict exists. These procedures are designed to ensure that our voting decisions are based on our client’s best interests and are not impacted by any conflict.

 

The implementation of this policy, along with conflicts of interest, will be reviewed periodically by the Active Ownership team. abrdn’s Global ESG Principles & Voting Policies are published on our website.

 

Clients may obtain a free copy of abrdn Inc.’s proxy voting policies and procedures and/or proxy voting records for their account by contacting us at (215) 405-5700. abrdn publishes ESG Principles & Voting Policies, which describe our approach to investment analysis, shareholder engagement and proxy voting across companies worldwide. There are published on our website.

 

Clients that have not granted abrdn Inc. voting authority over securities held in their accounts will receive their proxies in accordance with the arrangements they have made with their service providers.

 

Listed Company ESG Principles & Voting Policies

 

February 2023

 

Introduction

 

Active Ownership and Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) considerations are a driver of our investment process, our investment activity, our client journey and our corporate influence.

 

 

Through engagement with the companies in which we invest, and by exercising votes on behalf of our clients, we seek to improve the financial resilience and performance of our clients’ investments. Where we believe change is needed, we endeavour to catalyse this through our stewardship capabilities.

 

Our expectations

 

As global investors, we are particularly aware that ESG structures and frameworks vary across regions. Furthermore, what we expect of the companies in which we invest varies between different stages of business development and the underlying history and nature of the company in question. We seek to understand each company’s individual circumstances and so evaluate how it can best be governed and overseen. As such, we strive to apply the principles and policies set out on these pages in response to the needs of that individual company at that particular time. Our heritage as a predominantly active fund manager helps drive this bespoke approach to understanding good governance and risk management.

 

We have a clear perception of what we consider to be best practice globally – as set out in this document. However we will reflect the nature of the business, our close understanding of individual companies and regional considerations, where appropriate, in our approach to applying these policies, which are not exhaustive.

 

This document has received approval from the Head of Public Markets and the Investment Vector’s Chief Sustainability Officer following consultation with various internal stakeholders.

 

Our approach to stewardship

 

We seek to integrate and appraise environmental, social and governance factors in our investment process. Our aim is to generate the best long-term outcomes for our clients and we will actively take steps as stewards and owners to protect and enhance the value of our clients’ assets.

 

Stewardship is a reflection of this bespoke approach to good governance and risk management. We seek to understand each company’s specific approach to governance, how value is created through business success and how investors’ interests are protected through the management of risks that materially impact business success. This requires us to play our part in the governance process by being active stewards of companies, involved in dialogue with management and non-executive directors where appropriate, understanding the material risks and opportunities – including those relating to environmental and social factors and helping to shape the future success of the business.

 

We will:

 

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Take into consideration, in our investment process, the policies and practices on environmental, social and governance matters of the companies in which we invest.

 

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Seek to enhance long-term shareholder value through constructive engagement with the companies in which we invest.

 

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Actively engage with the companies and assets in which we invest where we believe we can influence or gain insight.

 

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Seek to exercise voting rights, where held, in a manner consistent with our clients’ long-term best interests.

 

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Seek to influence the development of high standards of corporate governance and corporate responsibility in relation to environmental and social factors for the benefit of our clients.

 

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Communicate our Listed Company ESG Principles and Voting Policies to clients, companies and other interested parties.

 

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Be accountable to clients within the constraints of professional confidentiality and legislative and regulatory requirements.

 

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Be transparent in reporting our engagement and voting activities.

 

abrdn is committed to exercising responsible ownership with a conviction that companies adopting improving practices in corporate governance and risk management will be more successful in their core activities and deliver enhanced returns to shareholders. As owners of companies, the process of stewardship is a natural part of our investment approach as we seek to benefit from their long-term success on our clients’ behalf.

 

Engagement

 

It is a central tenet of our active investment approach that we strive to meet with the management and directors of our investee companies on a regular basis. The discussions we have cover a wide range of topics, including: strategic, operational, and ESG issues and consider the long-term drivers of value. Engagement with companies on ESG risks and opportunities is a fundamental part of our investment process. It is a process by which we can discuss how a company identifies, prioritises and mitigates its key risks and optimises its most significant opportunities. As such, we regard engagement as:

 

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Important to understanding investee companies as a whole.

 

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Helpful when conducting proper ESG analysis.

 

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Useful to maintaining open dialogue and solid relationships with companies.

 

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An opportunity to inflect positive change on a company’s holistic risk management programme – be active with our holdings rather than activist.

 

 

Proxy Voting

 

Proxy voting is an integral part of our active stewardship approach and we seek to exercise voting rights in a manner in line with our clients’ best interests. We seek to ensure that voting reflects our understanding of the companies in which we invest on behalf of our clients. We believe that voting is a vital mechanism for holding boards and management teams to account, and is an important tool for escalation and shareholder action.

 

This document includes our process and overarching policy guidelines which we apply when voting at general meetings. These policies are not exhaustive and we evaluate our voting on a case by case basis. As a global investment firm we recognise the importance of adopting a regional approach, taking into account differing and developing market practices. Where a policy is specific to one region this is denoted.

 

We endeavour to engage with companies regarding our voting decisions to maintain a dialogue on matters of concern.

 

Voting Process

 

In line with our active ownership approach, we review the majority of general meeting agendas convened by companies which are held in our active equity portfolios. Analysis is undertaken by a member of our regional investment teams or our Active Ownership team and votes instructed following consideration of our policies, our views of the company and our investment insights. To enhance our analysis we may engage with a company prior to voting to understand additional context and explanations, particularly where there is deviation from what we believe to be best practice.

 

To supplement our own analysis we make use of the benchmark research and recommendations provided by ISS, a provider of proxy voting services. In the UK we also make use of the Investment Association’s (IA) Institutional Voting Information Service. We have implemented regional voting policy guidelines with ISS which ISS applies to all meetings in order to produce customised vote recommendations. These custom recommendations help identify resolutions which deviate from our expectations. They are also used to determine votes where a company is held only in passive funds. Within our custom policies, however, we do specify numerous resolutions which should be referred to us for active review. For example we will analyse all proposals marked by ISS as environmental or social proposals.

 

While it is most common for us to vote in line with a board’s voting recommendation we will vote our clients’ shares against resolutions which are not consistent with their best interests. We may also vote against resolutions which conflict with local governance guidelines, such as the IA in the UK. Although we seek to vote either in favour or against a resolution we do make use of an abstain vote where this is considered appropriate. For example we may use an abstention to acknowledge some improvement, but as a means to reserve our position in expectation that further improvement is needed before we can vote in favour. Where we vote against a resolution we endeavour to inform companies of our rationale.

 

In exceptional circumstances we may attend and speak at a shareholder meeting to reinforce our views to the company’s board.

 

We endeavour to vote all shares for which we have voting authority. We may not vote when there are obstacles to do so, for example those impacting liquidity, such as share- blocking, or where there is a significant conflict of interest. We use the voting platform of ISS to instruct our votes. Where we lend stock on behalf of clients, and subject to the terms of client agreements, we hold the right to recall shares where it is in clients’ interests and we take the view that it will impact the final vote to maintain full voting weight on a particular meeting or resolution.

 

Our votes are disclosed publicly on our website one day after a general meeting has taken place.

 

Strategy

 

We invest in companies to create the best outcome for our clients. Companies must be clear about the drivers of their business success and their strategy for maintaining and enhancing it. Investment is a forward- looking process; we seek to understand the opportunity for a business and its scope for future value-creation over the long term. In order to do this, we need clarity on past business delivery and its drivers, and on the effective track record of management; we require honest and open reporting to build confidence in that track record. We seek confidence that companies and their management can maintain their competitive positioning and operational performance and subsequently enhance returns for investors. A clear strategy and clarity about the drivers of operational success provides the lens through which we will consider most corporate issues, not least assessing performance and risk management.

 

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We will consider voting against executive or non-executive directors if we have serious concerns regarding the oversight or implementation of strategy.

 

 

Board of Directors

 

We believe effective board governance promotes the long-term success and value creation of the company. The board should be responsible for establishing the company’s purpose and strategy, overseeing management in their implementation of strategy and performance against objectives. The board should ensure a strong framework of control and risk oversight, including material ESG risks. The board should assess and monitor culture and be engaged with the workforce, shareholders and wider society.

 

Board Composition

 

Effective decision making requires a mix of skills around the table and constructive debate between diverse and different-minded individuals. A range of skills, experience and perspectives should be drawn together on the board. These include industry knowledge, experience from other sectors and relevant geographical knowledge. Independence of thought plays a crucial role in the ability of a board to generate the debate and discussion that will challenge management, help enhance business performance and improve decision-making. Board assessments will help the board ensure it has the necessary mix of skills, diversity and quality of individuals to address the current risks and opportunities the company faces. Unitary boards should comprise an appropriate combination of executive and non-executive directors such that no group of individuals dominates decision-making. We expect the size of the board to reflect the size, nature and complexity of the business. We also expect regular internal and external board evaluations which include an assessment of board composition and effectiveness.

 

Leadership

 

Running businesses effectively for the long term requires effective collaboration and cooperation, with no individual or small group having unfettered powers. Nor should they have dominant influence over the way a business is run or over major decisions about its operations or future. There should be a division of responsibility between board leadership and executive leadership of the business. We believe that there should be a division of roles at the top of the organisation, typically between a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and an independent Chair.

 

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We will consider supporting the re-election of an existing Chair & CEO role combination, recognising that this remains common in certain geographies. In reviewing on a case by case basis we will take account of the particular circumstances of the company and consider what checks and balances are in place, such as the presence of a strong Senior Independent Director with a clear scope of responsibility.

 

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We will generally oppose any re-combination of the roles of CEO and Chair, unless the move is on a temporary basis due to exceptional circumstances or other mitigating factors.

 

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We will generally oppose any move of a retiring CEO to the role of Chair.

 

Independence

 

Companies should be led and overseen by genuinely independent boards. When looking at board composition we generally expect to see a majority of independent directors, with boards identifying their independence classifications in the Annual Report. It is preferable to see an identified Senior Independent Director (SID) on the board, who will lead the appraisal of and succession planning for the Chair. We expect SIDs to meet with investors and be a point of contact for escalating concerns if required.

