SEC Form N-CSR filed by abrdn Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund Inc.
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number: | 811-05770 | |
Exact name of registrant as specified in charter: | abrdn Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund, Inc. | |
Address of principal executive offices: | 1900 Market Street, Suite 200 | |
Philadelphia, PA 19103 | ||
Name and address of agent for service: | Sharon Ferrari | |
abrdn Inc. | ||
1900 Market Street, Suite 200 | ||
Philadelphia, PA 19103 | ||
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: | 1-800-522-5465 | |
Date of fiscal year end: | December 31 | |
Date of reporting period: | December 31, 2023 |
Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.
Equity Income Fund, Inc. (AEF)
1 | Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investment returns and principal value will fluctuate and shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. Net asset value return data include investment management fees, custodial charges and administrative fees (such as Director and legal fees) and assumes the reinvestment of all distributions. |
2 | Assuming the reinvestment of all dividends and distributions. |
3 | The Fund’s total return is based on the reported NAV for each financial reporting period end and may differ from what is reported on the Financial Highlights due to financial statement rounding or adjustments. |
4 | The MSCI Emerging Markets Index (Net Daily Total Return) (the "Index") captures large and mid-cap representation across 24 Emerging Markets (EM) countries. With 1,441 constituents, the Index covers approximately 85% of the free float-adjusted market capitalization in each country. EM countries in the Index are: Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Korea, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and United Arab Emirates. The Index is calculated net of withholding taxes to which the Fund is generally subject. The Index is unmanaged and has been provided for comparison purposes only. No fees or expenses are reflected. You cannot invest directly in an index. Index performance is not an indication of the performance of the Fund itself. For complete Fund performance, please visit http://www.abrdnaef.com. |
1 |
2 |
1 | The MSCI Emerging Markets Index is an unmanaged index considered representative of stocks of developing countries. Indexes are unmanaged and have been provided for comparison purposes only. No fees or expenses are reflected. You cannot invest directly in an index. |
2 | The MSCI World Index is an unmanaged index considered representative of stocks of developed countries. |
3 | A milder economic slowdown compared to a recession. |
4 | "Green shoots" is a term used to describe signs of economic recovery or positive data during an economic downturn. |
5 | Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investment returns and principal value will fluctuate and shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. Net asset value return data include investment management fees, custodial charges and administrative fees (such as Director and legal fees) and assumes the reinvestment of all distributions. |
6 | As of December 31, 2023. |
3 |
4 |
1 Year | 3 Years | 5 Years | 10 Years | |
Net Asset Value (NAV) | 11.32% | -7.72% | 1.33% | -0.03% |
Market Price | 7.12% | -8.06% | 1.23% | -0.61% |
MSCI Emerging Markets Index (Net Daily Total Return) | 9.83% | -5.08% | 3.68% | 2.66% |
Custom AEF Emerging Markets Index1 | 9.83% | -5.08% | 3.68% | 0.74% |
1 | The Custom Index reflects the returns of the MSCI Emerging Markets Latin America Index (Net Daily Total Return) for periods prior to April 27, 2018 and the returns of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index (Net Daily Total Return) for periods subsequent to April 30, 2018. The indices and time periods for the Custom Index align with the strategies utilized and benchmark for the Fund during the same time periods. |
5 |
6 |
Sectors | |
Information Technology | 32.2% |
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment | 14.4% |
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals | 7.3% |
IT Services | 5.4% |
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components | 3.2% |
Communications Equipment | 1.3% |
Software | 0.6% |
Financials | 24.2% |
Consumer Discretionary | 11.7% |
Materials | 8.8% |
Industrials | 8.5% |
Consumer Staples | 8.4% |
Communication Services | 8.1% |
Energy | 3.8% |
Utilities | 2.5% |
Health Care | 2.3% |
Real Estate | 1.9% |
Private Equity | 0.1% |
Short-Term Investment | 1.3% |
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets | (13.8%) |
100.0% |
Countries | |
India | 18.1% |
Hong Kong | 16.9% |
Taiwan | 16.7% |
South Korea | 11.8% |
China | 8.5% |
Brazil | 6.4% |
Mexico | 4.7% |
Indonesia | 4.2% |
United States | 4.2% |
Saudi Arabia | 3.0% |
Luxembourg | 2.7% |
Vietnam | 2.4% |
South Africa | 2.3% |
Netherlands | 2.2% |
Other, less than 2% each | 8.4% |
Short-Term Investment | 1.3% |
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets | (13.8%) |
100.0% |
7 |
Currency Composition | |
Indian Rupee | 18.1% |
Hong Kong Dollar | 17.4% |
New Taiwan Dollar | 16.7% |
South Korean Won | 11.8% |
U.S. Dollar | 11.2% |
Chinese Yuan Renminbi | 8.0% |
Brazilian Real | 6.4% |
Euro Currency | 5.4% |
South African Rand | 4.4% |
Indonesian Rupiah | 4.2% |
Saudi Arabia Riyal | 3.8% |
Viet Nam Dong | 2.4% |
Mexican Peso | 1.9% |
Polish Zloty | 0.8% |
Russian Ruble | - |
Short-Term Investment | 1.3% |
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets | (13.8%) |
100.0% |
Top Ten Holdings | |
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd., ADR | 10.1% |
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. | 7.3% |
Tencent Holdings Ltd. | 5.6% |
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. | 3.8% |
HDFC Bank Ltd. | 3.4% |
SBI Life Insurance Co. Ltd. | 2.5% |
Power Grid Corp. of India Ltd. | 2.5% |
FPT Corp. | 2.4% |
Bank Rakyat Indonesia Persero Tbk. PT | 2.2% |
MediaTek, Inc. | 2.1% |
Amounts listed as “–” are 0% or round to 0%. |
8 |
Shares | Value | ||
COMMON STOCKS—101.6% | |||
AUSTRALIA—1.2% | |||
Materials—1.2% | |||
BHP Group Ltd. | 103,781 | $ 3,572,557 | |
BRAZIL—4.7% | |||
Consumer Staples—1.8% | |||
Raia Drogasil SA | 912,224 | 5,522,239 | |
Energy—0.9% | |||
PRIO SA | 285,897 | 2,704,490 | |
Financials—1.4% | |||
B3 SA - Brasil Bolsa Balcao | 1,370,841 | 4,101,515 | |
Information Technology—0.6% | |||
TOTVS SA | 254,807 | 1,767,174 | |
Total Brazil | 14,095,418 | ||
CHILE—0.6% | |||
Industrials—0.6% | |||
Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile SA, ADR | 29,360 | 1,768,059 | |
CHINA—8.5% | |||
Consumer Discretionary—2.1% | |||
China Tourism Group Duty Free Corp. Ltd., A Shares (Stock Connect)(a) | 121,300 | 1,431,836 | |
China Tourism Group Duty Free Corp. Ltd., H Shares (Hong Kong)(b) | 147,400 | 1,449,107 | |
Midea Group Co. Ltd., A Shares (Stock Connect)(a) | 447,686 | 3,449,486 | |
6,330,429 | |||
Consumer Staples—1.9% | |||
Kweichow Moutai Co. Ltd., A Shares (Stock Connect)(a) | 24,097 | 5,865,738 | |
Health Care—1.7% | |||
Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co. Ltd., A Shares (Stock Connect)(a) | 122,555 | 5,025,347 | |
Industrials—2.8% | |||
Centre Testing International Group Co. Ltd., A Shares (Stock Connect)(a) | 545,000 | 1,091,573 | |
NARI Technology Co. Ltd., A Shares (Stock Connect)(a) | 1,259,011 | 3,961,152 | |
Sungrow Power Supply Co. Ltd., A Shares (Stock Connect)(a) | 272,300 | 3,362,028 | |
8,414,753 | |||
Total China | 25,636,267 | ||
FRANCE—1.9% | |||
Energy—1.9% | |||
TotalEnergies SE | 86,200 | 5,861,512 | |
HONG KONG—16.9% | |||
Communication Services—5.6% | |||
Tencent Holdings Ltd. | 448,700 | 16,940,601 | |
Consumer Discretionary—6.1% | |||
