Form N-2ASR abrdn Global Infrastruct
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 15, 2026
Securities Act Registration No.
Investment Company Act Registration No.
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form
and/or
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES
ACT OF 1933
Pre-Effective Amendment No.
Post-Effective Amendment No.
and/or
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT
COMPANY ACT OF 1940
Amendment No. 5
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
c/o abrdn Inc.
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
Copies to:
Thomas C. Bogle, Esq.
William J. Bielefeld, Esq.
Dechert LLP
1900 K Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006
Approximate Date of Commencement of Proposed Public Offering:
| Check box if the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans. | |
| Check box if any securities being registered on this Form will be offered on a delayed or continuous basis in reliance on Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”), other than securities offered in connection with a dividend reinvestment plan. | |
| Check box if this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction A.2 or a post-effective amendment thereto. | |
| Check box if this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction B or a post-effective amendment thereto that will become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act. | |
| Check box if this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction B to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act. |
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):
| when declared effective pursuant to section 8(c) of the Securities Act |
If appropriate, check the following box:
| This [post-effective] amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed [post-effective amendment] [registration statement]. | |
| This Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, and the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering is: | |
| This Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, and the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering is: | |
| This Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, and the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering is: |
Check each box that appropriately characterizes the Registrant:
| Registered Closed-End Fund (closed-end company that is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Investment Company Act”)). | |
| Business Development Company (closed-end company that intends or has elected to be regulated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act. | |
| Interval Fund (Registered Closed-End Fund or a Business Development Company that makes periodic repurchase offers under Rule 23c-3 under the Investment Company Act). | |
| A.2 Qualified (qualified to register securities pursuant to General Instruction A.2 of this Form). | |
| Well-Known Seasoned Issuer (as defined by Rule 405 under the Securities Act). | |
| Emerging Growth Company (as defined by Rule 12b-2 under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934). | |
| ☐ | If an Emerging Growth Company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. |
| New Registrant (registered or regulated under the Investment Company Act for less than 12 calendar months preceding this filing). |
BASE PROSPECTUS
$300,000,000
abrdn Global Infrastructure Income Fund
Common Shares
Preferred Shares
Notes
Subscription Rights for Common Shares
The Fund. abrdn Global Infrastructure Income Fund (the “Fund”) is a diversified, closed-end management investment company.
Investment Objective. The Fund’s investment objective is to seek to provide a high level of total return with an emphasis on current income. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
Investment Strategies. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing primarily in a portfolio of income-producing public and private infrastructure equity investments around the world. Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) are invested in U.S. and non-U.S. infrastructure-related issuers. The Fund considers infrastructure-related issuers to be those engaged in the ownership, management, construction, development, operation, utilization or financing of assets in infrastructure-related industries, and includes issuers in the construction and engineering, construction materials, gas utilities, electric utilities, multi-utilities, water utilities, independent power and renewable electricity producers, diversified telecommunication services, wireless telecommunications services, media, transportation infrastructure, ground transportation, and oil, gas and consumable fuels industries, as identified by an independent third-party classification service, or issuers deemed by the Advisers (as defined herein) to have similar infrastructure-related characteristics.
Offering. The Fund may offer, from time to time, up to $300,000,000 aggregate initial offering price of common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.001 per share (“Common Shares”), preferred shares (“Preferred Shares”), promissory notes (“Notes”), subscription rights to purchase Common Shares (“Rights” and collectively with the Common Shares, Notes and Preferred Shares, “Securities”) in one or more offerings in amounts, at prices and on terms set forth in one or more supplements to this Prospectus (each a “Prospectus Supplement”). You should read this Prospectus and any related Prospectus Supplement carefully before you decide to invest in the Securities.
The Fund may offer Securities (1) directly to one or more purchasers, (2) through agents that the Fund may designate from time to time or (3) to or through underwriters or dealers. The Prospectus Supplement relating to a particular offering of Securities will identify any agents or underwriters involved in the sale of Securities, and will set forth any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement between the Fund and agents or underwriters or among underwriters or the basis upon which such amount may be calculated. The Fund may not sell Securities through agents, underwriters or dealers without delivery of this Prospectus and a Prospectus Supplement. See “Plan of Distribution.”
Investing in Securities involves risks, including the risk that you may receive little or no return on your investment or that you may lose part or all of your investment. Before buying any Securities, you should read the discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Fund. The principal risks of investing in the Fund are summarized in “The Fund at a Glance — Risk Factors” beginning on page 15 of this Prospectus and further described in “Risk Factors” beginning on page 20 of this Prospectus.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this Prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Prospectus dated September 15, 2026
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Adviser. abrdn Inc. and abrdn Investments Limited serve as the Fund’s Investment Adviser and Subadviser, respectively (together, the “Advisers”), pursuant to an investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) and sub-advisory agreement (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement”) with the Fund. abrdn Inc. and abrdn Investments Limited are wholly-owned indirect subsidiaries of Aberdeen Group plc.
Common Shares. The Fund’s outstanding Common Shares are, and the Common Shares offered by this Prospectus will be, subject to notice of issuance, listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbol “ASGI.” As of September 10, 2026, the net asset value (“NAV”) of the Fund’s Common Shares was $21.56 per Common Share and the last reported sale price for the Fund’s Common Shares on the NYSE was $21.90 per Common Share, representing a premium to NAV of 1.58%.
Distributions. The Fund’s policy is to provide investors with a stable monthly distribution out of current income, supplemented by realized capital gains and, to the extent necessary, paid-in capital, which is a nontaxable return of capital. This policy is subject to an annual review as well as regular review at the Board of Trustees’ (the “Board”) quarterly meetings, unless market conditions require an earlier evaluation.
This Prospectus sets forth concisely information about the Fund you should know before investing. Please read this Prospectus carefully before deciding whether to invest and retain it for future reference. The SAI has been filed with the SEC. This Prospectus incorporates by reference the entire SAI. The SAI is available along with other Fund-related materials on the EDGAR database on the SEC’s internet site (https://www.sec.gov) or upon payment of copying fees by electronic request to [email protected].
You may also request a free copy of the SAI, annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders, and additional information about the Fund, and may make other shareholder inquiries, by calling Investor Relations toll-free at 1-800-522-5465, by writing to the Fund or visiting the Fund’s website (www.aberdeenasgi.com).
The Fund’s Securities do not represent a deposit or obligation of, and are not guaranteed by or endorsed by, any bank or other insured depositary institution, and are not federally insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or any other government agency.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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About this prospectus
This Prospectus is part of a Registration Statement on Form N-2 that the Fund filed with the SEC using a “shelf” registration process. Under this process, the Fund may offer, from time to time, up to $300,000,000 aggregate initial offering price of Securities in one or more offerings in amounts, at prices and on terms set forth in one or more Prospectus Supplements. The Prospectus Supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this Prospectus. You should carefully read this Prospectus and any accompanying Prospectus Supplement, together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and any accompanying Prospectus Supplement. The Fund has not authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. The Fund is not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information contained or the representations made herein are accurate only as of the date on the cover page of this Prospectus. The Fund’s business, financial condition and prospects may have changed since that date. The Fund will amend this Prospectus and any accompanying Prospectus Supplement if, during the period that this Prospectus and any accompanying Prospectus Supplement is required to be delivered, there are any subsequent material changes.
Cautionary notice regarding forward-looking statements
This Prospectus, any accompanying Prospectus Supplement and the SAI, contain (or will contain) or incorporate (or will incorporate) by reference “forward-looking statements.” Forward-looking statements can be identified by the words “may,” “will,” “intend,” “expect,” “estimate,” “continue,” “plan,” “anticipate,” and similar terms with the negative of such terms. By their nature, all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Several factors that could materially affect the Fund’s actual results are the performance of the portfolio of securities the Fund holds, the price at which the Fund’s Securities will trade in the public markets and other factors discussed in the Fund’s periodic filings with the SEC.
Although the Fund believes that the expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results could differ materially from those projected or assumed in the Fund’s forward-looking statements. Future financial condition and results of operations, as well as any forward-looking statements, are subject to change and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties, such as those disclosed in the “Risk Factors” section of this Prospectus. All forward-looking statements contained in this Prospectus or in the SAI are made as of the date of this Prospectus or SAI, as the case may be. Except for ongoing obligations under the federal securities laws, the Fund does not intend, and is not obligated, to update any forward-looking statement.
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WHERE
YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
The Fund is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“1940 Act”) and in accordance therewith files, or will file, reports and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains a web site at https://www.sec.gov containing reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants, including the Fund, that file electronically with the SEC.
This Prospectus constitutes part of a Registration Statement filed by the Fund with the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”) and the 1940 Act. This Prospectus omits certain of the information contained in the Registration Statement, and reference is hereby made to the Registration Statement and related exhibits for further information with respect to the Fund and the Common Shares offered hereby. Any statements contained herein concerning the provisions of any document are not necessarily complete, and, in each instance, reference is made to the copy of such document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or otherwise filed with the SEC. Each such statement is qualified in its entirety by such reference. The complete Registration Statement may be obtained from the SEC upon payment of the fee prescribed by its rules and regulations or free of charge through the SEC’s website (https://www.sec.gov).
The Fund will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this Prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request, a copy of any and all of the information that has been incorporated by reference in this Prospectus or any accompanying Prospectus Supplement. You may request such information by calling Investor Relations toll-free at 1-800-522-5465 or you may obtain a copy (and other information regarding the Fund) from the SEC’s website (https://www.sec.gov). Free copies of the Fund’s Prospectus, Statement of Additional Information and any incorporated information will also be available from the Fund’s website at www.aberdeenasgi.com. Information contained on the Fund’s website is not incorporated by reference into this Prospectus or any Prospectus Supplement and should not be considered to be part of this Prospectus or any Prospectus Supplement.
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
This Prospectus is part of a Registration Statement that the Fund has filed with the SEC. The Fund is permitted to “incorporate by reference” the information that it files with the SEC, which means that the Fund can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this Prospectus, and later information that the Fund files with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information.
The documents listed below, and any reports and other documents subsequently filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 30(b)(2) under the 1940 Act and Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the termination of the offering, are incorporated by reference into this Prospectus and deemed to be part of this Prospectus from the date of the filing of such reports and documents:
| ● | the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information, dated September 15, 2026, filed with this Prospectus (“SAI”); |
| ● | the Fund’s Annual Report on Form N-CSR for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025, filed with the SEC on December 8, 2025 (“Annual Report”); |
| ● |
The Fund’s Semi-Annual Report on Form N-CSRS for the period ended March 31, 2026, filed with the SEC on June 8, 2026 (“Semi-Annual Report”);
| |
| ● | the Fund’s definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A for the Fund’s 2026 annual meeting of shareholders, filed with the SEC on April 1, 2026 (“Proxy Statement”); and |
| ● | the Fund’s description of common shares contained in the Fund’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 333-234722) filed with the SEC on July 21, 2020. |
To obtain copies of these filings, see “Where You Can Find More Information.”
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Summary of Fund expenses
The purpose of the following table and the example below is to help you understand the fees and expenses that holders of common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.001 per share (“Common Shares”) (the “Common Shareholders”) would bear directly or indirectly. The expenses shown in the table under “Other expenses” are estimated for the Fund’s current fiscal year ending September 30, 2026. The expenses shown in the table are based on the Fund’s capital structure as of March 31, 2026, adjusted to reflect current fees and expenses. The table reflects Fund expenses as a percentage of net assets attributable to Common Shares.
| Common Shareholder transaction expenses | ||||
| Sales load ( |
- |
|||
| Offering expenses Borne by the Fund (as a percentage of offering price)(2) | - |
|||
| Dividend reinvestment and optional cash purchase plan fees: (per share for open-market purchases of Common Shares)(3) | ||||
| Fee for Open Market Purchases of Common Shares | $0.02 (per share) | |||
| Fee for Optional Shares Purchases | $5.00 (max) | |||
| Sales of Shares Held in a Dividend Reinvestment Account |
$0.12 (per share) and $25.00 (max) |
| Annual expenses (as a percentage of net assets attributable to |
||||
| Common Shares) | ||||
| Advisory fee(4) | % | |||
| Other expenses(5) | % | |||
| Acquired fund fees and expenses(6) | % | |||
| Total annual expenses | % | |||
(1) If Common Shares are sold to or through underwriters, a prospectus supplement will set forth any applicable sales load and the estimated offering expenses borne by the Fund.
(2) Offering expenses payable by the Fund will be deducted from the proceeds, before expenses, to the Fund.
(3) Shareholders who participate in the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment and Optional Cash Purchase Plan (the “Plan”) may be subject to fees on certain transactions. The Plan Agent's (as defined under “Dividend Reinvestment and Optional Cash Purchase Plan” in this Prospectus) fees for the handling of the reinvestment of dividends will be paid by the Fund; however, participating shareholders will pay a $0.02 per share fee incurred in connection with open-market purchases in connection with the reinvestment of dividends, capital gains distributions and voluntary cash payments made by the participant, which will be deducted from the value of the dividend. For optional share purchases, shareholders will also be charged a $2.50 fee for automatic debits from a checking/savings account, a $5.00 one-time fee for online bank debit and/or $5.00 for check. Shareholders will be subject to $0.12 per share fee and either a $10.00 fee (for batch orders) or $25.00 fee (for market orders) for sales of shares held in a dividend reinvestment account. Per share fees include any applicable brokerage commissions the Plan agent is required to pay. For more details about the Plan, see “Dividend Reinvestment and Optional Cash Purchase Plan” in this Prospectus.
(4) Effective May 27, 2026, the Adviser receives an investment advisory fee based on the Fund’s average daily Managed Assets, computed daily and payable monthly, at the following annual rate: 1.35% of the Fund’s average daily Managed Assets up to $500 million, 1.30% of the Fund’s average daily Managed Assets between $500 million and $1 billion, and 1.25% of the Fund’s average daily Managed Assets in excess of $1 billion. “Managed Assets” is defined as total assets of the Fund, including assets attributable to any form of leverage, minus liabilities (other than debt representing leverage and the aggregate liquidation preference of any preferred stock that may be outstanding).
(5) The Fund holds certain portfolio company investments through abrdn Global Infrastructure Income Fund BL, LLC (the “Subsidiary”). Such Subsidiary may be subject to U.S. federal and state corporate-level income taxes. The Fund recorded a deferred tax liability of $1,070,482 primarily associated with its subsidiary’s investments in partnerships for the six-months ended March 31, 2026 and $3,007,019 and $1,797,274 for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2025 and September 30, 2024, respectively. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded for losses or income at the Subsidiary using statutory tax rates. A valuation allowance is provided against deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized.
(6) Acquired fund fees and expenses are indirect costs incurred by the Fund as a result of investment in one or more private equity investments and include certain expenses incurred in connection with investments in the State Street Institutional U.S. Government Money Market Fund. Acquired fund fees and expenses are borne indirectly by the Fund, but they are not reflected in the Fund’s financial statements; and the information presented in the table will differ from that presented in the Fund’s financial highlights.
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Example
The following example illustrates the expenses you would pay on a $1,000 investment in Common Shares, assuming a 5% annual portfolio total return.*
| 1 Year | 3 Years | 5 Years | 10 Years | ||||||||
| $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
* The example does not include sales load or estimated offering costs. The example should not be considered a representation of future expenses or rate of return and actual Fund expenses may be greater or less than those shown. The example assumes that (i) all dividends and other distributions are reinvested at NAV, and (ii) the percentage amounts listed under “Total annual expenses” above remain the same in the years shown. For more complete descriptions of certain of the Fund’s costs and expenses, see “Management of the Fund — Advisory Agreements.”
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THE FUND AT A GLANCE
Information regarding the Fund
The Fund is a diversified, closed-end management investment company registered under the 1940 Act. The Fund was organized as a Maryland statutory trust on November 13, 2019. It commenced operations on July 29, 2020. As of September 10, 2026, the Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) per Common Share was $21.56. See “The Fund.”
NYSE listed
As of September 1, 2026, the Fund had 31,637,267.427069 Common Shares outstanding. The Fund’s Common Shares are traded on the NYSE under the symbol “ASGI.” As of September 10, 2026, the last reported sale price for the Fund’s Common Shares on the NYSE was $21.90 per Common Share, representing a premium to net asset value of 1.58%.
Who may want to invest
Investors should consider their investment goals, time horizons and risk tolerance before investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not appropriate for all investors, and the Fund is not intended to be a complete investment program. The Fund is designed as a long-term investment and not as a trading vehicle.
Investment objective
The Fund’s investment objective is to seek to provide a high level of total return with an emphasis on current income. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. The investment objective is not fundamental and may be changed by the Board of Trustees (the "Board" or "Board of Trustees") without shareholder approval.
Investment strategies and policies
The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing primarily in a portfolio of income-producing public and private infrastructure equity investments around the world.
Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) is invested in U.S. and non-U.S. infrastructure-related issuers. The Fund considers infrastructure-related issuers to be those engaged in the ownership, management, construction, development, operation, utilization or financing of assets in infrastructure-related industries, and includes issuers in the construction and engineering, construction materials, gas utilities, electric utilities, multi-utilities, water utilities, independent power and renewable electricity producers, diversified telecommunication services, wireless telecommunications services, media, transportation infrastructure, ground transportation, and oil, gas and consumable fuels industries, as identified by an independent third-party classification service, or issuers deemed by the Advisers (as defined herein) to have similar infrastructure-related characteristics.
The Fund may invest in issuers located anywhere in the world, including issuers located in emerging markets. Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests in issuers from at least three different countries and invests at least 40% of its total assets (unless market conditions are not deemed favorable by the Adviser and Subadviser (together the “Advisers”), in which case the Fund would invest at least 30% of its total assets) in non-US issuers. A company is considered a non-US issuer if Fund management determines that the company meets one or more of the following criteria:
| ● | the company is organized under the laws of a country outside the U.S.; | |
| ● | the company has its principal office in, or management is located in, a country outside the U.S.; and/or | |
| ● | the company has its principal securities trading market in a country outside the U.S. |
It is currently anticipated that, under normal circumstances, the Fund’s investments in emerging market issuers will not exceed 30% of the Fund’s total assets. At times, the Fund may have a significant amount of its assets invested in a country or geographic region. The Fund may invest in securities denominated in U.S. dollars and currencies of foreign countries.
The Fund’s investment portfolio generally will be comprised of the following:
| ● | Public Infrastructure Investments. The Fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 60%, and generally expects to invest approximately 75%, of its total assets in listed equity securities of infrastructure-related issuers. Equity securities in which the Fund invests include primarily common stocks, preferred stocks and depositary receipts. The Fund may invest in securities of any market capitalization. During the period of initial investment in Private Infrastructure Opportunities (defined below), the Fund may refrain from making new investments in Private Infrastructure Opportunities, if necessary, for liquidity purposes, and invest up to 100% of its total assets in public infrastructure investments. |
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| ● | Private/Direct Infrastructure Investments. Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 10%, and currently intends to generally invest closer to 25%, of its total assets, measured at the time of investment, in infrastructure assets through private transactions (“Private Infrastructure Opportunities”). A “private transaction” means an investment in infrastructure assets through the purchase of securities in a transaction that is exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Private Infrastructure Opportunities include investments in: (i) sponsor vehicles created for the purpose of investing in private infrastructure companies or assets, as described below; (ii) equity or credit interests in private infrastructure operating companies; and (iii) to a lesser extent, private funds that invest in infrastructure assets. Private Infrastructure Opportunities may include investments alongside other funds or accounts advised by the Advisers or their affiliates in certain infrastructure assets (“Co-Investment Opportunities”) or on a stand-alone basis alongside other investors (“Stand-Alone Opportunities”). Unless and until the Fund receives an exemptive order from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) to co-invest in negotiated Co-Investment Opportunities (which cannot be assured), the Fund will only invest in Co-Investment Opportunities where the transaction is permitted under existing regulatory guidance, such as transactions in which price is the only negotiated term. Certain Co-Investment Opportunities and Stand-Alone Opportunities may be issued by sponsor vehicles structured, for administrative and/or tax purposes, as funds that would be investment companies but for the provisions of Section 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act (“sponsor vehicles”). Such sponsor vehicles do not generally have the same characteristics as funds relying on Section 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) that are commonly known as “private equity funds”. The Fund will not invest in funds commonly known as “private equity funds”. The Fund will invest no more than 15% of its net assets, measured at the time of investment, in all sponsor vehicles and no more than 3% of its net assets, measured at the time of investment, in a single sponsor vehicle. In addition, at all times, the Fund will own only a minority ownership interest (i.e., less than 50%) in any sponsor vehicle in which it invests. |
The Fund may have a lower percentage of its total assets invested in Private Infrastructure Opportunities and a higher percentage of its assets invested in publicly listed infrastructure issuers during certain periods in the life-cycle of the Fund, such as during the period of initial investment in Private Infrastructure Opportunities. In addition, as the Fund disposes of individual Private Infrastructure Opportunities, the Fund will look to redeploy its capital into new Private Infrastructure Opportunities, which may be scarce.
In addition, the Fund may use derivative instruments from time to time, primarily to hedge currency exposure, although it is not required to do so. To the extent the Fund invests in derivative instruments that provide economic exposure to infrastructure-related issuers, such investments will be counted for purposes of the Fund’s 80% investment policy. The Fund will value derivatives based on market value or fair value for purposes of its 80% investment policy.
In selecting public infrastructure investments, the Advisers seek to invest in quality companies and are active, engaged owners. The Advisers evaluate a company against quality criteria and build conviction using a team-based approach and peer review process. The quality assessment covers five key factors: 1) the durability of the business model, 2) the attractiveness of the industry, 3) the strength of financials, 4) the capability of management, and 5) the most material environmental, social and governance factors impacting a company. The Advisers seek to understand what is changing in companies, industries and markets but is not being priced into the market or is being mispriced. Through fundamental research, supported by a global research presence, the Advisers seek to identify companies whose quality is not yet fully recognized by the market. As active equity investors, the Advisers use deep fundamental research and a disciplined investment process to pursue the Fund’s investment objective.
With respect to the Fund's private/direct infrastructure investments, the Advisers’ process combines their expertise developed over the last decade in sourcing, diligencing and monitoring Private Infrastructure Opportunities. The Advisers use this information, combined with first-hand research, a disciplined due diligence process and its experience and understanding of the infrastructure sector and the related risks, in order to select Private Infrastructure Opportunities that the Advisers believe will help it achieve the Fund's investment objective. The Advisers pursue Private Infrastructure Opportunities which they believe can generate incremental returns depending on the timing and quality of available opportunities.
The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in securities issued by companies that are not infrastructure companies. The Fund may also invest in debt securities, including short-term debt obligations, cash or cash equivalents.
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The Fund intends to achieve the income component of its investment objective by investing in dividend-paying listed equity securities and Private Infrastructure Opportunities. The Fund’s income distributions are supplemented by realized capital gains and, to the extent necessary, paid-in capital, which is a nontaxable return of capital.
Unless otherwise stated, the Fund’s investment policies are non-fundamental policies and may be changed by the Board without prior shareholder approval. The Fund’s policy to invest at least 80% of its net assets (plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in U.S. and non-U.S. infrastructure-related issuers may be changed by the Board without shareholder approval; however, if this policy changes, the Fund will provide shareholders at least 60 days’ written notice before implementation of the change in compliance with SEC rules. Unless otherwise stated, these investment restrictions apply at the time of purchase; the Fund will not be required to reduce a position due solely to market price fluctuations.
The Fund may invest in money market mutual funds; cash; cash equivalents; securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its instrumentalities or agencies; high quality, short-term money market instruments; short-term debt securities; certificates of deposit; bankers' acceptances and other bank obligations; commercial paper or other liquid debt securities on a temporary basis to meet working capital needs, including, but not limited to, for collateral in connection with certain investment techniques, to hold a reserve pending payment of distributions and to facilitate the payment of expenses and settlement of trades. Under adverse market or economic conditions, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its total assets in these securities on a temporary basis. To the extent the Fund invests in these securities, the Fund may not achieve its investment objective.
Portfolio Investments
The types of securities in which the Fund may invest include, but are not limited to, the following:
Equity Securities
Equity investments generally represent an ownership interest, or the right to acquire an ownership interest, in an issuer. Different types of equity securities provide different voting and dividend rights and priority in the event of an issuer’s bankruptcy. Prices of equity securities fluctuate for several reasons, including because of changes, or perceived changes, in the business, financial condition or prospects of the issuer or because of changes in financial or political conditions that may affect particular industries or the economy in general.
Common Stock. Holders of common stock generally have voting rights with respect to the issuer, however, the Fund does not expect to have voting control with respect to any of the issuers of listed equity securities in which it invests, and it will not have voting control with respect to some or all of the Fund’s private investments. Upon the liquidation or winding up of the issuer, holders of common stock are entitled to the assets of the issuer that remain after satisfying all obligations owed to the issuer’s creditors, including holders of debt securities, and holders of the issuer’s preferred stock. Holders of common stock also may receive dividends, however, unlike the dividends payable with respect to preferred stock (which is described below), dividends payable with respect to common stock are not fixed but are declared at the discretion of the issuer’s board of directors.
Preferred Equity. Upon the liquidation or winding up of the issuer, holders of preferred equity have a preference over holders of the issuer’s common equity, however, their claims to the assets of the issuer are subordinated to the claims of the issuer’s creditors, including holders of debt securities. Holders of preferred equity also receive distributions or dividends at a specified annual rate, although this rate may be changed or omitted by the issuer under certain circumstances. Market prices of preferred equities generally fluctuate with changes in market interest rates. Under normal conditions, holders of preferred equity usually do not have voting rights with respect to the issuer. See “Investment Objective and Policies—Preferred Stock” in the statement of additional information.
Depositary Receipts. Depositary receipts typically issued by a bank or trust company, represent the ownership of underlying securities that are issued by a foreign company and held by the bank or trust company. American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) are usually issued by a U.S. bank trust or trust company and traded on a U.S. exchange. Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”) may be issued by institutions located anywhere in the world and traded in any securities market. European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”) are issued in Europe and used in bearer form in European markets.
Depositary receipts may or may not be jointly sponsored by the underlying issuer. The issuers of unsponsored depositary receipts are not obligated to disclose information that is, in the United States, considered material. Therefore, there may be less information available regarding these issuers and there may not be a correlation between such information and the market value of the depositary receipts. Certain depositary receipts are not listed on an exchange and therefore may lack liquidity. See “Investment Objective and Policies—Depositary Receipts” in the statement of additional information.
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Restricted Securities, Including Securities of Private Companies
Restricted securities, including Rule 144A securities and securities of private companies, are subject to statutory and/or contractual restrictions on resale. However, such securities may be sold in private transactions with a limited number of purchasers or in public offerings registered under the Securities Act. Restricted securities include (1) registered securities of public companies subject to a lock-up period, (2) unregistered securities of public companies with registration rights, (3) unregistered securities of public companies that become freely tradable with the passage of time and (4) unregistered securities of private companies. A registered security subject to such a lock-up period will no longer be considered a restricted security upon expiration of the lock-up period, an unregistered security of a public company with registration rights will no longer be considered a restricted security when such securities become registered, and an unregistered security of a public company that becomes freely tradable with the passage of time will no longer be considered a restricted security upon the elapse of the requisite time period.
Non-U.S. Securities
The Fund may invest without limit in securities issued by non-U.S. issuers. These securities may be issued by companies organized and/or having securities traded on an exchange outside the U.S. or may be securities of U.S. companies that are denominated in the currency of a different country. It is currently anticipated that, under normal circumstances, the Fund may invest up to 30% of its total assets in securities of emerging market issuers.
Temporary Investments
Pending investment of the proceeds of this offering (which the Fund expects may take up to approximately one month following the closing of this offering), the Fund may invest offering proceeds in money market mutual funds; cash; cash equivalents; securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its instrumentalities or agencies; high quality, short-term money market instruments; short-term debt securities; certificates of deposit; bankers’ acceptances and other bank obligations; commercial paper or other liquid debt securities. The Fund also may invest in these instruments on a temporary basis to meet working capital needs, including, but not limited to, for collateral in connection with certain investment techniques, to hold a reserve pending payment of distributions and to facilitate the payment of expenses and settlement of trades.
Under adverse market or economic conditions, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its total assets in these securities on a temporary basis. To the extent the Fund invests in these securities, it may not achieve its investment objective. The yield on these securities may be lower than the returns on equity securities or yields on lower rated debt securities.
Hedging and Risk Management
The Fund may utilize derivative instruments for hedging and risk management purposes. In particular, the Fund may use foreign currency contracts to hedge currency exposure from time to time, but it is not required to hedge its currency exposure. See “Investment objective, policies, and risks—Currency Transactions,” “Investment objective, policies, and risks—Derivatives,” Investment objective, policies, and risks—Futures,” and “Investment objective, policies, and risks— Strategic Transactions, Derivatives and Synthetic Investments” in the statement of additional information.
The Adviser and Subadviser
abrdn Inc., the Fund’s investment adviser, is located at 1900 Market Street, Suite 200, Philadelphia, PA 19103 and is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Aberdeen Group plc (formerly known as abrdn plc), which manages or administers approximately $527 billion in assets as of June 30, 2026. Aberdeen Group plc and its affiliates (collectively, “Aberdeen”) provide asset management and investment solutions for clients and customers worldwide and also have a strong position in the pensions and savings market.
abrdn Investments Limited (“aIL”), is located at 1 George Street, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, EH2 2LL and is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Aberdeen Group plc.
Advisory Agreements
The Fund and the Adviser are parties to an advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”). Under the Advisory Agreement, the Fund appoints the Adviser to act as investment adviser to the Fund in accordance with the stated investment policies and restrictions of the Fund as set forth in the Fund’s registration statement.
The Adviser, the Sub-Adviser and the Fund are parties to a sub-advisory agreement (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement”). Under the Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Sub-Adviser is responsible for the investment management of the Fund’s assets subject to the supervision of the Adviser and the Board.
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As compensation for its services to the Fund, abrdn Inc. receives an investment advisory fee based on the Fund’s average daily Managed Assets, computed daily and payable monthly, at the following annual rate: 1.35% of the Fund’s average daily Managed Assets up to $500 million, 1.30% of the Fund’s average daily Managed Assets between $500 million and $1 billion, and 1.25% of the Fund’s average daily Managed Assets in excess of $1 billion. “Managed Assets” is defined as total assets of the Fund, including assets attributable to any form of leverage, minus liabilities (other than debt representing leverage and the aggregate liquidation preference of any preferred stock that may be outstanding). Under the Sub-Advisory Agreement, abrdn Inc. is responsible for the payment of fees to abrdn Investments Limited.
In rendering investment advisory services, the Advisers may use the resources of investment advisor subsidiaries of Aberdeen Group plc. These affiliates have entered into a memorandum of understanding (“MOU”) / personnel sharing procedures pursuant to which investment professionals from each affiliate may render portfolio management, research or trading services to U.S. clients of the Aberdeen Group plc affiliates, including the Fund, as associated persons of the Adviser. Each investment professional who renders portfolio management, research or trading services under a MOU or personnel sharing arrangement must comply with the provisions of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, the 1940 Act, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Exchange Act, and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and the laws of states or countries in which the Advisers do business or has clients. No remuneration is paid by the Fund with regard to the MOU/personnel sharing arrangements.
The Administrator
abrdn Inc. serves as administrator to the Fund. Under the administration agreement, abrdn Inc. is generally responsible for managing the administrative affairs of the Fund.
Pursuant to the administration agreement, abrdn Inc. receives a fee, payable monthly by the Fund, at an annual fee rate of 0.08% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. See “Management of the Fund — The Administrator.”
State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”) serves as sub-administrator of the Fund and is paid by abrdn Inc. out of the fees it receives as the Fund’s administrator.
Investor Relations
Under the terms of the Amended and Restated Investor Relations Services Agreement approved by the Fund’s Board, abrdn Inc. provides and pays third parties to provide investor relations services to the Fund and certain other funds advised by the Adviser or its affiliates as part of an Investor Relations Program. Under the Amended and Restated Investor Relations Services Agreement, the Fund owes a portion of the fees related to the Investor Relations Program (the “Fund’s Portion”). However, investor relations services fees are limited by abrdn Inc. so that the Fund will only pay up to an annual rate of 0.05% of the Fund’s average weekly net assets. Any difference between the capped rate of 0.05% of the Fund’s average weekly net assets and the Fund’s Portion is paid for by abrdn Inc.
Pursuant to the terms of the Amended and Restated Investor Relations Services Agreement, abrdn Inc. (or third parties engaged by abrdn Inc.), among other things, provides objective and timely information to shareholders based on publicly available information; provides information efficiently through the use of technology while offering shareholders immediate access to knowledgeable investor relations representatives; develops and maintains effective communications with investment professionals from a wide variety of firms; creates and maintains investor relations communication materials such as fund manager interviews, films and webcasts, publishes white papers, magazine articles and other relevant materials discussing the Fund’s investment results, portfolio positioning and outlook; develops and maintains effective communications with large institutional shareholders; responds to specific shareholder questions; and reports activities and results to the Board and management detailing insight into general shareholder sentiment.
Distributions
The Board has authorized a managed distribution policy (“MDP”) of paying monthly distributions equal to 12% on an annual basis of the average daily NAV as of the month-end prior to declaration. Under the MDP, distributions to shareholders may include net investment income, realized capital gains or, if necessary, returns of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the money that shareholders invested in the Fund is paid back to them. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund’s investment performance and should not be confused with “income” or “yield.” No conclusions should be drawn about the Fund’s investment performance from the amount of the Fund’s distributions or from the terms of the MDP.
The Fund is covered under exemptive relief received by the Fund’s investment adviser from the SEC that allows the Fund to distribute long-term capital gains as frequently as monthly in any one taxable year (the “Section 19(b) Order”). With each distribution, the Fund will issue a notice to shareholders and an accompanying press release which will provide detailed information regarding the amount and composition of the distribution and other information as required by the Section 19(b) Order. The Fund’s Board may amend or terminate the MDP at any time without prior notice to shareholders; however, at this time, there are no reasonably foreseeable circumstances that might cause the termination of the MDP. You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund’s investment performance from the amount of distributions or from the terms of the Fund’s MDP.
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The Section 19(b) Order permitting the adoption of the MDP requires the Fund to adhere to certain conditions with respect to public offerings. The Section 19(b) Order requires that the Fund will not make a public offering of the Fund’s Common Shares other than: (i) a rights offering that is below NAV to holders of the Fund’s Common Shares; (ii) an offering in connection with a dividend reinvestment plan, merger, consolidation, acquisition, spin off or reorganization of the Fund; or (iii) an offering in which the Fund’s annualized distribution rate for the six months ending on the last day of the month ended immediately prior to the most recent distribution record date, expressed as a percentage of NAV as of such date, is no more than 1 percentage point greater than the Fund’s average annual total return for the 5-year period ending on such date and the transmittal letter accompanying any registration statement filed with the SEC in connection with the offering discloses that the Fund has an managed distribution policy exemptive order. Any offer under this Prospectus will comply with the conditions of the Section 19(b) Order.
Under applicable U.S. tax rules, the amount and character of distributable income for each fiscal year can only be determined as of the end of the Fund’s fiscal year, September 30. Under Section 19 of the 1940 Act, the Fund is required to indicate the sources of certain distributions to shareholders. The estimated distribution composition may vary from month to month because it may be impacted by future income, expenses and realized gains and losses on securities and fluctuations in the value of the currencies in which Fund assets are denominated.
Dividend reinvestment and optional cash purchase plan
The Fund has established a dividend reinvestment and optional cash purchase plan. A Common Shareholder will automatically have all dividends and distributions reinvested (net of applicable withholding tax) in Common Shares newly issued by the Fund or Common Shares of the Fund purchased in the open market in accordance with the Fund’s dividend reinvestment and optional cash purchase plan unless the Common Shareholder specifically elects to receive cash. Taxable distributions are subject to federal income tax whether received in cash or additional Common Shares. See “Distributions” and “Dividend Reinvestment and Optional Cash Purchase Plan.”
Custodian, dividend paying agent, transfer agent and registrar
State Street Bank and Trust Company serves as custodian (the “Custodian”) for the Fund. State Street also provides accounting services to the Fund. Computershare Trust Company, N.A. serves as the Fund’s dividend paying agent, transfer agent and registrar. See “Custodian, Dividend Paying Agent, Transfer Agent and Registrar.”