 

In assessing a director’s independence we will have due regard for whether a director:

 

(I)

Has been an employee of the company within the last five years.

 

(II)

Has had within the last three years a material business relationship with the company.

 

(III)

Has received remuneration in addition to director fees or participates in the company’s option or variable incentive schemes, or is a member of the company’s pension scheme.

 

(IV)

Has close family ties with any of the company’s advisers, directors or senior employees.

 

(V)

Holds cross-directorships or has significant links with other directors through involvement in other companies or bodies.

 

(VI)

Represents a significant shareholder.

 

(VII)

Has served on the board for more than 12 years (or 9 for UK companies).

 

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We will consider voting against the re-election of non-independent directors if the board is not majority independent (excluding employee representatives). In doing so we will have regard for whether a company is controlled and the nature of the non-independence – for example, we are unlikely to vote against shareholder representatives unless their representation is disproportionate to their shareholding.

 

Succession Planning & Refreshment

 

Regular refreshment of the non-executive portion of a board helps draw in fresh perspectives, not least in the context of changes to business and emerging opportunities and risks. It also helps limit the danger of group-think. Thoughtful and proactive succession planning is therefore needed for board continuity, to ensure that a board is populated by individuals with an appropriate mix of skills, experience and perspective. We expect the board to implement a formal process for the recruitment and appointment of new directors, and to provide transparency of this in the Annual Report.

 

 

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We will vote against non-executive directors where there are concerns regarding board refreshment or excessive tenure. Where there are directors who have served for over 12 years on a board which has seen no refreshment in 3 years (2 in UK), we will generally vote against their re-election. If a director has served for over 15 years we will generally vote against their re-election. We will, however, consider the impact on board continuity and the company’s succession planning efforts prior to doing so. We may not apply the tenure limit to directors who are founders or shareholder representatives.

 

Diversity

 

We believe that companies that make progress in diversity and inclusion (D&I) are better positioned for long-term sustainability and outperformance. Diversity of thought, paired with a culture of inclusion, can help companies to tackle increasingly complex challenges and markets. We expect boards to report on how they promote D&I throughout the business and believe that setting targets is important to addressing imbalances. We recognise the importance of adopting a regional approach to diversity and inclusion, allowing us to press for progress with appropriate consideration for the starting point. We have for several years, actively encouraged progress in gender diversity at all levels, and have expanded our scope in relation to diversity and inclusion across geographies. In respect of ethnic diversity, this is coming increasingly into focus as we encourage boards to progress in ensuring that their composition reflects their employee and customer bases.

 

Our regional specific policies are below. In determining our votes we will take account of mitigating factors, such as the sudden departure of a female board member. We will also consider any clear progress being made by the company on diversity and any assurance that diversity shortfalls will soon be addressed.

 

Gender Diversity

 

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UK: We will generally vote against the Nomination Committee Chair of FTSE 350 companies if the board is not comprised of at least one third female directors. For smaller companies, we will take this action if the board does not include at least one female director.

 

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Europe: We will generally vote against the Nomination Committee Chair of LargeCap companies if the supervisory board is not comprised of at least 30% female directors, or is not in line with the local standard if higher. For smaller companies, we will take this action if the supervisory board does not include at least one female director.

 

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Australia: We will generally vote against the Nomination Committee Chair of ASX300 companies if the board is not comprised of at least 30% female directors.

 

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North America: We will generally vote against the Nomination Committee Chair of LargeCap companies if the board is not comprised of at least 30% female directors. For smaller companies, we will take this action if the board does not include at least one female director

 

Ethnic Diversity

 

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UK: We will generally vote against the Nomination Committee Chair at the boards of FTSE 100 companies, if the board does not include at least one member from an ethnic minority background. This is in line with targets set up by the Parker Review.

 

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US: We will generally vote against the Nomination Committee Chair at the boards of S&P 1500 & Russell 3000 companies if the board does not include at least one member from a racial or ethnic minority background.

 

Directors’ Time Commitment

 

Individual directors need sufficient time to carry out their role effectively and therefore we seek to ensure that all directors maintain an appropriate level of overall commitments such that allows them to be properly diligent.

 

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We will consider opposing the election or re-election of any director where there is a concern regarding their ability to dedicate sufficient time to the role. In making this assessment we will have regard for the ISS classification of ‘overboarding’.

 

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We will generally oppose the re-election of any director who has attended fewer than 75% of board meetings in two consecutive years.

 

Board Committees

 

Boards should establish committees, populated by independent and appropriately skilled non-executive directors, to oversee (as a minimum) the nomination, audit and remuneration processes. It may also be appropriate for additional committees to be established, such as a risk or sustainability committee. These committees should report openly on an annual basis about their activities and key decisions taken.

 

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We will consider voting against committee members if we have concerns regarding the composition of a committee.

 

Nomination Committee

 

This committee has responsibility for leading the process for orderly non-executive and senior management succession planning and recruitment, and for overseeing the composition of the board including skillset, experience and diversity. We expect the committee to be comprised of a majority of independent directors with an independent Chair.

 

 

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We will consider voting against the re-election of the Nomination Committee Chair if we have concerns regarding the composition of the board or concerns regarding poor succession planning.

 

Audit Committee

 

This committee has responsibility for monitoring the integrity of the financial statements, reviewing the company’s internal financial controls and risk management systems, reviewing the effectiveness of the company’s internal audit function and appointing auditors. While we prefer the committee to be wholly independent, at minimum we expect the committee to be comprised of a majority of independent directors with an independent Chair and at least one member having recent and relevant financial experience.

 

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We will generally vote against the re-election of the Audit Committee Chair if at least one member of the Committee does not have recent and relevant financial experience.

 

Remuneration Committee

 

This committee is responsible for determining the policy and setting remuneration for executive and non-executive directors. The committee should ensure that remuneration is aligned with strategy and company performance and should clearly demonstrate regard for the company’s employees, for wider society and be cognisant of the company’s licence to operate when considering policy and the overall level of remuneration. We expect remuneration committees to be robust in their approach to developing and implementing remuneration policies, with formal and transparent procedures for developing policies and for determining remuneration packages. Remuneration committees should be comprised of a majority of independent directors with an independent Chair and we expect members to have appropriate experience and knowledge of the business. No executive should be involved in setting their own remuneration.

 

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Where we have significant concerns regarding the company’s remuneration policy or reward outcomes we may escalate these concerns through a vote against the Chair or members of the Remuneration Committee.

 

Director Accountability

 

We expect to be able to hold boards to account through engagement and regular director re-elections and directors should feel that they are accountable to investors. We encourage individual, rather than bundled, director elections. While our preference is for directors to be subject to re-election annually, we expect re-elections to take place at least every three years. Lengthier board mandates, while not uncommon in some markets, risk divorcing directors from an appropriate sense of accountability. Directors and management should make themselves available for discussions with major shareholders as we expect to have open dialogue to share our perspectives and gain confidence that the individuals are carrying out their roles with appropriate vigour and diligence. A further important element of director accountability to shareholders is that investors should have the right, both formal and informal, to propose and promote individual directors to be considered for election to the board by all shareholders.

 

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We will generally oppose the re-election of non- independent NEDs who are proposed for a term exceeding three years. We may not apply this to directors who are shareholder representatives.

 

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Where we have significant concerns regarding a board member’s performance, actions or inaction to address issues raised we may vote against their re-election.

 

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We may vote against directors who decline appropriate requests for meeting without a clear justification.

 

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Where a director has held a position of responsibility at a company which has suffered a material governance failure, we will consider whether we are comfortable to support their re-election at other listed companies.

 

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We will generally support resolutions to discharge the supervisory board or management board members unless we have serious concerns regarding actions taken during the year under review. Where there is insufficient information regarding allegations of misconduct, we may prefer to abstain. In exceptional circumstances we may vote against the discharge resolution to reflect serious ESG concerns if there is not another appropriate resolution.

 

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We will not support the election of directors who are not personally identified but are proposed as corporations.

 

Reporting

 

A company’s board should present a fair, balanced and understandable assessment of the company’s position and prospects – financial and non-financial – and of how it has fulfilled its responsibilities. We support the principle of full disclosure of relevant and useful information, subject to issues of commercial confidentiality and prejudice. Boilerplate disclosure should be avoided. We encourage companies to consider using the appropriate globally developed standards and would particularly encourage the use of those created by the Taskforce for Climate related Financial Disclosure (TCFD), the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC), the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). Audited reporting and financial numbers should be published ahead of any relevant shareholder meetings. We continue to monitor the evolving reporting landscape and consider new reporting developments as they emerge, either voluntary or regulatory.

 

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We may consider voting against a company’s Annual Report & Accounts if we have concerns regarding timely provision or disclosure.

 

 

Political Donations & Lobbying

 

Companies should be consistent in their public statements and not undermine these in private commentary to market participants or to politicians and regulators. We welcome transparency from companies about their lobbying activities and believe that good companies have nothing to hide in this respect. Similarly we encourage transparency of any political donations that companies deem appropriate – and we expect a clear explanation of why such donations are an appropriate use of corporate funds.

 

Risk & Audit

 

The board is responsible for determining the company’s risk appetite, establishing procedures to manage risk and for monitoring the company’s internal controls. We expect boards to conduct robust assessments of the company’s material risks and report to shareholders on risks, controls and effectiveness. The introduction of global accounting standards has led to much greater investor confidence in the accounts produced by companies around the world. It has also assisted in creating consistency of reporting across companies, enabling fairer comparisons between different operating businesses. We therefore encourage companies seeking international investment to report under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) or US GAAP. As a firm abrdn supports the continued development of high quality global accounting standards.

 

An independent audit, delivered by a respected audit firm, is a required element for investor confidence in reporting by companies. We strongly favour meaningful, transparent and informative auditor reports, giving us additional insights into the audit process and accounting outcomes. Audit fees must be sufficient to pay for an appropriately in-depth assurance process. We would be concerned if a company sought to make savings in this respect as the cost in terms of damage to audit effectiveness and confidence in the company’s accounts would be much more substantial.