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. | 1,185,500 | 11,419,370 | |
ANTA Sports Products Ltd. | 167,000 | 1,623,123 | |
Li Auto, Inc., A Shares(c) | 160,400 | 3,005,273 | |
Tongcheng Travel Holdings Ltd.(c) | 889,600 | 1,647,582 | |
Zhongsheng Group Holdings Ltd. | 332,000 | 795,217 | |
18,490,565 | |||
Consumer Staples—0.3% | |||
Budweiser Brewing Co. APAC Ltd.(b) | 534,000 | 1,001,090 | |
Financials—3.0% | |||
AIA Group Ltd. | 662,400 | 5,764,787 | |
Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing Ltd. | 94,832 | 3,252,762 | |
9,017,549 | |||
Health Care—0.6% | |||
Wuxi Biologics Cayman, Inc.(b)(c) | 496,500 | 1,877,889 |
9 |
Shares | Value | ||
COMMON STOCKS (continued) | |||
HONG KONG (continued) | |||
Real Estate—1.3% | |||
China Resources Land Ltd. | 1,051,500 | $ 3,772,803 | |
Total Hong Kong | 51,100,497 | ||
INDIA—18.1% | |||
Communication Services—0.7% | |||
Info Edge India Ltd. | 36,435 | 2,244,838 | |
Consumer Discretionary—1.3% | |||
Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. | 31,857 | 3,941,490 | |
Consumer Staples—1.9% | |||
Hindustan Unilever Ltd. | 176,064 | 5,624,591 | |
Financials—7.5% | |||
Cholamandalam Investment & Finance Co. Ltd. | 99,442 | 1,504,342 | |
HDFC Bank Ltd. | 499,623 | 10,226,699 | |
Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. | 151,356 | 3,460,499 | |
SBI Life Insurance Co. Ltd.(b) | 441,925 | 7,602,768 | |
22,794,308 | |||
Information Technology—1.6% | |||
Infosys Ltd. | 263,942 | 4,884,901 | |
Materials—2.0% | |||
UltraTech Cement Ltd. | 47,704 | 6,006,057 | |
Real Estate—0.6% | |||
Godrej Properties Ltd.(c) | 79,679 | 1,919,929 | |
Utilities—2.5% | |||
Power Grid Corp. of India Ltd. | 2,602,985 | 7,397,005 | |
Total India | 54,813,119 | ||
INDONESIA—4.2% | |||
Communication Services—0.9% | |||
Telkom Indonesia Persero Tbk. PT | 11,336,800 | 2,908,411 | |
Consumer Discretionary—0.1% | |||
Sepatu Bata Tbk. PT(c)(d) | 36,207,500 | 331,575 | |
Financials—3.2% | |||
Bank Negara Indonesia Persero Tbk. PT | 8,212,700 | 2,865,737 | |
Bank Rakyat Indonesia Persero Tbk. PT | 18,025,186 | 6,699,379 | |
9,565,116 | |||
Total Indonesia | 12,805,102 | ||
KAZAKHSTAN—1.6% | |||
Financials—1.6% | |||
Kaspi.KZ JSC, GDR(b) | 35,766 | 3,290,472 | |
Kaspi.KZ JSC, GDR | 17,422 | 1,602,824 | |
4,893,296 | |||
LUXEMBOURG—2.7% | |||
Industrials—1.3% | |||
InPost SA(c) | 285,970 | 3,959,390 | |
Information Technology—1.4% | |||
Globant SA(c) | 17,345 | 4,127,763 | |
Total Luxembourg | 8,087,153 | ||
MEXICO—4.7% | |||
Consumer Staples—1.7% | |||
Fomento Economico Mexicano SAB de CV, ADR | 39,737 | 5,179,718 | |
Financials—1.9% | |||
Grupo Financiero Banorte SAB de CV, Class O | 568,743 | 5,730,636 |
10 |
Shares | Value | ||
COMMON STOCKS (continued) | |||
MEXICO (continued) | |||
Industrials—1.1% | |||
Grupo Aeroportuario del Centro Norte SAB de CV, ADR | 39,941 | $ 3,380,207 | |
Total Mexico | 14,290,561 | ||
NETHERLANDS—2.2% | |||
Information Technology—2.2% | |||
ASM International NV | 7,166 | 3,729,720 | |
ASML Holding NV | 3,759 | 2,837,622 | |
6,567,342 | |||
PERU—0.6% | |||
Financials—0.6% | |||
Credicorp Ltd. | 12,526 | 1,878,023 | |
POLAND—0.8% | |||
Consumer Staples—0.8% | |||
Dino Polska SA(b)(c) | 21,161 | 2,477,642 | |
RUSSIA—0.0% | |||
Energy—0.0% | |||
LUKOIL PJSC(d)(e) | 106,851 | – | |
Novatek PJSC(d)(e) | 314,849 | – | |
– | |||
Financials—0.0% | |||
Sberbank of Russia PJSC(d)(e) | 730,234 | – | |
Total Russia | – | ||
SAUDI ARABIA—3.0% | |||
Energy—1.0% | |||
Saudi Arabian Oil Co.(b) | 331,760 | 2,920,865 | |
Financials—2.0% | |||
Al Rajhi Bank | 260,286 | 6,034,994 | |
Total Saudi Arabia | 8,955,859 | ||
SOUTH AFRICA—2.3% | |||
Financials—1.3% | |||
Sanlam Ltd. | 959,001 | 3,816,606 | |
Materials—1.0% | |||
Anglo American Platinum Ltd. | 57,333 | 3,009,248 | |
Total South Africa | 6,825,854 | ||
SOUTH KOREA—2.7% | |||
Industrials—2.7% | |||
HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co. Ltd. | 34,586 | 3,234,818 | |
Samsung Engineering Co. Ltd.(c) | 222,243 | 4,978,525 | |
8,213,343 | |||
TAIWAN—16.7% | |||
Information Technology—16.7% | |||
Accton Technology Corp. | 238,000 | 4,045,234 | |
Chroma ATE, Inc. | 637,000 | 4,410,277 | |
Delta Electronics, Inc. | 190,000 | 1,937,702 | |
Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. Ltd. | 998,000 | 3,395,430 | |
MediaTek, Inc. | 193,000 | 6,372,841 | |
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd., ADR | 1,591,000 | 30,501,917 | |
50,663,401 | |||
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES—0.8% | |||
Consumer Discretionary—0.8% | |||
Americana Restaurants International PLC | 2,907,448 | 2,488,776 |
11 |
Shares | Value | ||
COMMON STOCKS (continued) | |||
UNITED KINGDOM—0.9% | |||
Materials—0.9% | |||
Mondi PLC | 134,607 | $ 2,658,050 | |
UNITED STATES—4.1% | |||
Communication Services—0.9% | |||
Autohome, Inc., ADR | 95,327 | 2,674,876 | |
Consumer Discretionary—1.3% | |||
MercadoLibre, Inc.(c) | 2,482 | 3,900,562 | |
Materials—1.9% | |||
Southern Copper Corp. | 67,673 | 5,824,615 | |
Total United States | 12,400,053 | ||
VIETNAM—2.4% | |||
Information Technology—2.4% | |||
FPT Corp. | 1,856,905 | 7,349,180 | |
Total Common Stocks | 307,401,064 | ||
PREFERRED STOCKS—10.8% | |||
BRAZIL—1.7% | |||
Financials—1.7% | |||
Itausa SA(c) | 2,428,085 | 5,177,658 | |
SOUTH KOREA—9.1% | |||
Information Technology—7.3% | |||
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Preferred Shares | 455,700 | 21,958,589 | |
Materials—1.8% | |||
LG Chem Ltd. | 22,989 | 5,517,256 | |
Total South Korea | 27,475,845 | ||
Total Preferred Stocks | 32,653,503 | ||
PRIVATE EQUITY—0.1% | |||
GLOBAL*—0.0% | |||
Private Equity —0.0% | |||
Emerging Markets Ventures I LP, H Shares(c)(d)(f)(g)(h)(i) | 11,723,413(j) | 8,324 | |
ISRAEL—0.0% | |||
Private Equity —0.0% | |||
BPA Israel Ventures LLC(c)(d)(f)(g)(h)(i)(k) | 3,349,175(j) | 12,559 | |
UNITED STATES—0.1% | |||
Private Equity —0.1% | |||
Neurone Ventures II, L.P.(c)(d)(f)(g)(i)(k) | 1,522,368(j) | 17,233 | |
Telesoft Partners II LP(c)(d)(f)(i)(k) | 2,400,000(j) | 162,480 | |
179,713 | |||
Total Private Equity | 200,596 | ||
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENT—1.3% | |||
State Street Institutional U.S. Government Money Market Fund, Premier Class, 5.32%(l) | 4,102,967 | 4,102,967 | |
Total Short-Term Investment | 4,102,967 | ||
Total Investments (Cost $351,228,352)—113.8% | 344,358,130 | ||
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets—(13.8%) | (41,857,299) | ||
Net Assets—100.0% | $302,500,831 |
12 |
(a) | China A Shares. These shares are issued in local currency, traded in the local stock markets and are held through either a Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor (QFII) license or the Shanghai or Shenzhen Hong-Kong Stock Connect program. |
(b) | Denotes a security issued under Regulation S or Rule 144A. |
(c) | Non-income producing security. |
(d) | Illiquid security. |
(e) | Level 3 security. See Note 2(a) of the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements. |
(f) | Fair Value is determined pursuant to procedures approved by the Fund’s Board of Trustees. Unless otherwise noted, securities are valued by applying valuation factors to the exchange traded price. See Note 2(a) of the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements for inputs used. |
(g) | Considered in liquidation by the Fund's Adviser. |
(h) | As of December 31, 2023, the aggregate amount of open commitments for the Fund is $2,806,782. |
(i) | Restricted security, not readily marketable. Notes to Financial Statements. |
(j) | Represents contributed capital. |
(k) | Fund of Fund investment. |
(l) | Registered investment company advised by State Street Global Advisors. The rate shown is the 7 day yield as of December 31, 2023. |
