SEC Form N-CSRS filed by abrdn Healthcare Investors Shares of Beneficial Interest
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: | 811-04889 |
Exact name of registrant as specified in charter: | abrdn Healthcare Investors |
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: | September 30 |
Date of reporting period: | March 31, 2024 |
Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.
(formerly, Tekla Healthcare Investors)
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. NAV return data include investment management fees, custodial charges and administrative fees (such as Trustee and legal fees) and assumes the reinvestment of all distributions. |
2 | Assuming the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. |
3 | The Fund’s total return is based on the reported 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 NASDAQ Biotechnology Index is an unmanaged stock market index made up of securities of NASDAQ-listed companies classified according to the Industry Classification Benchmark as either the Biotechnology or the Pharmaceutical industry. The S&P Composite 1500® Health Care Index is an unmanaged index that comprises those companies included in the S&P Composite 1500 that are classified as members of the GICS® Health Care sector. Indexes are unmanaged and have been provided for comparison purposes only. No fees or expenses are reflected. You cannot invest directly in an index. |
abrdn Healthcare Investors | 1 |
2 | abrdn Healthcare Investors |
• | Visit: https://www.abrdn.com/en-us/cefinvestorcenter |
• | Email: [email protected]; or |
• | Call: 1-800-522-5465 (toll free in the U.S.). |
Christian Pittard
President
abrdn Healthcare Investors | 3 |
4 | abrdn Healthcare Investors |
6 Months | 1 Year | 3 Years | 5 Years | 10 Years | |
Net Asset Value (NAV) | 11.29% | 8.63% | 1.58% | 6.74% | 6.11% |
Market Price | 14.18% | 5.54% | -3.14% | 5.32% | 4.36% |
80% Nasdaq Biotechnology Index, 20% S&P Composite 1500 Health Care Index | 13.21% | 9.79% | 0.84% | 6.91% | 7.01% |
Nasdaq Biotechnology Index | 12.49% | 8.28% | -1.34% | 5.51% | 6.62% |
abrdn Healthcare Investors | 5 |
Asset Allocation | |
Common Stocks | 88.7% |
Convertible Preferred Stocks | 6.4% |
Exchange-Traded Funds | 1.7% |
Milestone Interests | 1.7% |
Convertible Note | 0.1% |
Warrants | 0.0% |
Short-Term Investments | 1.5% |
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets | (0.1%) |
100.0% |
Industries | |
Biotechnology | 59.4% |
Pharmaceuticals | 18.6% |
Health Care Equipment & Supplies | 7.8% |
Life Sciences Tools & Services | 6.3% |
Health Care Providers & Services | 4.8% |
Exchange-Traded Funds | 1.7% |
Short-Term Investments | 1.5% |
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets | (0.1%) |
100.0% |
Top Ten Holdings | |
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 8.4% |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 8.1% |
Amgen, Inc. | 7.3% |
Gilead Sciences, Inc. | 5.6% |
AstraZeneca PLC, ADR | 3.6% |
Biogen, Inc. | 3.0% |
Eli Lilly & Co. | 2.6% |
AbbVie, Inc. | 2.1% |
Illumina, Inc. | 1.9% |
BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Inc. | 1.9% |
6 | abrdn Healthcare Investors |
abrdn Healthcare Investors | 7 |
8 | abrdn Healthcare Investors |
Assets | |
Investments in unaffiliated issuers, at value(cost $837,042,324) | $ 958,400,095 |
Investments in Affiliated Issuers, at value (cost $26,627,581) | 18,268,693 |
Short-term investments, at value (cost $15,245,505) | 15,245,505 |
Milestone interests, at value(cost $2,839,033) | 16,362,396 |
Foreign currency, at value (cost $56) | 54 |
Cash | 14,044 |
Receivable for investments sold | 15,886 |
Interest and dividends receivable | 352,236 |
Tax reclaim receivable | 13,787 |
Prepaid expenses | 111,835 |