 

The independence of the auditor and the standard of their work, particularly in challenging management, should be subject to regular assessment that is appropriately disclosed. Even when individuals carrying out the audit are refreshed, we believe that the independence of the audit firm erodes over time and we will encourage a tender process and change of audit firm where an engagement has lasted for an extended period. In order to demonstrate the level of independence, companies should not have the same audit firm in place for more than 20 years.

 

The relationship with the auditor should be mediated through the audit committee. Where we are significant shareholders, we expect to be consulted on plans to tender and replace auditors.

 

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We will generally vote against the re-election of an auditor which has a tenure of 20 years or over, if there are no plans for rotation in the near term.

 

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We will consider voting against the auditors if we have concerns regarding the accounts presented or the audit procedures used.

 

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We will vote against the approval of auditor fees if we have concerns regarding the level of fees or the balance of non-audit and audit fees.

 

Remuneration

 

Remuneration policies and the overall levels of pay should be aligned with strategy, attracting and retaining talent and incentivising the decisions and behaviours needed to create long-term value. The component parts of remuneration should be structured so as to link rewards to corporate and individual performance and they should be considered in the context of the remuneration policies when taken as a whole. We recognise the benefits of simplicity in forming the policy, which should clearly link outcomes and expectations for those receiving the remuneration, as well as external stakeholders. The structure should be transparent and understandable.

 

A company’s annual report should contain an informative statement of remuneration policy which communicates clearly to stakeholders how it has developed and evolved. This should include details of any stress testing that may have been undertaken to understand the policy outcomes for different business scenarios. The remuneration committee should provide a clear description of the application of policy and the outcomes achieved.

 

Base salary should be set at a level appropriate for the role and responsibility of the executive. We discourage increases which are driven by peer benchmarking, and expect increases to be aligned with the wider workforce. Consideration should also be given to the knock on impact to variable remuneration potential. Pension arrangements and benefits should be clearly disclosed. We generally expect pension structures to be aligned with the wider workforce.

 

A company should structure variable, performance- related pay to incentivise and reward management in a manner that is aligned with the company’s sustainable performance and risk appetite over the long term. We expect all variable pay to be capped, preferably as a proportion of base salary. In the UK we expect variable pay to be capped as a proportion of salary. In other markets, if variable pay is capped at a number of shares, we expect the value of grants to be kept under review annually to ensure the value remains appropriate and is not excessive.

 

 

Performance metrics used to determine variable pay should be clearly disclosed and aligned with the company’s strategy. A significant portion of performance metrics should seek to measure significant improvements in the underlying financial performance of the company. We also encourage the inclusion of non-financial metrics linked to targets which are aligned with the company’s progress on its ESG strategy. Where possible we expect these targets to be quantifiable and disclosed.

 

Variable pay arrangements should incentivise participants to achieve above-average performance through the use of challenging targets. We encourage sliding-scale performance measures and expect performance target ranges to be disclosed to enable shareholders to assess the level of challenge and pay for performance alignment. We expect annual bonus targets to be disclosed retrospectively and encourage the disclosure of long term incentive (LTI) targets at the beginning of the performance period, but at minimum we expect retrospective disclosure. Where bonus or LTI targets are not disclosed due to commercial sensitivity we expect an explanation of why the targets continue to be considered sensitive retrospectively and expect some detail regarding the level of achievement vs target. Where a share price metric is being used, we expect this to be underpinned by a challenging measure of underlying performance.

 

We encourage settlement of a portion of the annual bonus in shares which are deferred for at least one year.

 

We expect settlement of long term incentives to be in shares, with rationale provided for any awards settled in cash. Long term incentives should have a performance period of no less than three years. In the UK we expect a further holding period of two years to be applied, and we encourage this in other markets.

 

We do not generally support restricted share schemes or value creation plans. We will consider supporting the use of restricted share plans which have been structured consistent with the guidelines of the Investment Association.

 

We expect appropriate malus and clawback provisions to be applied to variable remuneration plans.

 

We expect shareholding guidelines to be adopted for executive directors and encourage the adoption of post-departure shareholding guidelines.

 

We expect details of any use of discretion to be disclosed and its use should be justifiable, appropriate and clearly explained. We would expect policies to be sufficiently robust so that discretion is only necessary in exceptional circumstances. We do not generally support exceptional awards, and are particularly sensitive to such awards being granted to reward a corporate transaction.

 

We expect executive service contracts to provide for a maximum notice period of 12 months. We will consider local best practice provisions related to severance arrangements when voting.

 

Non-executive fees should reflect the role’s level of responsibility and time commitment. We do not support NED’s participation in option or performance-related arrangements. However we do support the payment of fees in shares, particularly where conservation of cash is an issue.

 

In the UK our expectations of companies are aligned with the Investment Association’s Principles of Remuneration.

 

Where significant changes to remuneration arrangements are being considered, we would expect remuneration committees to consult with their largest shareholders prior to finalising any changes. Where any increase to variable remuneration is proposed, we would expect this to be accompanied by a demonstrable increase in the stretch of the targets. Furthermore we expect any increases to remuneration to be subject to shareholder approval.

 

In response to the issues arising from the cost of living crisis being experienced by many people in the UK, we expect companies to focus any additional help towards those members of the workforce who need it most. We expect Remuneration Committees to take into account factors arising from the cost of living crisis when deliberating over executive pay outcomes. We would be concerned by reputational issues arising from decisions made in these unusual circumstances and may make this a factor in our voting decisions at relevant AGMs.

 

In line with the expectations set out above we will generally vote against the appropriate resolution(s) where:

 

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We consider the overall reward potential or outcome to be excessive.

 

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A significant increase to salary has been granted which is not aligned with the workforce or is not sufficiently justified.

 

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A significant increase to performance-related pay has been granted which is not sufficiently justified, is not accompanied by an increase in the level of stretch required for achievement or results in the potential for excessive reward.

 

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There is no appropriate cap on variable incentive schemes.

 

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Performance targets for annual bonus awards are not disclosed retrospectively and the absence of disclosure is not explained.

 

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Performance targets for long term incentive awards are not disclosed up front and there is no compelling explanation regarding the absence of disclosure or a commitment to disclose retrospectively.

 

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Performance targets are not considered sufficiently challenging, either at threshold, target or maximum.

 

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Relative performance targets allow vesting of awards for below median performance.

 

 

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Retesting provisions apply.

 

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Incentives that have been conditionally awarded have been repriced or performance conditions changed part way through a performance period.

 

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We have concerns regarding the use of discretion or the grant of exceptional awards.

 

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Pension arrangements are excessive.

 

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Pension arrangements are not aligned with the wider workforce (UK).

 

Investor Rights

 

The interests of minority shareholders must be protected and any major, or majority, investor should not enjoy preferential treatment. The structure of ownership or control should minimise the potential for abuse of public shareholders.

 

Corporate Transactions

 

Companies should not make significant changes to their structure or nature without being fully transparent to their investors. Shareholders should have the opportunity to vote on significant corporate activity, such as mergers and acquisitions. Where a transaction is with a related party, only independent shareholders should have a vote. Even in markets where no vote is given to shareholders in these circumstances, investors need transparent disclosure of the reasons for any such major change. Companies should expect that shareholders may want to discuss and debate proposed developments

 

Diversification beyond the core skills of the business needs to be justified as it is more often than not a distraction from operational performance. All major deals need to be clearly explained and justified in the context of the pre- existing strategy and be subject to shareholder approval.

 

We will vote on corporate transactions on a case by case basis.

 

Dividends

 

We will generally support the payment of dividends but will scrutinise the proposed level where it appears excessive given the company’s financial position.

 

Share Capital

 

The board carries responsibility for prudent capital management and allocation.

 

Share Issuance

 

We will consider capital raises which are proposed for a specific purpose on a case by case basis but recognise that it can be beneficial for companies to have some general flexibility to issue shares to raise capital. However we expect issuances to be limited to the needs of the business and companies should not issue significant portions of shares unless offering these on a pro-rata basis to existing shareholders to protect against inappropriate dilution of investments.

 

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Where a company seeks a general authority to issue shares we generally expect this to be limited to 25% of the company’s share capital for pre- emptive issuances. In the UK we are aligned with the guidance of the Investment Association Share Capital Management Guidelines.

 

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Where a company seeks a general authority to issue shares we generally expect this to be limited to 10% of the company’s share capital for non-pre-emptive issuances. In the UK we are aligned with the guidance of the Investment Association Share Capital Management Guidelines and those of the Pre-Emption Group.

 

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We will not generally support share issuances at investment trusts unless there is a commitment that shares would only be issued at a price at or above net asset value.

 

When considering our votes we will, however, take account of the company’s circumstances and any further detail regarding proposed capital issuance authorities prior to voting.

 

Following changes to the UK’s Pre-Emption Group Guidelines in November 2022, which reflect an increase on previous limits, we will hold the Chair of the company accountable for any perceived misuse of the increased flexibility through a vote against their re-election.

 

Buyback

 

We recognise that share buybacks can be a flexible means of returning cash to shareholders.

 

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We will generally support buyback authorities of up to 10% of the issued share capital.

 

Related Party Transactions

 

The nature of relations – particularly any related party transactions (RPTs) – with parent or related companies, or other major investors, must be disclosed fully. Related party transactions must be agreed on arm’s length terms and be made fully transparent. Where they are material, they should be subject to the approval of independent shareholders.

 

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We will vote against RPTs where there is insufficient transparency of the nature of the transaction, the rationale, the terms or the views and assessment of directors and advisors.

 

 

Article/Bylaw amendments

 

While it is standard to see proposals from companies to amend their articles of association or bylaws, we will review these on a case by case basis. When doing so we expect full transparency of the proposed changes to be disclosed.

 

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We will vote against amendments which will reduce shareholder rights.

 

Anti-Takeover Defences

 

There should be no artificial structures put in place to entrench management and protect companies from takeover. The best defence from hostile takeover is strong operational delivery.

 

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We will generally vote against anti-takeover/‘poison pill’ proposals.

 

Voting Rights

 

We are strong supporters of the principle of ‘one share, one vote’ and therefore favour equal voting rights for all shareholders.

 

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We will generally vote against proposals which seek to introduce or continue capital structures with multiple voting rights.