* | “Global” is the percentage attributable to the Fund’s holdings in a private equity fund which invests globally and is not categorized under a particular country. |
ADR | American Depositary Receipt |
GDR | Global Depositary Receipt |
PLC | Public Limited Company |
13 |
Assets | |
Investments, at value (cost $347,125,385) | $ 340,255,163 |
Short-term investments, at value (cost $4,102,967) | 4,102,967 |
Foreign currency, at value (cost $155,055) | 152,806 |
Receivable for investments sold | 53,178 |
Interest and dividends receivable | 541,422 |
Tax reclaim receivable | 53,107 |
Prepaid expenses in connection with revolving credit facility (Note 7) | 5,396 |
Prepaid expenses | 58,115 |
Total assets | 345,222,154 |
Liabilities | |
Revolving credit facility payable (Note 7) | 35,000,000 |
Distributions payable | 4,567,660 |
Deferred foreign capital gains tax (Note 2h) | 2,098,719 |
Investment advisory fees payable (Note 3) | 633,202 |
Director fees payable | 59,062 |
Administration fees payable (Note 3) | 57,924 |
Interest payable on revolving credit facility | 43,734 |
Investor relations fees payable (Note 3) | 30,821 |
Other accrued expenses | 230,201 |
Total liabilities | 42,721,323 |
Net Assets | $302,500,831 |
Composition of Net Assets | |
Common stock (par value $0.001 per share) (Note 5) | $ 50,752 |
Paid-in capital in excess of par | 401,622,695 |
Accumulated loss | (99,172,616) |
Net Assets | $302,500,831 |
Net asset value per share based on 50,751,778 shares issued and outstanding | $5.96 |
14 |
Net Investment Income | |
Investment Income: | |
Dividends and other income (net of foreign withholding taxes of $1,110,811) | $ 9,922,538 |
Total investment income | 9,922,538 |
Expenses: | |
Investment management fee (Note 3) | 2,663,966 |
Directors' fees and expenses | 254,250 |
Administration fee (Note 3) | 241,396 |
Custodian’s fees and expenses | 188,189 |
Legal fees and expenses | 109,246 |
Investor relations fees and expenses (Note 3) | 101,438 |
Independent auditors’ fees and tax expenses | 76,110 |
Reports to shareholders and proxy solicitation | 72,485 |
Insurance expense | 62,729 |
Transfer agent’s fees and expenses | 33,425 |
Miscellaneous | 101,839 |
Total operating expenses, excluding interest expense | 3,905,073 |
Interest expense (Note 7) | 2,843,807 |
Total operating expenses before reimbursed/waived expenses | 6,748,880 |
Expenses waived (Note 3) | (284,122) |
Net expenses | 6,464,758 |
Net Investment Income | 3,457,780 |
Net Realized/Unrealized Gain/(Loss) from Investments and Foreign Currency Related Transactions: | |
Net realized gain/(loss) from: | |
Investment transactions (including $305,257 foreign capital gains tax) (Note 2h) | (15,302,136) |
Foreign currency transactions | (148,869) |
(15,451,005) | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on: | |
Investments (including change in deferred foreign capital gains tax of $788,515) (Note 2h) | 41,122,663 |
Foreign currency translation | (2,641) |
41,120,022 | |
Net realized and unrealized gain from investments and foreign currencies | 25,669,017 |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | $29,126,797 |
15 |
For the Year Ended December 31, 2023 | For the Year Ended December 31, 2022 | |
Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets: | ||
Operations: | ||
Net investment income | $3,457,780 | $6,144,846 |
Net realized loss from investments and foreign currency transactions | (15,451,005) | (21,228,855) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on investments and foreign currency translation | 41,120,022 | (110,994,235) |
Net increase/(decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 29,126,797 | (126,078,244) |
Distributions to Shareholders From: | ||
Distributable earnings | (3,046,603) | (6,410,460) |
Return of capital | (16,746,591) | (15,920,323) |
Net decrease in net assets from distributions | (19,793,194) | (22,330,783) |
Change in net assets | 9,333,603 | (148,409,027) |
Net Assets: | ||
Beginning of year | 293,167,228 | 441,576,255 |
End of year | $302,500,831 | $293,167,228 |
16 |
Cash flows from operating activities: | |
Net increase/(decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | $ 29,126,797 |
Adjustments to reconcile net increase in net assets resulting from operations to net cash provided by operating activities: | |
Investments purchased | (88,449,074) |
Investments sold and principal repayments | 124,915,351 |
Increase in short-term investments, excluding foreign government | (88,854) |
Increase in interest, dividends and other receivables | (383,458) |
Decrease in prepaid expenses | 19,125 |
Decrease in interest payable on revolving credit facility | (55,887) |
Increase in accrued investment advisory fees payable | 131,544 |
Decrease in other accrued expenses | (43,440) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation of investments | (41,122,663) |
Net change in unrealized depreciation on foreign currency translations | 2,641 |
Net realized loss on investments transactions | 15,302,136 |
Net cash provided by operating activities | 39,354,218 |
Cash flows from financing activities: | |
Repayment of revolving credit facility | (20,000,000) |
Distributions paid to shareholders | (19,793,194) |
Net cash used in financing activities | (39,793,194) |
Effect of exchange rate on cash | (13,757) |
Net change in cash | (452,733) |
Unrestricted and restricted cash and foreign currency, beginning of year | 605,539 |
Unrestricted and restricted cash and foreign currency, end of year | $152,806 |
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: | |
Cash paid for interest and fees on borrowing | $2,899,694 |
17 |
For the Fiscal Years Ended December 31, | |||||
2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
PER SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE(a): | |||||
Net asset value per common share, beginning of year | $5.78 | $8.70 | $9.41 | $8.66 | $7.37 |
Net investment income | 0.07 | 0.12 | 0.16 | 0.23 | 0.23 |
Net realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments and foreign currency transactions | 0.50 | (2.60) | (0.34) | 0.79 | 1.21 |
Total from investment operations applicable to common shareholders | 0.57 | (2.48) | (0.18) | 1.02 | 1.44 |
Distributions to common shareholders from: | |||||
Net investment income | (0.06) | (0.13) | (0.22) | (0.27) | (0.17) |
Return of capital | (0.33) | (0.31) | (0.31) | – | – |
Total distributions | (0.39) | (0.44) | (0.53) | (0.27) | (0.17) |
Capital Share Transactions: | |||||
Impact due to tender offer | – | – | – | – | 0.02 |
Net asset value per common share, end of year | $5.96 | $5.78 | $8.70 | $9.41 | $8.66 |
Market price, end of year | $5.11 | $5.15 | $7.92 | $8.16 | $7.62 |
Total Investment Return Based on(b): | |||||
Market price | 7.12% | (29.76%) | 3.27% | 11.42% | 22.80% |
Net asset value | 11.32% | (28.23%) | (1.63%) | 13.06% | 20.25% |
Ratio to Average Net Assets/Supplementary Data: | |||||
Net assets, end of year (000 omitted) | $302,501 | $293,167 | $441,576 | $477,473 | $439,330 |
Average net assets applicable to common shareholders (000 omitted) | $301,746 | $335,898 | $492,593 | $390,881 | $442,354 |
Total expenses, net of fee waivers | 2.14% | 1.65% | 1.31% | 1.44% | 1.54% |
Total expenses, excluding fee waivers | 2.24% | 1.74% | 1.27% | 1.44% | 1.57% |
Total expenses, excluding taxes and interest and revolving credit facility expenses, net of fee waivers | 1.20% | 1.20% | 1.21% | 1.27% | 1.19% |
Net Investment income | 1.15% | 1.83% | 1.61% | 2.96% | 2.92% |
Portfolio turnover | 25% | 32% | 50% | 21% | 13% |
Senior securities (loan facility) outstanding (000 omitted) | $35,000 | $55,000 | $55,000 | $40,900 | $40,900 |
Asset coverage ratio on revolving credit facility at year end | 964% | 633% | 903% | 1,267% | 1,174% |
Asset coverage per $1,000 on revolving credit facility at year end(c) | $9,643 | $6,330 | $9,029 | $12,674 | $11,742 |