Closed-end fund structure
Closed-end funds differ from open-end management investment companies (commonly referred to as mutual funds) in that closed-end funds generally list their shares for trading on a securities exchange and do not redeem their shares at the option of the shareholder. By comparison, mutual funds issue securities redeemable at NAV at the option of the shareholder and typically engage in a continuous offering of their shares. Mutual funds are subject to continuous asset in-flows and out-flows that can complicate portfolio management, whereas closed-end funds generally can stay more fully invested in securities consistent with the closed-end fund’s investment objectives and policies. In addition, in comparison to open-end funds, closed-end funds have greater flexibility in the employment of financial leverage and in the ability to make certain types of investments, including investments in illiquid securities.
However, shares of closed-end funds frequently trade at a discount from their NAV. In recognition of the possibility that the Common Shares might trade at a discount to NAV and that any such discount may not be in the interest of Common Shareholders, the Board, in consultation with the Adviser, from time to time may review possible actions to reduce any such discount. The Board approved an open market share repurchase program (the “Program”) for the Fund. The Program allows the Fund to purchase, in the open market, its outstanding Common Shares, with the amount and timing of any repurchase determined at the discretion of the Fund's investment adviser. Such purchases may be made opportunistically at certain discounts to NAV per share in the reasonable judgment of management based on historical discount levels and current market conditions.
On a quarterly basis, the Fund’s Board will receive information on any transactions made pursuant to this policy during the prior quarter and if shares are repurchased management will post the number of shares repurchased on the Fund's website on a monthly basis. Under the terms of the Program, the Fund is permitted to repurchase up to 10% of its outstanding Common Shares in the open market during any 12-month period. There can be no assurance, however, that the Board will decide to undertake any of these actions or that, if undertaken, such actions would result in the Common Shares trading at a price equal to or close to NAV.
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The Board might also consider the conversion of the Fund to an open-end mutual fund, which would also require a vote of the shareholders of the Fund. Conversion of the Fund to an open-end mutual fund would require approval of such a proposal, together with the necessary amendments to the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust to permit such a conversion, by a majority of the members of the Board of Trustees (the “Trustees”) then in office, by the holders of not less than 75% of the Trust’s outstanding Shares entitled to vote thereon and by such vote or votes of the holders of any class or classes or series of Shares as may be required by the 1940 Act. Closed-end funds are not required to have any limitations or restrictions on investments in illiquid securities, whereas open-end funds typically cannot have more than 15% of their net assets in illiquid securities in order to meet redemptions upon request by shareholders. Thus, if the Fund were to convert to an open-end fund, it would have to adopt a limitation on illiquid securities and revise its investment objective, strategies and policies. The composition of the Fund’s portfolio and/or its investment policies could prohibit the Fund from complying with regulations of the SEC applicable to open-end management investment funds absent significant changes in portfolio holdings, including with respect to certain illiquid securities, and investment policies. The Board believes, however, that the closed-end structure is desirable, given the Fund’s investment objective, strategies and policies. See “Description of Capital Structure.”
Risk factors
The information contained under the heading “Additional Information Regarding the Fund—Risk Factors” in the Fund’s Annual Report is incorporated herein by reference. Each of the risk factors contained thereunder is a principal risk of the Fund. Investors should consider the specific risk factors and special considerations associated with investing in the Fund as described in more detail under “Risk Factors” in this Prospectus. An investment in the Fund is subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of your entire investment.
A Prospectus Supplement relating to an offering of the Fund’s securities may identify additional risks associated with such offering.
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Financial highlights
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the periods presented. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Common Share of the Fund. The financial highlights as of and for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2025, September 30, 2024, September 30, 2023, September 30, 2022 and September 30, 2021 have been audited by KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund. The financial highlights for the six-month period ended March 31, 2026 are unaudited and are included in the Fund’s Semi-Annual Report for the fiscal period ended March 31, 2026, which is incorporated by reference. KPMG’s report on the financial statements and financial highlights, together with the financial statements and financial highlights of the Fund for such fiscal years, is included in the Fund’s Annual Report for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025 and is incorporated by reference. The information in the table below for the period ended September 30, 2020 is derived from the Fund’s financial statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020.
| For the Six-Month Period Ended March 31, |
For the Fiscal Years Ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2026 (unaudited) |
2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||
| PER SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net asset value per common share, beginning of period | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net investment income(a) | 0.05 | 0.18 | 0.15 | 0.28 | 0.04 | 0.20 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments and foreign currency transactions | 2.45 | 2.60 | 3.85 | 1.39 | (2.01 | ) | 3.94 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total from investment operations applicable to common shareholders | 2.50 | 2.78 | 4.00 | 1.67 | (1.97 | ) | 4.14 | |||||||||||||||||
| Distributions to common shareholders from: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net investment income | (1.29 | ) | (0.48 | ) | (0.39 | ) | (0.68 | ) | (0.22 | ) | (1.20 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Net realized gains | – | (0.76 | ) | (1.08 | ) | (0.76 | ) | (1.15 | ) | (0.10 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Return of capital | – | (1.20 | ) | (0.52 | ) | – | – | – | ||||||||||||||||
| Total distributions | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||
| Net asset value per common share, end of period | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||
| Market price, end of period | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total Investment Return Based on(b): | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Market price | 12.17 | % | 18.55 | % | 39.95 | % | 11.04 | % | (15.23 | )% | 21.54 | % | ||||||||||||
| Net asset value | 11.96 | %(c) | 15.21 | %(c) | 23.19 | %(c) | 9.80 | %(c) | (8.70 | )%(c) | 22.39 | %(c) | ||||||||||||
| Ratio to Average Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders/Supplementary Data: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net assets applicable to common shareholders, end of period (000 omitted) | $ | 718,559 | $ | 622,562 | $ | 612,616 | $ | 482,924 | $ | 167,645 | $ | 197,185 | ||||||||||||
| Average net assets applicable to common shareholders (000 omitted) | $ | 686,066 | $ | 589,139 | $ | 513,100 | $ | 372,392 | $ | 195,544 | $ | 196,015 | ||||||||||||
| Gross operating expenses | 1.94 | %(d) | 2.16 | % | 2.04 | % | 1.85 | % | 1.99 | % | 1.78 | % | ||||||||||||
| Net operating expenses, net of fee waivers | 1.94 | %(d) | 2.16 | %(e) | 2.00 | %(e) | 1.83 | %(e) | 1.99 | %(e) | 1.78 | % | ||||||||||||
| Net operating expenses, net of fee waivers, excluding deferred tax expense | 1.62 | %(d) | 1.65 | % | 1.65 | % | 1.65 | % | 1.79 | % | 1.78 | % | ||||||||||||
| Net Investment income | 0.48 | %(d) | 0.90 | % | 0.73 | % | 1.36 | % | 0.20 | % | 0.92 | % | ||||||||||||
| Portfolio turnover | 24 | %(f) | 23 | % | 15 | %(g) | 28 | %(h) | 25 | % | 28 | % | ||||||||||||
| (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) | The total return shown includes the impact of financial statement rounding of the NAV per share and/or financial statement adjustments. | |
| (d) | Annualized. | |
| (e) | The Fund recorded deferred tax expense associated with its subsidiary’s investments in partnerships of $1,070,482, $3,007,019, $1,797,274, $654,810 and $402,135 for the six months period ended March 31, 2026 and the years ended, September 30, 2025, September 30, 2024, September 30, 2023 and September 30, 2022, respectively. | |
| (f) | Not annualized. | |
| (g) | The portfolio turnover calculation excludes $61,946,459 and $58,008,972 of proceeds received and cost of investments related to rebalancing the portfolio after the fund reorganization which occurred on September 20, 2024. | |
| (h) | The portfolio turnover calculation excludes $194,946,484 and $181,919,462 of proceeds received and cost of investments related to rebalancing the portfolio after the fund reorganization which occurred on March 10, 2023. |
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| For the Period Ended September 30, 2020(a) | ||||
| PER SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE(b): | ||||
| Net asset value per common share, beginning of period | $ | |||
| Net investment income | 0.02 | |||
| Net realized and unrealized gains/(losses) on investments and foreign currency transactions | (0.59 | ) | ||
| Total from investment operations applicable to common shareholders | (0.57 | ) | ||
| Net asset value per common share, end of period | $ | |||
| Market value, end of period | $ | |||
| Total Investment Return Based on(c)(e): | ||||
| Market value | (12.45 | )% | ||
| Net asset value | (2.85 | )% | ||
| Ratio to Average Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders/Supplementary Data: | ||||
| Net assets applicable to common shareholders, end of period (000 omitted) | $ | 172,015 | ||
| Average net assets applicable to common shareholders (000 omitted) | $ | 177,052 | ||
| Net operating expenses | 2.00 | %(d)(f) | ||
| Net investment income | 0.55 | %(d) | ||
| Portfolio turnover | 0.00 | %(e) | ||
| (a) | For the period from July 29, 2020 (commencement of operations) through September 30, 2020. |
| (b) | Based on average shares outstanding. |
| (c) | 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. |
| (d) | Annualized. |
| (e) | Not annualized. |
| (f) | The expense ratio is higher than the Fund anticipates for a typical fiscal year due to the short fiscal period covered by the report. |
Amounts listed as "–" are $0 or round to $0.
Senior Securities
The Fund does not currently have any senior securities outstanding.
THE FUND
The Fund is a diversified, closed-end management investment company registered under the 1940 Act. The Fund was organized as a statutory trust under the laws of the State of Maryland on November 13, 2019 and commenced operations on July 29, 2020.
abrdn Inc. (the “Adviser”) serves as the investment adviser to the Fund. abrdn Investments Limited (“aIL” or the “Subadviser”) serves as subadviser to the Fund. Each of the Adviser and Subadviser is a wholly-owned subsidiary of abrdn Holdings Limited and each an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Aberdeen Group plc, which manages approximately $527 billion in assets as of June 30, 2026. Each of the Adviser and Subadviser is registered with the SEC under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”).
USE OF PROCEEDS
The Fund registered $300,000,000 aggregate initial offering price of Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part. Unless otherwise specified in a Prospectus Supplement, the Fund intends to invest the net proceeds of an offering of Securities in accordance with its investment objective and policies as stated in this Prospectus. It is currently anticipated that the Fund will be able to invest substantially all of the net proceeds of an offering of Securities in accordance with its investment objective and policies within 30 days after the completion of such offering. Pending the full investment of the proceeds of an offering, it is anticipated that the net proceeds will be invested in fixed income securities and other permitted investments. See “Investment Objective and Policies”. A delay in the anticipated use of proceeds could lower returns and reduce the Fund’s distribution to Common Shareholders.
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INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing primarily in a portfolio of income-producing public and private infrastructure equity investments around the world.
Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets (plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) is invested in U.S. and non-U.S. infrastructure-related issuers. The Fund considers infrastructure-related issuers to be those engaged in the ownership, management, construction, development, operation, utilization or financing of assets in infrastructure-related industries, and includes issuers in the construction and engineering, construction materials, gas utilities, electric utilities, multi-utilities, water utilities, independent power and renewable electricity producers, diversified telecommunication services, wireless telecommunications services, media, transportation infrastructure, ground transportation, and oil, gas and consumable fuels industries, as identified by an independent third-party classification service, or issuers deemed by the Advisers to have similar infrastructure-related characteristics.
The Fund may invest in issuers located anywhere in the world, including issuers located in emerging markets. Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests in issuers from at least three different countries and invests at least 40% of its total assets (unless market conditions are not deemed favorable by the Advisers, in which case the Fund would invest at least 30% of its total assets) in non-US issuers. A company is considered a non-US issuer if Fund management determines that the company meets one or more of the following criteria:
| ● | the company is organized under the laws of a country outside the U.S.; | |
| ● | the company has its principal office in, or management is located in, a country outside the U.S.; and/or | |
| ● | the company has its principal securities trading market in a country outside the U.S. |
It is currently anticipated that, under normal circumstances, the Fund’s investments in emerging market issuers will not exceed 30% of the Fund’s total assets. At times, the Fund may have a significant amount of its assets invested in a country or geographic region. The Fund may invest in securities denominated in U.S. dollars and currencies of foreign countries.
The Fund’s investment portfolio generally will be comprised of the following:
| ● | Public Infrastructure Investments. The Fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 60%, and generally expects to invest approximately 75%, of its total assets in listed equity securities of infrastructure-related issuers. Equity securities in which the Fund invests include primarily common stocks, preferred stocks and depositary receipts. The Fund may invest in securities of any market capitalization. During the period of initial investment in Private Infrastructure Opportunities (defined below), the Fund may refrain from making new investments in Private Infrastructure Opportunities, if necessary, for liquidity purposes, and invest up to 100% of its total assets in public infrastructure investments. |
| ● | Private/Direct Infrastructure Investments. Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 10%, and currently intends to generally invest closer to 25%, of its total assets, measured at the time of investment, in infrastructure assets through private transactions (“Private Infrastructure Opportunities”). A “private transaction” means an investment in infrastructure assets through the purchase of securities in a transaction that is exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Private Infrastructure Opportunities include investments in: (i) sponsor vehicles created for the purpose of investing in private infrastructure companies or assets, as described below; (ii) equity or credit interests in private infrastructure operating companies; and (iii) to a lesser extent, private funds that invest in infrastructure assets. Private Infrastructure Opportunities may include investments alongside other funds or accounts advised by the Advisers or their affiliates in certain infrastructure assets (“Co-Investment Opportunities”) or on a stand-alone basis alongside other investors (“Stand-Alone Opportunities”). Unless and until the Fund receives an exemptive order from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) to co-invest in negotiated Co-Investment Opportunities (which cannot be assured), the Fund will only invest in Co-Investment Opportunities where the transaction is permitted under existing regulatory guidance, such as transactions in which price is the only negotiated term. Certain Co-Investment Opportunities and Stand-Alone Opportunities may be issued by sponsor vehicles structured, for administrative and/or tax purposes, as funds that would be investment companies but for the provisions of Section 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act (“sponsor vehicles”). Such sponsor vehicles do not generally have the same characteristics as funds relying on Section 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) that are commonly known as “private equity funds”. The Fund will not invest in funds commonly known as “private equity funds”. The Fund will invest no more than 15% of its net assets, measured at the time of investment, in all sponsor vehicles and no more than 3% of its net assets, measured at the time of investment, in a single sponsor vehicle. In addition, at all times, the Fund will own only a minority ownership interest (i.e., less than 50%) in any sponsor vehicle in which it invests. |
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The Fund may have a lower percentage of its total assets invested in Private Infrastructure Opportunities and a higher percentage of its assets invested in publicly listed infrastructure issuers during certain periods in the life-cycle of the Fund, such as during the period of initial investment in Private Infrastructure Opportunities. In addition, as the Fund disposes of individual Private Infrastructure Opportunities, the Fund will look to redeploy its capital into new Private Infrastructure Opportunities, which may be scarce.
In addition, the Fund may use derivative instruments from time to time, primarily to hedge currency exposure, although it is not required to do so. To the extent the Fund invests in derivative instruments that provide economic exposure to infrastructure-related issuers, such investments will be counted for purposes of the Fund’s 80% investment policy. The Fund will value derivatives based on market value or fair value for purposes of its 80% investment policy.
In selecting public infrastructure investments, the Advisers seek to invest in quality companies and are active, engaged owners. The Advisers evaluate a company against quality criteria and build conviction using a team-based approach and peer review process. The quality assessment covers five key factors: 1) the durability of the business model, 2) the attractiveness of the industry, 3) the strength of financials, 4) the capability of management, and 5) the most material environmental, social and governance factors impacting a company. The Advisers seek to understand what is changing in companies, industries and markets but is not being priced into the market or is being mispriced. Through fundamental research, supported by a global research presence, the Advisers seek to identify companies whose quality is not yet fully recognized by the market. As active equity investors, the Advisers use deep fundamental research and a disciplined investment process to pursue the Fund’s investment objective.
With respect to the Fund's private/direct infrastructure investments, the Advisers’ process combines their expertise developed over the last decade in sourcing, diligencing and monitoring Private Infrastructure Opportunities. The Advisers use this information, combined with first-hand research, a disciplined due diligence process and its experience and understanding of the infrastructure sector and the related risks, in order to select Private Infrastructure Opportunities that the Advisers believe will help it achieve the Fund's investment objective. The Advisers pursue Private Infrastructure Opportunities which they believe can generate incremental returns depending on the timing and quality of available opportunities.
The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in securities issued by companies that are not infrastructure companies. The Fund may also invest in debt securities, including short-term debt obligations, cash or cash equivalents.
The Fund intends to achieve the income component of its investment objective by investing in dividend-paying listed equity securities and Private Infrastructure Opportunities. The Fund’s income distributions are supplemented by realized capital gains and, to the extent necessary, paid-in capital, which is a nontaxable return of capital.
Unless otherwise stated, the Fund’s investment policies are non-fundamental policies and may be changed by the Board without prior shareholder approval. The Fund’s policy to invest at least 80% of its net assets (plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in U.S. and non-U.S. infrastructure-related issuers may be changed by the Board without shareholder approval; however, if this policy changes, the Fund will provide shareholders at least 60 days’ written notice before implementation of the change in compliance with SEC rules. Unless otherwise stated, these investment restrictions apply at the time of purchase; the Fund will not be required to reduce a position due solely to market price fluctuations.
The Fund may invest in money market mutual funds; cash; cash equivalents; securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its instrumentalities or agencies; high quality, short-term money market instruments; short-term debt securities; certificates of deposit; bankers' acceptances and other bank obligations; commercial paper or other liquid debt securities on a temporary basis to meet working capital needs, including, but not limited to, for collateral in connection with certain investment techniques, to hold a reserve pending payment of distributions and to facilitate the payment of expenses and settlement of trades. Under adverse market or economic conditions, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its total assets in these securities on a temporary basis. To the extent the Fund invests in these securities, the Fund may not achieve its investment objective.
Leverage. The Fund currently does not intend to borrow money or issue debt securities or preferred shares. The Fund is, however, permitted to borrow money or issue debt securities in an amount up to 33⅓% of the value of the Fund’s total assets, and issue preferred shares in an amount up to 50% of its total assets. Although it has no present intention to do so, the Fund reserves the right to borrow money from banks or other financial institutions, or issue debt securities or preferred shares, in the future if it believes that market conditions would be conducive to the successful implementation of a leveraging strategy through borrowing money or issuing debt securities or preferred shares.
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Under the Investment Company Act, the Fund is not permitted to issue senior securities if, immediately after the issuance of such senior securities, the Fund would have an asset coverage ratio (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of less than 300% with respect to senior securities representing indebtedness (i.e., for every dollar of indebtedness outstanding, the Fund is required to have at least three dollars of assets) or less than 200% with respect to senior securities representing preferred stock (i.e., for every dollar of preferred stock outstanding, the Fund is required to have at least two dollars of assets). The Investment Company Act also provides that the Fund may not declare distributions or purchase its stock (including through tender offers) if, immediately after doing so, it will have an asset coverage ratio of less than 300% or 200%, as applicable. However, certain short-term borrowings (such as for cash management purposes) are not subject to the 33⅓% limitation if (i) repaid within 60 days, (ii) not extended or renewed and (iii) not in excess of 5% of the total assets of the Fund.
There can be no assurance that a leveraging strategy will be successful during any period in which it is used. The use of leverage creates an opportunity for increased income and capital appreciation for common shareholders, but at the same time creates special risks that may adversely affect common shareholders. Because the Fund’s management fee is based upon a percentage of its Managed Assets, the management fee would be higher when the Fund is leveraged. Therefore, the Advisers have a financial incentive to use leverage, which will create a conflict of interest between the Advisers and the common shareholders, who will bear the costs of the Fund’s leverage, during periods in which it is used.
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER
The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate may vary from year to year. A high portfolio turnover rate increases a fund’s transaction costs (including brokerage commissions and dealer costs), which would adversely impact a fund’s performance. Higher portfolio turnover may result in the realization of more short-term capital gains than if a fund had lower portfolio turnover.
INVESTMENT SECURITIES
The information contained under the heading “Additional Information Regarding the Fund—Investment Securities” in the Fund’s Annual Report is incorporated herein by reference.
Risk factors
The information contained under the heading “Additional Information Regarding the Fund—Risk Factors” in the Fund’s Annual Report, except for the disclosure under the heading “Operational Risks—Limited Term and Tender Offer Risk,” is incorporated herein by reference. Investors should consider the specific risk factors and special considerations associated with investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of your entire investment.
A Prospectus Supplement relating to an offering of the Fund’s securities may identify additional risks associated with such offering.
The following information supplements the section “Additional Information Regarding the Fund—Risk Factors—Infrastructure-Related Investments Risk” in the Fund’s Annual Report.
Developing Industries Risk. Some infrastructure-related issuers, such as those involved in projects that support the development of artificial intelligence (“AI”) and data centers, are focused on developing new technologies and are strongly influenced by technological changes. Product development efforts by such issuers may not result in viable commercial products. These issuers may bear high research and development costs, which can limit their ability to maintain operations during periods of organizational growth or instability. Some infrastructure-related issuers in which the Fund invests may be in the early stages of operations and may have limited operating histories and smaller market capitalizations on average than issuers in other sectors. As a result of these and other factors, the value of investments in such issuers may be considerably more volatile than that in more established segments of the economy.
The following information supplements the section “Additional Information Regarding the Fund—Risk Factors—Industry Specific Risks” in the Fund’s Annual Report.
Utility Sector Risk. During periods of rising interest rates, the value of securities issued by utilities companies typically decreases, and vice versa. In most countries and localities, the utilities sector is regulated by governmental entities, which can increase costs and delays for new projects and make it difficult to pass increased costs on to consumers. In certain areas, deregulation of utilities has resulted in increased competition and reduced profitability for certain companies, and increased the risk that a particular company will become bankrupt or fail completely. Reduced profitability, as well as new uses for or additional need of funds (such as for expansion, operations or stock buybacks), could result in reduced dividend payout rates for utilities companies. In addition, utilities companies face the risk of increases in the cost and reduced availability of fuel (such as oil, coal, natural gas or nuclear energy) and potentially high interest costs for borrowing to finance new projects. The rapid growth of data centers and AI-related computing infrastructure is driving significant incremental demand for electric power, which may strain existing generation and transmission capacity, increase energy costs, and create grid pressures. Utilities that are unable to meet this growing demand, or that face delays in permitting, interconnection, or capacity additions, may experience adverse effects on their operations and financial performance.
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Energy Infrastructure Sector Risk. The Fund is subject to adverse economic, environmental, business, regulatory or other occurrences affecting the energy infrastructure sector. The energy infrastructure sector has historically experienced substantial price volatility. Companies operating in the energy infrastructure sector are subject to specific risks that could cause the value of the Fund to decline, including, among others: a downturn in one or more industries within the energy sector; fluctuations in commodity prices; fluctuations in consumer demand for commodities such as oil, natural gas or petroleum products; fluctuations in the supply of oil, natural gas or other commodities for transporting, processing, storing or delivering; slowdowns in new construction; extreme weather or other natural disasters; pandemics; wars and armed conflicts in geographic areas where energy infrastructures are concentrated; and threats of terrorist attacks. Additionally, changes in economic conditions of key energy producing and consuming countries, domestic and foreign government regulations (including policies designed to reduce carbon emissions and/or address climate change), international politics, policies of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), taxation and tariffs may adversely impact the profitability of energy infrastructure companies. Moreover, energy infrastructure companies may incur environmental costs and liabilities due to the nature of their businesses and substances handled. Over time, depletion of natural gas reserves and other energy reserves may also affect the profitability of energy infrastructure companies. The rapid expansion of AI computing and data center capacity is generating significant new demand for power generation, transmission, and fuel supply infrastructure. Energy infrastructure companies that serve or seek to serve this growing market may face additional risks, including uncertainty regarding the pace and scale of data center power demand, potential shifts in the types of generation favored by data center operators (such as nuclear, natural gas, or renewable energy), delays in grid interconnection and permitting, and exposure to the capital expenditure cycles of a concentrated group of hyperscale technology customers. A slowdown in AI adoption, advances in AI model efficiency that reduce power intensity, or a broader reassessment of commercial returns from AI deployment could reduce the anticipated demand for energy infrastructure investments, adversely affecting the revenues and valuations of energy infrastructure companies in which the Fund invests.
Management of the Fund
Board of Trustees
The management of the Fund, including general supervision of the duties performed by the Adviser, is the responsibility of the Board under the laws of the State of Maryland and the 1940 Act.
The Adviser and Subadviser
abrdn Inc., the Fund’s investment adviser, is located at 1900 Market Street, Suite 200, Philadelphia, PA 19103 and is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Aberdeen Group plc (formerly known as abrdn plc), which manages approximately $527 billion in assets as of June 30, 2026. Aberdeen Group plc and its affiliates (collectively, “Aberdeen”) provide asset management and investment solutions for clients and customers worldwide and also have a strong position in the pensions and savings market.
abrdn Investments Limited (“aIL”), is located at 1 George Street, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, EH2 2LL and is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Aberdeen Group plc.
Advisory Agreements
The Fund and the Adviser are parties to an advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”). Under the Advisory Agreement, the Fund appoints the Adviser to act as investment adviser to the Fund in accordance with the stated investment policies and restrictions of the Fund as set forth in the Fund’s registration statement.
The Adviser, the Sub-Adviser and the Fund are parties to a sub-advisory agreement (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement”). Under the Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Sub-Adviser is responsible for the investment management of the Fund’s assets subject to the supervision of the Adviser and the Board.
As compensation for its services to the Fund, abrdn Inc. receives an investment advisory fee based on the Fund’s average daily Managed Assets, computed daily and payable monthly, at the following annual rate: 1.35% of the Fund’s average daily Managed Assets up to $500 million, 1.30% of the Fund’s average daily Managed Assets between $500 million and $1 billion, and 1.25% of the Fund’s average daily Managed Assets in excess of $1 billion. Under the Subadvisory Agreement, the Subadviser will be entitled to 65% of the advisory fee received, after fee waivers and expense reimbursements, if any, by the Adviser. The subadvisory fee payable to the Subadviser will be paid by the Adviser out of the management fees it receives from the Fund; accordingly, decisions to increase or decrease the portion of assets allocated to the Subadviser will not affect the fees the Fund pays for portfolio management services.
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The Fund pays all of its other expenses including, among others, legal fees and expenses of counsel to the Fund and the Fund’s independent trustees; insurance (including trustees’ and officers’ errors and omissions insurance); auditing and accounting expenses; taxes and governmental fees; listing fees; dues and expenses incurred in connection with membership in investment company organizations; fees and expenses of the Fund’s custodians, administrators, transfer agents, registrars and other service providers; expenses for portfolio pricing services by a pricing agent, if any; other expenses in connection with the issuance, offering and underwriting of shares or debt instruments issued by the Fund or with the securing of any credit facility or other loans for the Fund; expenses relating to investor and public relations; expenses of registering or qualifying securities of the Fund for public sale; brokerage commissions and other costs of acquiring or disposing of any portfolio holding of the Fund; expenses of preparation and distribution of reports, notices and dividends to shareholders; expenses of the dividend reinvestment and optional cash purchase plan (except for brokerage expenses paid by participants in such plan); compensation and expenses of trustees; costs of stationery; any litigation expenses; and costs of shareholders’ and other meetings.
The Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements with abrdn Inc. and aIL, respectively, were effective for an initial term of two years and may be continued thereafter from year to year provided such continuance is specifically approved at least annually in the manner required by the 1940 Act. The Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements may be terminated at any time without payment of penalty by the Fund or by aIL upon 60 days’ written notice. The Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment, as defined under the 1940 Act. Under the Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements, abrdn Inc. and aIL are permitted to provide investment advisory services to other clients. Information regarding the basis of the Board’s approval of the investment advisory and sub-advisory agreements with abrdn Inc. and aIL, respectively, is available in the Fund’s annual shareholder report for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025.
In rendering investment advisory services to the Fund, aIL and abrdn Inc. may use the resources of subsidiaries owned by Aberdeen Group plc. The Aberdeen Group plc affiliates have entered into a memorandum of understanding/personnel sharing procedures pursuant to which investment professionals from the Aberdeen Group plc affiliates may render portfolio management, research and/or trade services to U.S. clients of aIL or abrdn Inc.
The Administrator
abrdn Inc., located at 1900 Market Street, Suite 200, Philadelphia, PA 19103, serves as administrator to the Fund. Under the administration agreement, abrdn Inc. is generally responsible for managing the administrative affairs of the Fund.
For administration related services, abrdn Inc. is entitled to receive a fee that is computed monthly and paid quarterly at an annual rate of 0.08% of the Fund’s average monthly net assets.
State Street Bank and Trust Company serves as sub-administrator of the Fund and is paid by abrdn Inc. out of the fees it receives as the Fund’s administrator.
Investor Relations
Under the terms of the Amended and Restated Investor Relations Services Agreement approved by the Fund’s Board, abrdn Inc. provides and pays third parties to provide investor relations services to the Fund and certain other funds advised by the Adviser or its affiliates as part of an Investor Relations Program. Under the Amended and Restated Investor Relations Services Agreement, the Fund owes a portion of the fees related to the Investor Relations Program (the “Fund’s Portion”). However, investor relations services fees are limited by abrdn Inc. so that the Fund will only pay up to an annual rate of 0.05% of the Fund’s average weekly net assets. Any difference between the capped rate of 0.05% of the Fund’s average weekly net assets and the Fund’s Portion is paid for by abrdn Inc.
Pursuant to the terms of the Amended and Restated Investor Relations Services Agreement, abrdn Inc. (or third parties engaged by abrdn Inc.), among other things, provides objective and timely information to shareholders based on publicly available information; provides information efficiently through the use of technology while offering shareholders immediate access to knowledgeable investor relations representatives; develops and maintains effective communications with investment professionals from a wide variety of firms; creates and maintains investor relations communication materials such as fund manager interviews, films and webcasts, publishes white papers, magazine articles and other relevant materials discussing the Fund’s investment results, portfolio positioning and outlook; develops and maintains effective communications with large institutional shareholders; responds to specific shareholder questions; and reports activities and results to the Board and management detailing insight into general shareholder sentiment.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
As of the date of this Prospectus, the Fund, the Adviser and the Subadviser are not currently parties to any material legal proceedings.
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NET ASSET VALUE OF COMMON SHARES
The NAV of the Fund’s Common Shares is determined each day the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open as of the close of regular trading (normally, 4:00 p.m., Eastern time). The Fund follows the principles set forth under the heading “Notes to Financial Statements—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies—Security Valuation” in the Fund’s Annual Report, which is incorporated herein by reference, to determine the value of the Fund’s portfolio holdings.
DISTRIBUTIONS
The Board has authorized a managed distribution policy (“MDP”) of paying monthly distributions equal to 12% on an annual basis of the average daily NAV as of the month-end prior to declaration. Under the MDP, distributions to shareholders may include net investment income, realized capital gains or, if necessary, returns of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the money that shareholders invested in the Fund is paid back to them. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund’s investment performance and should not be confused with “income” or “yield.” No conclusions should be drawn about the Fund’s investment performance from the amount of the Fund’s distributions or from the terms of the MDP.
The Fund is covered under exemptive relief received by the Fund’s investment adviser from the SEC that allows the Fund to distribute long-term capital gains as frequently as monthly in any one taxable year (the “Section 19(b) Order”). With each distribution, the Fund will issue a notice to shareholders and an accompanying press release which will provide detailed information regarding the amount and composition of the distribution and other information as required by the Section 19(b) Order. The Fund’s Board may amend or terminate the MDP at any time without prior notice to shareholders; however, at this time, there are no reasonably foreseeable circumstances that might cause the termination of the MDP. You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund’s investment performance from the amount of distributions or from the terms of the Fund’s MDP.
The Section 19(b) Order permitting the adoption of the MDP requires the Fund to adhere to certain conditions with respect to public offerings. The Section 19(b) Order requires that the Fund will not make a public offering of the Fund’s Common Shares other than: (i) a rights offering that is below NAV to holders of the Fund’s Common Shares; (ii) an offering in connection with a dividend reinvestment plan, merger, consolidation, acquisition, spin off or reorganization of the Fund; or (iii) an offering in which the Fund’s annualized distribution rate for the six months ending on the last day of the month ended immediately prior to the most recent distribution record date, expressed as a percentage of NAV as of such date, is no more than 1 percentage point greater than the Fund’s average annual total return for the 5-year period ending on such date and the transmittal letter accompanying any registration statement filed with the SEC in connection with the offering discloses that the Fund has an managed distribution policy exemptive order. Any offer under this Prospectus will comply with the conditions of the Section 19(b) Order.
Under applicable U.S. tax rules, the amount and character of distributable income for each fiscal year can only be determined as of the end of the Fund’s fiscal year, September 30. Under Section 19 of the 1940 Act, the Fund is required to indicate the sources of certain distributions to shareholders. The estimated distribution composition may vary from month to month because it may be impacted by future income, expenses and realized gains and losses on securities and fluctuations in the value of the currencies in which Fund assets are denominated.
TAX MATTERS
The following is (i) a description of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning and disposing of Common Shares and (ii) a description of some of the important U.S. federal income tax considerations affecting the Fund. The discussion below provides general tax information related to an investment in Common Shares, but this discussion does not purport to be a complete description of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in such securities. It is based on the Code and United States Treasury Regulations and administrative pronouncements, all as of the date hereof, any of which is subject to change or differing interpretation, possibly with retroactive effect. In addition, it does not describe all of the tax consequences that may be relevant in light of a Common Shareholder’s particular circumstances, including alternative minimum tax consequences and tax consequences applicable to Common Shareholders subject to special tax rules, such as certain financial institutions; dealers or traders in securities who use a mark-to-market method of tax accounting; persons holding Common Shares as part of a hedging transaction, wash sale, conversion transaction or integrated transaction or persons entering into a constructive sale with respect to the Common Shares; entities classified as partnerships or other pass-through entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes; real estate investment trusts; insurance companies; U.S. holders (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar; or tax-exempt entities, including “individual retirement accounts” or “Roth IRAs.” Unless otherwise noted, the following discussion applies only to a Common Shareholder that holds Common Shares as a capital asset and is a U.S. holder. A “U.S. holder” is a holder who, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is a beneficial owner of Common Shares and is (i) an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States; (ii) a corporation, or other entity taxable as a corporation, created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state therein or the District of Columbia; (iii) an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or (iv) a trust if it (x) is subject to the primary supervision of a court within the United States and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (y) has a valid election in effect under applicable United States Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person. Tax laws are complex and often change, and Common Shareholders should consult their tax advisors about the U.S. federal, state, local or non-U.S. tax consequences of an investment in the Fund. For more information, please see the section of the SAI entitled “Tax Matters.”
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The Fund
The Fund has elected to be treated as and intends to continue to qualify in each taxable year as a regulated investment company (a “RIC”) under Subchapter M of the Code. Assuming the Fund so qualifies and satisfies certain distribution requirements, the Fund generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on income distributed (including amounts that are reinvested pursuant to the Plan) in a timely manner to its shareholders in the form of dividends or capital gain distributions. If the Fund retains any net capital gains for reinvestment, it may elect to treat such capital gains as having been distributed to its shareholders. If the Fund makes such an election, each Common Shareholder will be required to report its share of such undistributed net capital gain as long-term capital gain and will be entitled to claim its share of the U.S. federal income taxes paid by the Fund on such undistributed net capital gain as a credit against its own U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, and to claim a refund on a properly filed U.S. federal income tax return to the extent that the credit exceeds such liability. In addition, each Common Shareholder will be entitled to increase the adjusted tax basis of its Common Shares by the difference between its share of such undistributed net capital gain and the related credit. There can be no assurance that the Fund will make this election if it retains all or a portion of its net capital gain for a taxable year.
To qualify as a RIC for any taxable year, the Fund must, among other things, satisfy both an income test and an asset test for such taxable year. Specifically, (i) at least 90% of the Fund’s gross income for such taxable year must consist of dividends; interest; payments with respect to certain securities loans; gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies; other income (including, but not limited to, gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies; and net income derived from interests in “qualified publicly traded partnerships” (such income, “Qualifying RIC Income”) and (ii) the Fund’s holdings must be diversified so that, at the end of each quarter of such taxable year, (a) at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets is represented by cash and cash items, securities of other RICs, U.S. government securities and other securities, with such other securities limited, in respect of any one issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and not greater than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer and (b) not more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets is invested (x) in securities (other than U.S. government securities or securities of other RICs) of any one issuer or of two or more issuers that the Fund controls and that are engaged in the same, similar or related trades or businesses or (y) in the securities of one or more “qualified publicly traded partnerships.” The Fund’s share of income derived from a partnership other than a “qualified publicly traded partnership” will be treated as Qualifying RIC Income only to the extent that such income would have constituted Qualifying RIC Income if derived directly by the Fund. A “qualified publicly traded partnership” is generally defined as an entity that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes if (i) interests in such entity are traded on an established securities market or are readily tradable on a secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof and (ii) less than 90% of its gross income for the relevant taxable year consists of Qualifying RIC Income. The Code provides that the Treasury Department may by regulation exclude from Qualifying RIC Income foreign currency gains that are not directly related to the RIC’s principal business of investing in stock or securities (or options and futures with respect to stock or securities). The Fund anticipates that, in general, its foreign currency gains will be directly related to its principal business of investing in stock and securities.