 

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We will consider voting against proposals to raise new capital at companies with multiple share classes and voting rights.

 

General Meetings

 

Shareholder meetings provide an important opportunity to hold boards to account not only through voting on the proposed resolutions but also by enabling investors the opportunity to raise questions, express views and emphasise concerns to the entire board. We may make a statement at a company’s AGM as a means of escalation to reinforce our views to a company’s board.

 

We welcome the opportunity to attend meetings virtually, being of the view that this can increase participation given obstacles such as location or meeting concentration. However we are not supportive of companies adopting virtual-only meetings as we believe this format reduces accountability. Our preference is for a hybrid meeting format to balance the flexibility of remote attendance with the accountability of an in-person meeting.

 

·

We will generally support resolutions seeking approval to shorten the EGM notice period to minimum 14 days, unless we have concerns regarding previous inappropriate use of this flexibility.

 

·

We will generally support proposals to enable virtual meetings to take place as long as there is confirmation that the format will be hybrid, with physical meetings continuing to take place (unless prohibited by law). We expect virtual attendees to have the same rights to speak and raise questions as those attending in-person.

 

As part of strategic planning, boards need to have oversight of, and clearly articulate, the key opportunities and risks affecting the sustainability of the business model. This includes having a process for, and transparent disclosure of, potential and emerging opportunities and risks and the actions being taken to address them.

 

The effective management of risks extends to long-term issues that are hard to measure and whose timeframe is uncertain and will include the management of environmental and social issues. We use the UN Global Compact’s four areas of focus in assessing how companies are performing in this area.

 

Specifically we expect companies to be able to demonstrate how they manage their exposures under the following headings.

 

The Environment

 

It is generally accepted that companies are responsible for the effects of their operations and products on the environment. The steps they take to assess and reduce those impacts can lead to cost savings and reduce potential reputational damage. Companies are responsible for their impact on the climate and they face increased regulation from world governments on activities that contribute to climate change.

 

We expect that companies will

 

·

Identify, manage and reduce their environmental impacts.

 

·

Understand the impact of climate change along the company value chain.

 

·

Develop group-level climate policies and, where relevant, set targets to manage the impact, report on policies, practices and actions taken to reduce carbon and other environmental risks within their operations.

 

·

Comply with all environmental laws and regulations, or recognised international best practice as a minimum.

 

Where we have serious concerns regarding a board’s actions, or inaction, in relation to the environment we will consider taking voting action on an appropriate resolution.

 

We will use the indicators within the Carbon Disclosure Project to identify companies which are not fulfilling their climate commitments. Where appropriate we will take voting action to encourage better practice among companies which we deem to be laggards.

 

 

Labour and employment

 

Companies that respect internationally recognised labour rights and provide safe and healthy working environments for employees are likely to reap the benefits. This approach is likely to foster a more committed and productive workforce, and help reduce damage to reputation and a company’s license to operate. We expect companies to comply with all employment laws and regulations and adopt practices in line with the International Labour Organization’s core labour standards. a minimum.

 

In particular, companies will:

 

·

Take affirmative steps to ensure that they uphold decent labour standards.

 

·

Adopt strong health and safety policies and programmes to implement such policies.

 

·

Adopt equal employment opportunity and diversity policies and a programme for ensuring compliance with such policies.

 

·

Adopt policies and programmes for investing in employee training and development.

 

·

Adopt initiatives to attract and retain talented employees, foster higher productivity and quality, and encourage in their workforce a commitment to achieving the company’s purpose.

 

·

Ensure policies are in place for a company’s suppliers that promote decent labour standards, and programmes are in place to ensure high standards of labour along supply chains.

 

·

Report regularly on its policy and implementation of managing human capital.

 

Where we have serious concerns regarding a board’s actions, or inaction, in relation to labour and employment we will consider taking voting action on an appropriate resolution.

 

Human rights

 

We recognise the impact that human- rights issues can have on our investments and the role we can play in stimulating progress. We draw upon a number of international, legal and voluntary agreements for guidance on human-rights responsibilities and compliance. Our primary sources are the International Bill of Rights and the core conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), which form the list of internationally agreed human rights, and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), which clarifies the roles of states and businesses. We encourage companies to use the UNGPs Reporting Framework and encourage disclosure in line with this guidance.

 

We expect companies to:

 

·

Continually work to understand their actual and potential impacts on human rights.

 

·

Establish systems that actively ensure respect for human rights.

 

·

Take appropriate action to remedy any infringements on human rights.

 

Where we have serious concerns regarding a board’s actions, or inaction, in relation to human rights we will consider taking voting action on an appropriate resolution.

 

Business ethics

 

As institutions of wealth and influence, companies have a significant impact on the prosperity of their local communities and the wider world. Having a robust code of ethics and ensuring professional conduct mean companies operate more effectively, particularly when it comes to ethical principles governing decision- making. A company’s failure to conform to internationally recognised standards of business ethics on matters such as bribery and corruption, can increase its risk of facing investigation, litigation and fines. This could undermine its license to operate, and affect its reputation and image.

 

We expect companies to have policies in place to support the following:

 

·

Ethics at the heart of the organisation’s governance.

 

·

A zero-tolerance policy on bribery and corruption.. How people are rewarded, as pay can influence behaviour.

 

·

Respect for human rights.

 

·

Tax transparency.

 

·

Ethical training for employees.

 

Where we have serious concerns regarding a board’s actions, or inaction, related to business ethics we will consider taking voting action on an appropriate resolution.

 

We will review any resolution at company meetings which ISS has identified as covering environmental and social factors.

 

The following will detail our overarching approach and expectations.

 

Our approach to vote analysis is consistent across active and quantitative investment strategies

 

Review the resolution, proponent and board statements, existing disclosures, and external research.

 

Engage with the company, proponents, and other stakeholders as required.

 

Involve thematic experts, regional specialists, and investment analysts in decision-making to harness a wide range of expertise and include all material factors in our analysis.

 

 

Ensure consistency by using our own in-house guidance to frame case-by-case analysis.

 

Monitor the outcomes of votes.

 

Follow-up with on-going engagement as required.

 

Given the nature of the topics covered by these resolutions we do not apply binary voting policies. We adopt a nuanced approach to our voting research and outcomes and will consider the specific circumstances of the company concerned. Our objective is not to vote in favour of all shareholder resolutions but to determine the best outcome for the company in the context of the best outcome for our clients. There are instances where we are supportive of the spirit of a resolution however there may be a reason which prevents our support for the proposal. For example, where the purpose of the resolution is unclear, where the wording is overly prescriptive, when suggested implementation is overly burdensome or where the proposal strays too closely to the board’s responsibility for setting the company’s strategy.

 

Management Proposals

 

We are supportive of the steps being taken by companies to provide transparent, detailed reporting of their ESG strategies and targets. While shareholder proposals on environmental and social topics have been common on AGM agenda for several years, an increasing number of companies are presenting management proposals, such as so called ‘say on climate’ votes, for shareholder approval. While we welcome the intention of accountability behind these votes, we have reservations about the potential for them to limit the scope for subsequent investor challenge and diminish the direct responsibility and accountability of the board and individual directors. We believe it is the role of the board and the executive to develop and apply strategy, including ESG strategies, and we will continue to use existing voting items to hold boards to account on the implementation of these strategies. As active investors we also regularly engage with investee companies on ESG topics and find this dialogue to be the best opportunity to provide feedback.

 

We will review the appropriateness of ‘say on climate’ votes and consider if other voting mechanisms should be applied to ensure both Boards and Executives apply the appropriate rigour to initiate and deliver strategies to support the climate transition.

 

Shareholder Proposals

 

The number of resolutions focused on environmental and social (E&S) issues filed by shareholders continues to grow rapidly. The following provides an overview of some of the factors we consider when assessing the most prevalent themes for shareholder proposals.

 

Climate Change

 

We are members of the Net Zero Asset Manager Initiatives and this is reflected in our Active Ownership approach. We encourage the companies in which we invest to demonstrate a robust methodology underpinning Paris aligned goals and targets and are supportive of resolutions that will help companies to achieve this. Once a credible climate strategy is in place, we prioritise evidence of implementation over requests to re-draft strategies and targets after only a year or two.

 

A growing number of resolutions call on companies to increase the transparency of their reporting on climate- related lobbying. These proposals typically encompass direct lobbying undertaken by the company and indirect lobbying undertaken by trade associations and other organisations of which it is a member or supporter. Lobbying contrary to the objectives of the Paris Agreement is effective in creating climate policy inertia and impeding the transition to net zero economies.

 

We do not evaluate resolutions in isolation. Our approach recognises the links between corporate governance, strategy and climate approach. Where a company’s operational response to climate change is inadequate, the effectiveness of board oversight and corporate governance may also be called into question.

 

We expect and encourage companies to:

 

·

Demonstrate that a robust methodology underpins Paris aligned, net zero goals and targets.

 

·

Set targets for absolute emission reduction, not just carbon intensity, to show a clear pathway to net zero.

 

·

Report in alignment with the TCFD framework.

 

·

Link targets to remuneration and ensure they are reflected in capital expenditure and R&D plans.

 

·

Carefully manage climate-related lobbying by ensuring appropriate oversight, transparent disclosure of activities, and alignment of activities with the company’s strategy and publicly stated positions.

 

Diversity & Inclusion

 

Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) is an important and growing theme for shareholder resolutions. In recent years resolutions have focussed on racial equity audits, pay gap reporting, transparent disclosure of D&I metrics and assessments of the efficacy of D&I programmes.

 

A racial equity audit is an independent analysis of a company’s business practices designed to identify practices that may have a discriminatory effect. We are supportive of racial equity audits in relation to internal and external D&I programmes. It is appropriate that these programmes should have KPIs and audit mechanisms in place to measure and evaluate outcomes. Some proposals request racial equity audits of provision of services. We are aware that measuring provision of service is challenging and gathering racial data on customers can be difficult and inappropriate. There are also multiple different factors that can influence service provision and which could be misconstrued as being racially motivated. We will however, support resolutions which are not unduly prescriptive and allow companies to carry out audits within a reasonable timeframe, at a reasonable cost, and excluding confidential or proprietary information.