(a) | Based on average shares outstanding. |
(b) | Total investment return based on market value is calculated assuming that shares of the Fund’s common stock were purchased at the closing market price as of the beginning of the period, dividends, capital gains and other distributions were reinvested as provided for in the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan and then sold at the closing market price per share on the last day of the period. The computation does not reflect any sales commission investors may incur in purchasing or selling shares of the Fund. The total investment return based on the net asset value is similarly computed except that the Fund’s net asset value is substituted for the closing market value. |
(c) | Asset coverage ratio is calculated by dividing net assets plus the amount of any borrowings, for investment purposes by the amount of the Revolving Credit Facility. |
18 |
December 31, 2023
19 |
December 31, 2023
Security Type | Standard Inputs |
Foreign equities utilizing a fair value factor | Depositary receipts, indices, futures, sector indices/ETFs, exchange rates, and local exchange opening and closing prices of each security. |
Investments, at Value | Level 1 – Quoted Prices | Level 2 – Other Significant Observable Inputs | Level 3 – Significant Unobservable Inputs | Total |
Assets | ||||
Investments in Securities | ||||
Common Stocks | $42,704,240 | $264,696,824 | $– | $307,401,064 |
Preferred Stocks | – | 32,653,503 | – | 32,653,503 |
Short-Term Investment | 4,102,967 | – | – | 4,102,967 |
Total | $46,807,207 | $297,350,327 | $– | $344,157,534 |
Private Equity(a) | 200,596 | |||
Total Investments in Securities | $344,358,130 |
(a) | Private Equity investments are measured at the net asset valuations provided by the underlying funds as a practical expedient and have not been classified in the fair value levels. The fair value amounts presented are intended to permit reconciliation to the total investment amount presented in the Portfolio of Investments. |
20 |
December 31, 2023
21 |
December 31, 2023
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December 31, 2023
23 |
December 31, 2023
Security(a) | Acquisition Date(s) | Commitment | Cost | Fair Value at December 31, 2023 | Percent of Net Assets | Cumulative Distributions Received(b) |
BPA Israel Ventures LLC(c) | 10/05/00-12/09/05 | $4,600,000 | $1,670,809 | $12,559 | 0.01 | $844,787 |
Emerging Markets Ventures I LP(c) | 01/22/98-01/10/06 | 13,100,000 | 3,935,953 | 8,324 | 0.00 | 12,787,187 |
Neurone Ventures II, L.P. | 11/24/00-12/21/10 | 1,500,000 | 5,407 | 17,233 | 0.01 | 1,616,842 |
Telesoft Partners II LP | 07/14/00-03/01/10 | 2,400,000 | 871,987 | 162,480 | 0.05 | 1,694,311 |
(a) | Telesoft Partners II QP, L.P. is still considered an active investment by the Fund’s Adviser. Neurone Ventures II, L.P., BPA Israel Ventures, LLC, and Emerging Markets Ventures I, L.P. are in liquidation. |
(b) | Cumulative Distributions include distributions received from Income, realized gains or return of capital. Distributions from return of capital will reduce the cost basis of the security. |
(c) | BPA Israel Ventures LLC has open commitments of $1,250,825. Emerging Markets Ventures I, L.P. has open commitments of $1,555,957. These investments are in liquidation status, as indicated on the Portfolio of Investments. As such, future contributions are expected to be limited. |
24 |
December 31, 2023
25 |
December 31, 2023
26 |
December 31, 2023
Tax Cost of Securities | Unrealized Appreciation | Unrealized Depreciation | Net Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) |
$348,305,559 | $63,520,597 | $(67,468,026) | $(3,947,429) |
December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | |
Distributions paid from: | ||
Ordinary Income | $3,046,603 | $6,410,460 |
Return of Capital | 16,746,591 | 15,920,323 |
Total tax character of distributions | $19,793,194 | $22,330,783 |
Undistributed Ordinary Income | $- |
Undistributed Long-Term Capital Gains | - |
Total undistributed earnings | $- |
Capital loss carryforward | $(93,129,392)* |
Other currency gains | - |
Other Temporary Differences | - |
Unrealized Appreciation/(Depreciation) | (6,043,224)** |
Total accumulated earnings/(losses) – net | $(99,172,616) |
* | On December 31, 2023, the Fund had a net capital loss carryforward of $(93,129,392) which will be available to offset like amounts of any future taxable gains. The Fund is permitted to carry forward capital losses for an unlimited period and capital losses that are carried forward will retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses. The breakdown of capital loss carryforwards are as follows: |
27 |
December 31, 2023
Amounts | Expires |
$28,908,994 | Unlimited (Short—Term) |
64,220,398 | Unlimited (Long—Term) |
28 |
abrdn Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund, Inc.:
February 28, 2024
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47 |
Name, Address and Year of Birth | Position(s) Held with the Fund | Term of Office and Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) During at Least the Past Five Years | Number of Registered Investment Companies ("Registrants") consisting of Investment Portfolios ("Portfolios") in Fund Complex* Overseen by Board Members | Other Directorships Held by Board Member** |
Independent Board Members | |||||
C. William Maher c\o abrdn Inc. 1900 Market Street Suite 200 Philadelphia, PA 19103 Year of Birth: 1961 | Class II Director | Term expires 2025; Director since 2018 | Mr. Maher is a Co-founder of Asymmetric Capital Management LLC from May 2018 to September 2020. Formerly Chief Executive Officer of Santa Barbara Tax Products Group from October 2014 to April 2016. | 7 Registrants consisting of 7 Portfolios | None. |
Rahn K. Porter c\o abrdn Inc. 1900 Market Street Suite 200 Philadelphia, PA 19103 Year of Birth: 1954 | Class I Director | Term expires 2024; Director since 2018 | Mr. Porter is the Principal at RPSS Enterprises (consulting and advisory) since 2019 and is an independent director for Centurylink Investment Management Company. He was the Chief Financial and Administrative Officer of The Colorado Health Foundation from 2013 to 2021. Mr. Porter was formerly the CFO of Telenet, Inc. and Nupremis, Inc. He also served as Treasurer of Qwest Communications, Inc. and MediaOne Group. Mr Porter was previously a board member and audit chair for BlackRidge Financial Inc., and Community First Bancshares, Inc. | 2 Registrants consisting of 20 Portfolios | Director of CenturyLink Investment Management Company since 2006, Director of BlackRidge Financial Inc. from 2004 to 2019. |
Steven N. Rappaport c\o abrdn Inc. 1900 Market Street Suite 200 Philadelphia, PA 19103 Year of Birth: 1948 | Chair of the Fund; Class III Director | Term expires 2026; Director since 2003 | Mr. Rappaport has been a Partner of Lehigh Court, LLC (private investment firm) and RZ Capital LLC (private investment firm) since 2004. | 1 Registrant consisting of 1 Portfolio | Director of iCAD, Inc. (a surgical and Medical instruments and apparatus company) from 2006 to 2018; Director of Credit Suisse Funds (9) since 1999; Director of Credit Suisse Asset Management Income Fund, Inc. since 2005; and Director of Credit Suisse NEXT Fund since 2013; and Director of Credit Suisse Park View Fund until 2016. |
48 |
Name, Address and Year of Birth | Position(s) Held with the Fund | Term of Office and Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) During at Least the Past Five Years | Number of Registered Investment Companies ("Registrants") consisting of Investment Portfolios ("Portfolios") in Fund Complex* Overseen by Board Members | Other Directorships Held by Board Member** |