Other assets (Note 2j) | 5,895 |
Total assets | 1,008,790,426 |
Liabilities | |
Investment advisory fees payable (Note 3) | 803,261 |
Administration fees payable (Note 3) | 74,098 |
Investor relations fees payable (Note 3) | 14,347 |
Trustee fees payable | 12,189 |
Other accrued expenses | 201,383 |
Total liabilities | 1,105,278 |
Commitments and Contingencies (Notes 8 & 10) | |
Net Assets | $1,007,685,148 |
Composition of Net Assets | |
Common stock (par value $0.010 per share) (Note 5) | $ 506,248 |
Paid-in capital in excess of par | 944,284,740 |
Distributable earnings | 62,894,160 |
Net Assets | $1,007,685,148 |
Net asset value per share based on 50,624,847 shares issued and outstanding | $19.90 |
abrdn Healthcare Investors | 9 |
Net Investment Income | |
Investment Income: | |
Dividends | $ 4,449,833 |
Interest and amortization of discount and premium and other income | 855,461 |
Total investment income | 5,305,294 |
Expenses: | |
Investment advisory fee (Note 3) | 4,563,063 |
Investor relations fees and expenses (Note 3) | 210,161 |
Administration fee (Note 3) | 95,072 |
Legal fees and expenses | 91,341 |
Reports to shareholders and proxy solicitation | 91,095 |
Custodian’s fees and expenses | 86,283 |
Trustees' fees and expenses | 76,320 |
Independent auditors’ fees and tax expenses | 72,250 |
Transfer agent’s fees and expenses | 32,199 |
Insurance expense | 18,632 |
Miscellaneous | 53,654 |
Net expenses | 5,390,070 |
Net Investment Loss | (84,776) |
Net Realized/Unrealized Gain/(Loss) from Investments and Foreign Currency Related Transactions: | |
Net realized gain/(loss) from: | |
Investments in unaffiliated issuers | (10,470,758) |
(10,470,758) | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on: | |
Investments | 104,107,443 |
Affiliated investments | (1,309,125) |
Milestone interests | 7,454,626 |
Foreign currency translation | 1 |
110,252,945 | |
Net realized and unrealized gain from investments and foreign currencies | 99,782,187 |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | $99,697,411 |
10 | abrdn Healthcare Investors |
For the Six-Month Period Ended March 31, 2024 (unaudited) | For the Year Ended September 30, 2023 | |
Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets: | ||
Operations: | ||
Net investment loss | $(84,776) | $(1,185,481) |
Net realized loss from investments | (10,470,758) | 90,148,865 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation on investments and foreign currency translation | 110,252,945 | (32,628,556) |
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations | 99,697,411 | 56,334,828 |
Distributions to Shareholders From: | ||
Distributable earnings | (42,775,131) | (77,428,664) |
Net decrease in net assets from distributions | (42,775,131) | (77,428,664) |
Reinvestment of dividends resulting in the issuance of 1,182,831 and 2,098,290 shares of common stock, respectively | 19,419,877 | 35,872,239 |
Change in net assets | 76,342,157 | 14,778,403 |
Net Assets: | ||
Beginning of period | 931,342,991 | 916,564,588 |
End of period | $1,007,685,148 | $931,342,991 |
abrdn Healthcare Investors | 11 |
For the Six-Month Period Ended March 31, | For the Fiscal Years Ended September 30, | |||||
2024 (unaudited)(a) | 2023 (b) | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
PER SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE(c): | ||||||
Net asset value per common share, beginning of period | $18.84 | $19.36 | $25.47 | $24.04 | $20.33 | $25.62 |
Net investment loss | (–)(d) | (0.02) | (0.08) | (0.14) | (0.05) | (0.07) |
Net realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments, interest rate swaps, futures contracts and foreign currency transactions | 1.92 | 1.11 | (4.20) | 3.63 | 5.50 | (3.46) |