 

 

We consider standardised gender pay gap disclosure to be an important tool for assessing how companies are addressing gender inequality. Reporting on gender pay gaps across global operations can help companies to remain ahead of the regulatory curve. It also enables them to offer better opportunities and remuneration for women around the world. We are therefore supportive of resolutions which are likely to deliver these benefits. Proposals must be carefully drafted to achieve these outcomes. For instance, in the past we have been unable to support resolutions which called for global median gender and racial pay gap reporting as it was unclear how this would reveal potential pay disparities at a local level and how it could be implemented by companies with operations in jurisdictions where collection of racial identity data is illegal.

 

In the US market we support public disclosure of EEO- 1 forms by companies. The EEO-1 form details a comprehensive breakdown of workforce by race and gender according to ten employment categories. The form is submitted privately to the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on an annual basis. When publicly disclosed, it offers investors and other stakeholders data in a standardised and comparable form. We have used our engagement programme to ask the companies in which we invest to disclose this form for their US operations while making it central to our D&I voting approach and supporting resolutions that request it.

 

Human rights

 

As a supporter of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), we expect companies to demonstrate how human rights due diligence is conducted across operations, services, product use and the supply chain. Companies can have a significant impact on human rights directly through operations and provision of services, and indirectly through product use and the supply chain. In recent years the sale and end-use of controversial technologies, such as facial recognition software, has emerged as a prominent theme.

 

We expect and encourage companies to:

 

·

Have robust due diligence processes to assess the actual and potential human rights impacts of their operations, services, product use and supply chain.

 

·

Conduct customer and supplier vetting processes commensurate with the risk of human rights abuse.

 

·

Publicly disclose information about the operation of these processes and utilise the UNGPs’ Reporting Framework. This will improve the standard and consistency of human rights reporting and enable more informed investment decision making.

 

Corporate Lobbying & Political Contributions

 

Corporate lobbying and political contributions are a recurrent theme of shareholder resolutions, particularly in the US. These proposals typically encompass direct lobbying undertaken by the company and indirect lobbying undertaken by trade associations and other organisations of which it is a member or supporter. Proposals may also request the disclosure of more information regarding the process and rationale for political contributions. We expect companies to make transparent, consolidated disclosures of direct and indirect lobbying and political expenditure. This disclosure should be underpinned by a coherent policy that: explains public policy priorities and the rationale for associated expenditure, identifies the management positions responsible for public policy engagement, and provides appropriate mechanisms for board oversight. These measures should mitigate the risks associated with corporate lobbying and political contributions, protecting the interest of shareholders and other stakeholders.

 

Nuclear Energy

 

In the Japanese market nuclear energy is a recurrent theme of shareholder resolutions. The Japanese government is seeking to reduce the nation’s reliance on coal and its energy strategy presents safe nuclear power generation as an important source of base-load power. In this context, resolutions which seek to limit or cease the nuclear operations of an individual company do not appear to be in the best interests of shareholders and other stakeholders. The health & safety risks associated with nuclear energy are high, must be managed carefully across the industry, and are an important consideration in our voting.

 

Important Information

 

This document is strictly for information purposes only and should not be considered as an offer, investment recommendation, or solicitation, to deal in any of the investments or funds mentioned herein and does not constitute investment research. abrdn does not warrant the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of the information and materials contained in this document and expressly disclaims liability for errors or omissions in such information and materials.

 

 

Any research or analysis used in the preparation of this document has been procured by abrdn for its own use and may have been acted on for its own purpose. The results thus obtained are made available only coincidentally and the information is not guaranteed as to its accuracy. Some of the information in this document may contain projections or other forward looking statements regarding future events or future financial performance of countries, markets or companies. These statements are only predictions and actual events or results may differ materially. The reader must make their own assessment of the relevance, accuracy and adequacy of the information contained in this document and make such independent investigations, as they may consider necessary or appropriate for the purpose of such assessment. This material serves to provide general information and is not meant to be investment, legal or tax advice for any particular investor. No warranty whatsoever is given and no liability whatsoever is accepted for any loss arising whether directly or indirectly as a result of the reader, any person or group of persons acting on any information, opinion or estimate contained in this document. abrdn reserves the right to make changes and corrections to any information in this document at any time, without notice. This material is not to be reproduced in whole or in part without the prior written consent of abrdn.

 

Applying ESG and sustainability criteria in the investment process may result in the exclusion of securities within the universe of potential investments. The interpretation of ESG and sustainability criteria is subjective meaning that products may invest in companies which similar products do not (and thus perform differently) and which do not align with the personal views of any individual investor. Furthermore, the lack of common or harmonized definitions and labels regarding ESG and sustainability criteria may result in different approaches by managers when integrating ESG and sustainability criteria into investment decisions. This means that it may be difficult to compare strategies within ostensibly similar objectives and that these strategies will employ different security selection and exclusion criteria. Consequently, the performance profile of otherwise similar vehicles may deviate more substantially than might otherwise be expected. Additionally, in the absence of common or harmonized definitions and labels, a degree of subjectivity is required and this will mean that a product may invest in a security that another manager or an investor would not.

 

abrdn plc is registered in Scotland (SC286832) at 1 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 2LL.

 

 

Exhibit 99.14e(1)

 

 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

For More Information Contact:

abrdn U.S. Closed-End Funds

Investor Relations

1-800-522-5465

Investor.Relations@abrdn.com

 

ABRDN U.S. CLOSED-END FUNDS
ANNOUNCE DISTRIBUTION PAYMENT DETAILS

 

(Philadelphia, September 29, 2023) - The abrdn U.S. Closed-End Funds (the “Funds” or individually the “Fund”), today announced that the Funds paid the distributions noted in the table below on September 29, 2023, on a per share basis to all shareholders of record as of September 22, 2023 (ex-dividend date September 21, 2023). These dates apply to the Funds listed below with the exception of the abrdn Australia Equity Fund, Inc. (IAF), the India Fund, Inc. (IFN) and the abrdn Japan Equity Fund, Inc. (JEQ) which paid the distribution on September 29, 2023, to all shareholders of record as of August 24, 2023 (ex-dividend date August 23, 2023).

 

Ticker		Exchange		Fund		Amount
ASGI		NYSE		abrdn Global Infrastructure Income Fund		$	0.1200
IAF		NYSE American		abrdn Australia Equity Fund, Inc.		$	0.1200
IFN		NYSE		The India Fund, Inc.		$	0.4100
JEQ		NYSE		abrdn Japan Equity Fund, Inc.		$	0.1100

 

Each Fund has adopted a distribution policy to provide investors with a stable distribution out of current income, supplemented by realized capital gains and, to the extent necessary, paid-in capital.

 

For the abrdn Australia Equity Fund, Inc. (IAF), the India Fund, Inc. (IFN) and the abrdn Japan Equity Fund, Inc. (JEQ) the stock distributions were automatically paid in newly issued shares of the Fund unless otherwise instructed by the shareholder to be paid in cash. Shares of common stock were 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 on September 21, 2023. The reinvestment prices per share for these distributions were as follows: $3.91 for the abrdn Australia Equity Fund, Inc. (IAF); $16.35 for the India Fund, Inc. (IFN) and $5.48 for the abrdn Japan Equity Fund, Inc. (JEQ). Fractional shares were generally settled in cash, except for registered shareholders with book entry accounts at Computershare Investor Services who had whole and fractional shares added to their account.

 

To have received the abrdn Australia Equity Fund, Inc. (IAF), the India Fund, Inc. (IFN) and the abrdn Japan Equity Fund, Inc. (JEQ) quarterly distributions payable in September 2023 in cash instead of shares of common stock, for shareholders who hold shares in “street name,” the bank, brokerage or nominee who holds the shares must have advised the Depository Trust Company as to the full and fractional shares for which they want the distribution paid in cash by September 18, 2023; and for shares that are held in registered form, written notification for the election of cash by registered shareholders must have been received by Computershare Investor Services prior to September 18, 2023.

 

Under applicable U.S. tax rules, the amount and character of distributable income for each Fund’s fiscal year can be finally determined only as of the end of the Fund’s fiscal year. However, under Section 19 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and related rules, the Funds may be required to indicate to shareholders the estimated source of certain distributions to shareholders.

 

 

The following tables set forth the estimated amounts of the sources of the distributions for purposes of Section 19 of the 1940 Act and the rules adopted thereunder. The tables have been computed based on generally accepted accounting principles. The tables include estimated amounts and percentages for the current distributions paid this month as well as for the cumulative distributions paid relating to fiscal year to date, from the following sources: net investment income; net realized short-term capital gains; net realized long-term capital gains; and return of capital. The estimated compositions of the distributions may vary because the estimated composition may be impacted by future income, expenses and realized gains and losses on securities and currencies.

 

The Funds’ estimated sources of the current distribution paid this month and for its current fiscal year to date are as follows:

 

Estimated Amounts of Current Distribution per Share
Fund		Distribution Amount				Net Investment Income								Net Realized Short- Term Gains**								Net Realized Long- Term Gains								Return of Capital
ASGI		$	0.1200			$	0.0288				24	%		$	0.0132				11	%		$	0.0780				65	%			-				-
IAF		$	0.1200			$	0.0264				22	%										$	0.0060				5	%		$	0.0876				73	%
IFN		$	0.4100				-				-											$	0.4100				100	%			-				-
JEQ		$	0.1100			$	0.0176				16	%			-				-				-				-			$	0.0924				84	%

 

Estimated Amounts of Fiscal Year* to Date Cumulative Distributions per Share
Fund		Distribution Amount				Net Investment Income								Net Realized Short- Term Gains **								Net Realized Long- Term Gains								Return of Capital
ASGI		$	1.4400			$	0.3456				24	%		$	0.1584				11	%		$	0.9360				65	%			-				-
IAF		$	0.5000			$	0.1100				22	%										$	0.0250				5	%		$	0.3650				73	%
IFN		$	1.2300				-				-											$	1.2300				100	%			-				-
JEQ		$	0.4100			$	0.0656				16	%			-				-				-				-			$	0.3444				84	%

 

* ASGI has a 9/30 fiscal year end; IAF and JEQ have a 10/31 fiscal year end; IFN has a 12/31 fiscal year end.