Nancy Yao c\o abrdn Inc. 1900 Market Street Suite 200 Philadelphia, PA 19103 Year of Birth: 1972 | Class I Director | Term expires 2024; Director since 2018 | Ms. Yao is a lecturer on accounting and governance at Yale University. She is also a strategic consultant. Ms. Yao was the President of the Museum of Chinese in America from 2015 until 2023. Prior to that, she served as the executive director of the Yale-China Association and managing director of the corporate program at the Council on Foreign Relations. Prior to her work in non-profit, Ms. Yao launched the Asia coverage at the Center for Financial Research and Analysis (currently known as RiskMetrics), served as the inaugural director of policy research of Goldman Sachs’ Global Markets Institute, and was an investment banker at Goldman Sachs (Asia) L.L.C. Ms. Yao is a board member of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. | 8 Registrants consisting of 8 Portfolios | None. |
* | As of the most recent fiscal year end, the Fund Complex has a total of 18 Registrants with each Board member serving on the Boards of the number of Registrants listed. Each Registrant in the Fund Complex has one Portfolio except for two Registrants that are open-end funds, abrdn Funds and abrdn ETFs, which each have multiple Portfolios. The Registrants in the Fund Complex are as follows: abrdn Asia-Pacific Income Fund, Inc., abrdn Global Income Fund, Inc., abrdn Australia Equity Fund, Inc., abrdn Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund, Inc., The India Fund, Inc., abrdn Japan Equity Fund, Inc., abrdn Income Credit Strategies Fund, abrdn Global Dynamic Dividend Fund, abrdn Global Premier Properties Fund, abrdn Total Dynamic Dividend Fund, abrdn Global Infrastructure Income Fund, abrdn National Municipal Income Fund, abrdn Healthcare Investors, abrdn Life Sciences Investors, abrdn Healthcare Opportunities Fund, abrdn World Healthcare Fund, abrdn Funds (19 Portfolios), and abrdn ETFs (3 Portfolios). |
** | Current directorships (excluding Fund Complex) as of December 31, 2023 held in (1) any other investment companies registered under the 1940 Act, (2) any company with a class of securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”) or (3) any company subject to the requirements of Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. |
49 |
Name, Address and Year of Birth | Position(s) Held with the Fund | Term of Office* and Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) During at Least the Past Five Years |
Joseph Andolina** c\o abrdn Inc. 1900 Market Street Suite 200 Philadelphia, PA 19103 Year of Birth: 1978 | Chief Compliance Officer & Vice President – Compliance | Since 2017 | Currently, Chief Risk Officer – Americas for abrdn Inc. and serves as the Chief Compliance Officer for abrdn Inc. Prior to joining the Risk and Compliance Department, he was a member of abrdn Inc.'s Legal Department, where he served as US Counsel since 2012. |
Katherine Corey** c\o abrdn Inc. 1900 Market Street Suite 200 Philadelphia, PA 19103 Year of Birth: 1985 | Vice President | Since 2023 | Currently, Senior Legal Counsel, Product Governance US for abrdn Inc. Ms. Corey joined abrdn Inc. as U.S. Counsel in 2013. |
Sharon Ferrari** c\o abrdn Inc. 1900 Market Street Suite 200 Philadelphia, PA 19103 Year of Birth: 1977 | Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer | Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer Since 2023; Fund Officer Since 2011 | Currently, Director, Product Management for abrdn Inc. Ms. Ferrari joined abrdn Inc. as a Senior Fund Administrator in 2008. |
Katie Gebauer** c\o abrdn Inc. 1900 Market Street Suite 200 Philadelphia, PA 19103 Year of Birth: 1986 | Vice President | Since 2023 | Currently, Chief Compliance Officer—ETFs and serves as the Chief Compliance Officer for abrdn ETFs Advisors LLC. Ms. Gebauer joined abrdn Inc. in 2014. |
Alan Goodson** c\o abrdn Inc. 1900 Market Street Suite 200 Philadelphia, PA 19103 Year of Birth: 1974 | Vice President | Since 2009 | Currently, Executive Director and Head of Product & Client Solutions – Americas for abrdn Inc., overseeing Product Management & Governance, Product Development and Client Solutions for registered and unregistered investment companies in the U.S., Brazil and Canada. Mr. Goodson is Director and Vice President of abrdn Inc. and joined abrdn Inc. in 2000. |
Heather Hasson** c\o abrdn Inc. 1900 Market Street Suite 200 Philadelphia, PA 19103 Year of Birth: 1982 | Vice President | Since 2012 | Currently, Senior Product Solutions and Implementation Manager, Product Governance US for abrdn Inc. Ms. Hasson joined the company in November 2006. |
Robert Hepp** c\o abrdn Inc. 1900 Market Street Suite 200 Philadelphia, PA 19103 Year of Birth: 1986 | Vice President | Since 2022 | Currently, Senior Product Governance Manager – US for abrdn Inc. Mr. Hepp joined abrdn Inc. as a Senior Paralegal in 2016. |
Joanne Irvine** c/o abrdn Investments Limited 280 Bishopsgate London, EC2M 4AG Year of Birth: 1968 | Vice President | Since 2009 | Currently, Deputy Head of Global Emerging Markets Equity Team at abrdn. Ms. Irvine joined the company in 1996 in a group development role. |
Devan Kaloo** c/o abrdn Investments Limited 280 Bishopsgate London, EC2M 4AG Year of Birth: 1972 | Vice President | Since 2009 | Currently, Global Head of Equities for abrdn. Mr. Kaloo joined abrdn in 2000 as part of the Asian equities team in Singapore. |
50 |
Name, Address and Year of Birth | Position(s) Held with the Fund | Term of Office* and Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) During at Least the Past Five Years |
Megan Kennedy** c\o abrdn Inc. 1900 Market Street Suite 200 Philadelphia, PA 19103 Year of Birth: 1974 | Vice President and Secretary | Since 2009 | Currently, Senior Director, Product Governance for abrdn Inc. Ms. Kennedy joined abrdn Inc. in 2005. |
Andrew Kim** c\o abrdn Inc. 1900 Market Street Suite 200 Philadelphia, PA 19103 Year of Birth: 1983 | Vice President | Since 2022 | Currently, Senior Product Governance Manager – US for abrdn Inc. Mr. Kim joined abrdn Inc. as a Product Manager in 2013. |
Brian Kordeck** c\o abrdn Inc. 1900 Market Street Suite 200 Philadelphia, PA 19103 Year of Birth: 1978 | Vice President | Since 2022 | Currently, Senior Product Manager – US for abrdn Inc. Mr. Kordeck joined abrdn Inc. as a Senior Fund Administrator in 2013. |
Michael Marsico** c\o abrdn Inc. 1900 Market Street Suite 200 Philadelphia, PA 19103 Year of Birth: 1980 | Vice President | Since 2022 | Currently, Senior Product Manager – US for abrdn Inc. Mr. Marsico joined abrdn Inc. as a Fund Administrator in 2014. |
Christian Pittard** c/o abrdn Investments Limited 280 Bishopsgate London, EC2M 4AG Year of Birth: 1973 | Chief Executive Officer and President | Since 2009 | Currently, Head of Closed End Funds & Managing Director - Corporate Finance. Mr. Pittard joined abrdn from KPMG in 1999. |
Nick Robinson** c/o abrdn Investments Limited 280 Bishopsgate London, EC2M 4AG Year of Birth: 1978 | Vice President | Since 2011 | Currently, Senior Investment Director on the Global Emerging Markets Equity team at abrdn since 2016. Previously, Mr. Robinson was a Director and Head of Brazilian Equities, of abrdn’s operations in Sao Paulo, Brazil from 2009 to 2016. |
Lucia Sitar** c\o abrdn Inc. 1900 Market Street Suite 200 Philadelphia, PA 19103 Year of Birth: 1971 | Vice President | Since 2009 | Currently, Vice President and Head of Product Management and Governance for abrdn Inc. since 2020. Previously, Ms. Sitar was Managing U.S. Counsel for abrdn Inc. She joined abrdn Inc. as U.S. Counsel in 2007. |
* | Officers hold their positions with the Fund until a successor has been duly elected and qualifies. Officers are elected annually at a meeting of the Fund Board. |
** | Each officer may hold officer position(s) in one or more other funds which are part of the Fund Complex. |
51 |
Item 2. Code of Ethics.