Total from investment operations applicable to common shareholders | 1.92 | 1.09 | (4.28) | 3.49 | 5.45 | (3.53) |
Distributions to common shareholders from: | ||||||
Net investment income | (0.86) | – | (0.11) | (0.61) | (0.01) | (0.17) |
Net realized gains | – | (1.61) | (1.72) | (1.45) | (1.77) | (1.65) |
Total distributions | (0.86) | (1.61) | (1.83) | (2.06) | (1.78) | (1.82) |
Effect of Fund shares repurchased | – | – | – | – | 0.04 | 0.06 |
Net asset value per common share, end of period | $19.90 | $18.84 | $19.36 | $25.47 | $24.04 | $20.33 |
Market price, end of period | $16.86 | $15.55 | $17.28 | $25.57 | $20.62 | $18.34 |
Total Investment Return Based on(e): | ||||||
Market price | 14.18% | (1.24%) | (26.01%) | 34.64% | 23.38% | (12.88%) |
Net asset value | 11.23%(f) | 6.80% | (16.78%) | 15.03% | 29.77% | (12.74%) |
Ratio to Average Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders/Supplementary Data: | ||||||
Net assets applicable to common shareholders, end of period (000 omitted) | $1,007,685 | $931,343 | $916,565 | $1,156,902 | $1,054,696 | $870,847 |
Average net assets applicable to common shareholders (000 omitted) | $959,064 | $976,134 | $1,007,052 | $1,143,870 | $991,235 | $935,442 |
Total expenses | 1.12%(g) | 1.18% | 1.19% | 1.11% | 1.10% | 1.12% |
Net Investment loss | (0.02%)(g) | (0.12%) | (0.36%) | (0.54%) | (0.20%) | (0.31%) |
Portfolio turnover | 11%(h) | 43% | 41% | 69% | 52% | 48% |
(a) | Effective October 27, 2023, abrdn Inc. became the investment adviser of the Fund. Prior to October 27, 2023, the Fund was managed by Tekla Capital Management, LLC. |
(b) | Beginning with the year ended September 30, 2023, the Fund’s financial statements were audited by KPMG LLP. Previous years were audited by a different independent registered public accounting firm. |
(c) | Based on average shares outstanding. |
(d) | Less than $0.005 per share. |
(e) | 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. |
(f) | The total return shown above includes the impact of financial statement rounding of the NAV per share and/or financial statement adjustments. |
(g) | Annualized.See Notes to Financial Statements. |
12 | abrdn Healthcare Investors |
(h) | Not annualized. |
abrdn Healthcare Investors | 13 |
March 31, 2024
14 | abrdn Healthcare Investors |
March 31, 2024
abrdn Healthcare Investors | 15 |
March 31, 2024
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 | $893,395,867 | $209,193 | $212,755 | $893,817,815 |
Convertible Preferred Stocks | – | – | 64,605,939 | 64,605,939 |
Exchange-Traded Funds | 17,398,644 | – | – | 17,398,644 |
Milestone Interests | – | – | 16,362,396 | 16,362,396 |
Convertible Note | – | – | 846,390 | 846,390 |
Warrants | – | – | – | – |
Short-Term Investment | 15,245,505 | – | – | 15,245,505 |
Total Investments | $926,040,016 | $209,193 | $82,027,480 | $1,008,276,689 |
Other Assets | $– | $– | $5,895 | $5,895 |
Total Investment Assets | $926,040,016 | $209,193 | $82,033,375 | $1,008,282,584 |
16 | abrdn Healthcare Investors |
March 31, 2024
Rollforward of Level 3 Fair Value Measurements For the Six Months Ended March 31, 2024 | ||||||
Investments in Securities | Balance as of September 30, 2023 | Net Realized Gain (Loss) and Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | Net Purchases and conversions | Net Sales and conversions | Balance as of March 31, 2024 | Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) from Investments Held at March 31, 2024 |
Common Stocks | ||||||
Health Care Equipment & Supplies | $127,080 | $79,920 | $0 | $0 | $207,000 | $79,920 |
Health Care Providers & Services | 28,422 | (22,667) | 0 | 0 | 5,755 | (22,667) |
Pharmaceuticals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Convertible Note | ||||||