**includes currency gains

 

Where the estimated amounts above show a portion of the distribution to be a “Return of Capital,” it means that Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in a Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund’s investment performance and should not be confused with “yield” or “income.”

 

As of September 19, 2023, after giving effect to this payment, JEQ estimates it has a net deficit of $8,214,000.00. A net deficit results when the Fund has net unrealized losses that are in excess of any net realized gains that have not yet been distributed.

 

The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The final determination of the source of all distributions for the current year will only be made after year-end. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund’s investment experience during the remainder of the fiscal year and may be subject to change based on tax regulations. After the end of each calendar year, a Form 1099-DIV will be sent to shareholders for the prior calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.

 

 

The following table provides the Funds’ total return performance based on net asset value (NAV) over various time periods compared to the Funds’ annualized and cumulative distribution rates.

 

Fund Performance and Distribution Rate Information
Fund			Average Annual Total Return on NAV for the 5 Year Period Ending 08/31/2023¹				Current Fiscal Period’s Annualized Distribution Rate on NAV				Cumulative Total Return on NAV¹				Cumulative Distribution Rate on NAV²
ASGI³			7.71	%3			7.07	%			16.90	%			6.48	%

 

¹ Return data is net of all Fund expenses and fees and assumes the reinvestment of all distributions reinvested at prices obtained under the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan.

² Based on the Fund’s NAV as of August 31, 2023.

³ The Fund launched within the past 5 years; the performance and distribution rate information presented reflects data from inception (July 29, 2020) through August 31, 2023.

 

Fund Performance and Distribution Rate Information
Fund			Average Annual Total Return on NAV for the 5 Year Period Ending 07/31/2023¹				Current Fiscal Period’s Annualized Distribution Rate on NAV				Cumulative Total Return on NAV¹				Cumulative Distribution Rate on NAV²
IAF			6.30	%			10.30	%			15.46	%			7.68	%
IFN			4.41	%			9.40	%			10.14	%			4.82	%
JEQ			1.05	%			5.74	%			22.09	%			4.30	%

 

¹ Return data is net of all Fund expenses and fees and assumes the reinvestment of all distributions reinvested at prices obtained under the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan.

² Based on the Fund’s NAV as of July 31, 2023.

 

Shareholders should not draw any conclusions about a Fund’s investment performance from the amount of the Fund’s current distributions or from the terms of the distribution policy (the “Distribution Policy”).

 

While NAV performance may be indicative of the Fund’s investment performance, it does not measure the value of a shareholder’s investment in the Fund. The value of a shareholder’s investment in the Fund is determined by the Fund’s market price, which is based on the supply and demand for the Fund’s shares in the open market.

 

Pursuant to an exemptive order granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Funds may distribute any long-term capital gains more frequently than the limits provided in Section 19(b) under the 1940 Act and Rule 19b-1 thereunder. Therefore, distributions paid by the Funds during the year may include net income, short-term capital gains, long-term capital gains and/or a return of capital. Net income dividends and short-term capital gain dividends, while generally taxable at ordinary income rates, may be eligible, to the extent of qualified dividend income earned by the Funds, to be taxed at a lower rate not to exceed the maximum rate applicable to your long-term capital gains. Distributions made in any calendar year in excess of investment company taxable income and net capital gain are treated as taxable ordinary dividends to the extent of undistributed earnings and profits, and then as a return of capital that reduces the adjusted basis in the shares held. To the extent return of capital distributions exceed the adjusted basis in the shares held, capital gain is recognized with a holding period based on the period the shares have been held at the date such amount is received.

 

 

The payment of distributions in accordance with the Distribution Policy may result in a decrease in the Fund’s net assets. A decrease in the Fund’s net assets may cause an increase in the Fund’s annual operating expense ratio and a decrease in the Fund’s market price per share to the extent the market price correlates closely to the Fund’s net asset value per share. The Distribution Policy may also negatively affect the Fund’s investment activities to the extent that the Fund is required to hold larger cash positions than it typically would hold or to the extent that the Fund must liquidate securities that it would not have sold, for the purpose of paying the distribution. Each Fund’s Board has the right to amend, suspend or terminate the Distribution Policy at any time. The amendment, suspension or termination of the Distribution Policy may affect the Fund’s market price per share. Investors should consult their tax advisor regarding federal, state and local tax considerations that may be applicable in their particular circumstances.

 

Circular 230 disclosure: To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the U.S. Treasury, we inform you that any U.S. tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein.

 

In the United States, abrdn is the marketing name for the following affiliated, registered investment advisers: abrdn Inc., abrdn Investments Limited, abrdn Asia Limited, Aberdeen Capital Management, LLC, abrdn ETFs Advisors LLC and abrdn Alternative Funds Limited.

 

Closed-end funds are traded on the secondary market through one of the stock exchanges. A Fund’s investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares may be worth more or less than the original cost. Shares of closed-end funds may trade above (a premium) or below (a discount) the net asset value (NAV) of the fund’s portfolio. There is no assurance that a Fund will achieve its investment objective. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

 

https://www.abrdn.com/en-us/cefinvestorcenter#

 