(a) | As of December 31, 2023, abrdn Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund, Inc. (the “Fund” or the “Registrant”) had adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to the Registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the Registrant or a third party (the “Code of Ethics”). |
(b) | Definitional. |
(c) | There have been no amendments, during the period covered by this report, to a provision of the Code of Ethics. |
(d) | During the period covered by this report, there were no waivers to the provisions of the Code of Ethics. |
(e) | Not applicable |
(f) | A copy of the Code of Ethics has been filed as an exhibit to this Form N-CSR. |
Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.
The Registrant's Board of Directors has determined that C. William Maher, a member of the Board of Directors’ Audit Committee, possesses the attributes, and has acquired such attributes through means, identified in instruction 2 of Item 3 to Form N-CSR to qualify as an “audit committee financial expert,” and has designated Mr. Maher as the Audit Committee’s financial expert. Mr. Maher is considered to be an “independent” director, as such term is defined in paragraph (a)(2) of Item 3 to Form N-CSR.
Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
(a) – (d) Below is a table reflecting the fee information requested in Items 4(a) through (d):
Fiscal Year Ended | (a) Audit Fees1 | (b) Audit-Related Fees2 | (c) Tax Fees3 | (d) All Other Fees4 | ||||||||||||
December 31, 2023 | $ | 68,500 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||||||
Percentage approved pursuant to pre-approval exception5 | 0 | % | 0 | % | 0 | % | 0 | % | ||||||||
December 31, 2022 | $ | 67,370 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||||||
Percentage approved pursuant to pre-approval exception5 | 0 | % | 0 | % | 0 | % | 0 | % |
1 “Audit Fees” are the aggregate fees billed for professional services for the audit of the Fund’s annual financial statements and services provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.
2 “Audit Related Fees” are the aggregate fees billed for assurance and related services reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of financial statements that are not reported under “Audit Fees”. These fees include offerings related to the Fund’s common shares.
3 “Tax Fees” are the aggregate fees billed for professional services for tax advice, tax compliance, and tax planning. These fees include: federal and state income tax returns, review of excise tax distribution calculations and federal excise tax return.
4 “All Other Fees” are the aggregate fees billed for products and services other than “Audit Fees”, “Audit-Related Fees” and “Tax Fees”.
5 Pre-approval exception under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X. The pre-approval exception for services provided directly to the Fund waives the pre-approval requirement for services other than audit, review or attest services if: (A) the aggregate amount of all such services provided constitutes no more than 5% of the total amount of revenues paid by the Fund to its accountant during the fiscal year in which the services are provided; (B) the Fund did not recognize the services as non-audit services at the time of the engagement; and (C) the services are promptly brought to the Audit Committee’s attention, and the Committee (or its delegate) approves the services before the audit is completed.
(e)(1) | The Registrant’s Audit Committee (the “Committee”) has adopted a Charter that provides that the Committee shall annually select, retain or terminate, and recommend to the Independent Directors for their ratification, the selection, retention or termination, the Registrant’s independent auditor and, in connection therewith, to evaluate the terms of the engagement (including compensation of the independent auditor) and the qualifications and independence of the independent auditor, including whether the independent auditor provides any consulting, auditing or tax services to the Registrant’s investment adviser (the “Adviser”) or any sub-adviser, and to receive the independent auditor’s specific representations as to their independence, delineating all relationships that may affect the independent auditor’s independence, including the disclosures required by PCAOB Rule 3526 or any other applicable auditing standard. PCAOB Rule 3526 requires that, at least annually, the auditor: (1) disclose to the Committee in writing all relationships between the auditor and its related entities and the Registrant and its related entities that in the auditor’s professional judgment may reasonably be thought to bear on independence; (2) confirm in the letter that, in its professional judgment, it is independent of the Registrant within the meaning of the Securities Acts administered by the SEC; and (3) discuss the auditor’s independence with the audit committee. The Committee is responsible for actively engaging in a dialogue with the independent auditor with respect to any disclosed relationships or services that may impact the objectivity and independence of the independent auditor and for taking, or recommending that the full Board take, appropriate action to oversee the independence of the independent auditor. The Committee Charter also provides that the Committee shall review in advance, and consider approval of, any and all proposals by Management or the Adviser that the Registrant, the Adviser or their affiliated persons, employ the independent auditor to render “permissible non-audit services” to the Registrant and to consider whether such services are consistent with the independent auditor’s independence. “Permissible non-audit services” include any professional services, including tax services, provided to the Registrant by the independent auditor, other than those provided to the Registrant in connection with an audit or a review of the financial statements of the Registrant. Permissible non-audit services may not include: (i) bookkeeping or other services related to the accounting records or financial statements of the Registrant; (ii) financial information systems design and implementation; (iii) appraisal or valuation services, fairness opinions or contribution-in-kind reports; (iv) actuarial services; (v) internal audit outsourcing services; (vi) management functions or human resources; (vii) broker or dealer, investment adviser or investment banking services; (viii) legal services and expert services unrelated to the audit; and (ix) any other service the PCAOB determines, by regulation, is impermissible. Pre-approval by the Committee of any permissible non-audit services is not required so long as: (i) the aggregate amount of all such permissible non-audit services provided to the Registrant constitutes not more than 5% of the total amount of revenues paid by the Registrant to its auditor during the fiscal year in which the permissible non-audit services are provided; (ii) the permissible non-audit services were not recognized by the Registrant at the time of the engagement to be non-audit services; and (iii) such services are promptly brought to the attention of the Committee and approved by the Committee or its Delegate(s) prior to the completion of the audit. The Committee may delegate to one or more of its members (“Delegates”) authority to pre-approve permissible non-audit services to be provided to the Registrant. Any pre-approval determination of a Delegate shall be presented to the full Committee at its next meeting. Any pre-approval determination of a Delegate shall be presented to the full Committee at its next meeting. Pursuant to this authority, the Registrant’s Committee delegates to the Committee Chair, subject to subsequent ratification by the full Committee, up to a maximum amount of $25,000, which includes any professional services, including tax services, provided to the Registrant by its independent registered public accounting firm other than those provided to the Registrant in connection with an audit or a review of the financial statements of the Registrant. The Committee shall communicate any pre-approval made by it or a Delegate to the Adviser, who will ensure that the appropriate disclosure is made in the Registrant’s periodic reports required by Section 30 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and other documents as required under the federal securities laws. |
(e)(2) | None of the services described in each of paragraphs (b) through (d) of this Item involved a waiver of the pre-approval requirement by the Audit Committee pursuant to Rule 2-01 (c)(7)(i)(C) of Regulation S-X. |
(f) | Not applicable. |
(g) | Non-Audit Fees |
The following table shows the amount of fees that KPMG LLP billed during the Fund’s last two fiscal years for non-audit services to the Registrant, and to the Adviser, and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Adviser that provides ongoing services to the Fund (“Affiliated Fund Service Provider”):
Fiscal Year Ended | Total
Non- Audit Fees Billed to Fund | Total Non-Audit Fees billed to Adviser and Affiliated Fund Service Providers (engagements related directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund) | Total Non-Audit Fees billed to Adviser and Affiliated Fund Service Providers (all other engagements) | Total | ||||||||||||
December 31, 2023 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 1,171,994 | $ | 1,171,994 | ||||||||
December 31, 2022 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 1,108,929 | $ | 1,108,929 |
“Non-Audit Fees billed to Fund” for both fiscal years represent “Tax Fees” and “All Other Fees” billed to Fund in their respective amounts from the previous table.