Pharmaceuticals | 846,390 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 846,390 | 0 |
Convertible Preferred Stocks | ||||||
Biotechnology | 33,873,762 | (2,749,600) | 1,580,473 | (736,744) | 31,967,891 | (2,998,273) |
Health Care Equipment & Supplies | 640,378 | (640,335) | 0 | 0 | 43 | (640,335) |
Pharmaceuticals | 19,489,580 | 8,081,088 | 5,067,336 | 0 | 32,638,005 | 8,081,088 |
Milestone Interests | ||||||
Biotechnology | 0 | 3,220 | 0 | (3,220) | 0 | 0 |
Pharmaceuticals | 14,021,704 | 6,661,336 | 0 | (4,320,644) | 16,362,396 | 5,071,682 |
Warrants | ||||||
Pharmaceuticals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Other Assets | 272 | 0 | 5,713 | 0 | 5,895 | 0 |
Total | $69,027,588 | $11,412,962 | $6,653,522 | $(5,060,608) | $82,033,375 | $9,571,415 |
Description | Fair Value at 03/31/24 | Valuation Technique (s) | Unobservable Inputs | Range | Weighted Average | Relationship Between FairValue and Input; if input value increases then Fair Value: |
Convertible Preferred Stocks | $64,605,939 | Transaction Price | (a) | N/A | N/A | Increase |
Milestone Interests | $16,362,396 | Probability adjusted value | Probability of events Timing of events | 0.00%-95.00% 0.00-12.25 years | 56.80% 4.68 years | Increase Decrease |
Common Stocks | $5,755 | Probability adjusted value | Probability of events Timing of events | 50.00%-100.00% 0.50-2.50 years | 50.00% 0.50 years | Increase Decrease |
$207,000 | Market approach | Liquidity Discount Revenue Allocation | 75.00% 10.00% | 75.00% 10.00% | Decrease Increase | |
Convertible Notes | $846,390 | Transaction Price | (a) | N/A | N/A | Increase |
Warrants | $0 | Transaction Price | (a) | N/A | N/A | Increase |
Other Assets | $5,895 | Probability adjusted value | Probability of events Timing of events | 5.00%-100.00% 0.25-7.75 years | 93.67% 0.75 years | Increase Decrease |
$82,033,375 |
abrdn Healthcare Investors | 17 |
March 31, 2024
(a) | The valuation technique used as a basis to approximate fair value of these investments is based on a transaction price or subsequent financing rounds. |
18 | abrdn Healthcare Investors |
March 31, 2024
abrdn Healthcare Investors | 19 |
March 31, 2024
20 | abrdn Healthcare Investors |
March 31, 2024
Payment Date | Shares Issued |
January 10, 2024 | 531,245 |
March 28, 2024 | 651,586 |
Value at September 30, 2023 | Cost of Purchases | Proceeds from Shares Sold | Realized Gain (Loss) | Change in Unrealized Appreciation/ Depreciation | Value at March 31, 2024 | Shares held at March 31, 2024 | Principal Amount at March 31, 2024 | Dividend Income | Capital Gains Distributions | |
Arkuda Therapeutics, Inc. | 536,494 | $3,211 | $0 | $0 | $613,357 | $1,153,062 | 3,398,254 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Curasen Therapeutics, Inc. | 9,574,786 | $11,394 | $0 | $0 | $(11,394) | $9,574,786 | 18,203,119 | $846,390 | $0 | 0 |
Invertex Ltd. | 6,886,344 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6,886,344 | 10,276,591 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Periotherapia Co. Ltd. | 2,565,589 | 0 | 0 | 0 | (1,911,088) | 654,501 | 346,666 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
19,563,213 | 14,605 | 0 | 0 | (1,309,125) | 18,268,693 | 32,224,630 | 846,390 | 0 | 0 |
abrdn Healthcare Investors | 21 |
March 31, 2024
Security | Acquisition Date | Cost | Carrying Value per Unit | Value |
Abcuro, Inc., Series B — Convertible Preferred Stock | 12/19/23, 08/10/23 | $2,925,628 | $5.49 | $2,925,000 |
Afferent Milestone Interest | 07/27/16 | 377,701 | 301,130.00 | 301,130 |
Amolyt Pharma SAS, Series C — Convertible Preferred Stock | 01/25/23 | 3,767,700 | 7.81 | 12,510,557 |
Amphivena Milestone Interest | 10/18/22 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 |