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v3.24.0.1

N-2 - $ / shares		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Cover [Abstract]
Entity Central Index Key		0000917100
Amendment Flag		false
Document Type		N-CSR
Entity Registrant Name		The India Fund, Inc.
Document Period End Date		Dec. 31, 2023
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]
Investment Objectives and Practices [Text Block]		Investment Objectives. Strategies 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. Subject to the provisions of and rules under the 1940 Act, 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. 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 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. 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) the most material ESG factors impacting a company. Examples of ESG factors considered by the Investment Manager include, but are not limited to, carbon emissions, climate risks, labor management, employee safety and corporate governance. The specific factors considered may vary depending on the type of company being evaluated. 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 fundamental research, supported by a global research presence, 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 it perceives 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, 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 may invest in private or newly public companies. 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 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. 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. The Investment Manager has claimed an exclusion from the definition of the term "commodity pool operator" under the Commodity Exchange Act (the "CEA") pursuant to Rule 4.5 under the CEA with respect to the Fund. The Investment Manager is not, therefore, is not subject to registration or regulation as a “commodity pool operator” under the CEA. 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. Loans of Portfolio Securities The Fund may lend to banks and broker-dealers portfolio securities with an aggregate market value of up to one-third of its total assets when it deems advisable. 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. Any such loans must be secured by collateral (consisting of any combination of cash, U.S. Government securities irrevocable letters of credit or other high-quality debt securities) in an amount at least equal (on a daily marked-to-market basis) to the current market value of the securities loaned. 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 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. 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.
Risk Factors [Table Text Block]		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. Generally, the Fund’s fixed income securities will decrease in value if interest rates rise and vice versa. The Fund may be subject to a greater risk of rising interest rates due to the current interest rate environment and the effect of potential government fiscal policy initiatives and resulting market reaction to those initiatives. 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: • corporate earnings; • production; • management; • sales; and • 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 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 The market values of securities or other assets will fluctuate, sometimes sharply and unpredictably, due to changes in general market conditions, overall economic trends or events, governmental actions or intervention, actions taken by the U.S. Federal Reserve or foreign central banks, market disruptions caused by trade disputes or other factors, political developments, investor sentiment and other factors that may or may not be related to the issuer of the security or other asset. Economies and financial markets throughout the world are increasingly interconnected. Economic, financial or political events, trading and tariff arrangements, terrorism, natural disasters and other circumstances in one country or region could have profound impacts on global economies or markets. As a result, whether or not the Fund invests in securities of issuers located in or with significant exposure to the countries directly affected, the value and liquidity of the Fund's investments may be negatively affected. 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. Conflicts of Interest Risk The portfolio managers' management of “other accounts” may give rise to potential conflicts of interest in connection with their management of a Fund'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 Fund. 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 Investment Manager 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 Investment Manager 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 abrdn based on the performance of the portfolio held by that account. 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 Fund also may be appropriate for other investment accounts managed by the Adviser or its affiliates. Whenever decisions are made to buy or sell securities by the Fund and one or more of the other accounts simultaneously, the Investment Manager 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 Fund 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 Fund from time to time, it is the opinion of the Investment Manager that the benefits from the policies outweigh any disadvantage that may arise from exposure to simultaneous transactions. The Trust 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. From time to time, the Investment Manager may seed proprietary accounts for the purpose of evaluating a new investment strategy that eventually may be available to clients through one or more product structures. Such accounts also may serve the purpose of establishing a performance record for the strategy. The management by the Investment Manager of accounts with proprietary interests and nonproprietary client accounts may create an incentive to favor the proprietary accounts in the allocation of investment opportunities, and the timing and aggregation of investments. Investment Manager's proprietary seed accounts may include long-short strategies, and certain client strategies may permit short sales. A conflict of interest arises if a security is sold short at the same time as a long position, and continuous short selling in a security may adversely affect the stock price of the same security held long in client accounts. The Investment Manager has adopted various policies to mitigate these conflicts. In addition, the 1940 Act limits the Fund's ability to enter into certain transactions with certain affiliates of the Investment Manager. As a result of these restrictions, the Fund may be prohibited from buying or selling any security directly from or to any portfolio company of a fund managed by the Investment Manager or one of its affiliates. Nonetheless, the Fund may under certain circumstances purchase any such portfolio company's loans or securities in the secondary market, which could create a conflict for the Investment Manager between the interests of the Fund and the portfolio company, in that the ability of the Investment Manager to recommend actions in the best interest of the Fund might be impaired. The 1940 Act also prohibits certain “joint” transactions with certain of the Fund's affiliates (which could include other abrdn-managed Funds), which could be deemed to include certain types of investments, or restructuring of investments, in the same portfolio company (whether at the same or different times). These limitations may limit the scope of investment opportunities that would otherwise be available to the Fund. The Board has approved policies and procedures reasonably designed to monitor potential conflicts of interest. The Board will review these procedures and any conflicts that may arise. The Investment Manager or its respective members, officers, directors, employees, principals or affiliates may come into possession of material, non-public information. The possession of such information may limit the ability of the Fund to buy or sell a security or otherwise to participate in an investment opportunity. Situations may occur where the Fund could be disadvantaged because of the investment activities conducted by Investment Manager for other clients, and the Investment Manager will not employ information barriers with regard to its operations on behalf of its registered and private funds, or other accounts. In certain circumstances, employees of the Investment Manager may serve as board members or in other capacities for portfolio or potential portfolio companies, which could restrict the Fund's ability to trade in the securities of such companies. Inflation Risk Inflation risk is the risk that the purchasing power of assets or income from investment will be less in the future as inflation decreases the value of money. To the extent that inflation occurs, it will reduce the real value of dividends paid by the Fund and the Fund’s common stock. Most emerging market countries, in particular, have experienced substantial, and in some periods extremely high and volatile, rates of inflation. Inflation and rapid fluctuations in inflation rates have had and may continue to have very negative effects on economies and securities markets globally. In an attempt to control inflation, wage and price controls have been imposed at times in certain countries. Management Risk The Fund is subject to management risk because it is an actively managed portfolio. The Fund's successful pursuit of its investment objective depends upon the Investment Manager's ability to find and exploit  market inefficiencies with respect to undervalued securities and identify companies experiencing a change in dividend policy, including the announcement of restructuring initiatives or special dividends. Such situations occur infrequently and sporadically and may be difficult to predict, and may not result in a favorable pricing opportunity that allows the Investment Manager to fulfill the Fund's investment objective. The Investment Manger's security selections and other investment decisions might produce losses or cause the Fund to underperform when compared to other funds with similar investment goals. If one or more key individuals leave the employ of the Investment Manager, the Investment Manager may not be able to hire qualified replacements, or may require an extended time to do so. This could prevent the Fund from achieving its investment objective. Issuer Risk The value of an issuer's securities that are held in the Fund's portfolio may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer's goods and services. 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. 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. 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. There is also the possibility of nationalization, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, political changes, government regulation, social instability, sectarian violence or diplomatic developments (including war or terrorist attacks). Religious and border disputes persist in India. The Indian government has confronted separatist movements in several Indian states. Additionally, India has experienced hostilities with neighboring countries, such as Pakistan and China. The longstanding dispute with Pakistan over the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir remains unresolved. 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 the trade policies of 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 are over 20 recognized stock exchanges in India. 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. 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. 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. 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, broker strikes, and restrictions on trading certain securities that, if they occur again in the future, could affect the market price and liquidity of the Indian securities in which the Fund invests. 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. 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, in addition to limits on the ability to invest in certain industries, on behalf of all of the sub-accounts for which it is investing, and by each individual sub-account, subject to certain exceptions. 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. 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. 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 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. 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 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. Investments in Other Investment Companies 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 and rules under 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 the 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. 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, decreased liquidity in credit markets, and bank failures. The impact of more stringent capital requirements, recent or future failure 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 Shares of closed-end investment companies frequently trade at a discount from NAV. Continued development of alternative vehicles for investing in essential asset companies may contribute to reducing or eliminating any premium or may result in the Fund's common shares trading at a discount. The risk that the Fund's common shares may trade at a discount is separate from the risk of a decline in the Fund's NAV as a result of investment activities. Whether shareholders will realize a gain or loss for federal income tax purposes upon the sale of their common shares depends upon whether the market value of the common shares at the time of sale is above or below the shareholder's basis in such common shares, taking into account transaction costs, and it is not directly dependent upon the Fund's NAV. Because the market price of the Fund's common shares 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 Fund's control, the Fund cannot predict whether its common shares will trade at, below or above the NAV, or at, below or above the public offering price for the Fund's common shares. 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 To the extent that the Fund invests in high yield/high risk and unrated debt, it may adversely affect the Fund’s performance. Investments in high-yield bonds are speculative and issuers of these securities are generally considered to be less financially secure and less able to repay interest and principal than issuers of investment-grade securities. Prices of high-yield bonds tend to be very volatile. These securities are less liquid than investment-grade debt securities and may be difficult to price or sell, particularly in times of negative sentiment toward high-yield securities. The Fund's investments in lower rated securities may involve the following specific risks: greater risk of loss due to default because of the increased likelihood that adverse economic or company specific events will make the issuer unable to pay interest and/or principal when due; wider price fluctuations due to changing interest rates and/or adverse economic and business developments; and greater risk of loss due to declining credit quality. 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, 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 NAV 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, Other Restricted Securities and IPOs Risk The Fund is permitted to invest in privately held companies and companies that only recently began to trade publicly. Restricted securities that are determined to be illiquid may not exceed the Fund’s limit on investments in illiquid securities. 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”). Since the offering is not registered with the SEC, investors in a private placement have less protection under the federal securities laws against improper practices than investors in registered securities. 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 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. Many private placement securities are issued by companies that are not required to file periodic financial reports, leading to challenges in evaluating the company’s overall business prospects and gauging how the investment is likely to perform over time. The more limited financial information and lack of publicly available prices likely require the Fund to determine a fair value for such investments. The fair valuation process involves a significant amount of judgment and the fair value prices determined for the Fund could differ from those of other market participants because there is less reliable objective data available An initial public offering ("IPO"), which marks the debut of a company’s stock on a public stock exchange, results in greater available financing for the company and more information available to evaluate the company’s investment prospects. Investments in a company before its IPO may occur when there is generally little publicly available information at the time of the Fund’s investment. As such, the Investment Manager’s ability to evaluate a pre-IPO company will be limited. There can be no assurance that the information that the Investment Manager does obtain with respect to any investment is reliable. Pre-IPO companies may have limited financial resources, shorter operating histories, more asset concentration risk, narrower product lines and smaller market shares than larger business, which tend to render such pre-IPO companies more vulnerable to competitors’ actions and market conditions, as well as general economic downturns. Pre-IPO companies are more likely to depend on the efforts of a single individual or small group of individuals and the death, disability, resignation, or termination of one of those individuals could significantly impact the Fund’s investment. The inability of one of these portfolio companies to complete an IPO within its anticipated timeframe may negatively impact the value of the Fund’s investment. In addition, companies that only recently began to publicly trade tend to have limited products and customers, may not be fully prepared for the additional oversight and regulation that results, and do not have a trading history to assess how the stock has behaved during various market cycles. 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 in varying degrees. Depending on the relationship of such market price to the conversion price in the terms of the convertible security, convertible securities are also subject to the same types of market and issuer risks that may negatively affect 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. In addition, the issuers of depositary receipts may discontinue issuing new depositary receipts and withdraw existing depositary receipts at any time, which may result in costs and delays in the distribution of the underlying assets to the Fund and may negatively impact the Fund’s performance. 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. 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 limited to, Fund accountants, custodians, sub-custodians, transfer agents and financial intermediaries) to suffer data breaches, data corruption or lose operational functionality. Furthermore, the Fund may be an appealing target for cybersecurity threats such as hackers and malware.
Annual Dividend Payment	[1]	$ (1.64)	$ (3.19)	$ (3.21)	$ (1.95)	$ (2.33)
Lowest Price or Bid		14.48
Highest Price or Bid		18.4
Lowest Price or Bid, NAV		15.15
Highest Price or Bid, NAV		$ 17.87
Highest Price or Bid, Premium (Discount) to NAV [Percent]		7.05%
Lowest Price or Bid, Premium (Discount) to NAV [Percent]		(6.96%)
Share Price	[1]	$ 18.29	14.81	21.1	19.96	20.13
NAV Per Share	[1]	$ 17.87	$ 16.29	$ 23.47	$ 22.99	$ 22.6	$ 23.84
Latest Premium (Discount) to NAV [Percent]		2.35%	(9.09%)
Capital Stock, Long-Term Debt, and Other Securities [Abstract]
Capital Stock [Table Text Block]		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, 2023, there were 30,719,538 shares of common stock issued and outstanding. The following table shows the shares issued by the Fund as a part of a quarterly distribution to shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2023. Payment Date Shares Issued March 31, 2023 397,865 June 30, 2023 338,014 September 30, 2023 347,852 December 31, 2023 329,656