(h) | Not applicable. |
(i) | Not applicable. |
(j) | Not applicable. |
Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.
(a) | The Registrant has a separately-designated standing Audit Committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(58)(A)). |
As of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, the Audit Committee members were:
Rahn Porter
Nancy Yao
C. William Maher
Steven Rappaport
(b) | Not applicable. |
Item 6. Schedule of Investments.
(a) Included as part of the Report to Shareholders filed under Item 1 of this Form N-CSR.
(b) Not applicable.
Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Pursuant to the Registrant's Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures, the Registrant has delegated responsibility for its proxy voting to its Adviser, provided that the Registrant's Board of Directors has the opportunity to periodically review the Adviser's proxy voting policies and material amendments thereto.
The proxy voting policies of the Registrant are included herewith as Exhibit (c) and policies of the Adviser are included as Exhibit (d).
Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
(a)(1) PORTFOLIO MANAGER BIOGRAPHIES
The Fund is managed by abrdn’s Global Emerging Markets Equity team. The Global Emerging Markets Equity team works in a truly collaborative fashion; all team members have both portfolio management and research responsibilities. The team is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund. As of the date of filing this report, the following individuals have primary responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio:
Individual & Position | Past Business Experience |
Nick Robinson Senior Investment Director – Global Emerging Markets |
Nick Robinson is a Senior Investment Director on the Global Emerging Markets Equity Team at abrdn. Nick joined the company in 2000 and spent eight years on the North American Equities team, including three years based in the company‘s US offices. In 2008 he joined the Global Emerging Markets Equity team. Nick relocated to São Paulo in 2009 to start abrdn’s operations in Brazil. In 2016 he returned to London. Nick graduated with an MSc in Chemistry from Lincoln College, Oxford and is a CFA charterholder. |
Kristy Fong Senior Investment Director – Asian Equities |
Kristy Fong is a Senior Investment Director on the Asian equities team. Kristy joined the company in 2004 from UOB KayHian Pte Ltd where she was an Analyst. Kristy graduated with a BA (Hons) in Accountancy from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore and is a CFA charterholder. |
(a)(2) OTHER ACCOUNTS MANAGED BY PORTFOLIO MANAGERS.
The following chart summarizes information regarding other accounts for which each portfolio manager has day-to-day management responsibilities. Accounts are grouped into the following three categories: (1) registered investment companies; (2) other pooled investment vehicles; and (3) other accounts. To the extent that any of these accounts pay advisory fees that are based on account performance (“performance-based fees”), information on those accounts is provided separately. The figures in the chart below for the category of “registered investment companies” include the Fund. The “Other Accounts Managed” represents the accounts managed by the teams of which the portfolio manager is a member. The information in the table below is as of December 31, 2023.
Name of Portfolio Manager | Type of Accounts | Other Accounts Managed | Total Assets ($M) | Number of Accounts Managed for Which Advisory Fee is Based on Performance | Total Assets for Which Advisory Fee is Based on Performance ($M) | |||||||||||
Nick Robinson1 | Registered Investment Companies | 7 | $ | 4,105.89 | 0 | $ | 0 | |||||||||
Pooled Investment Vehicles | 18 | $ | 6,591.76 | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||||||||
Other Accounts | 20 | $ | 7,401.50 | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||||||||
Kristy Fong2 | Registered Investment Companies | 11 | $ | 4,948.84 | 0 | $ | 0 | |||||||||
Pooled Investment Vehicles | 68 | $ | 22,776.93 | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||||||||
Other Accounts | 60 | $ | 20,149.94 | 0 | $ | 0 |
1 Includes accounts managed by the Global Emerging Markets Equity team, of which the portfolio manager is a member.
2 Includes accounts managed by the Global Emerging Markets Equity team and Asian Equities team, of which the portfolio manager is a member.
POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
The Adviser and its affiliates (collectively referred to herein as “abrdn”) serve as investment advisers for multiple clients, including the Registrant and other investment companies registered under the 1940 Act and private funds (such clients are also referred to below as “accounts”). The portfolio managers’ management of “other accounts” may give rise to potential conflicts of interest in connection with their management of the Registrant’s investments, on the one hand, and the investments of the other accounts, on the other. The other accounts may have the same investment objective as the Registrant. Therefore, a potential conflict of interest may arise as a result of the identical investment objectives, whereby the portfolio manager could favor one account over another. However, the Adviser believes that these risks are mitigated by the fact that: (i) accounts with like investment strategies managed by a particular portfolio manager are generally managed in a similar fashion, subject to exceptions to account for particular investment restrictions or policies applicable only to certain accounts, differences in cash flows and account sizes, and similar factors; and (ii) portfolio manager personal trading is monitored to avoid potential conflicts. In addition, the Adviser has adopted trade allocation procedures that require equitable allocation of trade orders for a particular security among participating accounts.
In some cases, another account managed by the same portfolio manager may compensate Aberdeen based on the performance-based fees with qualified clients. The existence of such a performance-based fee may create additional conflicts of interest for the portfolio manager in the allocation of management time, resources and investment opportunities.
Another potential conflict could include instances in which securities considered as investments for the Registrant also may be appropriate for other investment accounts managed by the Adviser or its affiliates. Whenever decisions are made to buy or sell securities for the Registrant and one or more of the other accounts simultaneously, the Adviser may aggregate the purchases and sales of the securities and will allocate the securities transactions in a manner that it believes to be equitable under the circumstances. As a result of the allocations, there may be instances where the Registrant will not participate in a transaction that is allocated among other accounts. While these aggregation and allocation policies could have a detrimental effect on the price or amount of the securities available to the Registrant from time to time, it is the opinion of the Adviser that the benefits from the policies outweigh any disadvantage that may arise from exposure to simultaneous transactions. The Registrant has adopted policies that are designed to eliminate or minimize conflicts of interest, although there is no guarantee that procedures adopted under such policies will detect each and every situation in which a conflict arises.
With respect to non-discretionary model delivery accounts (including UMA accounts) and discretionary SMA accounts, abrdn Inc. will utilize a third party service provider to deliver model portfolio recommendations and model changes to the Sponsors. abrdn Inc. seeks to treat clients fairly and equitably over time, by delivering model changes to our service provider and investment instructions for our other discretionary accounts to our trading desk, simultaneously or approximately at the same time. The service provider will then deliver the model changes to each Sponsor on a when-traded, randomized full rotation schedule. All Sponsors will be included in the rotation schedule, including SMA and UMA.
UMA Sponsors will be responsible for determining how and whether to implement the model portfolio or model changes and implementation of any client specific investment restrictions. The Sponsors are solely responsible for determining the suitability of the model portfolio for each model delivery client, executing trades and seeking best execution for such clients.
As it relates to SMA accounts, abrdn Inc. will be responsible for managing the account on the basis of each client’s financial situation and objectives, the day to day investment decisions, best execution, accepting or rejecting client specific investment restrictions and performance. The SMA Sponsors will collect suitability information and will provide a summary questionnaire for our review and approval or rejection. For dual contract SMAs, abrdn Inc. will collect a suitability assessment from the client, along with the Sponsor suitability assessment. Our third party service provider will monitor client specific investment restrictions on a day to day basis. For SMA accounts, model trades will be traded by the Sponsor or may be executed through a “step-out transaction,”- or traded away- from the client’s Sponsor if doing so is consistent with abrdn’s obligation to obtain best execution. When placing trades through Sponsor Firms (instead of stepping them out), we will generally aggregate orders where it is possible and in the client’s best interests. In the event we are not comfortable that a Sponsor can obtain best execution for a specific security and trading away is infeasible, we may exclude the security from the model.