Arbor Biotechnologies, Inc., Series B — Convertible Preferred Stock | 10/29/21 | 1,367,052 | 16.57 | 1,359,999 |
Arkuda Therapeutics, Inc., Series B — Convertible Preferred Stock | 01/24/22,01/23/23 | 1,849,060 | 1.11 | 1,152,827 |
Arkuda Therapeutics, Inc., Series A — Convertible Preferred Stock | 05/16/19, 04/02/20, 07/15/21 | 5,611,240 | 0.00 | 235 |
Biotheryx, Inc., Series E — Convertible Preferred Stock | 05/19/21 | 6,814,111 | 0.97 | 1,254,308 |
Cercacor Laboratories, Inc. — Common Stock | 03/31/98* | 0 | 1.29 | 207,000 |
Chinook Therapeutics, Inc. CVR — Common Stock | 08/14/23 | 35,802 | 2.26 | 207,468 |
Curasen Therapeutics, Inc., Series A — Convertible Preferred Stock | 09/18/18, 01/07/20, 10/21/21, 11/01/22 | 8,751,043 | 0.48 | 8,728,396 |
Curasen Therapeutics, Inc. — Convertible Note | 08/15/23 | 846,512 | 100.00 | 846,390 |
Endeavor Biomedicines, Inc., Series B — Convertible Preferred Stock | 01/21/22 | 3,103,846 | 4.72 | 3,099,996 |
Engrail Therapeutics, Inc., Series B — Convertible Preferred Stock | 03/14/24 | 5,049,999 | 1.06 | 5,049,999 |
Ethismos Research, Inc. Milestone Interest | 10/31/17 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 |
Flamingo Therapeutics, Inc., Series A3 — Convertible Preferred Stock | 04/21/20, 10/28/20 | 5,612,058 | 6.59 | 1,604,820 |
HiberCell, Inc., Series C — Convertible Preferred Stock | 05/05/21 | 710,460 | 0.46 | 708,965 |
HiberCell, Inc., Series B — Convertible Preferred Stock | 05/05/21 | 3,411,393 | 0.46 | 1,285,783 |
HiberCell, Inc. Series C — Warrant, expiration date 9/15/28 | 09/20/22 | 1,495 | 0.00 | 0 |
Hotspot Therapeutics, Inc., Series C — Convertible Preferred Stock | 11/15/21 | 2,053,056 | 2.19 | 1,387,283 |
Hotspot Therapeutics, Inc., Series B — Convertible Preferred Stock | 04/22/20, 06/17/21 | 6,916,047 | 2.19 | 6,306,888 |
Incendia Therapeutics, Inc., Series A — Convertible Preferred Stock | 08/12/21 | 3,407,492 | 1.92 | 3,399,993 |
Innovacare, Inc. Escrow Shares — Common Stock | 12/21/12* | 25,044 | 0.03 | 5,756 |
Invetx, Inc., Series B — Convertible Preferred Stock | 03/28/22 | 2,071,261 | 0.67 | 2,070,000 |
Invetx, Inc., Series A — Convertible Preferred Stock | 08/06/20 | 3,452,934 | 0.67 | 4,816,344 |
IO Light Holdinigs, Inc., Series A2 — Convertible Preferred Stock | 04/30/20, 05/17/21, 09/15/21* | 1,395,511 | 0.00 | 42 |
Neurovance Milestone Interest | 03/20/17 | 2,166,711 | 16,061,266.00 | 16,061,266 |
Priothera Co. Ltd., Series A — Convertible Preferred Stock | 10/07/20 | 4,045,332 | 1.89 | 654,501 |
Quell Therapeutics Ltd., Series B — Convertible Preferred Stock | 11/29/21, 03/23/22 | 2,957,194 | 2.08 | 3,229,999 |
Rainier Therapeutics, Inc. Milestone Interest | 09/28/21 | 294,621 | 0.00 | 0 |
Recode Therapeutics, Inc., Series B — Convertible Preferred Stock | 01/26/24, 10/12/21, 02/16/22 | 3,074,644 | 9.23 | 3,060,003 |
Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. CVR — Common Stock | 08/02/23 | 6,383 | 0.00 | 0 |
Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals, Inc. CVR — Common Stock | 09/01/21 | 5,749 | 0.06 | 1,725 |
$82,107,079 | $82,236,673 |
* | Interest received as part of a corporate action for a previously owned security. |
22 | abrdn Healthcare Investors |
March 31, 2024
abrdn Healthcare Investors | 23 |
March 31, 2024
24 | abrdn Healthcare Investors |
March 31, 2024
abrdn Healthcare Investors | 25 |
March 31, 2024
Tax Cost of Securities | Unrealized Appreciation | Unrealized Depreciation | Net Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) |
$895,946,806 | $272,777,933 | $(160,448,050) | $112,329,883 |
26 | abrdn Healthcare Investors |
abrdn Healthcare Investors | 27 |
28 | abrdn Healthcare Investors |
abrdn Healthcare Investors | 29 |
30 | abrdn Healthcare Investors |
abrdn Healthcare Investors | 31 |
Item 2. Code of Ethics.