Outstanding Security, Title [Text Block]		common stock
Outstanding Security, Authorized [Shares]		100,000,000
Outstanding Security, Not Held [Shares]		30,719,538
General Risk [Member]
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]
Risk [Text Block]		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 [Member]
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]
Risk [Text Block]		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 [Member]
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]
Risk [Text Block]		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. Generally, the Fund’s fixed income securities will decrease in value if interest rates rise and vice versa. The Fund may be subject to a greater risk of rising interest rates due to the current interest rate environment and the effect of potential government fiscal policy initiatives and resulting market reaction to those initiatives.
Investment And Market Risk [Member]
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]
Risk [Text Block]		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: • corporate earnings; • production; • management; • sales; and • 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 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 [Member]
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]
Risk [Text Block]		Market Events Risk The market values of securities or other assets will fluctuate, sometimes sharply and unpredictably, due to changes in general market conditions, overall economic trends or events, governmental actions or intervention, actions taken by the U.S. Federal Reserve or foreign central banks, market disruptions caused by trade disputes or other factors, political developments, investor sentiment and other factors that may or may not be related to the issuer of the security or other asset. Economies and financial markets throughout the world are increasingly interconnected. Economic, financial or political events, trading and tariff arrangements, terrorism, natural disasters and other circumstances in one country or region could have profound impacts on global economies or markets. As a result, whether or not the Fund invests in securities of issuers located in or with significant exposure to the countries directly affected, the value and liquidity of the Fund's investments may be negatively affected. 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.
Conflicts Of Interest Risk [Member]
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]
Risk [Text Block]		Conflicts of Interest Risk The portfolio managers' management of “other accounts” may give rise to potential conflicts of interest in connection with their management of a Fund'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 Fund. 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 Investment Manager 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 Investment Manager 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 abrdn based on the performance of the portfolio held by that account. 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 Fund also may be appropriate for other investment accounts managed by the Adviser or its affiliates. Whenever decisions are made to buy or sell securities by the Fund and one or more of the other accounts simultaneously, the Investment Manager 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 Fund 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 Fund from time to time, it is the opinion of the Investment Manager that the benefits from the policies outweigh any disadvantage that may arise from exposure to simultaneous transactions. The Trust 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. From time to time, the Investment Manager may seed proprietary accounts for the purpose of evaluating a new investment strategy that eventually may be available to clients through one or more product structures. Such accounts also may serve the purpose of establishing a performance record for the strategy. The management by the Investment Manager of accounts with proprietary interests and nonproprietary client accounts may create an incentive to favor the proprietary accounts in the allocation of investment opportunities, and the timing and aggregation of investments. Investment Manager's proprietary seed accounts may include long-short strategies, and certain client strategies may permit short sales. A conflict of interest arises if a security is sold short at the same time as a long position, and continuous short selling in a security may adversely affect the stock price of the same security held long in client accounts. The Investment Manager has adopted various policies to mitigate these conflicts. In addition, the 1940 Act limits the Fund's ability to enter into certain transactions with certain affiliates of the Investment Manager. As a result of these restrictions, the Fund may be prohibited from buying or selling any security directly from or to any portfolio company of a fund managed by the Investment Manager or one of its affiliates. Nonetheless, the Fund may under certain circumstances purchase any such portfolio company's loans or securities in the secondary market, which could create a conflict for the Investment Manager between the interests of the Fund and the portfolio company, in that the ability of the Investment Manager to recommend actions in the best interest of the Fund might be impaired. The 1940 Act also prohibits certain “joint” transactions with certain of the Fund's affiliates (which could include other abrdn-managed Funds), which could be deemed to include certain types of investments, or restructuring of investments, in the same portfolio company (whether at the same or different times). These limitations may limit the scope of investment opportunities that would otherwise be available to the Fund. The Board has approved policies and procedures reasonably designed to monitor potential conflicts of interest. The Board will review these procedures and any conflicts that may arise. The Investment Manager or its respective members, officers, directors, employees, principals or affiliates may come into possession of material, non-public information. The possession of such information may limit the ability of the Fund to buy or sell a security or otherwise to participate in an investment opportunity. Situations may occur where the Fund could be disadvantaged because of the investment activities conducted by Investment Manager for other clients, and the Investment Manager will not employ information barriers with regard to its operations on behalf of its registered and private funds, or other accounts. In certain circumstances, employees of the Investment Manager may serve as board members or in other capacities for portfolio or potential portfolio companies, which could restrict the Fund's ability to trade in the securities of such companies.
Inflation Risk [Member]
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]
Risk [Text Block]		Inflation Risk Inflation risk is the risk that the purchasing power of assets or income from investment will be less in the future as inflation decreases the value of money. To the extent that inflation occurs, it will reduce the real value of dividends paid by the Fund and the Fund’s common stock. Most emerging market countries, in particular, have experienced substantial, and in some periods extremely high and volatile, rates of inflation. Inflation and rapid fluctuations in inflation rates have had and may continue to have very negative effects on economies and securities markets globally. In an attempt to control inflation, wage and price controls have been imposed at times in certain countries.
Management Risk [Member]
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]
Risk [Text Block]		Management Risk The Fund is subject to management risk because it is an actively managed portfolio. The Fund's successful pursuit of its investment objective depends upon the Investment Manager's ability to find and exploit  market inefficiencies with respect to undervalued securities and identify companies experiencing a change in dividend policy, including the announcement of restructuring initiatives or special dividends. Such situations occur infrequently and sporadically and may be difficult to predict, and may not result in a favorable pricing opportunity that allows the Investment Manager to fulfill the Fund's investment objective. The Investment Manger's security selections and other investment decisions might produce losses or cause the Fund to underperform when compared to other funds with similar investment goals. If one or more key individuals leave the employ of the Investment Manager, the Investment Manager may not be able to hire qualified replacements, or may require an extended time to do so. This could prevent the Fund from achieving its investment objective.
Issuer Risk [Member]
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]
Risk [Text Block]		Issuer Risk The value of an issuer's securities that are held in the Fund's portfolio may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer's goods and services.
Country Or Regional Focus Risk [Member]
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]
Risk [Text Block]		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 [Member]
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]
Risk [Text Block]		India Investing Risk Political, economic, social and other factors in India may adversely affect the Fund’s performance. 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. 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. There is also the possibility of nationalization, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, political changes, government regulation, social instability, sectarian violence or diplomatic developments (including war or terrorist attacks). Religious and border disputes persist in India. The Indian government has confronted separatist movements in several Indian states. Additionally, India has experienced hostilities with neighboring countries, such as Pakistan and China. The longstanding dispute with Pakistan over the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir remains unresolved. 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 the trade policies of 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 are over 20 recognized stock exchanges in India. 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. 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. 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. 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, broker strikes, and restrictions on trading certain securities that, if they occur again in the future, could affect the market price and liquidity of the Indian securities in which the Fund invests. 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. 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, in addition to limits on the ability to invest in certain industries, on behalf of all of the sub-accounts for which it is investing, and by each individual sub-account, subject to certain exceptions. 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. 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. 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 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. 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 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.
Investments In Other Investment Companies [Member]
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]
Risk [Text Block]		Investments in Other Investment Companies 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 and rules under 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 the expenses of the underlying investment funds.
Foreign Currency Risk [Member]
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]
Risk [Text Block]		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 [Member]
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]
Risk [Text Block]		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 [Member]
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]
Risk [Text Block]		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.
Sector Risk [Member]
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]
Risk [Text Block]		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, decreased liquidity in credit markets, and bank failures. The impact of more stringent capital requirements, recent or future failure 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 [Member]
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]
Risk [Text Block]		Market Discount Risk Shares of closed-end investment companies frequently trade at a discount from NAV. Continued development of alternative vehicles for investing in essential asset companies may contribute to reducing or eliminating any premium or may result in the Fund's common shares trading at a discount. The risk that the Fund's common shares may trade at a discount is separate from the risk of a decline in the Fund's NAV as a result of investment activities. Whether shareholders will realize a gain or loss for federal income tax purposes upon the sale of their common shares depends upon whether the market value of the common shares at the time of sale is above or below the shareholder's basis in such common shares, taking into account transaction costs, and it is not directly dependent upon the Fund's NAV. Because the market price of the Fund's common shares 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 Fund's control, the Fund cannot predict whether its common shares will trade at, below or above the NAV, or at, below or above the public offering price for the Fund's common shares.
Non Diversified Status [Member]
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]
Risk [Text Block]		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 [Member]
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]
Risk [Text Block]		High Yield Securities Risk To the extent that the Fund invests in high yield/high risk and unrated debt, it may adversely affect the Fund’s performance. Investments in high-yield bonds are speculative and issuers of these securities are generally considered to be less financially secure and less able to repay interest and principal than issuers of investment-grade securities. Prices of high-yield bonds tend to be very volatile. These securities are less liquid than investment-grade debt securities and may be difficult to price or sell, particularly in times of negative sentiment toward high-yield securities. The Fund's investments in lower rated securities may involve the following specific risks: greater risk of loss due to default because of the increased likelihood that adverse economic or company specific events will make the issuer unable to pay interest and/or principal when due; wider price fluctuations due to changing interest rates and/or adverse economic and business developments; and greater risk of loss due to declining credit quality.
Leverage Risk [Member]
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]
Risk [Text Block]		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, 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 NAV 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 [Member]
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]
Risk [Text Block]		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 Other Restricted Securities And Initial Public Offerings Risk [Member]
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]
Risk [Text Block]		Private Placements, Other Restricted Securities and IPOs Risk The Fund is permitted to invest in privately held companies and companies that only recently began to trade publicly. Restricted securities that are determined to be illiquid may not exceed the Fund’s limit on investments in illiquid securities. 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”). Since the offering is not registered with the SEC, investors in a private placement have less protection under the federal securities laws against improper practices than investors in registered securities. 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 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. Many private placement securities are issued by companies that are not required to file periodic financial reports, leading to challenges in evaluating the company’s overall business prospects and gauging how the investment is likely to perform over time. The more limited financial information and lack of publicly available prices likely require the Fund to determine a fair value for such investments. The fair valuation process involves a significant amount of judgment and the fair value prices determined for the Fund could differ from those of other market participants because there is less reliable objective data available An initial public offering ("IPO"), which marks the debut of a company’s stock on a public stock exchange, results in greater available financing for the company and more information available to evaluate the company’s investment prospects. Investments in a company before its IPO may occur when there is generally little publicly available information at the time of the Fund’s investment. As such, the Investment Manager’s ability to evaluate a pre-IPO company will be limited. There can be no assurance that the information that the Investment Manager does obtain with respect to any investment is reliable. Pre-IPO companies may have limited financial resources, shorter operating histories, more asset concentration risk, narrower product lines and smaller market shares than larger business, which tend to render such pre-IPO companies more vulnerable to competitors’ actions and market conditions, as well as general economic downturns. Pre-IPO companies are more likely to depend on the efforts of a single individual or small group of individuals and the death, disability, resignation, or termination of one of those individuals could significantly impact the Fund’s investment. The inability of one of these portfolio companies to complete an IPO within its anticipated timeframe may negatively impact the value of the Fund’s investment. In addition, companies that only recently began to publicly trade tend to have limited products and customers, may not be fully prepared for the additional oversight and regulation that results, and do not have a trading history to assess how the stock has behaved during various market cycles.
Foreign Custody [Member]
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]
Risk [Text Block]		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 [Member]
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]
Risk [Text Block]		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 in varying degrees. Depending on the relationship of such market price to the conversion price in the terms of the convertible security, convertible securities are also subject to the same types of market and issuer risks that may negatively affect 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 [Member]
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]
Risk [Text Block]		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. In addition, the issuers of depositary receipts may discontinue issuing new depositary receipts and withdraw existing depositary receipts at any time, which may result in costs and delays in the distribution of the underlying assets to the Fund and may negatively impact the Fund’s performance.
Valuation Risk [Member]
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]
Risk [Text Block]		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.
Cybersecurity Risk [Member]
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]
Risk [Text Block]		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 limited to, Fund accountants, custodians, sub-custodians, transfer agents and financial intermediaries) to suffer data breaches, data corruption or lose operational functionality. Furthermore, the Fund may be an appealing target for cybersecurity threats such as hackers and malware.
[1] Based on average shares outstanding.

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