Investments in Partnerships
The Fund may invest in unregistered funds and other entities properly treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes (other than qualified publicly traded partnerships). An entity that is properly classified as a partnership (and not an association or publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation) is generally not itself subject to federal income tax. Instead, each partner of the partnership is required to take into account its distributive share of the partnership’s net capital gain or loss, net short-term capital gain or loss, and its other items of ordinary income or loss (including all items of income, gain, loss and deduction allocable to that partnership from investments in other partnerships) for each taxable year of the partnership ending with or within the partner’s taxable year. Each such item will have the same character to a partner and will generally have the same source (either United States or foreign), as though the partner realized the item directly. Partners of a partnership must report these items regardless of the extent to which, or whether, the partners receive cash distributions with respect to such items. Accordingly, the Fund may be required to recognize items of taxable income and gain prior to the time that any corresponding cash distributions are made to the Fund (including in circumstances where investments by an underlying partnership, such as investments in debt instrument with “original issue discount,” generate income prior to a corresponding receipt of cash). In such case, the Fund may have to dispose of assets that it would otherwise have continued to hold in order to generate cash for distributions to Fund shareholders. In addition, the Fund may have to dispose of an investment in a partnership or devise other methods of cure (such as holding the investment through a taxable subsidiary), to the extent the partnership earns income of a type that is not qualifying income for purposes of the gross income test or holds assets that could cause the Fund not to satisfy the RIC asset diversification tests.
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Any distribution by a partnership to the Fund in excess of the Fund’s allocable share of the partnership’s net taxable income will decrease the Fund's tax basis in its partnership interest and will therefore increase the amount of gain (or decrease the amount of loss) that will be recognized by the Fund on the disposition of its partnership interest.
A portion of any gain or loss recognized by the Fund on a disposition of a partnership interest (or by a partnership on a disposition of an underlying asset) may be separately computed and treated as ordinary income or loss under the Code to the extent attributable to assets of the partnership that give rise to depreciation recapture, intangible drilling and development cost recapture, or other “unrealized receivables” or “inventory items” under the Code. Any such gain may exceed net taxable gain realized on the disposition and will be recognized even if there is a net taxable loss on the disposition. The Fund’s net capital losses may only be used to offset capital gains and therefore cannot be used to offset gains that are treated as ordinary income. Thus, the Fund could recognize both gain that is treated as ordinary income and a capital loss on a disposition of a partnership interest (or on a partnership’s disposition of an underlying asset) and would not be able to use the capital loss to offset that gain. Any capital losses that the Fund recognizes on a disposition of a partnership interest can only be used to offset capital gains that the Fund recognizes. Any capital losses that the Fund is unable to use may be carried forward to reduce its capital gains in later years.
The Fund may invest a portion of the assets allocated to the Private Infrastructure Opportunities indirectly through one or more wholly owned subsidiaries formed in one or more jurisdictions and treated as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes (each, a “Blocker Corporation,” and together, the “Blocker Corporations”). The Fund may invest indirectly through a Blocker Corporation if it believes it is desirable to do so to comply with the requirements for qualification as a RIC under the Code.
For example, the Fund may hold equity interests in an operating company conducted in “pass-through” form (i.e., as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) through a taxable domestic Blocker Corporation because such an investment, if made directly, would produce income that is not qualifying income for a RIC. Any Blocker Corporation organized in the United States will generally be subject to U.S. federal, state and local income tax at corporate rates on its taxable income, which taxes (and any other taxes borne by subsidiaries) would adversely affect the returns from investments held through the Blocker Corporation. In general, in order to comply with the diversification requirements under Subchapter M of the Code, the Fund may not invest more than 25% of the value of its assets in the stock of one or more Blocker Corporations that are engaged in the same or similar or related trades or businesses.
Owning and Disposing of Common Shares
Distributions of the Fund’s ordinary income and net short-term capital gains will generally be taxable to the Common Shareholders as ordinary income to the extent such distributions are paid out of the Fund’s current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Distributions or deemed distributions, if any, of net capital gains will be taxable as long-term capital gains, regardless of the length of time the Common Shareholder has owned Common Shares. Distributions made to a non-corporate Common Shareholder out of “qualified dividend income,” if any, received by the Fund will be subject to tax at reduced maximum rates, provided that the Common Shareholder meets certain holding period and other requirements with respect to its Common Shares. A distribution of an amount in excess of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits will be treated by a Common Shareholder as a return of capital that will be applied against and reduce the Common Shareholder’s basis in its Common Shares. To the extent that the amount of any such distribution exceeds the Common Shareholder’s basis in its Common Shares, the excess will be treated as gain from a sale or exchange of the Common Shares. Distributions will be treated in the manner described above regardless of whether such distributions are paid in cash or invested in additional Common Shares pursuant to the Plan.
A Common Shareholder may recognize a capital gain or loss on the sale or other disposition of Common Shares. The amount of the gain or loss will be equal to the difference between the amount realized and the Common Shareholder’s adjusted tax basis in the relevant Common Shares. Such gain or loss generally will be a long-term gain or loss if the Common Shareholder’s holding period for such Common Shares is more than one (1) year. Under current law, net capital gains recognized by non-corporate Common Shareholders are generally subject to reduced maximum rates. Losses realized by a Common Shareholder on the sale or exchange of Common Shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term capital losses to the extent of any distribution of long-term capital gain received (or deemed received, as discussed above) with respect to such Common Shares. In addition, no loss will be allowed on a sale or other disposition of Common Shares if the Common Shareholder acquires (including pursuant to the Plan) Common Shares within 30 days before or after the disposition. In such a case, the basis of the securities acquired will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.
An additional 3.8% Medicare tax is imposed on certain net investment income (including ordinary dividends and capital gain distributions received from the Fund and net gains from redemptions or other taxable dispositions of Fund Common Shares) of U.S. individuals, estates and trusts to the extent that such person’s “modified adjusted gross income” (in the case of an individual) or “adjusted gross income” (in the case of an estate or trust) exceeds certain threshold amounts.
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Non-U.S. Common Shareholders
If a Common Shareholder is a nonresident alien, a foreign trust or estate or a foreign corporation, as defined for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (a “non-U.S. Common Shareholder”) whose ownership of Common Shares is not “effectively connected” with a U.S. trade or business, ordinary income dividends distributed to such non-U.S. Common Shareholder by the Fund will generally be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at a rate of 30% (or a lower rate under an applicable treaty). Net capital gain dividends distributed by the Fund to a non-U.S. Common Shareholder whose ownership of Common Shares is not “effectively connected” with a U.S. trade or business and who is not an individual present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year will generally not be subject to U.S. withholding tax. For a more detailed discussion of the tax consequences of the ownership of Common Shares by a non-U.S. Common Shareholder, please see the discussion in the SAI under “Tax Matters — Non-U.S. Common Shareholders.”
Backup Withholding
If a Common Shareholder does not provide the applicable payor with its correct taxpayer identification number and any required certifications, such Common Shareholder may be subject to backup withholding (currently, at a rate of 24%) on the distributions it receives (or is deemed to receive) from the Fund. Backup withholding will not, however, be applied to payments that have been subject to the 30% withholding tax applicable to non-U.S. Common Shareholder.
Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act
In addition, the Fund is required to withhold U.S. tax (at a 30% rate) on payments of taxable dividends made to certain non-U.S. entities that fail to comply (or be deemed compliant) with extensive reporting and withholding requirements designed to inform the U.S. Department of the Treasury of U.S.-owned foreign investment accounts. To avoid withholding, foreign financial institutions will need to (i) enter into agreements with the IRS that state that they will provide the IRS information, including the names, addresses and taxpayer identification numbers of direct and indirect U.S. account holders, comply with due diligence procedures with respect to the identification of U.S. accounts, report to the IRS certain information with respect to U.S. accounts maintained, agree to withhold tax on certain payments made to non-compliant foreign financial institutions or to account holders who fail to provide the required information, and determine certain other information as to their account holders, or (ii) in the event that an applicable intergovernmental agreement and implementing legislation are adopted, provide local revenue authorities with similar account holder information. Other foreign entities will need to either provide the name, address, and taxpayer identification number of each substantial U.S. owner or certifications of no substantial U.S. ownership unless certain exceptions apply. Under some circumstances, a non-U.S. Common Shareholder may be eligible for refunds or credits of such taxes.
CLOSED-END FUND STRUCTURE
Closed-end funds differ from open-end management investment companies (commonly referred to as mutual funds) in that closed-end funds generally list their shares for trading on a securities exchange and do not redeem their shares at the option of the shareholder. By comparison, mutual funds issue securities redeemable at NAV at the option of the shareholder and typically engage in a continuous offering of their shares. Mutual funds are subject to continuous asset in-flows and out-flows that can complicate portfolio management, whereas closed-end funds generally can stay more fully invested in securities consistent with the closed-end fund’s investment objectives and policies. In addition, in comparison to open-end funds, closed-end funds have greater flexibility in the employment of financial leverage and in the ability to make certain types of investments, including investments in illiquid securities.
However, shares of closed-end funds frequently trade at a discount from their NAV. In recognition of the possibility that the Common Shares might trade at a discount to NAV and that any such discount may not be in the interest of Common Shareholders, the Board, in consultation with the Adviser, from time to time may review possible actions to reduce any such discount. The Board approved an open market share repurchase program (the “Program”) for the Fund. The Program allows the Fund to purchase, in the open market, its outstanding Common Shares, with the amount and timing of any repurchase determined at the discretion of the Fund's investment adviser. Such purchases may be made opportunistically at certain discounts to NAV per share in the reasonable judgment of management based on historical discount levels and current market conditions.
On a quarterly basis, the Fund’s Board will receive information on any transactions made pursuant to this policy during the prior quarter and if shares are repurchased management will post the number of shares repurchased on the Fund's website on a monthly basis. Under the terms of the Program, the Fund is permitted to repurchase up to 10% of its outstanding Common Shares in the open market during any 12-month period. There can be no assurance, however, that the Board will decide to undertake any of these actions or that, if undertaken, such actions would result in the Common Shares trading at a price equal to or close to NAV.
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The Board might also consider the conversion of the Fund to an open-end mutual fund, which would also require a vote of the shareholders of the Fund. Conversion of the Fund to an open-end mutual fund would require approval of such a proposal, together with the necessary amendments to the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust to permit such a conversion, by a majority of the Trustees then in office, by the holders of not less than 75% of the Trust’s outstanding Shares entitled to vote thereon and by such vote or votes of the holders of any class or classes or series of Shares as may be required by the 1940 Act. Closed-end funds are not required to have any limitation or restrictions on investments in illiquid securities, whereas open-end funds typically cannot have more than 15% of their net assets in illiquid securities in order to meet redemptions upon request by shareholders. Thus, if the Fund were to convert to an open-end fund, it would have to adopt a limitation on illiquid securities and revise its investment objective, strategies and policies. The composition of the Fund’s portfolio and/or its investment policies could prohibit the Fund from complying with regulations of the SEC applicable to open-end management investment funds absent significant changes in portfolio holdings, including with respect to certain illiquid securities, and investment policies. The Board believes, however, that the closed-end structure is desirable, given the Fund’s investment objective, strategies and policies. See “Description of Capital Structure.”
DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT AND OPTIONAL CASH PURCHASE PLAN
The information contained under the heading “Dividend Reinvestment and Optional Cash Purchase Plan” in the Fund’s Annual Report is incorporated herein by reference.
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STRUCTURE
The Fund was organized as a statutory trust under the laws of the State of Maryland on November 13, 2019 pursuant to a Declaration of Trust, which was amended and restated as of June 18, 2020 and further amended on May 27, 2026 (“Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust”). The Fund intends to hold annual meetings of shareholders so long as the Common Shares are listed on a national securities exchange and such meetings are required as a condition to such listing.
General
Set forth below is information with respect to the Fund’s outstanding securities as of September 1, 2026:
| Title of Class | Amount Authorized |
Amount Held by the Fund or for its Account |
Amount Outstanding Exclusive of Common Shares Held by the Fund or for its Own Account |
||||
General
The Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust authorizes the Fund to issue up to 100,000,000 Common Shares of beneficial interest, $0.001 par value per share. The Board may, without any action by the Fund’s shareholders, amend the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust from time to time to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of beneficial interest or the number of shares of beneficial interest of any class or series that the Fund has authority to issue under the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust and under the 1940 Act. In addition, the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust authorizes the Board of Trustees, without any action by the Fund’s shareholders, to classify and reclassify any unissued Common Shares and preferred shares into other classes or series of shares of beneficial interest by amending or supplementing the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust to set or change the terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption for each class or series. Although the Fund does not have a present intention of doing so, the Fund could issue a class or series of shares that could delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change in control of the Fund that might otherwise be in the shareholders’ best interests. Under applicable Maryland law and the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, shareholders generally are not liable for the Fund’s debts or obligations.
All Common Shares offered pursuant to this prospectus
will be, upon issuance, duly authorized, fully paid and nonassessable. All Common Shares offered pursuant to this prospectus will be of
the same class and will have identical rights, as described below. Holders of Common Shares are entitled to receive distributions when
authorized by the Board and declared by the Fund out of assets legally available for the payment of distributions.
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Limitations on Distributions
If any preferred shares are outstanding, holders of Common Shares will not be entitled to receive any distributions from the Fund unless the Fund has paid all accumulated distributions on preferred shares and unless asset coverage (as defined in the 1940 Act) with respect to preferred shares would be at least 200% after giving effect to such distributions.
If any senior securities representing indebtedness are outstanding, holders of Common Shares will not be entitled to receive any distributions from the Fund, unless the Fund has paid all accrued interest on such indebtedness and unless asset coverage (as defined in the 1940 Act) with respect to any outstanding indebtedness would be at least 300% after giving effect to such distributions. See “Leverage.”
Liquidation Rights
Common shareholders are entitled to share ratably in the assets legally available for distribution to shareholders in the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up, after payment of or adequate provision for all known debts and liabilities, including any outstanding debt securities or other borrowings and any interest accrued thereon. These rights are subject to the preferential rights of any other class or series of the Fund’s shares of beneficial interest, including any preferred shares. The rights of common shareholders upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up would be subordinated to the rights of senior securities representing indebtedness and, if any, the holders of any preferred shares with preferential rights.
Voting Rights
Each outstanding common share entitles the holder to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders, including the election of Trustees. The presence of the holders, in person or by proxy, of shares of beneficial interest entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast (without regard to class) will constitute a quorum at a meeting of shareholders, except with respect to any matter that, under applicable statutes or regulatory requirements of the Declaration of Trust, requires approval by a separate vote of the holders of one or more classes of shares of beneficial interest, in which case the presence in person or by proxy of the holders of shares of beneficial interest entitled to case a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by each such class on such a matter shall constitute a quorum. The Declaration of Trust provides that, except as otherwise provided in the Bylaws, Trustees will be elected by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of beneficial interest outstanding and entitled to vote thereon. The Bylaws provide that Trustees are elected by a plurality of all the votes cast at a meeting of shareholders duly called and at which a quorum is present. There is no cumulative voting in the election of Trustees. Consequently, at each annual meeting of shareholders, the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of beneficial interest entitled to vote will be able to elect all of the successors of the class of Trustees whose terms expire at that meeting. Pursuant to the 1940 Act, holders of preferred shares will have the right to elect two Trustees at all times. Pursuant to the Declaration of Trust and Bylaws, the Board of Trustees may amend the Bylaws to alter the vote required to elect Trustees.
Under the rules of the NYSE applicable to listed companies, the Fund is required to hold an annual meeting of shareholders in each fiscal year. If the Fund is converted to an open-end company or if for any other reason the shares are no longer listed on the NYSE (or any other national securities exchange the rules of which require annual meetings of shareholders), the Fund may amend its Bylaws so that the Fund is not otherwise required to hold annual meetings of shareholders.
Market
The Fund’s Common Shares are listed on the NYSE under the trading or “ticker” symbol “ASGI.”
Transfer Agent, Dividend Paying Agent and Dividend Reinvestment Plan Agent
Computershare Trust Company, N.A. / Computershare Inc., P.O. Box 30170, College Station, Texas 77842-3170, serves as the transfer agent and agent for the Plan for the Fund’s Common Shares and the dividend paying agent for the Fund’s Common Shares.
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Common Share Price Data
The Fund’s Common Shares are publicly held and are listed and traded on the NYSE. The following table sets forth for the fiscal quarters indicated the highest and lowest daily prices during the applicable quarter at the close of market on the NYSE per Common Share along with (i) the highest and lowest closing NAV and (ii) the highest and lowest premium or discount from NAV represented by such prices at the close of the market on the NYSE.
| NYSE Market Price (1) | NAV at NYSE Market Price (1) | Market
Premium/(Discount) to NAV on Date of NYSE Market Price (1) |
||||||||||||||||||
| Quarter Ended | High | Low | High | Low | High | Low | ||||||||||||||
| June 30, 2026(2) | $ | $ | $ | $ | % | ( |
)% | |||||||||||||
| March 31, 2026 | $ | $ | $ | $ | % | ( |
)% | |||||||||||||
| December 31, 2025 | $ | $ | $ | $ | % | ( |
)% | |||||||||||||
| September 30, 2025 | $ | $ | $ | $ | % | ( |
)% | |||||||||||||
| June 30, 2025 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( |
)% | ( |
)% | ||||||||||||
| March 31, 2025 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( |
)% | ( |
)% | ||||||||||||
| December 31, 2024 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( |
)% | ( |
)% | ||||||||||||
| September 30, 2024 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( |
)% | ( |
)% | ||||||||||||
| June 30, 2024 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( |
)% | ( |
)% | ||||||||||||
| March 31, 2024 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( |
)% | ( |
)% | ||||||||||||
| December 31, 2023 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( |
)% | ( |
)% | ||||||||||||
(1) Source: Bloomberg L.P.
(2) Data presented are with respect to a short period of time and are not indicative of future performance.
Shares of closed-end management investment companies
may trade at a market price that is less than the NAV that is attributable to those shares. The possibility that the Fund’s Common
Shares will trade at a discount to NAV or at a premium that is unsustainable over the long term is separate and distinct from the risk
that the Fund’s NAV will decrease. It is not possible to predict whether the Fund’s Common Shares will trade at, above or
below NAV in the future. On September 10, 2026, the Fund’s NAV was $
Open Market Share Repurchase Program
The Fund’s Board approved an open market share repurchase program (the “Program”). The Program allows the Fund to purchase, in the open market, its outstanding Common Shares, with the amount and timing of any repurchase determined at the discretion of the Fund's investment adviser. Such purchases may be made opportunistically at certain discounts to NAV per share in the reasonable judgment of management based on historical discount levels and current market conditions.
On a quarterly basis, the Fund’s Board will receive information on any transactions made pursuant to this policy during the prior quarter and if shares are repurchased management will post the number of shares repurchased on the Fund's website on a monthly basis. Under the terms of the Program, the Fund is permitted to repurchase up to 10% of its outstanding Common Shares in the open market during any 12-month period. There can be no assurance, however, that the Board will decide to undertake any of these actions or that, if undertaken, such actions would result in the Common Shares trading at a price equal to or close to NAV.
Pursuant to the 1940 Act, the Fund may repurchase its Common Shares on a securities exchange (provided that the Fund has informed its shareholders within the preceding six months of its intention to repurchase such Common Shares) or as otherwise permitted in accordance with Rule 23c-1 under the 1940 Act. Under Rule 23c-1, certain conditions must be met for such alternative purchases regarding, among other things, distribution of net income for the preceding fiscal year, asset coverage with respect to the Fund’s senior debt and equity securities, identity of the sellers, price paid, brokerage commissions, prior notice to shareholders of an intention to purchase shares and purchasing in a manner and on a basis which does not discriminate unfairly against the other shareholders through their interest in the Fund. In addition, Rule 23c-1 requires the Fund to file notices of such purchase with the SEC. Additionally, pursuant to Rule 23c-1(a)(10) under the 1940 Act, the Fund may also repurchase its outstanding Common Shares outside of the open market share repurchase program.
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The Fund does not currently have any preferred shares outstanding.
General
The Fund’s Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust authorizes the issuance of up to 10,000,000 Preferred Shares of beneficial interest, $0.001 par value per share, with preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption as determined by the Board. The Fund has no Preferred Shares issued or outstanding as of the date of this prospectus.
The Board may, without any action by the Fund’s shareholders, amend the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust from time to time to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of beneficial interest or the number of shares of beneficial interest of any class or series that the Fund has authority to issue under the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust and under the 1940 Act. In addition, the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust authorizes the Board, without any action by the shareholders, to classify and reclassify any unissued preferred shares into other classes or series of shares from time to time by amending or supplementing the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust to set or change the terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption for each class or series.
Distributions
Holders of any Preferred Shares will be entitled to receive cash distributions, when, as and if authorized by the Board and declared by the Fund, out of funds legally available therefor. The prospectus for any preferred shares will describe the distribution payment provisions for those shares. Any distributions so declared and payable will be paid to the extent permitted under applicable Maryland law and to the extent available and in preference to and priority over any distribution declared and payable on the Common Shares.
Limitations on Distributions
If the Fund has senior securities representing indebtedness outstanding, holders of Preferred Shares will not be entitled to receive any distributions from the Fund unless asset coverage (as defined in the 1940 Act) with respect to outstanding debt securities and preferred shares would be at least 200% after giving effect to such distributions. See “Leverage.”
Liquidation Rights
In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of any Preferred Shares, when and if authorized by the Board, would be entitled to receive a preferential liquidating distribution, before any distribution of assets is made to holders of Common Shares. Preferred Shares, if any, will rank junior to the Fund's debt securities upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up.
Voting Rights
Except as otherwise indicated in the Declaration of Trust or Bylaws, or as otherwise required by applicable law, holders of any preferred shares may have voting rights, when and if authorized by the Board of Trustees.
The 1940 Act requires that the holders of any preferred shares, voting separately as a single class, have the right to elect at least two Trustees at all times. The remaining Trustees will be elected by holders of common shares and preferred shares, voting together as a single class. In addition, subject to the prior rights, if any, of the holders of any other class of senior securities outstanding, the holders of any preferred shares have the right to elect a majority of the Trustees at any time two years' accumulated distributions on any preferred shares are unpaid. The 1940 Act also requires that, in addition to any approval by shareholders that might otherwise be required, the approval of the holders of a majority of shares of any outstanding preferred shares, voting separately as a class, would be required to (1) adopt any plan of reorganization that would adversely affect the preferred shares, and (2) take any action requiring a vote of security holders under Section 13(a) of the 1940 Act, including, among other things, changes in the Fund's subclassification as a closed-end investment company or changes in the Fund's fundamental investment restrictions. See “Certain Provisions of The Fund’s Declaration of Trust and Bylaws.” As a result of these voting rights, the Fund's ability to take any such actions may be impeded to the extent that any of the Fund's preferred shares are outstanding.
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of any outstanding preferred shares (unless a higher vote is required by the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which the Fund's preferred shares may be listed or traded), voting as a separate class, generally will be required to amend, alter or repeal any of the preferences, rights or powers of holders of preferred shares so as to affect materially and adversely such preferences, rights or powers. The class vote of holders of preferred shares described above will in each case be in addition to any other vote required to authorize the action in question.
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Notes
The Fund does not currently have any notes outstanding.
The Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust authorizes the issuance of debt securities or notes, with rights as determined by the Board, by action of the Board. To the extent the Trustees authorize the issuance of any notes, the Trustees are also permitted to amend or supplement the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, as they deem appropriate. Any such amendment or supplement may set forth the rights, preferences, powers and privileges of such notes.
Under the 1940 Act, the Fund may only issue one class of senior securities representing indebtedness, which in the aggregate must have asset coverage immediately after the time of issuance of at least 300%. So long as notes are outstanding, additional debt securities must rank on a parity with notes with respect to the payment of interest and upon the distribution of the Fund’s assets.
A Prospectus Supplement relating to any notes will include specific terms relating to the offering. The terms to be stated in a Prospectus Supplement will include the following:
| ● | the form and title of the security; |
| ● | the aggregate principal amount of the securities; |
| ● | the interest rate of the securities; |
| ● | whether the interest rate for the securities will be determined by auction or remarketing; |
| ● | the maturity dates on which the principal of the securities will be payable; |
| ● | the frequency with which auctions or remarketings, if any, will be held; |
| ● | any changes to or additional events of default or covenants; |
| ● | any minimum period prior to which the securities may not be called; |
| ● | any optional or mandatory call or redemption provisions; |
| ● | the credit rating of the notes; |
| ● | if applicable, a discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the issuance of the notes; and |
| ● | any other terms of the securities. |
The Prospectus Supplement will describe the interest payment provisions relating to notes. Interest on notes will be payable when due as described in the related Prospectus Supplement. If the Fund does not pay interest when due, it will trigger an event of default and the Fund will be restricted from declaring dividends and making other distributions with respect to its Common Shares and preferred shares.
Under the requirements of the 1940 Act, immediately after issuing any notes the value of the Fund’s total assets, less certain ordinary course liabilities, must equal or exceed 300% of the amount of the notes outstanding. Other types of borrowings also may result in the Fund being subject to similar covenants in credit agreements.
Additionally, the 1940 Act requires that the Fund prohibit the declaration of any dividend or distribution (other than a dividend or distribution paid in the Fund’s common or preferred shares or in options, warrants or rights to subscribe for or purchase the Fund’s common or preferred shares) in respect of the Fund’s common or preferred shares, or call for redemption, redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any such fund common or preferred shares, unless the Fund’s notes have asset coverage of at least 300% (200% in the case of a dividend or distribution on preferred shares) after deducting the amount of such dividend, distribution, or acquisition price, as the case may be. These 1940 Act requirements do not apply to any promissory note or other evidence of indebtedness issued in consideration of any loan, extension, or renewal thereof, made by a bank or other person and privately arranged, and not intended to be publicly distributed; however, any such borrowings may result in the Fund being subject to similar covenants in credit agreements. Moreover, the Indenture related to the notes could contain provisions more restrictive than those required by the 1940 Act, and any such provisions would be described in the related Prospectus Supplement.
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Upon the occurrence and continuance of an event of default, the holders of a majority in principal amount of a series of outstanding notes or the trustee will be able to declare the principal amount of that series of notes immediately due and payable upon written notice to the Fund. A default that relates only to one series of notes does not affect any other series and the holders of such other series of notes will not be entitled to receive notice of such a default under the Indenture. Upon an event of default relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar laws, acceleration of maturity will occur automatically with respect to all series. At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to a series of notes has been made, and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding notes of that series, by written notice to the Fund and the trustee, may rescind and annul the declaration of acceleration and its consequences if all events of default with respect to that series of notes, other than the non-payment of the principal of that series of notes which has become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived and other conditions have been met.
In the event of (a) any insolvency or bankruptcy case or proceeding, or any receivership, liquidation, reorganization or other similar case or proceeding in connection therewith, relative to the Fund or to the Fund’s creditors, as such, or to the Fund’s assets, or (b) any liquidation, dissolution or other winding up of the Fund, whether voluntary or involuntary and whether or not involving insolvency or bankruptcy, or (c) any assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other marshalling of assets and liabilities of the Fund, then (after any payments with respect to any secured creditor of the Fund outstanding at such time) and in any such event the holders of notes shall be entitled to receive payment in full of all amounts due or to become due on or in respect of all notes (including any interest accruing thereon after the commencement of any such case or proceeding), or provision shall be made for such payment in cash or cash equivalents or otherwise in a manner satisfactory to the holders of the notes, before the holders of any of the Fund’s common or preferred shares are entitled to receive any payment on account of any redemption proceeds, liquidation preference or dividends from such shares. The holders of notes shall be entitled to receive, for application to the payment thereof, any payment or distribution of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, including any such payment or distribution which may be payable or deliverable by reason of the payment of any other indebtedness of the Fund being subordinated to the payment of the notes, which may be payable or deliverable in respect of the notes in any such case, proceeding, dissolution, liquidation or other winding up event.
Unsecured creditors may include, without limitation, service providers including the Adviser, Custodian, administrator, auction agent, broker-dealers and the trustee, pursuant to the terms of various contracts with the Fund. Secured creditors may include without limitation parties entering into any interest rate swap, floor or cap transactions, or other similar transactions with the Fund that create liens, pledges, charges, security interests, security agreements or other encumbrances on the Fund’s assets.
A consolidation, reorganization or merger of the Fund with or into any other company, or a sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of the Fund’s assets in consideration for the issuance of equity securities of another company shall not be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Fund.
The notes have no voting rights, except as mentioned below and to the extent required by law or as otherwise provided in the Indenture relating to the acceleration of maturity upon the occurrence and continuance of an event of default. In connection with the notes or certain other borrowings (if any), the 1940 Act does in certain circumstances grant to the note holders or lenders certain voting rights. The 1940 Act requires that provision is made either (i) that, if on the last business day of each of twelve consecutive calendar months such notes shall have an asset coverage of less than 100%, the holders of such notes voting as a class shall be entitled to elect at least a majority of the members of the Fund’s Trustees, such voting right to continue until such notes shall have an asset coverage of 110% or more on the last business day of each of three consecutive calendar months, or (ii) that, if on the last business day of each of twenty-four consecutive calendar months such notes shall have an asset coverage of less than 100%, an event of default shall be deemed to have occurred. It is expected that, unless otherwise stated in the related Prospectus Supplement, provision will be made that, if on the last business day of each of twenty-four consecutive calendar months such notes shall have an asset coverage of less than 100%, an event of default shall be deemed to have occurred. These 1940 Act requirements do not apply to any promissory note or other evidence of indebtedness issued in consideration of any loan, extension, or renewal thereof, made by a bank or other person and privately arranged, and not intended to be publicly distributed; however, any such borrowings may result in the Fund being subject to similar covenants in credit agreements. As reflected above, the Indenture relating to the notes may also grant to the note holders voting rights relating to the acceleration of maturity upon the occurrence and continuance of an event of default, and any such rights would be described in the related Prospectus Supplement.
The Fund may issue subscription rights to holders of Common Shares to purchase Common Shares. Subscription rights may be issued independently or together with any other offered security and may or may not be transferable by the person purchasing or receiving the subscription rights. In connection with a subscription rights offering to holders of Common Shares, the Fund would distribute certificates evidencing the subscription rights and a Prospectus Supplement to the Fund’s common shareholders as of the record date that the Fund sets for determining the shareholders eligible to receive subscription rights in such subscription rights offering. For complete terms of the subscription rights, please refer to the actual terms of such subscription rights which will be set forth in the subscription rights agreement relating to such subscription rights and described in the Prospectus Supplement.
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The applicable Prospectus Supplement, which would accompany this Prospectus, would describe the following terms of subscription rights in respect of which this Prospectus is being delivered:
| ● | the period of time the offering would remain open (which will be open a minimum number of days such that all record holders would be eligible to participate in the offering and will not be open longer than 120 days); |
| ● | the title of such subscription rights; |
| ● | the exercise price for such subscription rights (or method of calculation thereof); |
| ● | the number of such subscription rights issued in respect of each share; |
| ● | the number of rights required to purchase a single share; |
| ● | the extent to which such subscription rights are transferable and the market on which they may be traded if they are transferable; |
| ● | if applicable, a discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the issuance or exercise of such subscription rights; |
| ● | the date on which the right to exercise such subscription rights will commence, and the date on which such right will expire (subject to any extension); |
| ● | the extent to which such subscription rights include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities and the terms of such over-subscription privilege; |
| ● | any termination right the Fund may have in connection with such subscription rights offering; |
| ● | the expected trading market, if any, for rights; and |
| ● | any other terms of such subscription rights, including exercise, settlement and other procedures and limitations relating to the transfer and exercise of such subscription rights. |
Exercise of Subscription Right
Each subscription right would entitle the holder of the subscription right to purchase for cash such number of shares at such exercise price as in each case is set forth in, or be determinable as set forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating to the subscription rights offered thereby. Subscription rights would be exercisable at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date for such subscription rights set forth in the Prospectus Supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, all unexercised subscription rights would become void.
Upon expiration of the rights offering and the receipt of payment and the subscription rights certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the subscription rights agent or any other office indicated in the Prospectus Supplement, the Fund would issue, as soon as practicable, the shares purchased as a result of such exercise. To the extent permissible under applicable law, the Fund may determine to offer any unsubscribed offered securities directly to persons other than shareholders, to or through agents, underwriters or dealers or through a combination of such methods, as set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
Transferable Rights Offering
Subscription rights issued by the Fund may be transferrable. The distribution to shareholders of transferable rights, which may themselves have intrinsic value, also will afford non-participating shareholders the potential of receiving cash payment upon the sale of the rights, receipt of which may be viewed as partial compensation for any dilution of their interests that may occur as a result of the rights offering. In a transferrable rights offering, management of the Fund will use its best efforts to ensure an adequate trading market in the rights for use by shareholders who do not exercise such rights. However, there can be no assurance that a market for transferable rights will develop or, if such a market does develop, what the price of the transferable rights will be. In a transferrable rights offering to purchase Common Shares at a price below NAV, the subscription ratio will not be less than 1-for-3, that is the holders of Common Shares of record on the record date of the rights offering will receive one right for each outstanding Common Share owned on the record date and the rights will entitle their holders to purchase one new Common Share for every three rights held (provided that any Common Shareholder who owns fewer than three Common Shares as of the record date may subscribe for one full Common Share). Assuming the exercise of all rights, such a rights offering would result in an approximately 33 1⁄3% increase in the Fund’s Common Shares outstanding.
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Additional Information on the Transferability of Rights. The staff of the SEC has interpreted the 1940 Act as not requiring shareholder approval of a transferable rights offering to purchase Common Shares at a price below the then current NAV so long as certain conditions are met, including: (i) a good faith determination by a fund's board that such offering would result in a net benefit to existing shareholders; (ii) the offering fully protects shareholders' preemptive rights and does not discriminate among shareholders (except for the possible effect of not offering fractional Rights); (iii) management uses its best efforts to ensure an adequate trading market in the rights for use by shareholders who do not exercise such rights; and (iv) the ratio of a transferable rights offering does not exceed one new share for each three rights held.
Repurchase Agreements, Reverse Repurchase Agreements and Derivatives
The Fund may engage in repurchase agreements with broker-dealers, banks and other financial institutions to earn incremental income on temporarily available cash which would otherwise be uninvested. A repurchase agreement is a short-term investment in which the purchaser (i.e., the Fund) acquires ownership of a security and the seller agrees to repurchase the obligation at a future time and set price, thereby determining the yield during the holding period. Repurchase agreements involve certain risks in the event of default by the other party. The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with broker-dealers, banks and other financial institutions deemed to be creditworthy.
Repurchase agreements are required to be fully collateralized by the underlying securities and are considered to be loans under the 1940 Act. The Fund pays for such securities only upon physical delivery or evidence of book entry transfer to the account of a custodian or bank acting as agent. The seller under a repurchase agreement will be required to maintain the value of the underlying collateral securities marked-to-market daily at not less than the repurchase price. The underlying securities (normally securities of the U.S. government and its agencies or instrumentalities) may have maturity dates exceeding one (1) year.
The Fund may borrow through entering into reverse repurchase agreements under which the Fund sells portfolio investments to financial institutions such as banks and broker-dealers and generally agrees to repurchase them at a mutually agreed future date and price. Generally, the effect of a reverse repurchase agreement is that, during the term of the agreement, the Fund can obtain and reinvest all or most of the cash value of the portfolio investment it sold under the agreement and still be entitled to the returns associated with such portfolio investment—thereby resulting in a transaction similar to a borrowing and giving rise to leverage for the Fund. The Fund may utilize reverse repurchase agreements when it is anticipated that the interest income to be earned from the investment of the proceeds of the transaction is greater than the interest expense of the transaction.