Trading costs are not covered by the Wrap Program fee and may result in additional costs to the client. In some instances, step-out trades are executed without any additional commission, mark-up, or mark-down, but in many instances, the executing broker-dealer may impose a commission or a mark-up or mark-down on the trade. Typically, the executing broker will embed the added costs into the price of the trade execution, making it difficult to determine and disclose the exact added cost to clients. In this instance, these additional trading costs will be reflected in the price received for the security, not as a separate commission, on trade confirmations or on account statements. In determining best execution for SMA accounts, abrdn Inc. takes into consideration that the client will not pay additional trading costs or commission if executing with the Sponsor.
While UMA accounts are invested in the same strategies as and may perform similarly to SMA accounts, there are expected to be performance differences between them. There will be performance dispersions between UMAs and other types of accounts because abrdn does not have discretion over trading and there may be client specific restrictions for SMA accounts.
abrdn may have already commenced trading for its discretionary client accounts before the model delivery accounts have executed abrdn's recommendations. In this event, trades placed by the model delivery clients may be subject to price movements, particularly with large orders or where securities are thinly traded, that may result in model delivery clients receiving less favorable prices than our discretionary clients. abrdn has no discretion over transactions executed by model delivery clients and is unable to control the market impact of those transactions.
Timing delays or other operational factors associated with the implementation of trades may result in non-discretionary and model delivery clients receiving materially different prices relative to other client accounts. In addition, the constitution and weights of stocks within model portfolios may not always be exactly aligned with similar discretionary accounts. This may create performance dispersions within accounts with the same or similar investment mandate.
(a)(3)
DESCRIPTION OF COMPENSATION STRUCTURE
abrdn’s remuneration policies are designed to support its business strategy as a leading international asset manager. The objective is to attract, retain and reward talented individuals for the delivery of sustained, superior returns for abrdn’s clients and shareholders. abrdn operates in a highly competitive international employment market, and aims to maintain its strong track record of success in developing and retaining talent.
abrdn’s policy is to recognize corporate and individual achievements each year through an appropriate annual bonus scheme. The bonus is a single, fully discretionary variable pay award. The aggregate value of awards in any year is dependent on the group’s overall performance and profitability. Consideration is also given to the levels of bonuses paid in the market. Individual awards, which are payable to all members of staff, are determined by a rigorous assessment of achievement against defined objectives.
The variable pay award is composed of a mixture of cash and a deferred award, the portion of which varies based on the size of the award. Deferred awards are by default abrdn plc shares, with an option to put up to 50% of the deferred award into funds managed by abrdn. Overall compensation packages are designed to be competitive relative to the investment management industry.
Base Salary
abrdn’s policy is to pay a fair salary commensurate with the individual’s role, responsibilities and experience, and having regard to the market rates being offered for similar roles in the asset management sector and other comparable companies. Any increase is generally to reflect inflation and is applied in a manner consistent with other abrdn employees; any other increases must be justified by reference to promotion or changes in responsibilities.
Annual Bonus
The Remuneration Committee determines the key performance indicators that will be applied in considering the overall size of the bonus pool. In line with practices amongst other asset management companies, individual bonuses are not subject to an absolute cap. However, the aggregate size of the bonus pool is dependent on the group’s overall performance and profitability. Consideration is also given to the levels of bonuses paid in the market. Individual awards are determined by a rigorous assessment of achievement against defined objectives, and are reviewed and approved by the Remuneration Committee.
abrdn has a deferral policy which is intended to assist in the retention of talent and to create additional alignment of executives’ interests with abrdn’s sustained performance and, in respect of the deferral into funds managed by abrdn, to align the interest of portfolio managers with our clients.
Staff performance is reviewed formally at least once a year. The review process evaluates the various aspects that the individual has contributed to abrdn, and specifically, in the case of portfolio managers, to the relevant investment team. Discretionary bonuses are based on client service, asset growth and the performance of the respective portfolio manager. Overall participation in team meetings, generation of original research ideas and contribution to presenting the team externally are also evaluated.
In the calculation of a portfolio management team’s bonus, abrdn takes into consideration investment matters (which include the performance of funds, adherence to the company investment process, and quality of company meetings) as well as more subjective issues such as team participation and effectiveness at client presentations through key performance indicator scorecards. To the extent performance is factored in, such performance is not judged against any specific benchmark and is evaluated over the period of a year - January to December. The pre- or after-tax performance of an individual account is not considered in the determination of a portfolio manager’s discretionary bonus; rather the review process evaluates the overall performance of the team for all of the accounts the team manages.
Portfolio manager performance on investment matters is judged over all of the accounts the portfolio manager contributes to and is documented in the appraisal process. A combination of the team’s and individual’s performance is considered and evaluated.
Although performance is not a substantial portion of a portfolio manager’s compensation, abrdn also recognizes that fund performance can often be driven by factors outside one’s control, such as (irrational) markets, and as such pays attention to the effort by portfolio managers to ensure integrity of our core process by sticking to disciplines and processes set, regardless of momentum and ‘hot’ themes. Short-terming is thus discouraged and trading-oriented managers will thus find it difficult to thrive in the abrdn environment. Additionally, if any of the aforementioned undue risks were to be taken by a portfolio manager, such trend would be identified via abrdn’s dynamic compliance monitoring system.
In rendering investment management services, the Adviser may use the resources of additional investment adviser subsidiaries of abrdn plc. These affiliates have entered into a memorandum of understanding (“MOU”) pursuant to which investment professionals from each affiliate may render portfolio management, research or trading services to abrdn clients. Each investment professional who renders portfolio management, research or trading services under a MOU or personnel sharing arrangement (“Participating Affiliate”) must comply with the provisions of the Advisers Act, the 1940 Act, the Securities Act of 1933, the Exchange Act, and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and the laws of states or countries in which the Adviser does business or has clients. No remuneration is paid by the Fund with respect to the MOU/personnel sharing arrangements.
(a)(4)
Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Registrant Beneficially Owned by the Portfolio Manager as of December 31, 2023 |
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Nick Robinson | None | |
Kristy Fong | None |
(b) Not applicable.
Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.
No such purchases were made by or on behalf of the Registrant during the period covered by the report.
Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
During the period ended December 31, 2023, there were no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the Registrant’s Board of Directors.
Item 11. Controls and Procedures.
(a) | The Registrant’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, have concluded that the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Act”) (17 CFR 270.30a-3(c)) are effective, as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of the report that includes the disclosure required by this paragraph, based on the evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a3(b)) and Rule 13a-15(b) or 15d-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (17 CFR 240.13a-15(b) or 240.15d15(b)). |
(b) | There were no changes in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(d))) that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. |
Item 12. Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies
Not applicable
Item 13. Recovery of Erroneously Awarded Compensation
Not appliable
Item 14. Exhibits.
(a)(1) | Code of Ethics of the Registrant for the period covered by this report as required pursuant to Item 2 of this Form N-CSR. |
(a)(2) | The certifications of the registrant as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Act are exhibits to this Form N-CSR. |
(a)(3) | Any written solicitation to purchase securities under Rule 23c-1 under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.23c-1) sent or given during the period covered by the report by or on behalf of the registrant to 10 or more persons. Not applicable. |
(a)(4) | Change in Registrant’s independent public accountant. Not applicable. |
(b) | The certifications of the registrant as required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the Act are exhibits to this Form N-CSR. |
(c) | Proxy Voting Policy of Registrant |
(d) | Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures of Adviser. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
abrdn Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund, Inc.
By: | /s/ Christian Pittard | |
Christian Pittard, | ||
Principal Executive Officer of | ||
abrdn Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund, Inc. | ||
Date: March 11, 2024 |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
By: | /s/ Christian Pittard | |
Christian Pittard, | ||
Principal Executive Officer of | ||
abrdn Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund, Inc. | ||
Date: March 11, 2024 |
By: | /s/ Sharon Ferrari | |
Sharon Ferrari, | ||
Principal Financial Officer of | ||
abrdn Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund, Inc. | ||
Date: March 11, 2024 |