This item is inapplicable to semi-annual report on Form N-CSR.
Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.
This item is inapplicable to semi-annual report on Form N-CSR.
Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
This item is inapplicable to semi-annual report on Form N-CSR.
Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.
This item is inapplicable to semi-annual report on Form N-CSR.
Item 6. Schedule of Investments.
(a) Schedule of Investments in securities of unaffiliated issuers as of close of the reporting period is included as part of the Reports 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.
This item is inapplicable to semi-annual report on Form N-CSR.
Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
(a) Not applicable to semi-annual report on Form N-CSR.
(b) There has been no change, as of the date of this filing, in any of the portfolio managers identified in response to paragraph (a)(1) of this Item in the registrant’s most recently filed annual report on Form N-CSR. On March 21, 2024, the Fund announced the appointment of Dr. Jason Akus as co-lead portfolio manager to the Fund alongside Dr. Daniel Omstead. Dr. Akus has served on the investment team with Dr. Omstead for over 20 years. Dr. Omstead was the founder of Tekla Capital Management (TCM) that served as the investment advisor to the Funds from 2001 until October 27, 2023, when a strategic transaction with abrdn Inc. (“abrdn”) was completed and the Fund’s advisory agreement transferred to abrdn. Dr. Akus’ appointment is part of the orderly transition of Dr. Omstead’s responsibilities as the lead portfolio manager to the Fund. Dr. Omstead continued to serve as the co-lead portfolio manager alongside Dr. Akus through May 31, 2024. Subsequently, Dr. Akus took over as lead portfolio manager and Dr. Omstead will remain at abrdn and serve in an advisory role to Dr. Akus and the investment team until September 30, 2024.
Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.
Period | (a) Total No. of Shares Purchased |
(b) Average Price Paid per Share |
(c) Total No. of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs(1) |
(d) Maximum No. of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs(1) |
|||||||||||
Month #1 (Oct. 1, 2023 — Oct. 31, 2023) | — | — | — | 5,864,076 | |||||||||||
Month #2 (Nov. 1, 2023 — Nov. 30, 2023) | — | — | — | 5,864,076 | |||||||||||
Month #3 (Dec. 1, 2023 — Dec. 31, 2023) | — | — | — | 5,864,076 | |||||||||||
Month #4 (Jan. 1, 2024 — Jan. 31, 2024) | — | — | — | 5,864,076 | |||||||||||
Month #5 (Feb. 1, 2024 — Feb. 29, 2024) | — | — | — | 5,864,076 | |||||||||||
Month #6 (Mar. 1, 2024 — Mar. 31, 2024) | — | — | — | 5,864,076 | |||||||||||
Total | — | $ | — | — |
(1) | On June 30, 2011, the share repurchase program was announced, which has been subsequently reviewed and approved by the Board of Trustees. In March 2024, the Board approved the renewal of the repurchase program to allow the Fund to repurchase up to 12% of its outstanding shares in the open market for a one-year period ending July 14, 2025. Prior to this renewal, in March 2023, the Trustees approved the renewal of the share repurchase program to allow the Fund to repurchase up to 12% of its outstanding shares for a one-year period ending July 14, 2024. |
Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
During the period ended March 31, 2024, there were no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the Registrant’s Board of Trustees.
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) | Not applicable. |
(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) | A copy of the Registrant’s notices to stockholders, which accompanied distributions paid, pursuant to the Registrant’s Managed Distribution Policy since the Registrant’s last filed N-CSR, are filed herewith as Exhibits (c)(1) and (c)(2), as required by the terms of the Registrant’s SEC exemptive order. |
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 Healthcare Investors | ||
By: | /s/ Christian Pittard | |
Christian Pittard, | ||
Principal Executive Officer of | ||
abrdn Healthcare Investors |
Date: June 10, 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 Healthcare Investors | ||
Date: June 10, 2024 | ||
By: | /s/ Sharon Ferrari | |
Sharon Ferrari, | ||
Principal Financial Officer of | ||
abrdn Healthcare Investors | ||
Date: June 10, 2024 |