In the event the buyer of securities under a reverse repurchase agreement files for bankruptcy or becomes insolvent, the Fund's use of the proceeds of the agreement may be restricted pending a determination by the other party, or its trustee or receiver, whether to enforce the Fund's obligation to repurchase the securities.
The Fund may enter into other transactions that may give rise to a form of leverage including, among others, swaps, futures and forward contracts, options and other derivative transactions. However, these transactions may represent a form of economic leverage and will create risks. Further, the Fund may incur losses on such transactions (including the entire amount of the Fund’s investment in such transaction) even if they are covered.
Investing in derivatives can involve leverage risk, liquidity risk, counterparty risk, market risk and operational/legal risk. The Fund may utilize options, forward contracts, futures contracts and options on futures contracts. These instruments involve risks, including the imperfect correlation between the value of such instruments and the underlying assets, the possible default by the counterparty to the transaction (i.e., counterparty risk), illiquidity of the derivative instrument and, to the extent the prediction as to certain market movements is incorrect, the risk that the use of such instruments could result in losses greater than if they had not been used. In addition, transactions in such instruments may involve commissions and other costs, which may increase the Fund’s expenses and reduce its return. Amounts paid as premiums and cash or other assets held in margin accounts with respect to such instruments are not otherwise available to the Fund for investment purposes.
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Further, the use of such instruments by the Fund could create the possibility that losses on the instrument would be greater than gains in the value of the Fund’s position. In addition, futures and options markets could be illiquid in some circumstances, and certain over-the-counter options could have no markets. As a result, in certain markets, the Fund might not be able to close out a position without incurring substantial losses. Such transactions should tend to minimize the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged position and, at the same time, limit any potential gain to the Fund that might result from an increase in value of the position. In addition, the daily variation margin requirements for futures contracts create a greater ongoing potential financial risk than would purchases of call options, in which case the market exposure is limited to the cost of the initial premium and transaction costs. Losses resulting from the use of hedging will reduce the NAV of the Fund’s securities, and possibly income, and the losses can be greater than if hedging had not been used. Forward contracts may limit gains on portfolio securities that could otherwise be realized had they not been utilized and could result in losses. The contracts may also increase the Fund’s volatility and may involve a significant amount of risk relative to the investment of cash. The use of put and call options may result in losses to the Fund, force the sale of portfolio securities at inopportune times or for prices other than at current market values, limit the amount of appreciation the Fund can realize on its investments or cause the Fund to hold a security it might otherwise sell. The Fund will be subject to credit risk with respect to the counterparties to any transactions in options, forward contracts, futures contracts or options on futures contracts. If a counterparty becomes bankrupt or otherwise fails to perform its obligations under a derivative contract due to financial difficulties, the Fund may experience significant delays in obtaining any recovery under the derivative contract in bankruptcy or other reorganization proceeding. The Fund may obtain only a limited recovery or may obtain no recovery in such circumstances.
When conducted outside the United States, transactions in options, forward contracts, futures contracts or options on futures contracts may not be regulated as rigorously as in the United States, may not involve a clearing mechanism and related guarantees, and are subject to the risk of governmental actions affecting trading in, or the prices of, foreign securities, currencies and other instruments. The value of such positions also could be adversely affected by: (i) other complex foreign political, legal and economic factors; (ii) lesser availability than in the United States of data on which to make trading decisions; (iii) delays in the Fund’s ability to act upon economic events occurring in foreign markets during non-business hours in the United States; (iv) the imposition of different exercise and settlement terms and procedures and margin requirements than in the United States; and (v) lower trading volume and liquidity.
Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act governs a registered investment company’s use of derivatives, short sales, reverse repurchase agreements, and certain other instruments. Under Rule 18f-4, a fund’s derivatives exposure is limited through a value-at-risk test and requires the adoption and implementation of a derivatives risk management program for certain derivatives users. However, subject to certain conditions, funds that do not invest heavily in derivatives may be deemed limited derivatives users and would not be subject to the full requirements of Rule 18f-4. Under the rule, when a fund trades reverse repurchase agreements or similar financing transactions, including certain tender option bonds, it needs to aggregate the amount of indebtedness associated with the reverse repurchase agreements or similar financing transactions with the aggregate amount of any other senior securities representing indebtedness when calculating the fund’s asset coverage ratio or treat all such transactions as derivatives transactions. In addition, under the rule, the fund is permitted to invest in a security on a when-issued or forward-settling basis, or with a non-standard settlement cycle, and the transaction will be deemed not to involve a senior security (as defined under Section 18(g) of the 1940 Act), provided that, (i) the fund intends to physically settle the transaction and (ii) the transaction will settle within 35 days of its trade date (the “Delayed-Settlement Securities Provision”). A fund may otherwise engage in when-issued, forward-settling and non-standard settlement cycle securities transactions that do not meet the conditions of the Delayed-Settlement Securities Provision so long as a fund treats any such transaction as a “derivatives transaction” for purposes of compliance with the rule. Furthermore, under the rule, a fund is permitted to enter into an unfunded commitment agreement, and such unfunded commitment agreement will not be subject to the asset coverage requirements under the 1940 Act, if a fund reasonably believes, at the time it enters into such agreement, that it will have sufficient cash and cash equivalents to meet its obligations with respect to all such agreements as they come due. These requirements may limit the ability of a fund to use derivatives, and reverse repurchase agreements and similar financing transactions as part of its investment strategies. These requirements may increase the cost of a fund’s investments and cost of doing business, which could adversely affect investors. The Fund’s implementation of Rule 18-4 is limited by its fundamental investment restrictions.
Certain Provisions of the Fund’s Declaration of Trust and Bylaws
The Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust and Bylaws include provisions that could delay, defer or prevent other entities or persons from acquiring control of the Fund, causing the Fund to engage in certain transactions or modifying the Fund’s structure. Furthermore, these provisions may have the effect of depriving shareholders of the opportunity to sell their shares at a premium over prevailing market prices by discouraging third parties from seeking to obtain control of the Fund. These provisions, which are summarized below, may be regarded as “anti-takeover” provisions.
In addition, with respect to provisions in the Fund’s Bylaws relating to actions by shareholders, described below, shareholders should be aware that they cannot waive their rights under the federal securities laws. The exclusive forum provisions in the Fund’s Bylaws, described below, may increase costs for a shareholder to bring a claim and may discourage claims or limit investors’ ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that they find favorable. Further, the enforceability of an exclusive forum provision is questionable.
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Classification of the Board; Election of Trustees
The Fund’s Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust provides that the Fund’s trustees are designated as Trustees, and that the Fund’s business and affairs are managed under the direction of the Board of Trustees.
The Fund’s Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust provides that the number of Trustees may be established only by a majority of the Board then in office pursuant to the Bylaws. The Bylaws provide that the number of Trustees may not be greater than nine or less than one. Subject to any applicable limitations of the 1940 Act, and subject to any preferential rights of a class or series of preferred shares, any vacancy may be filled, at any regular meeting or at any special meeting called for that purpose, only by a majority of the remaining Trustees, even if those remaining Trustees do not constitute a quorum and any Trustee elected to fill a vacancy will serve for the remainder of the full term of the class in which the vacancy occurred and until a successor is elected and qualifies. Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, on the first day the Fund has more than one shareholder of record, the Board is divided into three classes: Class I, Class II and Class III. Upon the expiration of their current terms, Trustees of each class will be elected to serve until the third annual meeting following their election and until their successors are duly elected and qualify. Each year only one class of Trustees will be elected by the shareholders. The classification of the Board should help to assure the continuity and stability of the Fund’s strategies and policies as determined by the Board.
The classified Board provision could have the effect of making the replacement of incumbent Trustees more time-consuming and difficult. At least two annual meetings of shareholders, instead of one, generally will be required to effect a change in a majority of the Board. Thus, the classified Board provision could increase the likelihood that incumbent Trustees will retain their positions. The staggered terms of Trustees may delay, defer or prevent a change in control of the Fund, even though a change in control might be in the best interests of the shareholders.
Removal of Trustees
The Fund’s Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust provides that, subject to the rights of holders of one or more classes of preferred shares, if any, a Trustee may be removed only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast in the election of Trustees. This provision, when coupled with the provisions in the Declaration of Trust and Bylaws authorizing only the Board of Trustees to fill vacancies, precludes shareholders from removing incumbent Trustees, except for cause and by a substantial affirmative vote, and filling the vacancies created by the removal with nominees of shareholders.
Approval of Extraordinary Trust Action; Amendment of Declaration of Trust and Bylaws
Subject to certain exceptions described below, the Fund’s Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust provides for approval of amendments to the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust by the shareholders entitled to cast at least a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. The Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust also provides that (1) the Fund’s liquidation or dissolution, or any merger, conversion, consolidation, share exchange or sale or exchange of all or substantially all of its assets that would require the approval of the shareholders of a Maryland corporation under the Maryland General Corporation Law; (2) certain transactions between the Fund and any person or group of persons acting together, and any person controlling, controlled by or under common control with any such person or member of such group, that may exercise or direct the exercise of 10% or more of the Fund’s voting power in the election of Trustees; (3) any amendment to the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust converting the Fund from a closed-end investment company to an open-end investment company or otherwise make the common shares a redeemable security and (4) any amendment to certain provisions of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, including the provisions relating to the number, qualifications, certain other duties specified in the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, classification, election and removal of Trustees, requires the approval of the shareholders entitled to cast at least 80% of the votes entitled to be cast on such matter. If such a proposal is approved by at least two-thirds of the Continuing Trustees (defined below), in addition to approval by the full Board, such proposal may be approved by the affirmative vote of the shareholders entitled to cast a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on such matter or, in the case of transactions described in (2) above or any merger, conversion, consolidation, share exchange or sale or exchange of all or substantially all of the Fund’s assets, no shareholder approval is required, unless expressly required by the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust or the 1940 Act. The “Continuing Trustees” are defined in the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust as (1) the current Trustees that were serving at the time of closing of the initial public offering by the Fund of common shares (“Initial Trustees”); (2) those Trustees whose nomination for election by the shareholders or whose election by the Board to fill vacancies is approved by a majority of Initial Trustees on the Board at the time of the nomination or election, as applicable or (3) any successor Trustees whose nomination for election by the shareholders or whose election by the Trustees to fill vacancies is approved by a majority of the Continuing Trustees or successor Continuing Trustees then in office. This provision could make it more difficult for certain extraordinary transactions to be approved if they are opposed by the Continuing Trustees and discourage proxy contests for control of the Board by persons wishing to cause such transactions to take place.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing vote requirements, the Fund’s Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust provides that adoption of a plan of liquidation or the dissolution and liquidation of the Fund does not require shareholder approval.
Subject to certain exceptions described above and as otherwise provided in the Fund’s Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust or in the terms of any series or class of shares of beneficial interest, a majority of the entire Board, with the vote of a majority of the Continuing Trustees, may amend the Declaration of Trust without any action by the shareholder. The Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust and Bylaws provide that the Board has the exclusive power to make, alter, amend or repeal any provision of the Fund’s Bylaws.
Advance Notice of Trustee Nominations and New Business
The Bylaws of the Fund provide that, with respect to an annual meeting of shareholders, nominations of persons for election to the Board and the proposal of other business to be considered by shareholders may be made only (1) by or at the direction of the Board, or (2) by a shareholder who was a shareholder of record from the time such shareholder gives notice to the time of the annual meeting who is entitled to vote at the annual meeting in the election of each individual so nominated and who has complied with the advance notice procedures of the Bylaws. With respect to special meetings of shareholders, only the business specified in the notice of the meeting may be brought before the meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board at a special meeting may be made only (1) by or at the direction of the Board, or (2) provided that the Board has determined that Trustees shall be elected at such special meeting, by a shareholder who was a shareholders of record from the time the shareholder gives notice to the time of the special meeting who is entitled to vote at the special meeting and who has complied with the advance notice provisions of the Bylaws.
Shareholder-Requested Special Meetings
The Fund’s Bylaws provide that special meetings of shareholders may be called by the Board and certain of the Fund’s officers. In addition, the Bylaws provide that, subject to the satisfaction of certain procedural and informational requirements by the shareholders requesting the meeting, a special meeting of shareholders will be called by the Fund’s secretary upon the written request of shareholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting.
Action by Shareholders
Under the Fund’s Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust and Bylaws, shareholder action can be taken only at an annual or special meeting of shareholders. In addition, the Fund’s Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust prohibits derivative actions on behalf of the Trust by any person who is not a Trustee or shareholder of the Trust, except that such provision does not apply to any claims asserted under the US federal securities laws including, without limitation, the 1940 Act.
Exclusive Forum
The Fund’s Bylaws provide that, unless the Fund consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, or, if that Court does not have jurisdiction, the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Baltimore Division, shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Fund, (b) any action asserting a claim of breach of any duty owed by any Trustee, officer or employee of the Fund to the Fund or to the shareholders of the Fund, (c) any action asserting a claim against the Fund or any Trustee, officer or employee of the Fund arising pursuant to any provision of the Trust Act, the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws, or (d) any other action asserting a claim against the Fund or any Trustee, officer or employee of the Fund that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine. This exclusive forum provision does not apply to any claim under the US federal securities laws.
CONVERSION TO OPEN-END FUND
The Fund may be converted to an open-end management investment company at any time if approved by a majority of the Trustees then in office, by the holders of not less than 75% of the Trust’s outstanding Shares entitled to vote thereon and by such vote or votes of the holders of any class or classes or series of Shares as may be required by the 1940 Act. The composition of the Fund’s portfolio and/or its investment policies could prohibit the Fund from complying with regulations of the SEC applicable to open-end management investment companies unless significant changes in portfolio holdings, which might be difficult and could involve losses, and investment policies are made. Conversion of the Fund to an open-end management investment company also would require the redemption of any outstanding preferred shares and could require the repayment of borrowings, which would reduce the leveraged capital structure of the Fund with respect to the Common Shares. In the event of conversion, the Common Shares would cease to be listed on the NYSE or other national securities exchange or market system. The Board believes the closed-end structure is desirable, given the Fund’s investment objective and policies. Common shareholders of an open-end management investment company can require the company to redeem their shares at any time (except in certain circumstances as authorized by or under the 1940 Act) at their NAV, less such redemption charge, if any, as might be in effect at the time of a redemption. If converted to an open-end fund, the Fund expects to pay all redemption requests in cash, but reserves the right to pay redemption requests in a combination of cash or securities. If such partial payment in securities were made, investors may incur brokerage costs in converting such securities to cash. If the Fund were converted to an open-end fund, it is likely that new Common Shares would be sold at NAV plus a sales load.
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Fund may offer up to $300,000,000 in aggregate initial offering price of Common Shares, Preferred Shares, Notes or Rights from time to time under this Prospectus and any related Prospectus Supplement (1) directly to one or more purchasers, including existing shareholders in a Rights offering; (2) through agents; (3) through underwriters; (4) through dealers; or (5) pursuant to the Fund’s dividend reinvestment and optional cash purchase plan. Each Prospectus Supplement relating to an offering of securities will state the terms of the offering, including:
| ● | the names of any agents, underwriters or dealers; | |
| ● | any sales loads or other items constituting underwriters’ compensation; | |
| ● | any discounts, commissions, or fees allowed or paid to dealers or agents; | |
| ● | the public offering or purchase price of the offered Securities and the net proceeds the Fund will receive from the sale; and | |
| ● | any securities exchange on which the offered Securities may be listed |
Direct Sales
The Fund may sell Securities directly to, and solicit offers from, institutional investors or others who may be deemed to be underwriters as defined in the Securities Act for any resales of the securities. In this case, no underwriters or agents would be involved. The Fund may use electronic media, including the Internet, to sell offered securities directly. The Fund will describe the terms of any of those sales in a Prospectus Supplement.
By Agents
The Fund may offer Securities through agents that the Fund may designate. The Fund will name any agent involved in the offer and sale and describe any commissions payable by the Fund in the Prospectus Supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in the Prospectus Supplement, the agents will be acting on a best-efforts basis for the period of their appointment.
By Underwriters
The Fund may offer and sell Securities from time to time to one or more underwriters who would purchase the Securities as principal for resale to the public, either on a firm commitment or best-efforts basis. If the Fund sells Securities to underwriters, the Fund will execute an underwriting agreement with them at the time of the sale and will name them in the Prospectus Supplement. In connection with these sales, the underwriters may be deemed to have received compensation from the Fund in the form of underwriting discounts and commissions. The underwriters also may receive commissions from purchasers of Securities for whom they may act as agent. Unless otherwise stated in the Prospectus Supplement, the underwriters will not be obligated to purchase the Securities unless the conditions set forth in the underwriting agreement are satisfied, and if the underwriters purchase any of the Securities, they will be required to purchase all of the offered Securities. The underwriters may sell the offered Securities to or through dealers, and those dealers may receive discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters as well as from the purchasers for whom they may act as agent. Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.
In connection with an offering of Common Shares, if a Prospectus Supplement so indicates, the Fund may grant the underwriters an option to purchase additional Common Shares at the public offering price, less the underwriting discounts and commissions, within 45 days from the date of the Prospectus Supplement, to cover any overallotments.
By Dealers
The Fund may offer and sell Securities from time to time to one or more dealers who would purchase the securities as principal. The dealers then may resell the offered Securities to the public at fixed or varying prices to be determined by those dealers at the time of resale. The Fund will set forth the names of the dealers and the terms of the transaction in the Prospectus Supplement.
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General Information
Agents, underwriters, or dealers participating in an offering of Securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts and commission received by them and any profit realized by them on resale of the offered Securities for whom they act as agent, may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act.
The Fund may offer to sell securities either at a fixed price or at prices that may vary, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices.
To facilitate an offering of Common Shares in an underwritten transaction and in accordance with industry practice, the underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain, or otherwise affect the market price of the Common Shares or any other Security. Those transactions may include overallotment, entering stabilizing bids, effecting syndicate covering transactions, and reclaiming selling concessions allowed to an underwriter or a dealer.
| ● | An overallotment in connection with an offering creates a short position in the common stock for the underwriter’s own account. | |
| ● | An underwriter may place a stabilizing bid to purchase the Common Shares for the purpose of pegging, fixing, or maintaining the price of the Common Shares. | |
| ● | Underwriters may engage in syndicate covering transactions to cover overallotments or to stabilize the price of the Common Shares by bidding for, and purchasing, the Common Shares or any other Securities in the open market in order to reduce a short position created in connection with the offering. | |
| ● | The managing underwriter may impose a penalty bid on a syndicate member to reclaim a selling concession in connection with an offering when the Common Shares originally sold by the syndicate member is purchased in syndicate covering transactions or otherwise. |
Any of these activities may stabilize or maintain the market price of the Securities above independent market levels. The underwriters are not required to engage in these activities, and may end any of these activities at any time.
In connection with any Rights offering, the Fund may also enter into a standby underwriting arrangement with one or more underwriters pursuant to which the underwriter(s) will purchase Common Shares remaining unsubscribed for after the Rights offering.
Any underwriters to whom the offered Securities are sold for offering and sale may make a market in the offered Securities, but the underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market-making at any time without notice. There can be no assurance that there will be a liquid trading market for the offered Securities.
Under agreements entered into with the Fund, underwriters and agents may be entitled to indemnification by the Fund and the Adviser against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution for payments the underwriters or agents may be required to make.
The underwriters, agents, and their affiliates may engage in financial or other business transactions with the Fund in the ordinary course of business.
Pursuant to a requirement of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) the maximum compensation to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker-dealer in connection with an offering of the Fund’s securities may not be greater than eight percent (8%) of the gross proceeds received by the Fund for the sale of any securities being registered pursuant to SEC Rule 415 under the Securities Act.
To the extent permitted under the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the underwriters may from time to time act as a broker or dealer and receive fees in connection with the execution of portfolio transactions on behalf of the Fund after the underwriters have ceased to be underwriters and, subject to certain restrictions, each may act as a broker while it is an underwriter.
A Prospectus and accompanying Prospectus Supplement in electronic form may be made available on the websites maintained by underwriters. The underwriters may agree to allocate a number of Securities for sale to their online brokerage account holders. Such allocations of Securities for internet distributions will be made on the same basis as other allocations. In addition, Securities may be sold by the underwriters to securities dealers who resell Securities to online brokerage account holders.
CUSTODIAN, DIVIDEND PAYING AGENT, TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR
State Street serves as Custodian for the Fund. The Custodian holds cash, securities, and other assets of the Fund as required by the 1940 Act and also provides certain Fund accounting services. Custody and accounting fees are payable monthly based on assets held in custody, investment purchases and sales activity and other factors, plus reimbursement for certain out of pocket expenses. The principal business address of State Street is 1776 Heritage Drive, North Quincy, Massachusetts 02171. Computershare Trust Company, N.A., P.O. Box 43006, Providence, RI 02940-3078, acts as the Fund’s dividend paying agent, transfer agent and the registrar for the Fund’s Common Shares.
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LEGAL OPINIONS
Certain legal matters in connection with the Common Shares will be passed on for the Fund by Dechert LLP.
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The financial statements as of and for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025 incorporated by reference in the SAI have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of KPMG, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting. The unaudited financial statements for the fiscal period ended March 31, 2026 are incorporated in this Prospectus by reference to the Fund’s Semi-Annual Report. The principal place of business of KPMG is located at 191 West Nationwide Blvd., Ste. 500, Columbus, OH, 43215. KPMG provides audit services and consultation with respect to the preparation of filings with the SEC.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This Prospectus concisely provides the information that a prospective investor should know about the Fund before investing. Investors are advised to read this Prospectus carefully and to retain it for future reference. Additional information about the Fund, including the SAI, dated September 15, 2026, has been filed with the SEC and is incorporated by reference in its entirety into this prospectus. The SAI and the Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports and other information filed with the SEC, can be obtained upon request and without charge by writing to the Fund at 1900 Market Street, Suite 200, Philadelphia, PA 19103, by calling Investor Relations toll-free at 1-800-522-5465 or by visiting the Fund’s website at www.aberdeenasgi.com. Investors may request the Fund’s SAI, annual and semi-annual reports and other information about the Fund or make Shareholder inquiries by calling Investor Relations toll-free at 1-800-522-5465 or by visiting www.aberdeenasgi.com. In addition, the contact information provided above may be used to request additional information about the Fund and to make Shareholder inquiries. The SAI, other material incorporated by reference into this prospectus and other information about the Fund is also available on the SEC’s website at https://www.sec.gov. The address of the SEC’s website is provided solely for the information of prospective investors and is not intended to be an active link.
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abrdn Global Infrastructure Income Fund
Statement of Additional Information
September 15, 2026
This Statement of Additional Information (the “SAI”) provides additional information to the Prospectus for abrdn Global Infrastructure Income Fund (the “Fund”) dated September 15, 2026 as it may be amended from time to time. This SAI is not a prospectus and should only be read in conjunction with the Prospectus. You may obtain the Prospectus without charge by writing to the Fund at 1900 Market Street, Suite 200, Philadelphia, PA 19103, by calling Investor Relations toll-free at 1-800-522-5465 or by visiting the Fund’s website at www.aberdeenasgi.com.
Investors in the Fund will be informed of the Fund’s progress through periodic reports. Financial statements certified by an independent registered public accounting firm will be submitted to Shareholders at least annually. Once available, copies of the reports to Shareholders may be obtained upon request, without charge, by contacting the Fund at the address or telephone number listed above.
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Table of Contents
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GENERAL
Prior to June 30, 2022, abrdn Global Infrastructure Income Fund was known as Aberdeen Standard Global Infrastructure Income Fund. Prior to May 1, 2020, the Fund was known as Aberdeen Standard Global Infrastructure Public Private Income Fund.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE, POLICIES AND RISKS
The following disclosure supplements the disclosure set forth under the caption “Investment Objective and Policies” in the prospectus and does not, by itself, present a complete or accurate explanation of the matters disclosed. Readers must refer also to this caption in the prospectus for a complete presentation of the matters disclosed below.
Investment Restrictions
The following are the fundamental investment limitations of the Fund set forth in their entirety. Investment limitations identified as fundamental may be changed only with the approval of the holders of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities (which for this purpose and under the 1940 Act, means the lesser of (1) 67% of the voting shares present in person or by proxy at a meeting at which more than 50% of the outstanding voting shares are present in person or by proxy, or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding voting shares).
Investment limitations stated as a maximum percentage of the Fund’s assets are applied by the Fund’s adviser at the time of an investment or a transaction to which the limitation is applicable (other than the limitations on borrowing). Accordingly, any later increase or decrease resulting from a change in values, net assets or other circumstances will not be considered in determining whether the investment complies with the Fund’s investment limitations. All limitations are based on a percentage of the Fund’s total assets (including assets obtained through leverage). The Fund may not:
| 1. | issue senior securities, except as permitted by the 1940 Act and the rules and interpretive positions of the SEC thereunder; |
| 2. | borrow money, except as permitted by the 1940 Act and the rules and interpretive positions of the SEC thereunder; |
| 3. | make loans, except by the purchase of debt obligations, by entering into repurchase agreements or through the lending of portfolio securities and as otherwise permitted by the 1940 Act and the rules and interpretive positions of the SEC thereunder; |
| 4. | purchase the securities of any issuer (other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities) if, as a result, more than 25% of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in the securities of companies whose principal business activities are in the same industry; |
| 5. | underwrite securities issued by others, except to the extent that we may be considered an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), in the disposition of restricted securities held in our portfolio; |
| 6. | purchase or sell real estate unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments, except that the Fund may invest in securities or other instruments backed by real estate or securities of companies that invest in real estate or interests therein (including real estate investment trusts (“REITs”)); and |
| 7. | purchase or sell physical commodities unless acquired as a result of the ownership of securities or other instruments, except that we may purchase or sell options and futures contracts or invest in securities or other instruments backed by physical commodities. |
All other investment policies are considered non-fundamental and may be changed by the Board without prior approval of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities.
Closed-End Funds
The value of the shares of a closed-end fund may be higher or lower than the value of the portfolio securities held by the closed-end fund. Closed-end investment funds may trade infrequently and with small volume, which may make it difficult for the Fund to buy and sell shares. Also, the market price of closed-end funds tends to rise more in response to buying demand and fall more in response to selling pressure than is the case with larger capitalization companies.
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“Commodity Pool” Exclusion
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) subjects advisers to registered investment companies to regulation by the CFTC if a fund that is advised by the investment adviser either (i) invests, directly or indirectly, more than a prescribed level of its liquidation value in CFTC-regulated futures, options and swaps (“CFTC Derivatives”), or (ii) markets itself as providing investment exposure to such instruments. To the extent the Fund uses CFTC Derivatives, it intends to do so below such prescribed levels and will not market itself as a “commodity pool” or a vehicle for trading such instruments. Accordingly, abrdn Inc. (the “Adviser”) has claimed an exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”) pursuant to Rule 4.5 under the CEA. The Adviser is not, therefore, subject to registration or regulation as a “commodity pool operator” under the CEA in respect of the Fund.
Currency Transactions
The Fund may engage in currency transactions as described in the prospectus or this statement of additional information. Generally, except as provided otherwise, the Fund may engage with counterparties primarily in order to hedge, or manage the risk of the value of portfolio holdings denominated in particular currencies against fluctuations in relative value. Currency transactions include forward currency contracts, exchange listed currency futures, exchange listed and over-the-counter (“OTC”) options on currencies, and currency swaps. The Fund may enter into currency transactions with creditworthy counterparties that have been approved by the Adviser’s Counterparty Credit Risk Department in accordance with its Credit Risk Management Policy.
Forward Currency Contracts. The Fund may enter into forward currency contracts. A forward currency contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract.
The cost to the Fund of engaging in forward currency contracts will vary with factors such as the length of the contract period and the market conditions then prevailing. Because forward currency contracts are usually conducted on a principal basis, no fees or commissions are involved, although the price charged in the transaction includes a dealer’s markup. The use of forward currency contracts in this manner is intended to fix a rate of exchange that can be achieved at a certain time in the future.
Cross Hedge. If a particular currency is expected to decrease against another currency, the Fund may sell the currency expected to decrease and purchase a currency which is expected to increase against the currency sold in an amount approximately equal to the lesser of some or all of the Fund’s portfolio holdings denominated in or exposed to the currency sold.
Proxy-Hedge. The Fund may also enter into a position hedge transaction in a currency other than the currency being hedged (a “proxy hedge”). The Fund may enter into a proxy hedge if the Adviser believes there is a correlation between the currency being hedged and the currency in which the proxy hedge is denominated. Proxy hedging is often used when the currency to which the Fund’s portfolio is exposed is difficult to hedge or to hedge against the dollar. This type of hedging entails an additional risk beyond a direct position hedge because it is dependent on a stable relationship between two currencies paired as proxies. Overall risk to the Fund may increase or decrease as a consequence of the use of proxy hedges.
Currency Hedging. While the value of forward currency contracts, currency options, currency futures and options on futures may be expected to correlate with exchange rates, they will not reflect other factors that may affect the value of the Fund’s investments. A currency hedge, for example, should protect a yen-denominated bond against a decline in the yen, but will not protect the Fund against price decline if the issuer’s creditworthiness deteriorates. Because the value of the Fund’s investments denominated in foreign currency will change in response to many factors other than exchange rates, a currency hedge may not be entirely successful in mitigating changes in the value of the Fund’s investments denominated in that currency over time.
A decline in the dollar value of a foreign currency in which the Fund’s securities are denominated will reduce the dollar value of the securities, even if their value in the foreign currency remains constant. The use of currency hedges does not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities, but it does establish a rate of exchange that can be achieved in the future. In order to protect against such diminutions in the value of securities it holds, the Fund may purchase put options on the foreign currency. If the value of the currency does decline, the Fund will have the right to sell the currency for a fixed amount in dollars and will thereby offset, in whole or in part, the adverse effect on its securities that otherwise would have resulted. Conversely, if a rise in the dollar value of a currency in which securities to be acquired are denominated is projected, thereby potentially increasing the cost of the securities, the Fund may purchase call options on the particular currency. The purchase of these options could offset, at least partially, the effects of the adverse movements in exchange rates. Although currency hedges limit the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of a hedged currency, at the same time, they also limit any potential gain that might result should the value of the currency increase.
The Fund may enter into foreign currency exchange transactions to hedge its currency exposure in specific transactions or portfolio positions. Transaction hedging is the purchase or sale of forward currency contracts with respect to specific receivables or payables of the Fund generally accruing in connection with the purchase or sale of its portfolio securities. Position hedging is the sale of forward currency contracts with respect to portfolio security positions.
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The currencies of certain emerging market countries have experienced devaluations relative to the U.S. Dollar, and future devaluations may adversely affect the value of assets denominated in such currencies. In addition, currency hedging techniques may be unavailable in certain emerging market countries. Many emerging market countries have experienced substantial, and in some periods extremely high, rates of inflation or deflation for many years, and future inflation may adversely affect the economies and securities markets of such countries.
Position Hedge. The Fund may hedge some or all of its investments denominated in a foreign currency or exposed to foreign currency fluctuations against a decline in the value of that currency relative to the U.S. Dollar by entering into forward foreign currency contracts to sell an amount of that currency approximating the value of some or all of its portfolio securities denominated in or exposed to that currency and buying U.S. Dollars or by participating in options or future contracts with respect to the currency. Such transactions do not eliminate fluctuations caused by changes in the local currency prices of security investments, but rather, establish an exchange rate at a future date. Although such contracts are intended to minimize the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged currencies, at the same time they tend to limit any potential gain which might result should the value of such currencies increase. The Adviser may from time to time seek to reduce foreign currency risk by hedging some or all of the Fund’s foreign currency exposure back into the U.S. Dollar.
Currency Futures. The Fund may also seek to enhance returns or hedge against the decline in the value of a currency through use of currency futures or options thereon. Currency futures are similar to forward foreign exchange transactions except that futures are standardized, exchange-traded contracts while forward foreign exchange transactions are traded in the OTC market. Currency futures involve currency risk equivalent to currency forwards.
Currency Options. If the Fund invests in foreign currency-denominated securities, it may buy or sell put and call options on foreign currencies either on exchanges or in the OTC market. A put option on a foreign currency gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell a foreign currency at the exercise price until the option expires. A call option on a foreign currency gives the purchaser of the option the right to purchase the currency at the exercise price until the option expires. The Fund may also write covered options on foreign currencies. For example, to hedge against a potential decline in the U.S. Dollar value of foreign currency denominated securities due to adverse fluctuations in exchange rates, the Fund could, instead of purchasing a put option, write a call option on the relevant currency. If the expected decline occurs, the option will most likely not be exercised and the decline in value of portfolio securities will be offset by the amount of the premium received. Currency options traded on U.S. or other exchanges may be subject to position limits which may limit the ability of the Fund to reduce foreign currency risk using such options. OTC options differ from exchange traded options in that they are two-party contracts with price and other terms negotiated between buyer and seller, and generally do not have as much market liquidity as exchange-traded options.
Under definitions adopted by the CFTC and the SEC, many foreign currency options are considered swaps for certain purposes, including determination of whether such instruments need to be exchange-traded and centrally cleared.
Currency hedging involves some of the same risks and considerations as other transactions with similar instruments. Currency transactions can result in losses to the Fund if the currency being hedged fluctuates in value to a degree or in a direction that is not anticipated. Further, there is the risk that the perceived correlation between various currencies may not be present or may not be present during the particular time that the Fund is engaging in proxy hedging.
Risks of Currency Transactions. Currency transactions are subject to risks different from those of other portfolio transactions. Because currency control is of great importance to the issuing governments and influences economic planning and policy, purchases and sales of currency and related instruments can be negatively affected by government exchange controls, blockages, and manipulations or exchange restrictions imposed by governments. These can result in losses to the Fund if it is unable to deliver or receive currency or funds in settlement of obligations and could also cause hedges it has entered into to be rendered useless, resulting in full currency exposure as well as incurring transaction costs. Buyers and sellers of currency futures are subject to the same risks that apply to the use of futures generally. Further, settlement of a currency futures contract for the purchase of most currencies must occur at a bank based in the issuing nation. Trading options on currency futures is relatively new, and the ability to establish and close out positions on such options is subject to the maintenance of a liquid market which may not always be available. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate based on factors extrinsic to that country’s economy.
Risk Factors in Hedging Foreign Currency Risks. Hedging transactions involving currency instruments involve substantial risks, including correlation risk. While an objective of the Fund’s use of currency instruments to effect hedging strategies is intended to reduce the volatility of the net asset value (“NAV”) of the Fund’s shares, the NAV of the Fund’s shares will fluctuate. Moreover, although currency instruments will be used with the intention of hedging against adverse currency movements, transactions in currency instruments involve the risk that such currency movements may not occur and that the Fund’s hedging strategies may be ineffective. To the extent that the Fund hedges against anticipated currency movements that do not occur, the Fund may realize losses and decrease its total return as the result of its hedging transactions. Furthermore, the Fund will only engage in hedging activities from time to time and may not be engaging in hedging activities when movements in currency exchange rates occur.
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In connection with its trading in forward foreign currency contracts, the Fund will contract with a foreign or domestic bank, or foreign or domestic dealer, to make or take future delivery of a specified amount of a particular currency. There are no limitations on daily price moves in such forward contracts, and banks and dealers are not required to continue to make markets in such contracts. There have been periods during which certain banks or dealers have refused to quote prices for such forward contracts or have quoted prices with an unusually wide spread between the price at which the bank or dealer is prepared to buy and that at which it is prepared to sell. Governmental imposition of credit controls might limit any such forward contract trading. With respect to its trading of forward contracts, if any, the Fund may be subject to the risk of bank or dealer failure and the inability of, or refusal by, a bank or dealer to perform with respect to such contracts. Any such default would deprive the Fund of any profit potential or force the Fund to cover its commitments for resale, if any, at the then market price and could result in a loss to the Fund. It may not be possible for the Fund to hedge against currency exchange rate movements, even if correctly anticipated, in the event that (i) the currency exchange rate movement is so generally anticipated that the Fund is not able to enter into a hedging transaction at an effective price, or (ii) the currency exchange rate movement relates to a market with respect to which currency instruments are not available and it is not possible to engage in effective foreign currency hedging. The cost to the Fund of engaging in foreign currency transactions varies with such factors as the currencies involved, the length of the contract period and the market conditions then prevailing. In addition, the Fund may not always be able to enter into forward contracts at attractive prices and may be limited in its ability to use these contracts to hedge Fund assets. Since transactions in foreign currency contracts usually are conducted on a principal basis, no fees or commissions are involved.
