Aberdeen Japan Equity Fund, INC. Announces Distribution Payment and Approval of Elective Stock Distribution Policy
PHILADELPHIA, PA / ACCESSWIRE / March 9, 2022 / Aberdeen Japan Equity Fund, Inc. (NYSE:JEQ) (the "Fund"), a closed-end equity fund, announced today that it will pay a distribution of US $0.15 per share on March 31, 2022 to all stockholders of record as of March 24, 2022 (ex-dividend date March 23, 2022).
The Fund's distribution policy (the "Distribution Policy") is to pay quarterly distributions at an annual rate, set once a year, that is a percentage of the average daily NAV for the previous three months as of the month-end prior to declaration. In December 2021, the Board determined the rolling distribution rate to be 6.5% for the 12-month period commencing with the distribution payable in March 2022. The Distribution Policy is subject to regular review by the Board. The Distribution Policy seeks to provide investors with a stable quarterly distribution out of current income, supplemented by realized capital gains and, to the extent necessary, paid-in capital.
The Board of Directors also approved that under the Distribution Policy, effective with the quarterly distribution payable in June 2022, distributions will be paid in newly issued shares of common stock of the Fund to all shareholders who have not otherwise elected to receive cash.
Shareholders may request to be paid their quarterly distributions in cash instead of shares of common stock by providing advance notice to the bank, brokerage or nominee who holds their shares if the shares are in "street name" or by filling out in advance an election card received from Computershare Investor Services if the shares are in registered form. To receive the quarterly distribution payable in June 2022 in cash instead of shares of common stock, the bank, brokerage or nominee who holds the shares must advise the Depository Trust Company as to their full and fractional share requirements by June 17, 2022 and written notification for the election of cash by registered shareholders must be received by Computershare Investor Services prior to June 17, 2022.
Under the amended policies, shares of common stock will be issued at the lower of the net asset value ("NAV") per share or the market price per share with a floor for the NAV of not less than 95% of the market price.
The quarterly distribution announced today and payable in March 2022 will be paid in cash to all shareholders not enrolled in the Dividend Reinvestment Plan.
Shareholders should not draw any conclusions about a Fund's investment performance from the terms of the Fund's distribution policy.
Distribution Payment Details
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 table sets forth the estimated amounts of the sources of the distribution for purposes of Section 19 of the 1940 Act and the Rules adopted thereunder. The table has been computed based on generally accepted accounting principles. The table includes estimated amounts and percentages for the distribution to be paid on March 31, 2022 as well as the estimated cumulative distributions declared fiscal year to date (11/01/2021 - 02/28/2022), 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 composition of the distributions may vary from quarter to quarter because the estimated composition may be impacted by future income, expenses and realized gains and losses on securities and currencies.
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 | ||||
JEQ | $0.1500 | $0.0255 | 17% | - | - | $0.1245 | 83% | - | - |
Estimated Amounts of Fiscal Year to Date Cumulative Distributions per Share | |||||||||
Fund | Fiscal Year* to Date Distribution Amount | Net Investment Income | Net Realized Short-Term Gains** | Net Realized Long-Term Gains | Return of Capital | ||||
JEQ | $1.1305 | $0.1922 | 17% | - | - | $0.9383 | 83% | - | - |
**includes currency gains
Shareholders should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of the Fund's current distributions or from the terms of the distribution policy (the "Distribution Policy").
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 Fund's 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 02/28/2022¹ | Current Fiscal Period's Annualized Distribution Rate on NAV² | Cumulative Total Return on NAV¹ | Cumulative Distribution Rate on NAV² |
JEQ | 5.10% | 11.91%3 | -13.85% | 11.91% |
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 February 28, 2022.
3 Due to the Fund's annual distribution policy in place in 2021, the percentage shown represents the per share annual distribution of income and capital divided by the Fund's NAV as of February 28, 2022.
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.
In the United States, abrdn is the marketing name for the following affiliated, registered investment advisers: abrdn Inc., Aberdeen Asset Managers Ltd., abrdn Australia Limited, abrdn Asia Ltd., Aberdeen Capital Management, LLC, abrdn ETFs Advisors LLC and Aberdeen Standard 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.
If you If you wish to receive this information electronically, please contact [email protected].
For More Information Contact:
abrdn Inc.
Investor Relations
1-800-522-5465
[email protected]
SOURCE: Aberdeen Japan Equity Fund, Inc.
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