Cybersecurity Risk
With the increased use of technologies such as mobile devices and Web-based or “cloud” applications, and the dependence on the Internet and computer systems to conduct business, the Fund is susceptible to operational, information security and related risks. In general, cybersecurity incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events (arising from external or internal sources) that may cause the Fund to lose proprietary information, suffer data corruption, physical damage to a computer or network system or lose operational capacity. Cybersecurity attacks include, but are not limited to, artificial intelligence spoofing, infection by malicious software, such as malware or computer viruses or gaining unauthorized access to digital systems, networks or devices that are used to service the Fund’s operations (e.g., through “hacking,” “phishing” or malicious software coding) or other means for purposes of misappropriating assets or sensitive information, corrupting data, or causing operational disruption. Cybersecurity attacks may also be carried out in a manner that does not require gaining unauthorized access, such as causing denial-of-service attacks on the Fund’s website (i.e., efforts to make network services unavailable to intended users). In addition, authorized persons could inadvertently or intentionally release confidential or proprietary information stored on the Fund’s systems. The use of cloud-based service providers could heighten or change these risks.
Cybersecurity incidents affecting the Fund’s Adviser and Sub-Adviser (the “Advisers”), other service providers to the Fund or its shareholders (including, but not limited to, fund accountants, custodians, sub-custodians, transfer agents and financial intermediaries) have the ability to cause disruptions and impact business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses to both the Fund and shareholders, interference with the Fund’s ability to calculate its NAV, impediments to trading, the inability of Fund shareholders to transact business and of the Fund to process transactions (including fulfillment of Fund share purchases and redemptions), violations of applicable privacy and other laws (including the release of private shareholder information) and attendant breach notification and credit monitoring costs, regulatory fines, penalties, litigation costs, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, forensic investigation and remediation costs, and/or additional compliance costs. Similar adverse consequences could result from cybersecurity incidents affecting issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, counterparties with which the Fund engages in transactions, governmental and other regulatory authorities, exchange and other financial market operators, banks, brokers, dealers, insurance companies and other financial institutions (including financial intermediaries and other service providers ) and other parties. In addition, substantial costs may be incurred in order to safeguard against and reduce the risk of any cybersecurity incidents in the future. In addition to administrative, technological and procedural safeguards, the Adviser has established business continuity plans in the event of such cybersecurity incidents. However, there are inherent limitations in such plans and systems, including the possibility that certain risks have not been identified, as well as the rapid development of new threats. Furthermore, the Fund cannot control the cybersecurity plans and systems put in place by its service providers or any other third parties whose operations may affect the Fund or its shareholders. The Fund and its shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result. In addition, work-from-home arrangements by the Fund, the Adviser or their service providers could increase all of the above risks, create additional date and information accessibility concerns, and make the Fund, the Adviser or their service providers susceptible to operational disruptions, any of which could adversely impact their operations. Furthermore, the Fund may be an appealing target for cybersecurity threats such as hacking and malware.
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Depositary Receipts
Depositary receipts include American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”) and Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”) or other securities convertible into securities of issuers based in foreign countries. These securities may not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as the securities into which they may be converted. Generally, ADRs, in registered form, are denominated in U.S. Dollars and are designed for use in the U.S. securities markets, GDRs, in bearer form, are issued and designed for use outside the United States and EDRs (also referred to as Continental Depositary Receipts (“CDRs”)), in bearer form, may be denominated in other currencies and are designed for use in European securities markets. ADRs are receipts typically issued by a U.S. bank or trust company evidencing ownership of the underlying securities. EDRs are European receipts evidencing a similar arrangement. GDRs are receipts typically issued by non-U.S. banks and trust companies that evidence ownership of either foreign or domestic securities. For purposes of the Fund’s investment policies, ADRs, GDRs and EDRs are deemed to have the same classification as the underlying securities they represent. Thus, an ADR, GDR or EDR representing ownership of common stock will be treated as common stock.
The Fund may invest in depositary receipts through “sponsored” or “unsponsored” facilities. While ADRs issued under these two types of facilities are in some respects similar, there are distinctions between them relating to the rights and obligations of ADR holders and the practices of market participants.
A depositary may establish an unsponsored facility without participation by (or even necessarily the acquiescence of) the issuer of the deposited securities, although typically the depositary requests a letter of non-objection from such issuer prior to the establishment of the facility. Holders of unsponsored ADRs generally bear all the costs of such facilities. The depositary usually charges fees upon the deposit and withdrawal of the deposited securities, the conversion of dividends into U.S. Dollars, the disposition of non-cash distributions, and the performance of other services. The depositary of an unsponsored facility frequently is under no obligation to pass through voting rights to ADR holders in respect of the deposited securities. In addition, an unsponsored facility is generally not obligated to distribute communications received from the issuer of the deposited securities or to disclose material information about such issuer in the U.S. and thus there may not be a correlation between such information and the market value of the depositary receipts. Unsponsored ADRs tend to be less liquid than sponsored ADRs.
Sponsored ADR facilities are created in generally the same manner as unsponsored facilities, except that the issuer of the deposited securities enters into a deposit agreement with the depositary. The deposit agreement sets out the rights and responsibilities of the issuer, the depositary, and the ADR holders. With sponsored facilities, the issuer of the deposited securities generally will bear some of the costs relating to the facility (such as dividend payment fees of the depositary), although ADR holders continue to bear certain other costs (such as deposit and withdrawal fees). Under the terms of most sponsored arrangements, depositaries agree to distribute notices of shareholder meetings and voting instructions, and to provide shareholder communications and other information to the ADR holders at the request of the issuer of the deposited securities.
In addition, the issuers of depositary receipts may discontinue issuing new depositary receipts and withdraw existing depositary receipts at any time, which may result in costs and delays in the distribution of the underlying assets to the Fund and may negatively impact the Fund’s performance.
Derivatives
Derivatives are financial instruments whose values are derived from another security, a commodity (such as gold or oil), an index or a currency (a measure of value or rates, such as the S&P 500 Index or the prime lending rate) or other reference asset. The Fund typically uses derivatives as a substitute for taking a position or reducing exposure to underlying assets. The Fund may invest in derivative instruments including the purchase or sale of futures contracts, swaps (including credit default swaps), options (including options on futures and options on swaps), forward contracts, structured notes, and other equity-linked derivatives. The Fund may use derivative instruments for hedging (offset risks associated with an investment) purposes. The Fund may also use derivatives for non-hedging purposes to seek to enhance returns. When the Fund invests in a derivative for non-hedging purposes, the Fund will be fully exposed to the risks of loss of that derivative, which may sometimes be greater than the derivative’s cost. The Fund may not use any derivative to gain exposure to an asset or class of assets that it would be prohibited by its investment restrictions from purchasing directly. Investments in derivatives in general are subject to market risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time. Investments in derivatives may not correctly correlate with the price movements of the underlying instrument. As a result, the use of derivatives may expose the Fund to additional risks that it would not be subject to if it invested directly in the assets underlying those derivatives. The use of derivatives may result in larger losses or smaller gains than otherwise would be the case. The Fund may also take a short position through a derivative. The Fund may increase its use of derivatives in response to unusual market conditions.
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Derivatives can be volatile and may involve significant risks, including:
Accounting risk — the accounting treatment of derivative instruments, including their initial recording, income recognition, and valuation, may require detailed analysis of relevant accounting guidance as it applies to the specific instrument structure.
Correlation risk — if the value of a derivative does not correlate well with the particular market or other asset class the derivative is intended to provide exposure to, the derivative may not have the anticipated effect.
Counterparty risk — the risk that the counterparty (the party on the other side of the transaction) on a derivative transaction will be unable to honor its financial obligation to the Fund.
Currency risk — the risk that changes in the exchange rate between currencies will adversely affect the value (in U.S. Dollar terms) of an investment.
Index risk — if the derivative is linked to the performance of an index, it will be subject to the risks associated with changes in that index. If the index changes, the Fund could receive lower interest payments or experience a reduction in the value of the derivative to below what the Fund paid. Certain indexed securities may create leverage, to the extent that they increase or decrease in value at a rate that is a multiple of the changes in the applicable index.
Leverage risk — the risk associated with certain types of leveraged investments or trading strategies pursuant to which relatively small market movements may result in large changes in the value of an investment.
Certain investments or trading strategies that involve leverage can result in losses that greatly exceed the amount originally invested.
Liquidity risk — the risk that certain securities may be difficult or impossible to sell at the time that the seller would like or at the price that the seller believes the security is currently worth. In addition, the Fund may need to sell portfolio securities at an inopportune time to satisfy margin or payment obligations under derivative transactions.
Operational risk — derivatives may require customized, manual processing and documentation of transactions and may not fit within existing automated systems for confirmations, reconciliations and other operational processes used for (traditional) securities.
Short position risk — the Fund will incur a loss from a short position if the value of the reference asset increases after the Fund has entered into the short position. Short positions generally involve a form of leverage, which can exaggerate the Fund’s losses. If the Fund engages in a short derivatives position, it may lose more money than the actual cost of the short position and its potential losses may be unlimited. Any gain from a short position will be offset in whole or in part by the transaction costs associated with the short position.
Tax risk — derivatives raise issues under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code” or the “Internal Revenue Code”) requirements for qualifications as a regulated investment company (“RIC”).
Valuation risk — depending on their structure, some categories of derivatives may present special valuation challenges. For example, valuation of derivatives may be affected by considerations such as volatility, leverage, default risk and lack of trading on a recognized market, among other things.
Derivatives may generally be traded OTC or on an exchange. OTC derivatives, such as structured notes, are agreements that are individually negotiated between parties and can be tailored to meet a purchaser’s needs. OTC derivatives are not guaranteed by a clearing agency and may be subject to increased credit risk. The CFTC and the SEC continue to review the current regulatory requirements applicable to derivatives, and it is not certain at this time how the regulators may change these requirements. Any such changes may, among various possible effects, increase the cost of entering into certain derivatives transactions, require more assets of the Fund to be used for collateral in support of those derivatives than is currently the case, or restrict the ability of the Fund to enter into certain types of derivative transactions. Regulations are now in effect that require swap dealers to post and collect variation margin (comprised of specified liquid instruments and subject to a required haircut) in connection with trading of OTC swaps with the Fund, and in some cases, initial margin as well. Shares of investment companies (other than certain money market funds) may not be posted as collateral under these regulations. Requirements for posting of initial margin in connection with OTC swaps will be phased-in through at least September 2022. In addition, regulations adopted by prudential regulators that are now in effect require certain bank-regulated counterparties and certain of their affiliates to include in certain financial contracts, including many derivatives contracts, terms that delay or restrict the rights of counterparties, such as the Fund, to terminate such contracts, foreclose upon collateral, exercise other default rights or restrict transfers of credit support in the event that the counterparty and/or its affiliates are subject to certain types of resolution or insolvency proceedings.
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The SEC has adopted Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act, which applies to the Fund’s use of derivative investments and certain financing transactions. Among other things, Rule 18f-4 requires certain funds that invest in derivative instruments beyond a specified limited amount (generally greater than 10% of the Fund’s net assets) to apply a value-at-risk based limit to their use of certain derivative instruments and financing transactions and to adopt and implement a derivatives risk management program. To the extent the Fund uses derivative instruments (excluding certain currency and interest rate hedging transactions) in a limited amount (generally up to 10% of the Fund’s net assets), it will be deemed to be a “limited derivatives user” and will not be subject to the full requirements of Rule 18f-4. The Fund currently expects to operate as a “limited derivatives user.”
Common Units of MLPs and LLCs
An MLP is a publicly traded company organized as a limited partnership or limited liability company (“LLC”) and generally treated as a qualified publicly traded partnership for federal income tax purposes. Common units represent an equity ownership interest in an MLP, however, MLP common unit holders generally have limited voting rights, compared to the voting rights of holders of a corporation’s common stock, and play a limited role in the MLP’s operations and management. Common units of an LLC represent an equity ownership in an LLC. LLC common unit holders typically have broader voting rights than common unit holders of entities organized as limited partnerships. Interests in MLP or LLC common units entitle the holder to a share of the company’s success through distributions and/or capital appreciation. As a RIC under the Code, the Fund may invest no more than 25% of its total assets in securities of entities treated as qualified publicly traded partnerships for federal income tax purposes, which generally includes MLPs.
Equity Securities of MLP Affiliates
In addition to common units of MLPs, the Fund also may invest in equity securities issued by MLP affiliates, such as shares of common stock of corporations that own MLP general partner interests. General partner interests often confer direct board participation rights and, in many cases, operating control with respect to the MLP.
Equity-Linked Securities
The Fund may invest in equity-linked securities, including, but not limited to, participation notes and certificates of participation. Equity-linked securities are privately issued securities whose investment results are designed to correspond generally to the performance of a specified stock index or “basket” of stocks or a single stock. To the extent that the Fund invests in equity-linked securities whose return corresponds to the performance of a foreign security index or one or more foreign stocks, investing in equity-linked securities will involve risks similar to the risks of investing in foreign securities and subject to the Fund’s restrictions on investments in foreign securities. In addition, the Fund bears the risk that the counterparty of an equity-linked security may default on its obligations under the security. If the underlying security is determined to be illiquid, the equity-linked security would also be considered illiquid and thus subject to the Fund’s restrictions on investments in illiquid securities.
Participation notes, also known as participation certificates, are issued by banks or broker-dealers and are designed to replicate the performance of foreign companies or foreign securities markets and can be used by the Fund as an alternative means to access the securities market of a country. The performance results of participation notes will not replicate exactly the performance of the foreign companies or foreign securities markets that they seek to replicate due to transaction and other expenses. Investments in participation notes involve the same risks associated with a direct investment in the underlying foreign companies or foreign securities markets that they seek to replicate. There can be no assurance that the trading price of participation notes will equal the underlying value of the foreign companies or foreign securities markets that they seek to replicate. Participation notes are generally traded over-the-counter. Participation notes are subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the broker-dealer or bank that issues them will not fulfill its contractual obligation to complete the transaction with the Fund. Participation notes constitute general unsecured contractual obligations of the banks or broker-dealers that issue them, the counterparty, and the Fund is relying on the creditworthiness of such counterparty and has no rights under a participation note against the issuer of the underlying security. Participation notes involve transaction costs. If the underlying security is determined to be illiquid, participation notes may be illiquid and therefore subject to the Fund’s percentage limitation for investments in illiquid securities. Participation notes offer a return linked to a particular underlying equity, debt or currency.
Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs)
ETFs are ownership interests in investment companies, unit investment trusts, depositary receipts and other pooled investment vehicles that are traded on an exchange and that hold a portfolio of securities or other financial instruments (the “Underlying Assets”). The Underlying Assets are typically selected to correspond to the securities that comprise a particular broad-based sector or international index, or to provide exposure to a particular industry sector or asset class, including precious metals or other commodities. “Short ETFs” seek a return similar to the inverse, or a multiple of the inverse, of a reference index. Short ETFs carry additional risks because their Underlying Assets may include a variety of financial instruments, including futures and options on futures, options on securities and securities indexes, swap agreements and forward contracts, and a short ETF may engage in short sales. An ETF’s losses on short sales are potentially unlimited; however, a Fund’s risk would be limited to the amount it invested in the ETF. Certain ETFs are actively managed by a portfolio manager or management team that makes investment decisions on Underlying Assets without seeking to replicate the performance of a reference index or industry sector or asset class.
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Unlike shares of typical open-end management investment companies or unit investment trusts, shares of ETFs are designed to be traded throughout the trading day and bought and sold based on market price rather than NAV. Shares can trade at either a premium or discount to NAV. The portfolios held by ETFs are typically publicly disclosed on each trading day and an approximation of actual NAV is disseminated throughout the trading day. Because of this transparency, the trading prices of ETFs tend to closely track the actual NAV of the Underlying Assets and the ETF will generally gain or lose value depending on the performance of the Underlying Assets. In the future, as new products become available, the Fund may invest in ETFs that do not have this same level of transparency and, therefore, may be more likely to trade at a larger discount or premium to actual NAVs.
Gains or losses on the Fund’s investment in ETFs will ultimately depend on the purchase and sale price of the ETF. An active trading market for an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained and trading of an ETF’s shares may be halted if the listing exchange’s officials deem such action appropriate, the shares are delisted from the exchange or the activation of market-wide “circuit breakers” (which are tied to large decreases in stock prices) halts stock trading generally. The performance of an ETF will be reduced by transaction and other expenses, including fees paid by the ETF to service providers. Investors in ETFs are eligible to receive their portion of income, if any, accumulated on the securities held in the portfolio, less fees and expenses of the ETF.
An investment in an ETF involves risks similar to investing directly in the Underlying Assets, including the risk that the value of the Underlying Assets may fluctuate in accordance with changes in the financial condition of their issuers, the value of securities and other financial instruments generally, and other market factors.
If an ETF is a registered investment company (as defined in the 1940 Act), the limitations applicable to the Fund’s ability to purchase securities issued by other investment companies apply absent exemptive relief. Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act exempts certain ETFs that permit investments in those ETFs by other investment companies (such as the Funds) in excess of these limits, subject to certain conditions. Some ETFs are not structured as investment companies and thus are not regulated under the 1940 Act.
Foreign Currencies Risk
Because investments in foreign securities usually will involve currencies of foreign countries, and because the Fund may hold foreign currencies and forward contracts, futures contracts and options on foreign currencies and foreign currency futures contracts, the value of the assets of the Fund as measured in U.S. Dollars may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in foreign currency exchange rates and exchange control regulations, and the Fund may incur costs and experience conversion difficulties and uncertainties in connection with conversions between various currencies. Fluctuations in exchange rates may also affect the earning power and asset value of the foreign entity issuing the security.
The strength or weakness of the U.S. Dollar against these currencies is responsible for part of the Fund’s investment performance. If the U.S. Dollar falls in value relative to the Japanese yen, for example, the U.S. Dollar value of a Japanese stock held by the Fund will rise even though the price of the stock remains unchanged. Conversely, if the U.S. Dollar rises in value relative to the Japanese yen, the U.S. Dollar value of the Japanese stock will fall. Many foreign currencies have experienced significant devaluation relative to the U.S. Dollar.
Although the Fund values its assets daily in terms of U.S. Dollars (and translates the value of its holdings denominated in foreign currencies to U.S. Dollars daily), it does not intend to physically convert its holdings denominated in foreign currencies into U.S. Dollars on a daily basis. It will do so from time to time, and investors should be aware of the costs of currency conversion. Although foreign exchange dealers typically do not charge a fee for conversion, they do realize a profit based on the difference (the “spread”) between the prices at which they are buying and selling various currencies. Thus, a dealer may offer to sell a foreign currency to the Fund at one rate, while offering a lesser rate of exchange should the Fund desire to resell that currency to the dealer. The Fund will conduct its foreign currency exchange transactions (“FX transactions”) either on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market, or through entering into options or forward or futures contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies.
In general, the FX transactions executed for the Fund are divided into two main categories: (1) FX transactions in restricted markets (“Restricted Market FX”) and (2) FX transactions in unrestricted markets (“Unrestricted Market FX”). Restricted Market FX are required to be executed by a local bank in the applicable market. Unrestricted Market FX are not required to be executed by a local bank. The Adviser or a third-party agent executes Unrestricted Market FX relating to trading decisions. The Fund’s custodian executes all Restricted Market FX because it has local banks or relationships with local banks in each of the restricted markets where custodial client accounts hold securities. Unrestricted Market FX relating to the repatriation of dividends and/or income/expense items not directly relating to trading may be executed by the Adviser or by the Fund’s custodian due to the small currency amount and lower volume of such transactions. The Fund and the Adviser have limited ability to negotiate prices at which certain FX transactions are customarily executed by the Fund’s custodian, i.e., transactions in Restricted Market FX and repatriation transactions.
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Foreign Securities
Investing in foreign securities (including through the use of depositary receipts) involves certain special considerations which typically are not associated with investing in United States securities. Since investments in foreign companies will frequently be denominated in the currencies of foreign countries (these securities are translated into U.S. Dollars on a daily basis in order to value the Fund’s shares), and since the Fund may hold securities and funds in foreign currencies, the Fund may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency rates and in exchange control regulations, if any, and may incur costs in connection with conversions between various currencies. There may be less information publicly available about a foreign issuer than about a U.S. issuer, and foreign issuers may not be subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices comparable to those in the U.S. Most foreign stock markets, while growing in volume of trading activity, have less volume than the New York Stock Exchange, and securities of some foreign companies are less liquid and more volatile than securities of comparable domestic companies. Similarly, volume and liquidity in most foreign bond markets are less than in the United States and, at times, volatility of price can be greater than in the United States. Additionally, a foreign jurisdiction may halt trading of securities for an extended period of time, which poses liquidity, valuation and other risks. Fixed commissions on foreign securities exchanges are generally higher than negotiated commissions on United States exchanges, although the Fund endeavors to achieve the most favorable net results on its portfolio transactions. There is generally less government supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers and listed companies in foreign countries than in the United States. Foreign settlement procedures and trade regulations may involve certain risks (such as delay in payment or delivery of securities or in the recovery of the Fund’s assets held abroad) and expenses not present in the settlement of investments in U.S. markets. Payment for securities without delivery may be required in certain foreign markets.
In addition, foreign securities may be subject to the risk of nationalization or expropriation of assets, imposition of currency exchange controls or restrictions on the repatriation of foreign currency, confiscatory taxation, political or financial instability and diplomatic developments which could affect the value of the Fund’s investments in certain foreign countries. Governments of many countries have exercised and continue to exercise substantial influence over many aspects of the private sector through the ownership or control of many companies, including some of the largest in these countries. As a result, government actions in the future could have a significant effect on economic conditions which may adversely affect prices of certain portfolio securities. Foreign securities may be subject to foreign government taxes, higher custodian fees, higher brokerage costs and dividend collecting fees which could reduce the yield on such securities.
Foreign economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in various respects, including growth of gross domestic product, rates of inflation, currency depreciation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency, and balance of payments positions. Many foreign securities are less liquid and their prices more volatile than comparable U.S. securities. From time to time, foreign securities may be difficult to liquidate rapidly without adverse price effects. Legal remedies available to investors in certain foreign countries may be more limited than those available with respect to investments in the U.S. or in other foreign countries. The laws of some foreign countries may limit the Fund’s ability to invest in securities of certain issuers organized under the laws of those foreign countries.
Of particular importance, many foreign countries are heavily dependent upon exports, particularly to developed countries, and, accordingly, have been and may continue to be adversely affected by protectionist trade policies, trade barriers, managed adjustments in relative currency values, and other protectionist measures imposed or negotiated by the U.S. and other countries with which they trade. These economies also have been and may continue to be negatively impacted by economic conditions in the U.S. and other trading partners, which can lower the demand for goods produced in those countries.
All the risks above can be heightened under adverse economic, market, geopolitical and other conditions.
Frontier Market Securities
The risks associated with investments in frontier market countries include all the risks described above in “Foreign Securities” and “Emerging Markets Securities”, although the risks are magnified for frontier market countries. Because frontier markets are among the smallest, least mature and least liquid of the emerging markets, investments in frontier markets generally are subject to a greater risk of loss than are investments in developed markets or traditional emerging markets. Frontier market countries have smaller economies, less developed capital markets, greater market volatility, lower trading volume, more political and economic instability, greater risk of a market shutdown and more governmental limitations on foreign investments than are typically found in more developed markets.
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Futures
Futures are generally bought and sold on the commodities exchanges where they are listed with payment of initial and variation margin as described below. The Fund may enter into futures contracts or purchase or sell put and call options on such futures as a hedge against anticipated interest rate, currency or equity market changes, and for duration management, risk management and return enhancement purposes.
The sale of a futures contract creates a firm obligation by the Fund, as seller, to deliver to the buyer the specific type of financial instrument called for in the contract at a specific future time for a specified price (or, with respect to index futures and Eurodollar instruments, the net cash amount). Options on futures contracts are similar to options on securities except that an option on a futures contract gives the purchaser the right in return for the premium paid to assume a position in a futures contract and obligates the seller to deliver such position.
Futures and options on futures may be entered into for bona fide hedging, risk management (including duration management) or other portfolio and return enhancement management purposes to the extent consistent with the exclusion from commodity pool operator registration. Typically, maintaining a futures contract or selling an option thereon requires the Fund to deposit with a financial intermediary as security for its obligations an amount of cash or other specified assets (initial margin) which initially is typically 1% to 10% of the face amount of the contract (but may be higher in some circumstances). Additional cash or assets (variation margin) may be required to be deposited thereafter on a daily basis as the marked to market value of the contract fluctuates. The purchase of an option on financial futures involves payment of a premium for the option without any further obligation on the part of the Fund. If the Fund exercises an option on a futures contract it will be obligated to post initial margin (and potential subsequent variation margin) for the resulting futures position just as it would for any position. Futures contracts and options thereon are generally settled by entering into an offsetting transaction but there can be no assurance that the position can be offset prior to settlement at an advantageous price, or that delivery will occur.
There are several risks associated with the use of futures contracts and futures options such as hedging techniques, including market price, interest rate, leverage, liquidity, counterparty, operational and legal risks. Under certain circumstances, futures exchanges may establish daily limits on the amount that the price of a future or option on a futures contract can vary from the previous day’s settlement price; once that limit is reached, no trades may be made that day at a price beyond the limit. Daily price limits do not limit potential losses because prices could move to the daily limit for several consecutive days with little or no trading, thereby preventing liquidation of unfavorable positions.
If the Fund were unable to liquidate a futures or option on a futures contract position due to the absence of a liquid secondary market or the imposition of price limits, it could incur substantial losses, because it would continue to be subject to market risk with respect to the position. In addition, except in the case of purchased options, the Fund would continue to be required to make daily variation margin payments and might be required to maintain the position being hedged by the future or, in accordance with current federal securities laws, rules, and staff positions, option or to maintain cash or securities in a segregated account.
Certain characteristics of the futures market might increase the risk that movements in the prices of futures contracts or options on futures contracts might not correlate perfectly with movements in the prices of the investments being hedged. For example, all participants in the futures and options on futures contracts markets are subject to daily variation margin calls and might be compelled to liquidate futures or options on futures contracts positions whose prices are moving unfavorably to avoid being subject to further calls. These liquidations could increase price volatility of the instruments and distort the normal price relationship between the futures or options and the investments being hedged. Also, because initial margin deposit requirements in the futures markets are less onerous than margin requirements in the securities markets, there might be increased participation by speculators in the future markets. This participation also might cause temporary price distortions. In addition, activities of large traders in both the futures and securities markets involving arbitrage, “program trading” and other investment strategies might result in temporary price distortions.
The CFTC and various exchanges have rules limiting the maximum net long or short positions which any person or group may own, hold or control in any given futures contract or option on such futures contract. The Adviser will need to consider whether the exposure created under these contracts might exceed the applicable limits in managing the Fund, and the limits may constrain the ability of the Fund to use such contracts.
Initial Public Offerings (“IPOs”)
An IPO is a type of public offering where shares of stock in a company are sold to the general public, on a securities exchange, for the first time. Through this process, a private company transforms into a public company. IPOs are used by companies to raise expansion capital, to possibly monetize the investments of early private investors, and to become publicly traded enterprises. A company selling shares is never required to repay the capital to its public investors. The availability of IPOs may be limited and the Fund may not be able to buy any shares at the offering price, or may not be able to buy as many shares at the offering price as it would like. Further, IPO prices often are subject to greater and more unpredictable price changes than more established stocks.
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Interests in Publicly Traded Limited Partnerships
Publicly traded limited partnerships represent equity interests in the assets and earnings of the partnership’s trade or business. Unlike common stock in a corporation, limited partnership interests or units have limited or no voting rights. However, many of the risks of investing in common stocks are still applicable to investments in limited partnership interests. In addition, limited partnership interests are subject to risks not present in common stock. For example, non-investment income generated from limited partnerships deemed not to be “publicly traded” will not be considered “qualifying income” under the Code and may trigger adverse tax consequences. Also, since publicly traded limited partnerships are a less common form of organizational structure than corporations, the limited partnership units may be less liquid than publicly traded common stock. Also, because of the difference in organizational structure, the fair value of limited partnership units in the Fund’s portfolio may be based either upon the current market price of such units, or if there is no current market price, upon the pro rata value of the underlying assets of the partnership. Limited partnership units also have the risk that the limited partnership might, under certain circumstances, be treated as a general partnership, giving rise to broader liability exposure to the limited partners for activities of the partnership. Further, the general partners of a limited partnership may be able to significantly change the business or asset structure of a limited partnership without the limited partners having any ability to disapprove any such changes. In certain limited partnerships, limited partners may also be required to return distributions previously made in the event that excess distributions have been made by the partnership, or in the event that the general partners, or their affiliates, are entitled to indemnification.
Medium Company, Small Company and Emerging Growth Securities
Investing in securities of medium-sized companies, small-sized (including micro-capitalization companies) and emerging growth companies, may involve greater risks than investing in the securities of larger, more established companies, including possible risk of loss. Also, because these securities may have limited marketability, their prices may be more volatile than securities of larger, more established companies or the market averages in general. Because medium-sized, small-sized and emerging growth companies normally have fewer shares outstanding than larger companies, it may be more difficult for the Fund to buy or sell significant numbers of such shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing prices. Medium-sized, small-sized and emerging growth companies may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources and may lack management depth. In addition, medium-sized, small-sized and emerging growth companies are typically subject to wider variations in earnings and business prospects than are larger, more established companies. There is typically less publicly available information concerning medium sized, small-sized and emerging growth companies than for larger, more established ones.
Money Market Instruments
The Fund may invest without limit in short-term investment grade money market obligations. Money market instruments may include the following types of instruments:
| ● | obligations issued or guaranteed as to interest and principal by the U.S. Government, its agencies, or instrumentalities, or any federally chartered corporation, with remaining maturities of 397 days or less; |
| ● | obligations of sovereign foreign governments, their agencies, instrumentalities and political subdivisions, with remaining maturities of 397 days or less; |
| ● | obligations of municipalities and states, their agencies and political subdivisions with remaining maturities of 397 days or less; |
| ● | asset-backed commercial paper whose own rating or the rating of any guarantor is in one of the two highest categories of any nationally recognized statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”); |
| ● | repurchase agreements; |
| ● | certificates of deposit maturing in one year or less; |
| ● | bank or savings and loan obligations; |
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| ● | commercial paper (including asset-backed commercial paper), which are short-term unsecured promissory notes issued by corporations in order to finance their current operations. It may also be issued by foreign governments, and states and municipalities. Generally the commercial paper or its guarantor will be rated within the top two rating categories by a NRSRO, or if not rated, is issued and guaranteed as to payment of principal and interest by companies which at the date of investment have a high quality outstanding debt issue; |
| ● | bank loan participation agreements representing obligations of corporations having a high quality short-term rating, at the date of investment, and under which the Fund will look to the creditworthiness of the lender bank, which is obligated to make payments of principal and interest on the loan, as well as to creditworthiness of the borrower; |
| ● | high quality short-term (maturity in 397 days or less) corporate obligations, rated within the top two rating categories by a NRSRO or, if not rated, deemed to be of comparable quality by the Adviser; |
| ● | extendable commercial notes, which differ from traditional commercial paper because the issuer can extend the maturity of the note up to 397 days with the option to call the note any time during the extension period; and |
| ● | unrated short-term (maturing in 397 days or less) debt obligations that are determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality to the securities described above. |
Preferred Stock
Preferred stocks, like some debt obligations, are generally fixed income securities. Shareholders of preferred stocks normally have the right to receive dividends at a fixed rate when and as declared by the issuer’s board of directors, but do not participate in other amounts available for distribution by the issuing corporation. Dividends on the preferred stock may be cumulative, and all cumulative dividends usually must be paid prior to common shareholders of common stock receiving any dividends. Because preferred stock dividends must be paid before common stock dividends, preferred stocks generally entail less risk than common stocks. Upon liquidation, preferred stocks are entitled to a specified liquidation preference, which is generally the same as the par or stated value, and are senior in right of payment to common stock. Preferred stocks are, however, equity securities in the sense that they do not represent a liability of the issuer and, therefore, do not offer as great a degree of protection of capital or assurance of continued income as investments in corporate debt securities. Preferred stocks are generally subordinated in right of payment to all debt obligations and creditors of the issuer, to the extent proceeds are available after paying more senior creditors, and convertible preferred stocks may be subordinated to other preferred stock of the same issuer.
Real Estate Investment Trusts
REITs are pooled investment vehicles which invest primarily in income-producing real estate or real estate related loans or interests. REITs are sometimes informally characterized as equity REITs, mortgage REITs and hybrid REITs. Equity REITs invest the majority of their assets directly in real property and derive income primarily from the collection of rents. Equity REITs can also realize capital gains by selling properties that have appreciated in value. Mortgage REITs invest the majority of their assets in real estate mortgages and derive income from the collection of interest payments. Hybrid REITs combine the investment strategies of equity REITs and mortgage REITs.
Investment in REITs may subject the Fund to risks associated with the direct ownership of real estate, such as decreases in real estate values, overbuilding, increased competition and other risks related to local or general economic conditions, increases in operating costs and property taxes, changes in zoning laws, casualty or condemnation losses, possible environmental liabilities, regulatory limitations on rent and fluctuations in rental income. Equity REITs generally experience these risks directly through fee or leasehold interests, whereas mortgage REITs generally experience these risks indirectly through mortgage interests, unless the mortgage REIT forecloses on the underlying real estate. Changes in interest rates may also affect the value of the Fund’s investment in REITs. For instance, changes in interest rates may impact real estate values or the values of underlying mortgage loans, therefore making REIT shares less attractive, more volatile and less liquid than other income producing investments.
Certain REITs have relatively small market capitalizations, which may tend to increase the volatility of the market price of their securities. Furthermore, REITs are dependent upon specialized management skills, have limited diversification and are, therefore, subject to risks inherent in operating and financing a limited number of projects. Like RICs such as the Fund, REITs are not taxed on income distributed to shareholders provided that they comply with certain requirements under the Code. The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any expenses paid by REITs in which it invests in addition to the expenses paid by the Fund. REITs are dependent upon management skills, are not diversified (except to the extent the Code requires), and are subject to the risks of financing projects and illiquid markets. REITs are also subject to heavy cash flow dependency, defaults by borrowers and the possibility of failing to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income under the Code, and to maintain exemption from the registration requirements of the 1940 Act. By investing in REITs indirectly through the Fund, a shareholder will bear not only his or her proportionate share of the expenses of the Fund, but also, indirectly, similar expenses of the REITs. In addition, REITs depend generally on their ability to generate cash flow to make distributions to shareholders. The management of a REIT may be subject to conflicts of interest with respect to the operation of the business of the REIT and may be involved in real estate activities competitive with the REIT. REITs may own properties through joint ventures or in other circumstances in which the REIT may not have control over its investments. REITs may incur significant amounts of leverage.
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Real Estate Related Securities
Such investments are subject to certain risks associated with the ownership of real estate and with the real estate industry in general. These risks include, among others: possible declines in the value of real estate; risks related to general and local economic conditions; possible lack of availability of mortgage funds or other limitations on access to capital; overbuilding; risks associated with leverage; market illiquidity; extended vacancies of properties; increase in competition, property taxes, capital expenditures and operating expenses; changes in zoning laws or other governmental regulation; costs resulting from the clean-up of, and liability to third parties for damages resulting from, environmental problems; tenant bankruptcies or other credit problems; casualty or condemnation losses; uninsured damages from floods, earthquakes or other natural disasters; limitations on and variations in rents, including decreases in market rates for rents; investment in developments that are not completed or that are subject to delays in completion; and changes in interest rates. To the extent that assets underlying the Fund’s investments are concentrated geographically, by property type or in certain other respects, the Fund may be subject to certain of the foregoing risks to a greater extent. Investments by the Fund in securities of companies providing mortgage servicing may be subject to the risks associated with refinancings and their impact on servicing rights. In addition, if the Fund receives rental income or income from the disposition of real property acquired as a result of a default on securities the Fund owns, the receipt of such income may adversely affect the Fund’s ability to retain its tax status as a RIC because of certain income source requirements applicable to RICs under the Code.
Real Estate Securities Risk
Although the Fund may not invest directly in real estate, the Fund may invest in equity securities of issuers that are principally engaged in the real estate industry. The value of the shares of the Fund investing in such issuers will be affected by factors affecting the value of real estate and the earnings of companies engaged in the real estate industry. These factors include, among others: (1) changes in general economic and market conditions; (2) changes in the value of real estate properties; (3) risks related to local economic conditions, overbuilding and increased competition; (4) increases in property taxes and operating expenses; (5) changes in zoning laws; (6) casualty and condemnation losses; (7) variations in rental income, neighborhood values or the appeal of property to tenants; (8) changes in interest rates; and (9) changes in demographic trends and occupancy rates. Many real estate companies utilize leverage, which increases investment risk and could adversely affect a company’s operations and market value in periods of rising interest rates. The value of securities of companies in the real estate industry may go through cycles of relative under performance and out performance in comparison to equity securities markets in general.
There are also special risks associated with particular sectors of real estate investments:
Retail Properties. Retail properties are affected by the overall health of the economy and may be adversely affected by, among other things, the growth of alternative forms of retailing, bankruptcy, departure or cessation of operations of a tenant, a shift in consumer demand due to demographic changes, changes in spending patterns and lease terminations.
Office Properties. Office properties are affected by the overall health of the economy, and other factors such as a downturn in the businesses operated by their tenants, obsolescence and non-competitiveness.
Hotel Properties. The risks of hotel properties include, among other things, the necessity of a high level of continuing capital expenditures, competition, increases in operating costs which may not be offset by increases in revenues, dependence on business and commercial travelers and tourism, increases in fuel costs and other expenses of travel, and adverse effects of general and local economic conditions. Hotel properties tend to be more sensitive to adverse economic conditions and competition than many other commercial properties.
Healthcare Properties. Healthcare properties and healthcare providers are affected by several significant factors, including federal, state and local laws governing licenses, certification, adequacy of care, pharmaceutical distribution, rates, equipment, personnel and other factors regarding operations, continued availability of revenue from government reimbursement programs and competition on a local and regional basis. The failure of any healthcare operator to comply with governmental laws and regulations may affect its ability to operate its facility or receive government reimbursements.
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Multifamily Properties. The value and successful operation of a multifamily property may be affected by a number of factors such as the location of the property, the ability of the management team, the level of mortgage rates, the presence of competing properties, adverse economic conditions in the locale, oversupply and rent control laws or other laws affecting such properties.
Community Centers. Community center properties are dependent upon the successful operations and financial condition of their tenants, particularly certain of their major tenants, and could be adversely affected by bankruptcy of those tenants. In some cases a tenant may lease a significant portion of the space in one center, and the filing of bankruptcy could cause significant revenue loss. Like others in the commercial real estate industry, community centers are subject to environmental risks and interest rate risk. They also face the need to enter into new leases or renew leases on favorable terms to generate rental revenues. Community center properties could be adversely affected by changes in the local markets where their properties are located, as well as by adverse changes in national economic and market conditions.
Self-Storage Properties. The value and successful operation of a self-storage property may be affected by a number of factors, such as the ability of the management team, the location of the property, the presence of competing properties, changes in traffic patterns and effects of general and local economic conditions with respect to rental rates and occupancy levels.
Other factors may contribute to the risk of real estate investments:
Development Issues. Certain real estate companies may engage in the development or construction of real estate properties. These companies in which the Fund invests (“portfolio companies”) are exposed to a variety of risks inherent in real estate development and construction, such as the risk that there will be insufficient tenant demand to occupy newly developed properties, and the risk that prices of construction materials or construction labor may rise materially during the development.
Lack of Insurance. Certain of the portfolio companies may fail to carry comprehensive liability, fire, flood, earthquake extended coverage and rental loss insurance, or insurance in place may be subject to various policy specifications, limits and deductibles. Should any type of uninsured loss occur, the portfolio company could lose its investment in, and anticipated profits and cash flows from, a number of properties and, as a result, adversely affect the Fund’s investment performance.
Financial Leverage. Global real estate companies may be highly leveraged and financial covenants may affect the ability of global real estate companies to operate effectively.
Environmental Issues. In connection with the ownership (direct or indirect), operation, management and development of real properties that may contain hazardous or toxic substances, a portfolio company may be considered an owner, operator or responsible party of such properties and, therefore, may be potentially liable for removal or remediation costs, as well as certain other costs, including governmental fines and liabilities for injuries to persons and property. The existence of any such material environmental liability could have a material adverse effect on the results of operations and cash flow of any such portfolio company and, as a result, the amount available to make distributions on shares of the Fund could be reduced.
Recent Events. The value of real estate is particularly susceptible to acts of terrorism and other changes in foreign and domestic conditions.
REIT Issues. REITs are subject to a highly technical and complex set of provisions in the Code. It is possible that the Fund may invest in a real estate company which purports to be a REIT but which fails to qualify as a REIT. In the event of any such unexpected failure to qualify as a REIT, the purported REIT would be subject to corporate level taxation, significantly reducing the return to the Fund on its investment in such company
Financing Issues. Financial institutions in which the Fund may invest are subject to extensive government regulation. This regulation may limit both the amount and types of loans and other financial commitments a financial institution can make, and the interest rates and fees it can charge. In addition, interest and investment rates are highly sensitive and are determined by many factors beyond a financial institution’s control, including general and local economic conditions (such as inflation, recession, money supply and unemployment) and the monetary and fiscal policies of various governmental agencies such as the Federal Reserve Board. These limitations may have a significant impact on the profitability of a financial institution since profitability is attributable, at least in part, to the institution’s ability to make financial commitments such as loans. Profitability of a financial institution is largely dependent upon the availability and cost of the institution’s funds, and can fluctuate significantly when interest rates change.
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Rights Issues and Warrants
Rights issues give the right, to existing shareholders, to buy a proportional number of additional securities at a given price (generally at a discount) within a fixed period (generally on a short term period) and are offered at the company’s discretion.
Warrants are securities that give the holder the right, but not the obligation, to subscribe for newly created equity issues (consisting of common and preferred stock, convertible preferred stock and warrants that themselves are only convertible into common, preferred or convertible preferred stock) of the issuing company or a related company at a fixed price either on a certain date or during a set period. Warrants are speculative and have no value if they are not exercised before the expiration date.
The equity issue underlying an equity warrant is outstanding at the time the equity warrant is issued or is issued together with the warrant. At the time the Fund acquires an equity warrant convertible into a warrant, the terms and conditions under which the warrant received upon conversion can be exercised will have been determined; the warrant received upon conversion will only be convertible into a common, preferred or convertible preferred stock. Equity warrants are generally issued in conjunction with an issue of bonds or shares, although they also may be issued as part of a rights issue or scrip issue. When issued with bonds or shares, they usually trade separately from the bonds or shares after issuance.
OTC equity warrants are usually traded only by financial institutions that have the ability to settle and clear these instruments. OTC warrants are instruments between the Fund and its counterparty (usually a securities dealer or bank) with no clearing organization guarantee. Thus, when the Fund purchases an OTC warrant, the Fund relies on the counterparty to fulfill its obligations to the Fund if the Fund decides to exercise the warrant.
Index warrants are rights created by an issuer, typically a financial institution, entitling the holder to purchase, in the case of a call, or sell, in the case of a put, an equity index at a certain level over a fixed period of time. Index warrant transactions settle in cash.
Covered warrants are rights created by an issuer, typically a financial institution, ordinarily entitling the holder to purchase from the issuer of the covered warrant outstanding securities of another company (or in some cases a basket of securities), which issuance may or may not have been authorized by the issuer or issuers of the securities underlying the covered warrants. In most cases, the holder of the covered warrant is entitled on its exercise to delivery of the underlying security, but in some cases the entitlement of the holder is to be paid in cash the difference between the value of the underlying security on the date of exercise and the strike price. The securities in respect of which covered warrants are issued are usually common stock, although they may entitle the holder to acquire warrants to acquire common stock. Covered warrants may be fully covered or partially covered. In the case of a fully covered warrant, the issuer of the warrant will beneficially own all of the underlying securities or will itself own warrants (which are typically issued by the issuer of the underlying securities in a separate transaction) to acquire the securities. The underlying securities or warrants are, in some cases, held by another member of the issuer’s group or by a custodian or other fiduciary for the holders of the covered warrants.
Interest rate warrants are rights that are created by an issuer, typically a financial institution, entitling the holder to purchase, in the case of a call, or sell, in the case of a put, a specific bond issue or an interest rate index (Bond Index) at a certain level over a fixed time period. Interest rate warrants can typically be exercised in the underlying instrument or settle in cash.
Long term options operate much like covered warrants. Like covered warrants, long term options are call options created by an issuer, typically a financial institution, entitling the holder to purchase from the issuer outstanding securities of another issuer. Long-term options have an initial period of one year or more, but generally have terms between three and five years. Unlike U.S. options, long term European options do not settle through a clearing corporation that guarantees the performance of the counterparty. Instead, they are traded on an exchange and subject to the exchange’s trading regulations. The Fund may only acquire covered warrants, index warrants, interest rate warrants and long term options that are issued by entities deemed to be creditworthy by the Adviser. Investment in these instruments involves the risk that the issuer of the instrument may default on its obligation to deliver the underlying security or warrants to acquire the underlying security (or cash in lieu thereof).
Secondary Offerings
The Fund may invest a portion of its assets in secondary offerings. A secondary offering is a registered offering of a large block of a security that has been previously issued to the public. A secondary offering can occur when an investor sells to the public a large block of stock or other securities it has been holding in its portfolio. In a sale of this kind, all of the profits go to the seller rather than the issuer. Secondary offerings can also originate when the issuer issues new shares of its stock over and above those sold in its IPO, usually in order to raise additional capital.
However, because an increase in the number of shares devalues those that have already been issued, many companies make a secondary offering only if their stock prices are high or they are in need of capital. Secondary offerings may have a magnified impact on the performance of the Fund with a small asset base. Secondary offering shares frequently are volatile in price. Therefore, the Fund may hold secondary offering shares for a very short period of time. This may increase the portfolio turnover rate of the Fund and may lead to increased expenses for the Fund, such as commissions and transaction costs. In addition, secondary offering shares can experience an immediate drop in value if the demand for the securities does not continue to support the offering price.
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Securities of Investment Companies
To the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the Fund may generally invest up to 10% of its total assets, calculated at the time of investment, in the securities of other investment companies. No more than 5% of a Fund’s total assets may be invested in the securities of any one investment company nor may it acquire more than 3% of the voting securities of any other investment company. For purposes of these limitations, the Fund would aggregate its investments in any private placements with its investment company holdings, which would include ETF holdings unless an exemption applies (as described in “Exchange-Traded Funds” above). Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act permits registered investment companies to acquire securities of another investment company in excess of these amounts, subject to certain conditions and limits most three-tier fund structures.
To the extent the Fund invests in another investment company, that is not managed by the Adviser or its affiliates, the Fund indirectly will bear its proportionate share of any management fees paid by an investment company in which it invests in addition to the advisory fee paid by the Fund. Where the Fund invests in another investment company managed by the Adviser or its affiliates, the management fees of the investment company in which it invests would be waived for the Fund or the Fund would be credited in an amount equivalent to the management fees of the investment company in which it invests. Some of the countries in which the Fund may invest may not permit direct investment by outside investors. Investments in such countries may only be permitted through foreign government-approved or government-authorized investment vehicles, which may include other investment companies. The Fund may not acquire securities of registered open-end investment companies or registered unit investment trusts in reliance on Sections 12(d)(1)(F) or 12(d)(1)(G) of the 1940 Act.
Special Situation Companies
“Special situations” with respect to a portfolio company include a change in management or management policies, the acquisition of a significant equity position in the company by others, a merger or reorganization, or the sale or spin-off of a division or subsidiary which, if resolved favorably, would improve the value of the company’s stock. If the actual or prospective situation does not materialize as anticipated, the market price of the securities of a special situation company may decline significantly. There can be no assurance that a special situation that exists at the time of its investment will be consummated under the terms and within the time period contemplated. Investments in “special situations” companies can present greater risks than investments in companies not experiencing special situations.
Strategic Transactions, Derivatives and Synthetic Investments
The Fund may, but is not required to, utilize various other investment strategies as described below for a variety of purposes, such as hedging various market risks, managing the effective maturity or duration of the fixed income securities in the Fund’s portfolio or enhancing potential gain. These strategies may be executed through the use of derivative contracts. In certain circumstances, the Fund may wish to obtain the price performance of a security without actually purchasing the security in circumstances where, for example, the security is illiquid, or is unavailable for direct investment or available only on less attractive terms. In such circumstances, the Fund may invest in synthetic or derivative alternative investments (“Synthetic Investments”) that are based upon or otherwise relate to the economic performance of the underlying securities. Synthetic Investments may include swap transactions, notes or units with variable redemption amounts, and other similar instruments and contracts. Synthetic Investments typically do not represent beneficial ownership of the underlying security, usually are not collateralized or otherwise secured by the counterparty and may or may not have any credit enhancements attached to them.
In the course of pursuing these investment strategies, the Fund may purchase and sell exchange-listed and OTC put and call options on securities, equity and fixed income indices and other instruments, purchase and sell futures contracts and options thereon, enter into various transactions such as swaps, caps, floors, collars, currency forward contracts, currency futures contracts, currency swaps or options on currencies, or currency futures and various other currency transactions (collectively, all the above are called “Strategic Transactions”). In addition, strategic transactions may also include new techniques, instruments or strategies that are permitted as regulatory changes occur. Strategic Transactions may be used subject to certain limits imposed by the 1940 Act to attempt to protect against possible changes in the market value of securities held in or to be purchased for the Fund’s portfolio resulting from securities markets or currency exchange rate fluctuations, to protect the Fund’s unrealized gains in the value of its portfolio securities, to facilitate the sale of such securities for investment purposes, to manage the effective maturity or duration of the Fund’s portfolio, or to establish a position in the derivatives markets as a substitute for purchasing or selling particular securities. Any or all of these investment techniques may be used at any time and in any combination, and there is no particular strategy that dictates the use of one technique rather than another, as use of any Strategic Transaction is a function of numerous variables including market conditions. The ability of the Fund to utilize these Strategic Transactions successfully will depend on the Adviser’s ability to predict pertinent market movements, which cannot be assured. The Fund will comply with applicable regulatory requirements when implementing these strategies, techniques and instruments. Strategic Transactions will not be used to alter fundamental investment purposes and characteristics of the Fund, and under current regulations, the Fund will segregate assets (or as provided by applicable regulations, enter into certain offsetting positions) to cover its obligations under options, futures and swaps to limit leveraging of the Fund.
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Strategic Transactions, including derivative contracts and Synthetic Investments, have risks associated with them including possible default by the other party to the transaction, illiquidity and, to the extent the Adviser’s view as to certain market movements is incorrect, the risk that the use of such Strategic Transactions could result in losses greater than if they had not been used. Synthetic Investments also involve exposure to the creditworthiness of the issuer of the underlying security, changes in exchange rates and future governmental actions taken by the jurisdiction in which the underlying security is issued, and counterparties involved. Use of put and call options may result in losses to the Fund, force the sale or purchase of portfolio securities at inopportune times or for prices higher than (in the case of put options) or lower than (in the case of call options) current market values, limit the amount of appreciation the Fund can realize on its investments or cause the Fund to hold a security it might otherwise sell. The use of currency transactions can result in the Fund incurring losses as a result of a number of factors including the imposition of exchange controls, suspension of settlements, or the inability to deliver or receive a specified currency. The use of options and futures transactions entails certain other risks. In particular, the variable degree of correlation between price movements of futures contracts and price movements in the related portfolio position of the Fund creates the possibility that losses on the hedging instrument may be greater than gains in the value of the Fund’s position. In addition, futures and options markets may not be liquid in all circumstances and certain OTC options may have no markets. As a result, in certain markets, the Fund might not be able to close out a transaction without incurring substantial losses, if at all. Although the use of futures and options transactions for hedging should tend to minimize the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged position, at the same time they tend to limit any potential gain which might result from an increase in value of such position. Finally, the daily variation margin requirements for futures contracts and short options positions would create a greater ongoing potential financial risk than would purchase of such options (i.e., long options, when the exposure is limited to the cost of the initial premium). Losses resulting from the use of Strategic Transactions would reduce NAV, and possibly income, and such losses can be greater than if the Strategic Transactions had not been utilized. As described above, the Fund may also trade in physically-settled currency forward contracts. There is less protection against defaults in the forward trading of currencies since such forward contracts are currently not guaranteed by an exchange or clearing house and are not subject to the margin requirements applicable to swaps as well as the mandatory clearing and exchange trading requirements applicable to swaps. The Dodd-Frank Act includes in the definition of “swaps” that are regulated by the CFTC most types of currency derivatives including cash-settled or non-deliverable foreign currency forwards.
Risks of Strategic Transactions Outside the U.S. When conducted outside the U.S., Strategic Transactions may not be regulated as rigorously as in the U.S. (which may depend on whether the Fund is executing trades with a CFTC or SEC registered dealer), may not involve a clearing mechanism and related guarantees, and are subject to the risk of governmental actions affecting trading in, or the prices of, foreign securities, currencies and other instruments. The value of such positions also could be adversely affected by: (i) other complex foreign political, legal and economic factors; (ii) lesser availability than in the U.S. of data on which to make trading decisions; (iii) delays in the Fund’s ability to act upon economic events occurring in foreign markets during non-business hours in the U.S.; (iv) the imposition of different exercise and settlement terms and procedures and margin requirements than in the U.S.; and (v) lower trading volume and liquidity.
Use of Segregated and Other Special Accounts. Under current regulations, many Strategic Transactions, in addition to other requirements, require that the Fund segregate cash or liquid assets with its custodian to the extent fund obligations are not otherwise “covered” through ownership of the underlying security, financial instrument or currency. In general, either the full amount of any obligation by the Fund to pay or deliver securities or assets must be covered at all times by the securities, instruments or currency required to be delivered, or, subject to any regulatory restrictions, an amount of cash or liquid assets at least equal to the current amount of the obligation must be segregated with the custodian. The segregated assets cannot be sold or transferred unless equivalent assets are substituted in their place or it is no longer necessary to segregate them. For example, a call option written or sold by the Fund will require the Fund to hold the securities deliverable under the call upon exercise (or securities convertible into the needed securities without additional consideration) or to segregate cash or liquid assets sufficient to purchase and deliver the securities or deliver the cash strike price if the call is exercised. A cash-settled call option sold by the Fund on an index will require the Fund to segregate cash or liquid assets equal to the excess of the index value over the exercise price on a current basis. A physically-settled put option written or sold by the Fund requires the Fund to segregate cash or liquid assets equal to the exercise price.
Except when the Fund enters into a forward contract for the purchase or sale of a security denominated in a particular currency, which requires no segregation under current regulations, a currency contract which obligates the Fund to buy or sell currency will generally require the Fund to hold an amount of that currency or liquid assets denominated in that currency equal to the Fund’s obligations or to segregate cash or liquid assets equal to the amount of the Fund’s obligation.
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Under current regulations, OTC options entered into by the Fund, including those on securities, currency, financial instruments or indices and OCC-issued and exchange listed index options, may provide for cash settlement. As a result, when the Fund sells these instruments it will only segregate an amount of cash or liquid assets equal to its accrued net obligations, as there is no requirement for payment or delivery of amounts in excess of the net amount. These amounts will equal the in-the-money amount plus any sell-back formula amount in the case of a cash-settled put or call. In addition, when the Fund sells a cash-settled call option on an index at a time when the in-the-money amount exceeds the exercise price, the Fund will segregate, until the option expires or is closed out, cash or cash equivalents equal in value of such excess. OCC-issued and exchange listed options sold by the Fund that settle with physical delivery, or with an election of either physical delivery or cash settlement, will require the Fund to segregate an amount of cash or liquid assets equal to the full value of the cash securities or commodities deliverable under the option by the seller on exercise. Holders of long options are not required to segregate assets. OTC options settling with physical delivery, or with an election of either physical delivery or cash settlement, will be treated the same as other options settling with physical delivery.
In the case of a futures contract or an option thereon, the Fund must deposit initial margin and possible daily variation margin. Under current regulations, the Fund may also need to segregate additional cash or liquid assets sufficient to meet its obligation under the contracts. Such liquid assets may consist of cash, cash equivalents, liquid debt or equity securities or other acceptable assets.
Under current regulations, with respect to swaps, the Fund will accrue the net amount of the excess, if any, of its obligations (including any pre-payment penalties and premium payments) over its entitlements with respect to each swap on a daily basis and will segregate an amount of cash or liquid assets having a value equal to the accrued excess. The Fund’s obligation to segregate the accrued excess of its obligations over its entitlements with respect to a credit default swap (“CDS”) it buys (for example, the cost to the Fund to unwind the CDS, enter into an offsetting CDS, or pay a third-party to relieve the Fund of its obligation) may be equal to the notional value of the CDS. When the Fund is a seller of the CDS, the Fund will segregate the notional value of the CDS. Caps, floors and collars require segregation of assets with a value equal to the Fund’s net obligation, if any.
Under Current regulations, strategic Transactions may be covered by other means when consistent with applicable regulatory policies. The Fund may also enter into offsetting transactions so that its combined position, coupled with any segregated assets, equals its net outstanding obligation in related options and Strategic Transactions. For example, the Fund could purchase a put option if the strike price of that option is the same or higher than the strike price of a put option sold by the Fund. Moreover, instead of segregating cash or liquid assets if the Fund held a futures or forward contract, it could purchase a put option on the same futures or forward contract with a strike price as high or higher than the price of the contract held. Other Strategic Transactions may also be offset in combinations. If the offsetting transaction terminates at the time of or after the primary transaction, no segregation is required, but if it terminates prior to such time, cash or liquid assets equal to any remaining obligation would need to be segregated.
Combined Transactions. The Fund may enter into multiple transactions, including multiple options transactions, multiple futures transactions, multiple currency transactions (including forward currency contracts) and multiple interest rate transactions and any combination of futures, options, currency and interest rate transactions (“component” transactions), instead of a single Strategic Transaction, as part of a single or combined strategy when, in the opinion of the Adviser, it is in the best interests of the Fund to do so. A combined transaction will usually contain elements of risk that are present in each of its component transactions. Although combined transactions are normally entered into based on the Adviser’s judgment that the combined strategies will reduce risk or otherwise more effectively achieve the desired portfolio management goal, it is possible that the combination will instead increase such risks or hinder achievement of the portfolio management objective.
Close-out Risk for Qualified Financial Contracts. Regulations adopted by the prudential regulators require counterparties of the banks and other financial intermediaries that are part of U.S. or foreign global systemically important banking organizations to include contractual restrictions on close-out and cross-default in agreements relating to qualified financial contracts. Qualified financial contracts include agreements relating to swaps, currency forwards and other derivatives as well as repurchase agreements and securities lending agreements. The restrictions prevent the Fund from closing out a qualified financial contract during a specified time period if the counterparty is subject to resolution proceedings and prohibit the Fund from exercising default rights due to a receivership or similar proceeding of an affiliate of the counterparty. These requirements may increase credit and other risks to the Fund.
Temporary Investments and Defensive Investments
Pending investment of the proceeds of an offering, the Fund may invest offering proceeds in money market mutual funds, cash, cash equivalents, securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its instrumentalities or agencies, high quality, short-term money market instruments, short-term debt securities, certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances and other bank obligations, commercial paper or other liquid debt securities. The Fund also may invest in these instruments on a temporary basis to meet working capital needs, including, but not limited to, for collateral in connection with certain investment techniques, to hold a reserve pending payment of distributions and to facilitate the payment of expenses and settlement of trades.
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Under adverse market or economic conditions, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its total assets in these securities on a temporary basis. To the extent the Fund invests in these securities, it may not achieve its investment objective. The yield on these securities may be lower than the returns on equity securities or yields on lower rated debt securities.
When-Issued Securities and Delayed-Delivery
The Fund may purchase equity and debt securities on a “when-issued,” “delayed delivery” or “forward delivery” basis. The price of such securities, which may be expressed in yield terms, is fixed at the time the commitment to purchase is made, but delivery and payment for the securities takes place at a later date. During the period between purchase and settlement, no payment is made by the Fund to the issuer and no interest accrues to the Fund. When the Fund purchases such securities, it immediately assumes the risks of ownership, including the risk of price fluctuation. Failure to deliver a security purchased on this basis may result in a loss or missed opportunity to make an alternative investment.
To the extent that assets of the Fund are held in cash pending the settlement of a purchase of securities, the Fund would earn no income. While such securities may be sold prior to the settlement date, the Fund intends to purchase them with the purpose of actually acquiring them unless a sale appears desirable for investment reasons. At the time the Fund makes the commitment to purchase a security on this basis, it will record the transaction and reflect the value of the security in determining its NAV. The market value of the securities may be more or less than the purchase price. In accordance with current federal securities laws, rules, and staff positions, the Fund will establish a segregated account in which it will maintain cash and liquid assets equal in value to commitments for such securities.
When the Fund engages in when-issued or delayed-delivery transactions, it relies on the other party to consummate the trade. Failure of the seller to do so may result in the Fund incurring a loss or missing an opportunity to obtain a price considered to be advantageous.
When the Fund enters into a delayed delivery transaction, a when-issued transaction or a forward transaction, the Fund may be required to provide collateral to cover potential losses of the counterparty, due to changes in the value of the security, in the event that the event that the transaction is unable to settle (e.g., in the event of a default on the Fund). Similarly, the counterparty may be required to provide collateral to cover the potential losses of the Fund, due to changes in the value of the security, in the event that the transaction is unable to settle (e.g., the seller fails to deliver the security). Under current regulations, the Fund may reduce the amount of liquid assets it will segregate to the extent it provides such collateral.
Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act, which became fully effective in August 2022, provides that funds may invest in securities on a when-issued or forward-settling basis, or with a non-standard settlement cycle. These transactions are not deemed to involve a senior security, and thus generally do not require the Fund to maintain a “segregated account” when engaging in these types of transactions, subject to certain conditions and any other restrictions that the Fund has adopted.
There can be no assurance that the securities subject to a standby commitment will be issued and the value of the security, if issued, on the delivery date may be more or less than its purchase price. Since the issuance of the security underlying the commitment is at the option of the issuer, the Fund may bear the risk of a decline in the value of such security and may not benefit from appreciation in the value of the security during the commitment period if the security is not ultimately issued.
The purchase of a security subject to a standby commitment agreement and the related commitment fee will be recorded on the date on which the security can reasonably be expected to be issued, and the value of the security will thereafter be reflected in the calculation of the Fund’s NAV. The cost basis of the security will be adjusted by the amount of the commitment fee. In the event the security is not issued, the commitment fee will be recorded as income on the expiration date of the standby commitment.
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MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
Trustees and Officers
The business and affairs of the Fund are managed under the direction of the Board and the Fund’s officers appointed by the Board. The tables below list the trustees and officers of the Fund and their present positions and principal occupations during the past five years. The business address of the Fund, its Board members and officers and the Adviser is 1900 Market Street, Suite 200, Philadelphia, PA 19103, unless specified otherwise below. The term “Fund Complex” includes each of the registered investment companies advised by the Adviser or their affiliates as of the date of this SAI. Trustees serve three-year terms or until their successors are duly elected and qualified. Officers are annually elected by the trustees.
The names, years of birth and business addresses of the Board Members and officers of the Fund as of the date of this SAI, their principal occupations during at least the past five years, the number of portfolios each Board Member oversees and other directorships they hold are provided in the tables below. Board Members that are deemed “interested persons” (as that term is defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) of the Fund or the Fund’s Adviser, Subadviser or their affiliates are included in the table below under the heading “Interested Board Member.” Board Members who are not interested persons, as described above, are referred to in the table below under the heading “Independent Board Members.” abrdn Inc., its parent company Aberdeen Group plc, and their advisory affiliates are collectively referred to as “Aberdeen” in the tables below.
Trustees
| 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 Trustee | Other Directorships Held by Trustee*** | |||||
| Interested Board Member | ||||||||||
| Alan Goodson†† c/o abrdn Inc. 1900 Market Street Suite 200 Philadelphia, PA 19103 Year of Birth: 1974 | Class III Trustee; Chief Executive Officer and President | Term expires 2029; Trustee since 2024 | 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. | 2 Registrants consisting of 2 Portfolios | None. | |||||
| Independent Board Members | ||||||||||
| Gordon A. Baird**† c/o abrdn Inc., 1900 Market Street, Suite 200 Philadelphia, PA 19103 Year of Birth: 1968 | Class I Trustee | Term expires 2027; Trustee since 2023 | Mr. Baird is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Nexos Technologies Inc. from 2019 to present. Mr. Baird is also the founder and Managing Partner of G.A. Baird Partners & Co from 2015 to present. Mr. Baird was the Chief Executive Officer of Independence Bancshares, Inc. from 2013 to 2015 and an Operating Advisor to Thomas H. Lee Partners L.P. in 2011 and 2012. From 2003 to 2011, Mr. Baird was Chief Executive Officer of Paramax Capital Partners LLC. Prior to 2003, Mr. Baird was a Director at Citigroup Global Markets, Inc., an investment analyst at State Street Bank and Trust Company and real estate analyst at John Hancock Real Estate Finance Inc. | 5 Registrant consisting of 5 Portfolio | None. |
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| Thomas W. Hunersen**† c/o abrdn Inc. 1900 Market Street Suite 200 Philadelphia, PA 19103 Year of Birth: 1958 | Class III Trustee | Term expires 2029; Trustee since 2023 | Mr. Hunersen, Principal at CKW Associates, has 40 years leading and advising global finance organizations in infrastructure, structured finance and capital markets. Headed ‘Global Infrastructure’ for National Australia Bank, Ltd focused on corporate and asset-based financing and investing in energy, utilities and transportation. Led as Group Executive - Strategy / Recovery at IBRC resolving this nationalized bank for the Irish government. Held executive and advisory roles at National Bank of Greece, Bank of Ireland, Mellon Bank, and Slingshot GT. Also has held board roles as ‘Independent Director' and/or 'Chairman’ at finance, insurance, technology and nonprofit organizations. | 1 Registrant consisting of 1 Portfolio | None. | |||||
| Chris LaVictoire
Mahai**† c/o abrdn Inc., 1900 Market Street, Suite 200 Philadelphia, PA 19103 Year of Birth: 1955 | Class II Trustee | Term expires 2028; Trustee since 2023 | Ms. Mahai has over 40 years of experience leading, managing and consulting to businesses across industries and around the world. In addition, she has served on closed-end fund boards, audit and governance committees for over 25 years, as well as several private company and non-profit boards. After corporate executive roles in banking and media, Mahai founded a consulting practice she led as Managing Partner for over 20 years. Through her consultancy, she has advised leadership teams and boards of more than 150 client organizations across financial services, media, manufacturing, technology, and a cross-section of healthcare companies including payers, providers, pharmaceuticals, medical device, medical technology and healthcare service organizations. | 5 Registrant consisting of 5 Portfolios | None. | |||||
| Todd Reit**† c/o abrdn Inc., 1900 Market Street, Suite 200 Philadelphia, PA 19103 Year of Birth: 1968 Chair of the Board | Chair of the Board, Class II Trustee | Term expires 2028; Trustee since 2020 | Mr. Reit is a Managing Member of Cross Brook Partners LLC, a real estate investment and management company since 2017. Mr. Reit is also Director and Financial Officer of Shelter Our Soldiers, a charity to support military veterans, since 2016. Mr. Reit was formerly a Managing Director and Global Head of Asset Management Investment Banking for UBS AG, where he was responsible for overseeing all the bank’s asset management client relationships globally, including all corporate security transactions, mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Reit retired from UBS in 2017 after an over 25-year career at the company and its predecessor company, PaineWebber Incorporated (merged with UBS AG in 2000). | 13 Registrants consisting of 13 Portfolios | None. |
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| John Sievwright**† c/o abrdn Inc. 1900 Market Street Suite 200 Philadelphia, PA 19103 Year of Birth: 1955 | Class I Trustee | Term expires 2027; Trustee since 2020 | Mr. Sievwright is the Chairman of Burford Capital Ltd since May 2024 and a Director since 2020 (provider of legal finance, complex strategies, post-settlement finance and asset management services and products, Revolut Limited, a UK-based digital banking firm since August 2021, and Chairman of Buyside Trading Solutions Limited, an unlisted company, since its formation in July 2022. Previously he was a Non-Executive Director for the following UK companies: FirstGroup plc, ICAP plc and NEX Group plc (2017-2018) (financial). | 6 Registrants consisting of 7 Portfolios | Non-Executive
Director of Burford Capital Ltd (provider of legal finance, complex strategies, post- settlement finance and asset management services and products) since May 2020. | |||||
| Nancy Yao**† c\o abrdn Inc. 1900 Market Street Suite 200 Philadelphia, PA 19103 Year of Birth: 1972 | Class III Trustee | Term expires 2029; Trustee since 2020 | Ms. Yao is an assistant professor adjunct and assistant dean at the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale University where she teaches financial accounting and governance to graduate students. Ms. Yao has over 25 years of Asia, finance, and governance experience in for profit and non-profit places like Goldman Sachs, Yale-China Association, and CFRA. She is a board member of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. She received her MBA from the Yale School of Management and her AB in Diplomacy and World Affairs at Occidental College. | 11 Registrants consisting of 11 Portfolios | None. |
| * | As of the date of this SAI, the “Fund Complex” has a total of 19 Registrants with each Board member serving on 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, abrdn Income Credit Strategies Fund, abrdn Asia-Pacific Income Fund, Inc., abrdn Australia Equity Fund, Inc., abrdn Emerging Markets ex-China Fund, Inc., Aberdeen India Fund, Inc. (previously, The India Fund, Inc.), abrdn Global Dynamic Dividend Fund, abrdn Total Dynamic Dividend Fund, abrdn Global Premier Properties Fund, abrdn Global Infrastructure Income Fund, abrdn Healthcare Investors, abrdn Life Sciences Investors, abrdn Healthcare Opportunities Fund, abrdn World Healthcare Fund, Aberdeen Government Markets Income Fund, Aberdeen Intermediate Income Fund, Aberdeen Multi-Market Income Fund, Aberdeen Municipal Income Fund, abrdn Funds (which consists of 16 portfolios) and abrdn ETFs (which consists of 2 portfolios). |
| ** | Member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. |
| *** | Current directorships (excluding Fund Complex) as of the date of this Statement of Additional Information 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 1934 Act. |
| † | Member of the Audit Committee. |
| †† | Mr. Goodson is deemed to be an interested person because of his affiliation with the Fund’s investment adviser. |
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Officers
The information regarding the officers of the Fund who do not concurrently serve as a Trustee is contained under the heading “Additional Information About the Trustees” in the Fund’s definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A for the Fund’s 2026 annual meeting of shareholders, filed with the SEC on April 1, 2026 (“Proxy Statement”) and is incorporated herein by reference.
Risk Oversight
The information contained under the heading “Board and Committee Structure—Board Oversight of Risk Management” in the Fund’s Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.
Additional Information about the Trustees
The Board believes that each Trustee’s experience, qualifications, attributes and skills on an individual basis and in combination with those of the other Trustees lead to the conclusion that the Trustees possess the requisite experience, qualifications, attributes and skills to serve on the Board. Each Board believes that the Trustees’ ability to review critically, evaluate, question and discuss information provided to them; to interact effectively with the Adviser, other service providers, counsel and independent auditors; and to exercise effective business judgment in the performance of their duties, support this conclusion. The Board has also considered the contributions that each Trustee can make to the Board and to the Fund.
A Trustee’s ability to perform his or her duties effectively may have been attained through the Trustee’s executive, business, consulting, and/or legal positions; experience from service as a Trustee of the Fund and other funds/portfolios in the Fund Complex, other investment funds, public companies, or non-profit entities or other organizations; educational background or professional training or practice; and/or other life experiences. In this regard, the following specific experience, qualifications, attributes and/or skills apply as to each Trustee in addition to the information set forth in “Management of the Fund – Trustees and Officers” table above: Mr. Baird, business and leadership experience and experience as a Board member overseeing another infrastructure-strategy closed-end fund for over 17 years; Mr. Hunersen, executive leadership experience in global banking, infrastructure and technology businesses and as Chair/ Board member overseeing another infrastructure-strategy closed-end fund for over 17 years; Ms. LaVictoire Mahai, business and leadership experience and experience as a board member overseeing another infrastructure-strategy closed-end fund for over 17 years, including experience as an audit and membership and governance committee chair; Ms. Yao, financial and research analysis experience in and covering the Asia region and experience in world affairs; Mr. Reit banking and asset management experience and experience as a board member; Mr. Sievwright, banking and accounting experience and experience as a board member of public companies; Mr. Goodson has financial and research analysis experience. Each Trustee also has experience as a trustee or director of other funds with the Fund Complex.
The Board believes that the significance of each Trustee’s experience, qualifications, attributes or skills is an individual matter (meaning that experience important for one Trustee may not have the same value for another) and that these factors are best evaluated at the Board level, with no single Trustee, or particular factor, being indicative of Board effectiveness. In its periodic self-assessment of the effectiveness of the Board, the Board considers the complementary individual skills and experience of the individual Trustees in the broader context of the Board’s overall composition so that the Board, as a body, possesses the appropriate (and appropriately diverse) skills and experience to oversee the business of the respective Fund. References to the qualifications, attributes and skills of Trustees are presented pursuant to disclosure requirements of the SEC and do not constitute holding out a Board or any Trustee as having any special expertise or experience, and shall not impose any greater responsibility or liability on any such person or on a Board by reason thereof.
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Compensation
The following table sets forth information regarding compensation of Trustees by the Fund and by the Fund Complex of which the Fund is a part for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025. All officers of the Funds are employees of and are compensated by abrdn Inc., the Fund’s administrator, or an affiliate. None of the Fund’s executive officers or Trustees who are also officers or directors of abrdn Inc., aIL or an affiliate received any compensation from the Fund for such period. The Fund does not have any bonus, profit sharing, pension or retirement plans.
| Name of Trustee | Aggregate Compensation from Fund for Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2025 | Total Compensation From Fund and Fund Complex Paid To Trustees* | ||||||
| Independent Trustees | ||||||||
| Nancy Yao | $ | 26,791 | $ | 407,871 | ||||
| P. Gerald Malone** | $ | 48,229 | $ | 620,680 | ||||
| Todd Reit | $ | 26,791 | $ | 310,094 | ||||
| John Sievwright | $ | 40,281 | $ | 313,884 | ||||
| Gordon Baird | $ | 55,434 | $ | 55,434 | ||||
| Thomas Hunerson | $ | 55,434 | $ | 55,434 | ||||
| Chris LaVictoire Mahai | $ | 55,434 | $ | 55,434 | ||||
| Alan Goodson*** | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||
* See the “Trustees” table for the number of Funds within the Fund Complex that each Trustee services.
** Consistent with the Board’s retirement policy, Mr. P. Gerald Malone retired effective as of the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on May 27, 2026. *** Mr. Goodson is considered an Interested Trustee.
Board and Committee Structure
The information contained under the heading “Board and Committee Structure” in the Fund’s Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.
Shareholder Communications
Shareholders who wish to communicate with Trustees with respect to matters relating to the Fund may address their written correspondence to the Board as a whole or to individual Trustees c/o abrdn Inc. (the “Administrator”), the Fund’s administrator, at 1900 Market Street, Suite 200, Philadelphia, PA 19103, or via e-mail to the Trustee(s) c/o abrdn Inc. at [email protected].
Trustee Beneficial Ownership of Securities
As of September 10, 2026, the Fund’s trustees and executive officers, as a group, owned less than 1% of the Fund’s outstanding common shares of beneficial interest (“Common Shares”). The information as to ownership of securities which appears below is based on statements furnished to the Fund by its trustees and executive officers.
As of December 31, 2025, the dollar range of equity securities owned beneficially by each trustee in the Fund and in all registered investment companies overseen by the trustee within the same family of investment companies as the Fund appears in the chart below. The following key relates to the dollar ranges in the chart:
A. None
B. $1 — $10,000
C. $10,001 — $50,000
D. $50,001 — $100,000
E. over $100,000
| Name of Trustee | Dollar Range of Equity Securities Owned(1) | Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in All Funds Overseen by Trustee or Nominee in the Family of Investment Companies(2) | ||
| Independent Trustees: | ||||
| Gordon A. Baird | $10,001 — $50,000 | $10,001 — $50,000 | ||
| Thomas W. Hunersen | Over $100,000 | Over $100,000 | ||
| Chris LaVictoire Mahai | $10,001 — $50,000 | $10,001 — $50,000 | ||
| P. Gerald Malone* | $10,001 — $50,000 | Over $100,000 | ||
| Todd Reit | $10,001 — $50,000 | Over $100,000 | ||
| John Sievwright | $10,001 — $50,000 | Over $100,000 | ||
| Nancy Yao | $10,001 — $50,000 | Over $100,000 | ||
| Interested Trustee: | ||||
| Alan Godson | $50,001 — $100,000 | Over $100,000 |
(1) “Beneficial ownership” is determined in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) promulgated under the 1934 Act.
(2) “Family of Investment Companies” means those registered investment companies that are advised by the Adviser or an affiliate and that hold themselves out to investors as related companies for purposes of investment and investor services.
* Consistent with the Board’s retirement policy, Mr. P. Gerald Malone retired effective as of the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on May 27, 2026.
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As of December 31, 2025, none of the Independent Trustees or their immediate family members owned any shares of the Adviser or principal underwriter of the Fund or of any person (other than a registered investment company) directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Adviser or principal underwriter.
Codes of Ethics
The Fund and the Adviser have each adopted a code of ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act governing the personal securities transactions of their respective personnel. Under each code of ethics, personnel may invest in securities for their personal accounts (including securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund), subject to certain general restrictions and procedures. Copies of these Codes of Ethics are on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s internet site at https://www.sec.gov and may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request to [email protected].
Beneficial Ownership
A control person is one who owns, either directly or indirectly, more than 25% of the voting securities of a fund or acknowledges the existence of control. Based upon filings made with the SEC, as of September 10, 2026, the following table shows certain information concerning persons who may be deemed beneficial owners of 5% or more of the shares of the Funds because they possessed or shared voting or investment power with respect to the Fund’s shares:
| Fund | Class | Name and Address | Number
of Shares Beneficially Owned |
Percentage of Shares |
| ASGI | Common Shares | Morgan
Stanley* Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC* 1585 Broadway New York, NY 10036 |
1,640,699.00 | 5.7% |
* These entities jointly filed a Schedule 13G for the share amount and percentage shown.
The Advisers of the Funds
abrdn Inc. serves as the investment adviser to the Fund pursuant to an advisory agreement between the Fund and abrdn Inc. (the “Advisory Agreement”) and is located at 1900 Market Street, Suite 200, Philadelphia, PA 19103. aIL serves as the investment sub-adviser to the Fund pursuant to a sub-advisory agreement among abrdn Inc., the Fund and aIL (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement”). Under the Sub-Advisory Agreement, subject to the directions of abrdn Inc. and the Board, abrdn Inc. has retained aIL to monitor on a continuous basis the performance of the Fund’s assets and to assist abrdn Inc. in conducting a continuous program of investment, evaluation and, if appropriate, sale and reinvestment of the Fund’s assets. aIL has its registered office at 1 George Street, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, EH22LL. abrdn Inc. and aIL are each a wholly owned subsidiary of abrdn Holdings Limited and each an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Aberdeen Group plc. The Fund pays abrdn Inc. an investment advisory fee based on the Fund’s average daily Managed Assets, computed daily and payable monthly, at the following annual rate: 1.35% of the Fund’s average daily Managed Assets up to $500 million, 1.30% of the Fund’s average daily Managed Assets between $500 million and $1 billion, and 1.25% of the Fund’s average daily Managed Assets in excess of $1 billion. “Managed Assets” is defined as total assets of the Fund, including assets attributable to any form of leverage, minus liabilities (other than debt representing leverage and the aggregate liquidation preference of any preferred stock that may be outstanding). For its services as the investment sub-adviser, aIL is paid only by abrdn Inc. out of its fees, and is not paid directly by the Fund. The Fund commenced operations on July 29, 2020.
abrdn Inc. has contractually agreed to limit the total ordinary operating expenses of the Fund (excluding leverage costs, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses and any non-routine expenses) from exceeding 1.65% of the average daily net assets of the Fund on an annualized basis through October 10, 2026. The Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement may not be terminated before October 10, 2026, without the approval of the Fund’s trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act).
The Fund may reimburse abrdn Inc. for the advisory fees waived or reduced and other payments remitted by abrdn Inc. and other expenses reimbursed as of a date not more than three years after the date when abrdn Inc. limited the fees or reimbursed the expenses; provided that the following requirements are met: the reimbursements do not cause the Fund to exceed the lesser of the applicable expense limitation in the contract at the time the fees were limited or expenses are paid or the applicable expense limitation in effect at the time the expenses are being recouped by abrdn Inc., and the payment of such reimbursement is approved by the Board on a quarterly basis.
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The Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements with abrdn Inc. and aIL, respectively, were effective for an initial term of two years and may be continued thereafter from year to year provided such continuance is specifically approved at least annually in the manner required by the 1940 Act. The Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements may be terminated at any time without payment of penalty by the Fund or by aIL upon 60 days’ written notice. The Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment, as defined under the 1940 Act. Under the Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements, abrdn Inc. and aIL are permitted to provide investment advisory services to other clients. Information regarding the basis of the Board’s approval of the investment advisory and sub-advisory agreements with abrdn Inc. and aIL, respectively, is available in the Fund’s annual shareholder report for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025.
In rendering investment advisory services to the Fund, aIL and abrdn Inc. may use the resources of subsidiaries owned by Aberdeen Group plc. The Aberdeen Group plc affiliates have entered into a memorandum of understanding/personnel sharing procedures pursuant to which investment professionals from the Aberdeen Group plc affiliates may render portfolio management, research and/or trade services to U.S. clients of aIL or abrdn Inc.
The Administrator
abrdn Inc., located at 1900 Market Street, Suite 200, Philadelphia, PA 19103, serves as administrator to the Fund. Under the administration agreement, abrdn Inc. is generally responsible for managing the administrative affairs of the Fund.
For administration related services, abrdn Inc. is entitled to receive a fee that is computed monthly and paid quarterly at an annual rate of 0.08% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.
For the fiscal years ended September 30, 2023, 2024 and 2025, abrdn Inc. earned $297,913, $410,480, and $471,311, respectively, from the Fund for administration services.
State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”) serves as sub-administrator of the Fund and is paid by abrdn Inc. out of the fees it receives as the Fund’s administrator.
Custodian, Dividend Paying Agent, Transfer Agent and Registrar
State Street serves as custodian (the “Custodian”) for the Fund. State Street also provides accounting services to the Fund. Computershare Trust Company, N.A. serves as the Fund’s dividend paying agent, transfer agent and registrar.
Investor Relations Provider
Under the terms of the Amended and Restated Investor Relations Services Agreement, abrdn Inc. provides and/or engages third parties to provide investor relations services to the Fund and certain other funds advised by the Adviser or its affiliates as part of an Investor Relations Program. Under the Amended and Restated Investor Relations Services Agreement, the Fund owes a portion of the fees related to the Investor Relations Program (the “Fund’s Portion”). However, investor relations services fees are limited by abrdn Inc. so that the Fund will only pay up to an annual rate of 0.05% of the Fund’s average weekly net assets. Any difference between the capped rate of 0.05% of the Fund’s average weekly net assets and the Fund’s Portion is paid for by abrdn Inc.
Pursuant to the terms of the Amended and Restated Investor Relations Services Agreement, abrdn Inc. (or third parties engaged by abrdn Inc.), among other things, provides objective and timely information to shareholders based on publicly available information; provides information efficiently through the use of technology while offering shareholders immediate access to knowledgeable investor relations representatives; develops and maintains effective communications with investment professionals from a wide variety of firms; creates and maintains investor relations communication materials such as fund manager interviews, films and webcasts, publishes white papers, magazine articles and other relevant materials discussing the Fund’s investment results, portfolio positioning and outlook; develops and maintains effective communications with large institutional shareholders; responds to specific shareholder questions; and reports activities and results to the Board and management detailing insight into general shareholder sentiment.
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Portfolio Management
The information contained under “Item 13. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies” in the Fund’s Annual Report is incorporated herein by reference.
Josh Duitz, Donal Reynolds, and Amelia Slade are jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio.
Potential Conflicts of Interest of the Adviser Related to Brokerage Allocation and Other Practices
The Advisers and their affiliates (collectively referred to herein as “Aberdeen”) serve as investment advisers for multiple clients, including the Fund 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 Fund’s investments, on the one hand, and the investments of the other accounts, on the other. The other accounts may have the same investment objective as the Fund. Therefore, a potential conflict of interest may arise as a result of the identical investment objectives, whereby the portfolio manager could favor one account over another. However, the Advisers believe 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 or investment vehicles, 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 Advisers have 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 of the portfolio held by that account. The existence of such a performance-based fee may create additional conflicts of interest for the portfolio manager in the allocation of management time, resources and investment opportunities.
Another potential conflict could include instances in which securities considered as investments for the Fund also may be appropriate for other investment accounts managed by Aberdeen. Whenever decisions are made to buy or sell securities by the Fund and one or more of the other accounts simultaneously, the Advisers may aggregate the purchases and sales of the securities and will allocate the securities transactions in a manner that it believes to be equitable under the circumstances. As a result of the allocations, there may be instances where the Fund will not participate in a transaction that is allocated among other accounts. While these aggregation and allocation policies could have a detrimental effect on the price or amount of the securities available to the Fund from time to time, it is the opinion of the Advisers that the benefits from the policies outweigh any disadvantage that may arise from exposure to simultaneous transactions. The Fund 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 and discretionary Separately Managed Accounts (“SMAs”), Aberdeen will utilize a third-party service provider to deliver model portfolio recommendations and model changes to the sponsors. Aberdeen 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, where possible, simultaneously or approximately at the same time. For certain strategies, delivery to our service provider will occur at end of day. 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 SMAs and Unified Managed Accounts (“UMAs”).
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 Aberdeen does not have discretion over trading and there may be client specific restrictions for SMA accounts.
Certain operational differences in the trade execution process and timing of cash flows for mutual funds may result in Aberdeen having already commenced trading for its discretionary client accounts before the model delivery and SMA accounts have executed Aberdeen’s recommendations. In this event, trades placed for the model delivery and SMA clients may be subject to price movements, particularly with large orders or where securities are thinly traded, that may result in model delivery and SMA clients receiving less favorable prices than our other discretionary clients. Aberdeen has no discretion over transactions executed by model delivery clients and is unable to control the market impact of those transactions. These timing delays or other operational factors associated with the implementation of trades may result in non-discretionary and model delivery and SMA 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.
From time to time, the Advisers may seed proprietary accounts for the purpose of evaluating a new investment strategy that eventually may be available to clients through one or more product structures. Such accounts also may serve the purpose of establishing a performance record for the strategy. The management by the Advisers of accounts with proprietary interests and nonproprietary client accounts may create an incentive to favor the proprietary accounts in the allocation of investment opportunities, and the timing and aggregation of investments. The Advisers’ proprietary seed accounts may include long-short strategies, and certain client strategies may permit short sales. A conflict of interest arises if a security is sold short at the same time as a long position, and continuous short selling in a security may adversely affect the stock price of the same security held long in client accounts. The Advisers have adopted various policies to mitigate these conflicts.
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In addition, the 1940 Act limits the Fund’s ability to enter into certain transactions with certain affiliates of the Advisers. As a result of these restrictions, the Fund may be prohibited from buying or selling any security directly from or to any portfolio company of a fund managed by the Advisers or one of their affiliates. Nonetheless, the Fund may under certain circumstances purchase any such portfolio company’s loans or securities in the secondary market, which could create a conflict for the Advisers between the interests of the Fund and the portfolio company, in that the ability of the Advisers to recommend actions in the best interest of the Fund might be impaired. The 1940 Act also prohibits certain “joint” transactions with certain of the Fund’s affiliates (which could include other Aberdeen-managed funds), which could be deemed to include certain types of investments, or restructuring of investments, in the same portfolio company (whether at the same or different times). These limitations may limit the scope of investment opportunities that would otherwise be available to the Fund. The Board has approved policies and procedures reasonably designed to monitor potential conflicts of interest. The Board will review these procedures and any conflicts that may arise.
Conflicts of interest may arise where the Fund and other funds or accounts managed or administered by the Advisers simultaneously hold securities representing different parts of the capital structure of a stressed or distressed issuer. In such circumstances, decisions made with respect to the securities held by one fund or account may cause (or have the potential to cause) harm to the different class of securities of the issuer held by other fund or account (including the Fund). For example, if such an issuer goes into bankruptcy or reorganization, becomes insolvent or otherwise experiences financial distress or is unable to meet its payment obligations or comply with covenants relating to credit obligations held by the Fund or by the other funds or accounts managed by the Advisers, such other funds or accounts may have an interest that conflicts with the interests of the Fund. If additional financing for such an issuer is necessary as a result of financial or other difficulties, it may not be in the best interests of the Fund to provide such additional financing, but if the other funds or accounts were to lose their respective investments as a result of such difficulties, the Advisers may have a conflict in recommending actions in the best interests of the Fund. In such situations, the Advisers will seek to act in the best interests of each of the funds and accounts (including the Fund) and will seek to resolve such conflicts in accordance with its compliance policies and procedures.
The Advisers have the ability to allocate investment opportunities of certain negotiated transactions between the Fund, other funds registered under the 1940 Act and other accounts managed by the Adviser pro rata based on available capital, up to the amount proposed to be invested by each (“Co-Investment Opportunities”). The 1940 Act and a rule thereunder imposes limits on the Fund’s ability to participate in Co-Investment Opportunities, and the Fund generally will not be permitted to co-invest alongside other funds registered under the 1940 Act and other accounts managed by the Adviser in privately negotiated transactions unless the Fund obtains an exemptive order from the SEC or the transaction is otherwise permitted under existing regulatory guidance, such as certain transactions in publicly traded securities and transactions in which price is the only negotiated term. To the extent an investment opportunity in a transaction involving the negotiation of any term of the investment other than price or quantity (a “negotiated transaction”) arises, and the Adviser determines that it would be appropriate for both the Fund and other accounts managed by the Advisers, the opportunity will be allocated to the other accounts and the Fund will not participate in the negotiated transaction. To the extent that the Advisers source and structure private investments in publicly traded issuers, certain employees of the Advisers may become aware of actions planned by such issuers, such as acquisitions, which may not be announced to the public. It is possible that the Fund could be precluded from investing in or selling securities of an issuer about which the Advisers have material, nonpublic information, however, it is the Adviser’s intention to ensure that any material, non-public information available to certain employees of the Adviser is not shared with the employees responsible for the purchase and sale of publicly traded securities or to confirm prior to receipt of any material non-public information that the information will shortly be made public. The Fund’s investment opportunities also may be limited by affiliations of the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates with infrastructure companies.
The Advisers or their respective members, officers, directors, employees, principals or affiliates may come into possession of material, non-public information. The possession of such information may limit the ability of the Fund to buy or sell a security or otherwise to participate in an investment opportunity. Situations may occur where the Fund could be disadvantaged because of the investment activities conducted by the Advisers for other clients, and the Advisers will not employ information barriers with regard to its operations on behalf of its registered and private funds, or other accounts. In certain circumstances, employees of the Advisers may serve as board members or in other capacities for portfolio or potential portfolio companies, which could restrict the Fund’s ability to trade in the securities of such companies.
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EXECUTION OF PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
The Adviser or Sub-Adviser is responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities and other investments for the Fund, the selection of brokers and dealers to effect the transactions and the negotiation of brokerage commissions, if any. In transactions on stock and commodity exchanges in the United States, these commissions are negotiated, whereas on foreign stock and commodity exchanges these commissions are generally fixed and are generally higher than brokerage commissions in the United States. In the case of securities traded on the OTC markets or for securities traded on a principal basis, there is generally no commission, but the price includes a spread between the dealer’s purchase and sale price. This spread is the dealer’s profit. In underwritten offerings, the price includes a disclosed, fixed commission or discount. Most short-term obligations are normally traded on a “principal” rather than agency basis. This may be done through a dealer (e.g., a securities firm or bank) who buys or sells for its own account rather than as an agent for another client, or directly with the issuer.
Except as described below, the primary consideration in portfolio security transactions is best execution of the transaction (i.e., execution at a favorable price and in the most effective manner possible). “Best execution” encompasses many factors affecting the overall benefit obtained by the client account in the transaction including, but not necessarily limited to, the price paid or received for a security, the commission charged, the promptness, available liquidity and reliability of execution, the likelihood that a trade will settle, the confidentiality and placement accorded the order, and customer service. Therefore, “best execution” does not necessarily mean obtaining the best price alone but is evaluated in the context of all the execution services provided. Both the Adviser and Sub-Adviser have complete freedom as to the markets in and the broker-dealers through which they seek this result.
Subject to the primary consideration of seeking best execution and as discussed below, securities may be bought or sold through broker-dealers who have furnished statistical, research, corporate access, and other information or services to the Adviser or Sub-Adviser. SEC regulations provide a “safe harbor” that allows an investment adviser to pay for research and brokerage services with commission dollars generated by client transactions. On September 12, 2017, Aberdeen announced a change to the payment for research model, such that Aberdeen would absorb all research costs directly (i.e., pay for research from its profits and losses) to coincide with the new Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II (“MiFID II”) legislation which went into effect on January 3, 2018. As a result, Aberdeen does not use soft dollars, has been paying “execution only” commission rates since the start of 2017 and paying for research for equities out of its assets.
There may be occasions when portfolio transactions for the Fund are executed as part of concurrent authorizations to purchase or sell the same security for trusts or other accounts (including other mutual funds) served by the Adviser or Sub-Adviser or by an affiliated company thereof. Although such concurrent authorizations potentially could be either advantageous or disadvantageous to the Fund, they are affected only when the Adviser or Sub-Adviser believes that to do so is in the interest of the Fund. When such concurrent authorizations occur, the executions will be allocated in an equitable manner.
In purchasing and selling investments for the Fund, it is the policy of the Adviser and Sub-Adviser to seek best execution through responsible broker-dealers. The determination of what may constitute best execution in a securities transaction by a broker involves a number of considerations, including the overall direct net economic result to the Fund (involving both price paid or received and any commissions and other costs paid), the efficiency with which the transaction is effected, the ability to effect the transaction at all when a large block is involved, the availability of the broker to stand ready to execute possibly difficult transactions in the future, the professionalism of the broker, and the financial strength and stability of the broker. These considerations are judgmental and are weighed by the Adviser or Sub-Adviser in determining the overall reasonableness of securities executions and commissions paid. In selecting broker-dealers, the Adviser or Sub-Adviser will consider various relevant factors, including, but not limited to, the size and type of the transaction; the nature and character of the markets for the security or asset to be purchased or sold; the execution efficiency, settlement capability, and financial condition of the broker-dealer’s firm; the broker-dealer’s execution services, rendered on a continuing basis; and the reasonableness of any commissions.
With respect to FX transactions, different considerations or circumstances may apply, particularly with respect to Restricted Market FX. FX transactions executed for the Fund are divided into two main categories: (1) Restricted Market FX and (2) Unrestricted Market FX. Restricted Market FX are required to be executed by a local bank in the applicable market. Unrestricted Market FX are not required to be executed by a local bank. The Adviser, Sub-Adviser or third-party agent execute Unrestricted Market FX relating to trading decisions. The Fund’s custodian executes all Restricted Market FX because it has local banks or relationships with local banks in each of the restricted markets where custodial client accounts hold securities. Unrestricted Market FX relating to the repatriation of dividends and/or income/expense items not directly relating to trading may be executed by the Adviser or Sub-Adviser or by the Fund’s custodian due to the small currency amount and lower volume of such transactions. The Fund, the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser have limited ability to negotiate prices at which certain FX transactions are customarily executed by the Fund’s custodian, i.e., transactions in Restricted Market FX and repatriation transactions.
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With regards to the Fund’s investments in Private Infrastructure Opportunities, the Advisers do not arrange trades with a broker or dealer. The advice conducted with regards to Private Infrastructure Opportunities generally relates to private offered securities in partnerships or similar relevant structures. The Fund may, from time to time, enter into arrangements with placement agents in connection with direct placement transactions. In evaluating placement agent proposals, the Adviser will consider each placement agent’s access to infrastructure issuers and experience in infrastructure markets, particularly the direct placement market. In such cases, a third-party sponsor or sponsor vehicle, not the Fund, will bear the associated placement agent fees. In addition to these factors, the Adviser will consider whether the proposed services are customary, whether the proposed fee schedules are within the range of customary rates, whether any proposal would obligate the Fund to enter into transactions involving a minimum fee, dollar amount or volume of securities, or into any transaction whatsoever, and other terms such as indemnification provisions.
The Adviser or Sub-Adviser may cause the Fund to pay a broker-dealer a commission that is in excess of the commission another broker-dealer would have received for executing the transaction if it is determined to be consistent with the Adviser’s or Sub-Adviser’s obligation to seek best-execution pursuant to the standards described above.
Under the 1940 Act, “affiliated persons” of the Fund are prohibited from dealing with it as a principal in the purchase and sale of securities unless an exemptive order allowing such transactions is obtained from the SEC. However, the Fund may purchase securities from underwriting syndicates of which a subadviser (if applicable) or any of its affiliates, as defined in the 1940 Act, is a member under certain conditions, in accordance with Rule 10f-3 under the 1940 Act.
The Fund contemplates that, consistent with the policy of seeking to obtain best execution, brokerage transactions may be conducted through “affiliated brokers or dealers,” as defined in rules under the 1940 Act. Under the 1940 Act, commissions paid by the Fund to an “affiliated broker or dealer” in connection with a purchase or sale of securities offered on a securities exchange may not exceed the usual and customary broker’s commission. Accordingly, it is the Fund’s policy that the commissions to be paid to an affiliated broker-dealer must, in the judgment of the Adviser or the Sub-Adviser, be (1) at least as favorable as those that would be charged by other brokers having comparable execution capability and (2) at least as favorable as commissions contemporaneously charged by such broker or dealer on comparable transactions for the broker’s or dealer’s unaffiliated customers. The Adviser and the Sub-Adviser do not necessarily deem it practicable or in the Fund’s best interests to solicit competitive bids for commissions on each transaction. However, consideration regularly is given to information concerning the prevailing level of commissions charged on comparable transactions by other brokers during comparable periods of time.
Not one of the Fund, the Adviser or the Sub-Adviser has an agreement or understanding with a broker-dealer, or other arrangements to direct the Fund’s brokerage transactions to a broker-dealer because of the research services such broker provides to the Fund or the Adviser. While the Advisers do not have arrangements with any broker-dealers to direct such brokerage transactions to them because of research services provided, the Advisers may receive research services from such broker-dealers. The dollar amount of transactions and related commissions for transactions paid to a broker from which the Advisers also received research services for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025 are in the table below:
| Total Dollar Amount of Transactions |
Total Commissions Paid on Such Transactions |
||||
| $ | 243,809,257 | $ | 117,748 | ||
During the fiscal years ended September 30, 2025, 2024, and 2023, the following brokerage commissions were paid by the Fund, none of which were paid to an affiliated broker-dealer:
| Year ended September 30, | ||||||||
| ($000 omitted) | ||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||
| $ | 117,748 | $ | 83,296 | $ | 179,262 | |||
During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025, Fund did not hold any investments in securities of its regular broker-dealers (as defined in Rule 10b-1 under the 1940 Act).
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Portfolio Turnover
The Adviser will effect portfolio transactions without regard to holding period, if, in their judgment, such transactions are advisable in light of a change in circumstance in general market, economic or financial conditions. As a result of its investment policies, the Fund may engage in a substantial number of portfolio transactions. Accordingly, while the Fund anticipates that its annual turnover rate should not exceed 100% under normal conditions, it is impossible to predict portfolio turnover rates. The portfolio turnover rate is calculated by dividing the lesser of the Fund’s annual sales or purchases of portfolio securities (exclusive of purchases or sales of securities whose maturities at the time of acquisition were one year or less) by the monthly average value of the securities in the portfolio during the year. High portfolio turnover involves correspondingly greater transaction costs in the form of dealer spreads and brokerage commissions, which are borne directly by the Fund. In addition, a high rate of portfolio turnover may result in certain tax consequences, such as increased capital gain dividends and/or ordinary income dividends.
The rate of portfolio turnover in the fiscal years ended September 30, 2025 and September 30, 2024 was 23% and 15%, respectively.
Leverage
The Fund currently does not intend to borrow money or issue debt securities or preferred shares. The Fund is, however, permitted to borrow money or issue debt securities in an amount up to 33⅓% of the value of the Fund’s total assets, and issue preferred shares in an amount up to 50% of its total assets. Although it has no present intention to do so, the Fund reserves the right to borrow money from banks or other financial institutions, or issue debt securities or preferred shares, in the future if it believes that market conditions would be conducive to the successful implementation of a leveraging strategy through borrowing money or issuing debt securities or preferred shares.
Under the 1940 Act, the Fund is not permitted to issue senior securities if, immediately after the issuance of such senior securities, the Fund would have an asset coverage ratio (as defined in the 1940 Act) of less than 300% with respect to senior securities representing indebtedness (i.e., for every dollar of indebtedness outstanding, the Fund is required to have at least three dollars of assets) or less than 200% with respect to senior securities representing preferred stock (i.e., for every dollar of preferred stock outstanding, the Fund is required to have at least two dollars of assets). The 1940 Act also provides that the Fund may not declare distributions or purchase its stock (including through tender offers) if, immediately after doing so, it will have an asset coverage ratio of less than 300% or 200%, as applicable. However, certain short-term borrowings (such as for cash management purposes) are not subject to the 33⅓% limitation if (i) repaid within 60 days, (ii) not extended or renewed and (iii) not in excess of 5% of the total assets of the Fund.
There can be no assurance that a leveraging strategy will be successful during any period in which it is used. The use of leverage creates an opportunity for increased income and capital appreciation for common shareholders, but at the same time creates special risks that may adversely affect common shareholders. Because the Fund’s management fee is based upon a percentage of its Managed Assets, the management fee would be higher when the Fund is leveraged. Therefore, the Adviser and the Subadviser have a financial incentive to use leverage, which will create a conflict of interest between the Adviser and Subadviser and the common shareholders, who will bear the costs of the Fund’s leverage, during periods in which it is used.
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES
Common Shares
The Fund’s Common Shares are described in the prospectus. The Fund intends to hold annual meetings of shareholders so long as the Common Shares are listed on a national securities exchange and such meetings are required as a condition to such listing.
Preferred Shares
The terms of any preferred shares issued by the Fund, including their dividend rate, voting rights, liquidation preference and redemption provisions, will be determined by the Board (subject to applicable law and the Fund’s Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust) if and when it authorizes an offering of preferred shares. The rights, preferences, powers and privileges of such preferred shares may be set forth in an amendment or supplement to the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust.
If the Board determines to proceed with an offering of preferred shares, the terms of the preferred shares may be the same as, or different from, the terms described in the prospectus, subject to applicable law and the Fund’s Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust. The Board, without the approval of the Common Shareholders, may authorize an offering of preferred shares or may determine not to authorize such an offering, and may fix the terms of the preferred shares to be offered.
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Other Shares
The Board (subject to applicable law and the Fund’s Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust) may authorize an offering, without the approval of the holders of either Common Shares or preferred shares, of other classes of shares, or other classes or series of shares, as they determine to be necessary, desirable or appropriate, having such terms, rights, preferences, privileges, limitations and restrictions as the Board sees fit.
REPURCHASE OF COMMON SHARES
The Fund is a closed-end management investment company and as such its Common Shareholders will not have the right to cause the Fund to redeem their Common Shares. Instead, the Fund’s Common Shares trade in the open market at a price that will be a function of several factors, including dividend levels (which are in turn affected by expenses), NAV, call protection, dividend stability, relative demand for and supply of such Common Shares in the market, general market and economic conditions and other factors. Because shares of a closed-end investment company may frequently trade at prices lower than NAV, the Board may consider actions that might be taken to reduce or eliminate any material discount from NAV in respect of Common Shares, which may include the repurchase of such Common Shares in the open market or in private transactions, the making of a tender offer for such Common Shares or the conversion of the Fund to an open-end investment company. The Board approved an open market share repurchase program (the “Program”). The Program allows the Fund to purchase, in the open market, its outstanding Common Shares, with the amount and timing of any repurchase determined at the discretion of the Fund’s investment advisers. Under the terms of the Program, the Fund is permitted to repurchase up to 10% of its outstanding Common Shares in the open market during any 12 month period.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time when the Fund has preferred shares outstanding, the Fund may not purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any of its Common Shares unless (1) all accrued preferred share dividends have been paid and (2) at the time of such purchase, redemption or acquisition, the NAV of the Fund’s portfolio (determined after deducting the acquisition price of the Common Shares) is at least 200% of the liquidation value of the outstanding preferred shares (expected to equal the original purchase price per share plus any accrued and unpaid dividends thereon). Any service fees incurred in connection with any tender offer made by the Fund will be borne by the Fund and will not reduce the stated consideration to be paid to tendering Common Shareholders.
Subject to its investment restrictions, the Fund may borrow to finance the repurchase of Common Shares or to make a tender offer. Interest on any borrowings to finance Common Share repurchase transactions or the accumulation of cash by the Fund in anticipation of Common Share repurchases or tenders will reduce the Fund’s net income. Any Common Share repurchase, tender offer or borrowing that might be approved by the Board would have to comply with the Exchange Act, the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.
The Program allows the Fund to purchase, in the open market, its outstanding Common Shares, with the amount and timing of any repurchase determined at the discretion of the Fund’s investment adviser. Such purchases may be made opportunistically at certain discounts to NAV per share in the reasonable judgment of management based on historical discount levels and current market conditions.
On a quarterly basis, the Fund’s Board will receive information on any transactions made pursuant to this policy during the prior quarter and if shares are repurchased management will post the number of shares repurchased on the Fund’s website on a monthly basis. Under the terms of the Program, the Fund is permitted to repurchase up to 10% of its outstanding Common Shares in the open market during any 12 month period. There can be no assurance, however, that the Board will decide to undertake any of these actions or that, if undertaken, such actions would result in the Common Shares trading at a price equal to or close to NAV.
The Board currently has no intention to take any other action in response to a discount from NAV. Further, it is the Board’s intention not to authorize repurchases of Common Shares or a tender offer for such Common Shares if: (1) such transactions, if consummated, would (a) result in the delisting of the Common Shares from the NYSE or (b) impair the Fund’s status as a regulated investment company under the Code (which would make the Fund a taxable entity, causing the Fund’s income to be taxed at the trust level in addition to the taxation of shareholders who receive dividends from the Fund) or as a registered closed-end investment company under the 1940 Act; (2) the Fund would not be able to liquidate portfolio securities in an orderly manner and consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and policies in order to repurchase Common Shares; or (3) there is, in the Board’s judgment, any (a) material legal action or proceeding instituted or threatened challenging such transactions or otherwise materially adversely affecting the Fund, (b) general suspension of or limitation on prices for trading securities on the NYSE, (c) declaration of a banking moratorium by Federal or state authorities or any suspension of payment by U.S. or New York banks, (d) material limitation affecting the Fund or the issuers of its portfolio securities by Federal or state authorities on the extension of credit by lending institutions or on the exchange of foreign currency, (e) commencement or continuation of war, armed hostilities or other international or national calamity directly or indirectly involving the United States or (f) other event or condition which would have a material adverse effect (including any adverse tax effect) on the Fund or its Common Shareholders if Common Shares were repurchased. Even in the absence of such conditions, the Board may decline to take action in response to a discount from NAV of the Common Shares. The Board may in the future modify these conditions in light of experience.
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The repurchase by the Fund of its Common Shares at prices below NAV will result in an increase in the NAV of those Common Shares that remain outstanding. However, there can be no assurance that Common Share repurchases or tender offers at or below NAV will result in the Fund’s Common Shares trading at a price equal to their NAV.
In addition, a purchase by the Fund of its Common Shares will decrease the Fund’s Managed Assets which would likely have the effect of increasing the Fund’s expense ratio. Any purchase by the Fund of its Common Shares at a time when preferred shares are outstanding will increase the leverage applicable to the outstanding Common Shares then remaining.
Before deciding whether to take any action if the Common Shares trade below NAV, the Board would consider all relevant factors, including the extent and duration of the discount, the liquidity of the Fund’s portfolio, the impact of any action that might be taken on the Fund or its Common Shareholders and market considerations. Based on these considerations, even if the Fund’s Common Shares should trade at a discount, the Board may determine that, in the interest of the Fund and its Common Shareholders, no action should be taken.
MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following discussion is a general summary of material U.S. federal income tax considerations affecting the Fund and its shareholders. The discussion reflects applicable U.S. federal income tax laws as of the date of this statement of additional information, which tax laws may be changed or subject to new interpretations by the courts or the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), possibly with retroactive effect. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of all U.S. federal income, estate, gift, state, local or foreign tax considerations affecting the Fund and its shareholders (including shareholders owning large positions in the Fund). The discussion set forth herein does not constitute tax advice. Investors are urged to consult their own tax advisers to determine the specific tax consequences to them of investing in the Fund, including applicable federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences to them or the effect of possible changes in tax laws.
In addition, no attempt is made to address tax considerations applicable to an investor with a special tax status, such as a financial institution, REIT, insurance company, RIC, individual retirement account, other tax-exempt organization, dealer in securities or currencies, person holding shares of the Fund as part of a hedging, integrated, conversion or straddle transaction or constructive sale, trader in securities that has elected the mark-to-market method of accounting for its securities, U.S. holder (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar, or investor with “applicable financial statements” within the meaning of section 451(b) of the Code. Furthermore, this discussion does not reflect possible application of the alternative minimum tax. Unless otherwise noted, this discussion assumes the Fund’s shares are held by U.S. persons and that such shares are held as capital assets.
A “U.S. holder” is a beneficial owner that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
| ● | a citizen or individual resident of the United States (including certain former citizens and former long-term residents); |
| ● | a corporation or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia; |
| ● | an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or |
| ● | a trust with respect to which a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over its administration and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all of its substantial decisions or the trust has made a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Department of the Treasury (“Treasury”) regulations to be treated as a U.S. person. |
A “Non-U.S. holder” is a beneficial owner of shares of the Fund that is an individual, corporation, trust or estate and is not a U.S. holder. If a partnership (including any entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds shares of the Fund, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership generally will depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership.
Taxation as a RIC
The Fund has elected to be treated as and intends to qualify each year for the special tax treatment afforded a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code. As long as the Fund meets certain requirements that govern the Fund’s source of income, diversification of assets and distribution of earnings to shareholders, the Fund will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on income distributed (or treated as distributed, as described below) to its shareholders. With respect to the source of income requirement, the Fund must derive in each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income (including tax-exempt interest) from (1) dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies or other income (including, but not limited to, gains from options, futures and forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies and (2) net income derived from interests in qualified publicly traded partnerships. A qualified publicly traded partnership is generally defined as a publicly traded partnership under section 7704 of the Code but does not include a publicly traded partnership if 90% or more of its gross income is described in (1) above.
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With respect to the diversification of assets requirement, the Fund must diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of each taxable year, (1) at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets is represented by cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, the securities of other RICs and other securities, with such other securities limited for purposes of such calculation, in respect of any one issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer and (2) not more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets is invested in the securities (other than U.S. government securities or the securities of other RICs) of any one issuer, the securities (other than the securities of other RICs) of two or more issuers that the Fund controls and that are determined to be engaged in the same, similar or related trades or businesses or the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships.
For purposes of the income test, the character and source of the Fund’s distributive share of items of income, gain and loss derived through any entity properly treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes (other than qualified publicly traded partnerships), including, in general, any unregistered fund, generally will be determined as if the Fund realized its distributive share of such tax items directly. Similarly, for the purpose of the asset diversification test, the Fund, in appropriate circumstances, will “look through” to the assets held by any such partnership.
If the Fund qualifies as a RIC and distributes to its shareholders at least 90% of the sum of (1) its “investment company taxable income,” as that term is defined in the Code (which includes, among other items, dividends, taxable interest and the excess of any net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses, as reduced by certain deductible expenses) without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and (2) the excess of its gross tax-exempt interest, if any, over certain deductions attributable to such interest that are otherwise disallowed, the Fund will be relieved of U.S. federal income tax on any income of the Fund, including long-term capital gains, distributed to shareholders. However, if the Fund retains any investment company taxable income or “net capital gain” (i.e., the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss), it will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at regular corporate federal income tax rates on the amount retained. The Fund intends to distribute at least annually substantially all of its investment company taxable income, net tax-exempt interest and net capital gain. Under the Code, the Fund generally will also be subject to a nondeductible 4% federal excise tax on the undistributed portion of its ordinary income and capital gains if it fails to meet certain distribution requirements with respect to each calendar year. In order to avoid the 4% federal excise tax, the required minimum distribution is generally equal to the sum of (1) 98% of the Fund’s ordinary income (computed on a calendar year basis), (2) 98.2% of the Fund’s capital gain net income (generally computed for the one-year period ending on October 31), and (3) certain amounts from previous years to the extent such amounts have not been treated as distributed or been subject to tax under Subchapter M of the Code. The Fund generally intends to make distributions in a timely manner in an amount at least equal to the required minimum distribution and therefore, under normal conditions, does not currently expect to be subject to this excise tax.
Failure to Qualify as a RIC
If the Fund fails to qualify as a RIC in any taxable year, it will be taxed in the same manner as an ordinary corporation on all of its taxable income and gains, and distributions to the Fund’s shareholders will not be deductible by the Fund in computing its taxable income. In such event, the Fund’s distributions, to the extent derived from the Fund’s current or accumulated earnings and profits, would be taxed to shareholders as dividend income. Such distributions would generally be eligible for the dividends received deduction available to corporate shareholders, and non-corporate shareholders would generally be able to treat such distributions as “qualified dividend income” eligible for reduced rates of U.S. federal income taxation, provided in each case that certain holding period and other requirements are satisfied. Distributions in excess of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits would be treated first as a return of capital to the extent of the shareholders’ tax basis in their Fund shares, and any remaining distributions would be treated as a capital gain. Current earnings and profits are generally treated, for federal income tax purposes, as first being used to pay distributions on preferred shares and then to the extent remaining, if any, to pay distributions on common shares. To qualify as a RIC in a subsequent taxable year, the Fund would be required to satisfy the source-of-income, the asset diversification and the annual distribution requirements for that year and distribute any earnings and profits from any year in which the Fund failed to qualify as a RIC. Subject to a limited exception applicable to a RIC that qualified as such under the Code for at least one year prior to disqualification and that requalifies as a RIC no later than the second year following the nonqualifying year, the Fund would be subject to tax on any unrealized built-in gains in the assets held by it at the time the Fund requalified as a RIC that are recognized within the subsequent five years, unless the Fund made an election to pay corporate-level tax on such built-in gain at the time of its requalification as a RIC. The remainder of this discussion assumes the Fund will qualify for taxation as a RIC.
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Taxation of Certain Fund Investments
Investments in Partnerships
The Fund may invest in unregistered funds and other entities properly treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes (other than qualified publicly traded partnerships). An entity that is properly classified as a partnership (and not an association or publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation) is generally not itself subject to federal income tax. Instead, each partner of the partnership is required to take into account its distributive share of the partnership’s net capital gain or loss, net short-term capital gain or loss, and its other items of ordinary income or loss (including all items of income, gain, loss and deduction allocable to that partnership from investments in other partnerships) for each taxable year of the partnership ending with or within the partner’s taxable year. Each such item will have the same character to a partner and will generally have the same source (either United States or foreign), as though the partner realized the item directly. Partners of a partnership must report these items regardless of the extent to which, or whether, the partners receive cash distributions with respect to such items. Accordingly, the Fund may be required to recognize items of taxable income and gain prior to the time that any corresponding cash distributions are made to the Fund (including in circumstances where investments by an underlying partnership, such as investments in debt instrument with “original issue discount,” generate income prior to a corresponding receipt of cash). In such case, the Fund may have to dispose of assets that it would otherwise have continued to hold in order to generate cash for distributions to Fund shareholders. In addition, the Fund may have to dispose of an investment in a partnership or devise other methods of cure (such as holding the investment through a taxable subsidiary), to the extent the partnership earns income of a type that is not qualifying income for purposes of the gross income test or holds assets that could cause the Fund not to satisfy the RIC asset diversification tests.
Any distribution by a partnership to the Fund in excess of the Fund’s allocable share of the partnership’s net taxable income will decrease the Fund's tax basis in its partnership interest and will therefore increase the amount of gain (or decrease the amount of loss) that will be recognized by the Fund on the disposition of its partnership interest.
A portion of any gain or loss recognized by the Fund on a disposition of a partnership interest (or by a partnership on a disposition of an underlying asset) may be separately computed and treated as ordinary income or loss under the Code to the extent attributable to assets of the partnership that give rise to depreciation recapture, intangible drilling and development cost recapture, or other “unrealized receivables” or “inventory items” under the Code. Any such gain may exceed net taxable gain realized on the disposition and will be recognized even if there is a net taxable loss on the disposition. The Fund’s net capital losses may only be used to offset capital gains and therefore cannot be used to offset gains that are treated as ordinary income. Thus, the Fund could recognize both gain that is treated as ordinary income and a capital loss on a disposition of a partnership interest (or on a partnership’s disposition of an underlying asset) and would not be able to use the capital loss to offset that gain. Any capital losses that the Fund recognizes on a disposition of a partnership interest can only be used to offset capital gains that the Fund recognizes. Any capital losses that the Fund is unable to use may be carried forward to reduce its capital gains in later years.
The Fund may invest a portion of the assets allocated to the Private Infrastructure Opportunities indirectly through one or more wholly owned subsidiaries formed in one or more jurisdictions and treated as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes (each, a “Blocker Corporation,” and together, the “Blocker Corporations”). The Fund may invest indirectly through a Blocker Corporation if it believes it is desirable to do so to comply with the requirements for qualification as a RIC under the Code.
For example, the Fund may hold equity interests in an operating company conducted in “pass-through” form (i.e., as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) through a taxable domestic Blocker Corporation because such an investment, if made directly, would produce income that is not qualifying income for a RIC. Any Blocker Corporation organized in the United States will generally be subject to U.S. federal, state and local income tax at corporate rates on its taxable income, which taxes (and any other taxes borne by subsidiaries) would adversely affect the returns from investments held through the Blocker Corporation. In general, in order to comply with the diversification requirements under Subchapter M of the Code, the Fund may not invest more than 25% of the value of its assets in the stock of one or more Blocker Corporations that are engaged in the same or similar or related trades or businesses.
Other Considerations
The application of certain requirements for qualification as a RIC and the application of certain other federal income tax rules may be unclear in some respects in connection with certain investments. As a result, the Fund may be required to limit the extent to which it invests in such investments and it is also possible that the IRS may not agree with the Fund’s treatment of such investments. In addition, the tax treatment of certain investments may be affected by future legislation, Treasury regulations and guidance issued by the IRS (which could apply retroactively) that could affect the timing, character and amount of the Fund’s income and gains and distributions to shareholders, affect whether the Fund has made sufficient distributions and otherwise satisfied the requirements to maintain its qualification as a RIC and avoid federal income and excise taxes or limit the extent to which the Fund may invest in certain investments in the future.
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Certain of the Fund’s investment practices are subject to special and complex federal income tax provisions that may, among other things, (1) convert distributions that would otherwise constitute qualified dividend income into ordinary income taxed at the higher rate applicable to ordinary income; (2) treat distributions that would otherwise be eligible for the corporate dividends received deduction as ineligible for such treatment; (3) disallow, suspend or otherwise limit the allowance of certain losses or deductions; (4) convert long-term capital gain into short-term capital gain or ordinary income; (5) convert an ordinary loss or deduction into a capital loss (the deductibility of which is more limited); (6) cause the Fund to recognize income or gain without a corresponding receipt of cash; (7) adversely affect the time as to when a purchase or sale of stock or securities is deemed to occur; (8) adversely alter the characterization of certain complex financial transactions; and (9) produce income that will not be included in the sources of income from which a RIC must derive at least 90% of its gross income each year. While it may not always be successful in doing so, the Fund will seek to avoid or minimize any adverse tax consequences of its investment practices.
Some of the investments that the Fund is expected to make, such as investments in debt securities that are treated as issued with original issue discount, will cause the Fund to recognize income or gain for U.S. federal income tax purposes prior to the receipt of any corresponding cash or other property. Because the distribution requirements described above will apply to this income, the Fund may be required to borrow money or dispose of other securities at disadvantageous times in order to make the relevant distributions.
The Fund may be subject to withholding and other taxes imposed by foreign countries, including taxes on interest, dividends and capital gains with respect to its investments in those countries, which would, if imposed, reduce the yield on or return from those investments. Tax treaties between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate such taxes in some cases. The Fund does not expect to satisfy the requirements for passing through to its shareholders their pro rata shares of qualified foreign taxes paid by the Fund, with the result that shareholders will not be entitled to a tax deduction or credit for such taxes on their own U.S. federal income tax returns, although the Fund’s payment of such taxes may be eligible for a foreign tax credit or a deduction in computing the Fund’s taxable income.
Foreign exchange gains and losses realized by the Fund in connection with certain transactions involving foreign currency-denominated debt securities, certain options and futures contracts relating to foreign currency, foreign currency forward contracts, foreign currencies, or payables or receivables denominated in a foreign currency are subject to section 988 of the Code, which generally causes such gain and loss to be treated as ordinary income or loss.
If the Fund acquires any equity interest in certain foreign investment entities (i) that receive at least 75% of their annual gross income from passive sources (such as interest, dividends, certain rents and royalties, or capital gains) or (ii) where at least 50% of the corporation’s assets (computed based on average fair market value) either produce or are held for the production of passive income (“passive foreign investment companies” or “PFICs”), the Fund will generally be subject to one of the following special tax regimes: (i) the Fund may be liable for U.S. federal income tax, and an additional interest charge, on a portion of any “excess distribution” from such foreign entity or any gain from the disposition of such shares, even if the entire distribution or gain is paid out by the Fund as a dividend to its shareholders; (ii) if the Fund were able and elected to treat a PFIC as a “qualified electing fund” or “QEF,” the Fund would be required each year to include in income, and distribute to shareholders in accordance with the distribution requirements set forth above, the Fund's pro rata share of the ordinary earnings and net capital gains of the PFIC, whether or not such earnings or gains are distributed to the Fund; or (iii) the Fund may be entitled to mark-to-market annually shares of the PFIC, and in such event would be required to distribute to shareholders any such mark-to-market gains in accordance with the distribution requirements set forth above. The Fund intends to make the appropriate tax elections, if possible, and take any additional steps that are necessary to mitigate the effect of these rules. The Fund may limit and/or manage its holdings in PFICs to limit its tax liability or maximize its return from these investments. Amounts included in income each year by the Fund arising from a QEF election will be qualifying income for purposes of the income test described above even if not distributed to the Fund, if the Fund derives such income from its business of investing in stock, securities or currencies.
Section 163(j) of the Code limits the deductibility of business interest. Generally, the provision limits the deduction for net business interest expenses to 30% of a taxpayer’s adjusted taxable income. The deduction for interest expenses is not limited to the extent of any business interest income, which is interest income attributable to a trade or business and not investment income. Under applicable Treasury regulations, all interest expense and interest income of a RIC is treated as properly allocable to a trade or business for purposes of the limitation on the deductibility of business interest. As a result, this limitation may impact the Fund’s ability to use leverage (e.g., borrow money, issue debt securities, etc.).
In determining its net capital gain, including in connection with determining the amount available to support a capital gain dividend, its taxable income and its earnings and profits, the Fund generally may elect to treat part or all of any post-October capital loss (defined as any net capital loss attributable to the portion, if any, of the taxable year after October 31 or, if there is no such loss, the net long-term capital loss or net short-term capital loss attributable to any such portion of the taxable year) or late-year ordinary loss (generally, the sum of its (i) net ordinary loss, if any, from the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of property, attributable to the portion, if any, of the taxable year after October 31, and its (ii) other net ordinary loss, if any, attributable to the portion, if any, of the taxable year after December 31) as if incurred in the succeeding taxable year.
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The Fund is generally permitted to carry forward a net capital loss in any taxable year to offset its own capital gains, if any. These amounts are available to be carried forward to offset future capital gains to the extent permitted by the Code and applicable tax regulations. Any such loss carryforwards will retain their character as short-term or long-term. In the event that the Fund were to experience an ownership change as defined under the Code, the capital loss carryforwards and other favorable tax attributes of the Fund, if any, may be subject to limitation.
Taxation for U.S. Shareholders
Distributions paid to you by the Fund from its investment company taxable income generally will be taxable to you as ordinary income to the extent of the Fund’s earnings and profits, whether paid in cash or reinvested in additional shares. A portion of such distributions (if properly reported by the Fund) may qualify (1) in the case of corporate shareholders, for the dividends received deduction under section 243 of the Code to the extent that the Fund’s income consists of dividend income from U.S. corporations, excluding distributions from certain entities, such as REITs, or (2) in the case of individual shareholders, as qualified dividend income eligible to be taxed at the federal income tax rates applicable to net capital gain under section 1(h)(11) of the Code to the extent that the Fund receives qualified dividend income, and provided in each case that certain holding period and other requirements are met at both the Fund and shareholder levels. Qualified dividend income is, in general, dividend income from taxable domestic corporations and qualified foreign corporations (for example, generally, if the issuer is incorporated in a possession of the United States or in a country with a qualified comprehensive income tax treaty with the United States, or if the shares with respect to which such dividend is paid are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States). To be treated as qualified dividend income, the shareholder must hold the shares paying otherwise qualifying dividend income more than 60 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the ex-dividend date (or, in the case of certain preferred shares, more than 90 days during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before the ex-dividend date). A shareholder’s holding period may be reduced for purposes of this rule if the shareholder engages in certain risk reduction transactions with respect to the shares. A qualified foreign corporation generally excludes any foreign corporation that, for the taxable year of the corporation in which the dividend was paid or the preceding taxable year, is a passive foreign investment company. Given the Fund’s investment strategy, it is not expected that a large portion of the distributions made by the Fund will be eligible for the dividends-received deduction (in the case of corporate shareholders) or for treatment as “qualified dividend income” (in the case of individual shareholders). Distributions made to you from an excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital losses (“capital gain dividends”), including capital gain dividends credited to you but retained by the Fund (as described below), will be taxable to you as long-term capital gain if they have been properly designated by the Fund, regardless of the length of time you have owned the Fund’s shares.
Distributions in excess of the Fund’s earnings and profits will be treated by you, first, as a tax-free return of capital, which is applied against and will reduce the adjusted basis of your shares and, after such adjusted basis is reduced to zero, generally will constitute capital gain to you. After the close of its taxable year, the Fund will provide you with information on the federal income tax status of the dividends and distributions you received from the Fund during the year.
Qualified REIT dividends (i.e., REIT dividends other than capital gain dividends and portions of REIT dividends designated as qualified dividend income) are generally eligible for a 20% federal income tax deduction in the case of individuals, trusts and estates, provided certain holding period requirements are met with respect to the REIT stock. If the Fund receives qualified REIT dividends, it may elect to pass the special character of this income through to its shareholders. To be eligible to treat distributions from the Fund as qualified REIT dividends, a shareholder must hold shares of the Fund for more than 45 days during the 91-day period beginning on the date that is 45 days before the date on which the shares become ex-dividend with respect to such dividend and the shareholder must not be under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property. If the Fund does not elect to pass the special character of this income through to shareholders or if a shareholder does not satisfy the above holding period requirements, the shareholder will not be entitled to the 20% deduction for the shareholder’s share of the Fund’s qualified REIT dividend income while direct investors in REITs may be entitled to the deduction. Subject to any future regulatory guidance to the contrary, any distribution of income attributable to the Fund’s investments in a qualified publicly traded partnership will currently not qualify for the deduction that would be available to a non-corporate shareholder were the shareholder to own such qualified publicly traded partnership directly. As a result, it is possible that a non-corporate shareholder will be subject to a higher effective tax rate on any such distributions received from the Fund compared to the effective rate applicable to any qualified publicly traded partnership income the shareholder would derive if the shareholder invested directly in the qualified publicly traded partnership.
Certain distributions reported by the Fund as Section 163(j) interest dividends may be treated as interest income by shareholders for purposes of the tax rules applicable to interest expense limitations under Section 163(j) of the Code. Such treatment by the shareholder is generally subject to holding period requirements and other potential limitations, although the holding period requirements are generally not applicable to dividends declared by money market funds and certain other funds that declare dividends daily and pay such dividends on a monthly or more frequent basis. The amount that the Fund is eligible to report as a Section 163(j) dividend for a tax year is generally limited to the excess of the Fund’s business interest income over the sum of the Fund’s (i) business interest expense and (ii) other deductions properly allocable to the Fund’s business interest income.
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Sales and other dispositions of the Fund’s shares (including upon a termination of the Fund) generally are taxable events. You should consult your own tax adviser with reference to your individual circumstances to determine whether any particular transaction in the Fund’s shares is properly treated as a sale or exchange for federal income tax purposes and the tax treatment of any gains or losses recognized in such transactions. The sale or other disposition of shares of the Fund generally will result in capital gain or loss to you, equal to the difference between the amount realized and your adjusted basis in the shares sold or exchanged (taking into account any reductions in such basis resulting from prior returns of capital), and will be long-term capital gain or loss if your holding period for the shares is more than one year at the time of sale. Different tax consequences may apply for tendering and non-tendering shareholders in connection with a repurchase offer. For example, if a shareholder does not tender all of his or her shares, such repurchase may not be treated as a sale or exchange for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and may result in deemed distributions to non-tendering shareholders. On the other hand, shareholders holding shares as capital assets who tender all of their shares (including shares deemed owned by shareholders under constructive ownership rules) will be treated as having sold their shares and generally will recognize capital gain or loss.
Any loss upon the sale or exchange of shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of any capital gain dividends you received (including amounts credited as an undistributed capital gain dividend) with respect to such shares. A loss you realize on a sale or exchange of shares of the Fund generally will be disallowed if you acquire other shares of the Fund (whether through the automatic reinvestment of dividends or otherwise) or other substantially identical shares within a 61-day period beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the date that you dispose of the shares. In such case, the basis of the shares acquired will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss. Present law taxes both long-term and short-term capital gain of corporations at the same rate applicable to ordinary income of corporations. For non-corporate taxpayers, short-term capital gain will currently be taxed at the rate applicable to ordinary income, while long-term capital gain generally will be taxed at the long-term capital gain rates. Capital losses are subject to certain limitations.
For purpose of determining (1) whether the annual distribution requirement to maintain RIC status is satisfied for any year and (2) the amount of capital gain dividends paid for that year, the Fund may, under certain circumstances, elect to treat a distribution that is paid during the following taxable year as if it had been paid during the taxable year in question. If the Fund makes such an election, the U.S. shareholder will still be treated as receiving the distribution in the taxable year in which the distribution is made. However, if the Fund pays you a distribution in January that was declared in the previous October, November or December to shareholders of record on a specified date in one of such months, then such distribution will be treated for federal income tax purposes as being paid by the Fund and received by you on December 31 of the year in which the distribution was declared. A shareholder may elect not to have all distributions automatically reinvested in Fund shares pursuant to the Plan. If a shareholder elects not to participate in the Plan, such shareholder will receive distributions in cash. For taxpayers subject to U.S. federal income tax, all distributions generally will be taxable, as discussed above, regardless of whether a shareholder takes them in cash or they are reinvested pursuant to the Plan in additional shares of the Fund.
If a shareholder’s distributions are automatically reinvested pursuant to the Plan, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the shareholder generally will be treated as having received a taxable distribution in the amount of the cash dividend that the shareholder would have received if the shareholder had elected to receive cash. Under certain circumstances, however, if a shareholder’s distributions are automatically reinvested pursuant to the Plan and the Plan Agent invests the distribution in newly issued shares of the Fund, the shareholder may be treated as receiving a taxable distribution equal to the fair market value of the shares the shareholder receives.
The Fund intends to distribute substantially all realized capital gains, if any, at least annually. If, however, the Fund were to retain any net capital gain, the Fund may designate the retained amount as undistributed capital gains in a notice to shareholders who, if subject to U.S. federal income tax on long-term capital gains, (1) will be required to include in income as long-term capital gain, their proportionate shares of such undistributed amount and (2) will be entitled to credit their proportionate shares of the federal income tax paid by the Fund on the undistributed amount against their U.S. federal income tax liabilities, if any, and to claim refunds to the extent the credit exceeds such liabilities. If such an event occurs, the basis of the shares owned by a shareholder of the Fund will, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, generally be increased by the difference between the amount of undistributed net capital gain included in the shareholder’s gross income and the tax deemed paid by the shareholder.
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Backup Withholding
The Fund is required in certain circumstances to backup withhold at a current rate of 24% on distributions and certain other payments paid to certain holders of the Fund’s shares who do not furnish the Fund with their correct taxpayer identification number (in the case of individuals, their social security number) and certain certifications or who are otherwise subject to backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld from payments made to you may be refunded or credited against your U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, provided that the required information is furnished to the IRS.
Medicare Tax
An additional 3.8% tax is imposed on the net investment income of certain individuals with a modified adjusted gross income of over $200,000 ($250,000 in the case of joint filers) and on the undistributed net investment income of certain estates and trusts. For these purposes, “net investment income” generally will include interest, dividends, annuities, royalties, rent, net gain attributable to the disposition of property not held in a trade or business (including net gain from the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of shares of the Fund) and certain other income, but will be reduced by any deductions properly allocable to such income or net gain. Thus, certain of the Fund’s taxable distributions and gains on the sale of Fund shares to shareholders may be subject to this additional tax.
U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations for Non-U.S. Shareholders
The following discussion is a general summary of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to a Non-U.S. holder of Fund shares.
This summary does not purport to be a complete description of the income tax considerations for a Non-U.S. holder. For example, the following does not describe income tax consequences that are assumed to be generally known by investors or certain considerations that may be relevant to certain types of holders subject to special treatment under U.S. federal income tax laws. This summary does not discuss any aspects of U.S. estate or gift tax or state or local tax. In addition, this summary assumes that at all times the Fund’s common shares will be “regularly traded” for purposes of section 897 of the Code and does not address (1) any Non-U.S. holder that holds, at any time, more than 5% of the Fund’s shares, directly or under ownership attribution rules applicable for purposes of section 897 of the Code (a “5% holder”), or (2) any Non-U.S. holder whose ownership of shares of the Fund is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States. A 5% holder may be subject to adverse consequences, including obligations to file U.S. tax returns and to pay tax at the rates applicable to U.S. persons, with respect to Fund distributions that are attributable to USRPIs (as defined below) or gain on the disposition of Fund shares. Such holders should consult their tax advisors regarding an investment in the Fund.
As indicated above, the Fund has elected to be treated, and intends to qualify each year, as a RIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes. This summary is based on the assumption that the Fund will qualify as a RIC in each of its taxable years. Distributions of the Fund’s investment company taxable income to Non-U.S. holders will, except as discussed below, generally be subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a 30% rate (or lower rate provided by an applicable income tax treaty) to the extent of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. In order to obtain a reduced rate of withholding, a Non-U.S. holder will be required to provide the Fund with the applicable IRS Form W-8 certifying its entitlement to benefits under a treaty. The Fund generally will not be required to withhold tax on any amounts paid to a Non-U.S. holder with respect to dividends attributable to “qualified short-term gain” (i.e., the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss) and dividends attributable to certain U.S. source interest income that would not be subject to federal withholding tax if earned directly by a non-U.S. person, provided in each case that such amounts are properly reported by the Fund and the shareholder complies with applicable certification requirements relating to its non-U.S. status. The Fund may choose not to report such amounts.
Actual or deemed distributions of the Fund’s net capital gains to a Non-U.S. holder, and gains realized by a Non-U.S. holder upon the sale of the Fund’s shares, will, except as described below, generally not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax unless the Non-U.S. holder is an individual, has been present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year and certain other conditions are satisfied.
If the Fund distributes its net capital gains in the form of deemed rather than actual distributions (which the Fund may do in the future), a Non-U.S. holder may be entitled to a federal income tax credit or tax refund equal to the shareholder’s allocable share of the tax the Fund paid on the capital gains deemed to have been distributed. In order to obtain the refund, the Non-U.S. holder must obtain a U.S. taxpayer identification number and file a federal income tax return even if the Non-U.S. holder would not otherwise be required to obtain a U.S. taxpayer identification number or file a federal income tax return.
A Non-U.S. holder who is a non-resident alien individual, and who is otherwise subject to withholding of federal income tax, may be subject to information reporting and backup withholding of federal income tax on dividends unless the Non-U.S. holder provides the Fund or the dividend paying agent with an IRS Form W-8BEN (or an acceptable substitute form) or otherwise meets documentary evidence requirements for establishing that it is a Non-U.S. holder or otherwise establishes an exemption from backup withholding. The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to a Non-U.S. holder will be allowed as a credit against such Non-U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle such holder to a refund, provided that the required information is furnished to the IRS.
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Special rules may apply to Non-U.S. holders who receive distributions from the Fund that are attributable to gain from “United States real property interests” (“USRPIs”). The Code defines USRPIs to include direct holdings of U.S. real property and, subject to certain exceptions, any interest (other than an interest solely as a creditor) in a “United States real property holding corporation” or a former United States real property holding corporation. The Code defines a United States real property holding corporation as any corporation whose USRPIs make up 50% or more of the fair market value of its USRPIs, its interests in real property located outside the United States, plus any other assets it uses in a trade or business. Certain of the Fund’s investments may constitute interests in United States real property holding corporations or other USRPIs. In general, if the Fund is a United States real property holding corporation (determined without regard to certain exceptions), distributions (including capital gain dividends) by the Fund that are attributable to (1) gains realized on the disposition of USPRIs by the Fund and (2) distributions received by the Fund from a lower-tier RIC or REIT that the Fund is required to treat as USRPI gain in its hands will generally be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax as an ordinary income dividend (i.e., subject to withholding tax at a 30% rate (or lower treaty rate)).
Non-U.S. persons should consult their own tax advisers with respect to the U.S. federal income tax and withholding tax and state, local and foreign tax consequences of an investment in the shares.
Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act
The Fund generally must obtain information sufficient to identify the status of each of its shareholders under sections 1471-1474 of the Code and the Treasury and IRS guidance issued thereunder (collectively, “FATCA”) or under an applicable intergovernmental agreement (an “IGA”) entered into by the United States and a foreign jurisdiction to implement FATCA. If a shareholder fails to provide this information or otherwise fails to comply with FATCA or an IGA, the Fund may be required to withhold 30% of ordinary dividends the Fund pays to that shareholder. If a payment by the Fund is subject to FATCA withholding, the Fund or its agent is required to withhold even if such payment would otherwise be exempt from withholding under the rules applicable to foreign shareholders described above. The IRS and the Treasury have issued proposed regulations, on which taxpayers may currently rely, providing that the gross proceeds of share redemptions or exchanges and capital gain dividends the Fund pays will not be subject to FATCA withholding. You are encouraged to consult with your own tax adviser regarding the possible implications of FATCA on your investment in Fund shares, including investments through an intermediary. In addition, some foreign countries have implemented and others are considering, and may implement, laws similar in purpose and scope to FATCA.
The foregoing is a general and abbreviated summary of the provisions of the Code and the Treasury regulations in effect as they directly govern the taxation of the Fund and its shareholders. These provisions are subject to change by legislative and administrative action, and any such change may be retroactive. Shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisers regarding specific questions as to U.S. federal, foreign, state, local income or other taxes based on their particular circumstances.
PROXY VOTING POLICY AND PROXY VOTING RECORD
The Board has delegated the day-to-day responsibility to the Advisers to vote the Fund’s proxies. Proxies are voted by the Advisers pursuant to the Board approved proxy guidelines, a copy of which as currently in effect as of the date of this SAI is attached hereto as Appendix B. Also attached hereto in Appendix B is the Advisers’ Listed Company Stewardship Guidelines, which among other things, expands upon how the Advisers approach environmental, social and governance issues when engaging with company management and voting proxies.
Information on how the Fund voted proxies (if any) relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12 month period ending June 30 is available: (i) upon request and without charge by calling Investor Relations toll-free at 1-800-522-5465, or (ii) on the SEC’s website at https://www.sec.gov.
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
This SAI is part of a Registration Statement that the Fund has filed with the SEC. The Fund is permitted to "incorporate by reference" the information that it files with the SEC, which means that the Fund can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this SAI, and later information that the Fund files with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information.
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The documents listed below, and any reports and other documents subsequently filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 30(b)(2) under the 1940 Act and Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the termination of the offering, and any reports and other documents subsequently filed by the Fund with the SEC pursuant to Rule 30(b)(2) under the 1940 Act and Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Registration Statement and prior to its effectiveness, are incorporated by reference into this SAI and deemed to be part of this SAI from the date of the filing of such reports and documents:
| ● | the Fund’s Annual Report on Form N-CSR for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025, filed with the SEC on December 8, 2025, (“Annual Report”); |
| ● | The Fund’s Semi-Annual Report on Form N-CSRS for the period ended March 31, 2026, filed with the SEC on June 8, 2026 (“Semi-Annual Report”); | |
| ● | the Fund’s definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A for the Fund’s 2026 annual meeting of shareholders, filed with the SEC on April 1, 2026 (“Proxy Statement”); and |
| ● | the Fund’s description of common shares contained in the Fund’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 333-234722) filed with the SEC on July 21, 2020. |
To obtain copies of these filings, see “Additional Information.”
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Fund’s unaudited financial statements for the period ended March 31, 2026 are incorporated in this SAI by reference to the Fund’s 2026 Semi-Annual Report. The Fund’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025, together with the reports thereon of KPMG, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting, are incorporated in this SAI by reference to the Fund’s 2025 Annual Report. The address of KPMG is 191 West Nationwide Blvd., Ste. 500, Columbus, OH 43215. KPMG provides audit services and consultation with respect to the preparation of filings with the SEC.
Copies of the Fund’s 2026 Semi-Annual Report and 2025 Annual Report are available at the SEC’s website at https://www.sec.gov.
LEGAL COUNSEL
Counsel to the Fund is Dechert LLP.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Prospectus and this SAI do not contain all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement, including any exhibits and schedules thereto. The Fund will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this SAI is delivered, upon written or oral request, a copy of any and all of the information that has been incorporated by reference in this SAI or the Prospectus or any accompanying Prospectus Supplement. You may request such information by calling Investor Relations toll-free at 1-800-522-5465, or you may obtain a copy (and other information regarding the Fund) from the SEC’s website (https://www.sec.gov). Free copies of the Fund’s Prospectus, SAI and any incorporated information will also be available from the Fund’s website at www.aberdeenasgi.com. Information contained on the Fund’s website is not incorporated by reference into this SAI, the Prospectus or any Prospectus Supplement and should not be considered to be part of this SAI, the Prospectus or any Prospectus Supplement.
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Appendix A—Description of securities ratings
S&P GLOBAL RATINGS DEBT RATINGS
| A. | Issue Credit Ratings |
An Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs). It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated. The opinion reflects Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings’ view of the obligor’s capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and this opinion may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.
Issue credit ratings can be either long-term or short-term. Short-term ratings are generally assigned to those obligations considered short-term in the relevant market. Short-term ratings are also used to indicate the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to put features on long-term obligations. Medium-term notes are assigned long-term ratings.
| 1. | Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings |
Issue credit ratings are based, in varying degrees, on Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings’ analysis of the following considerations:
| ● | The likelihood of payment--the capacity and willingness of the obligor to meet its financial commitments on an obligation in accordance with the terms of the obligation; | |
| ● | The nature and provisions of the financial obligation, and the promise we impute; and | |
| ● | The protection afforded by, and relative position of, the financial obligation in the event of a bankruptcy, reorganization, or other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors’ rights. |
Issue ratings are an assessment of default risk but may incorporate an assessment of relative seniority or ultimate recovery in the event of default. Junior obligations are typically rated lower than senior obligations, to reflect the lower priority in bankruptcy, as noted above. (Such differentiation may apply when an entity has both senior and subordinated obligations, secured and unsecured obligations, or operating company and holding company obligations.)
Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings*
AAA - An obligor rated ‘AAA’ has extremely strong capacity to meet its financial commitments. ‘AAA’ is the highest issuer credit rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings.
AA - An obligor rated ‘AA’ has very strong capacity to meet its financial commitments. It differs from the highest rated obligors only to a small degree.
A - An obligor rated ‘A’ has strong capacity to meet its financial commitments but is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligors in higher-rated categories.
BBB - An obligor rated ‘BBB’ has adequate capacity to meet its financial commitments. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to weaken the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments.
Obligors rated ‘BB’, ‘B’, ‘CCC’, and ‘CC’ are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. ‘BB’ indicates the least degree of speculation and ‘CC’ the highest. While such obligors will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposure to adverse conditions.
BB - An obligor rated ‘BB’ is less vulnerable in the near term than other lower-rated obligors. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties and exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions that could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.
A-1
B - An obligor rated ‘B’ is more vulnerable than the obligors rated ‘BB’, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitments.
CCC - An obligor rated ‘CCC’ is currently vulnerable and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions to meet its financial commitments.
CC - An obligation rated ‘CC’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment. The ‘CC’ rating is used when a default has not yet occurred but Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings expects default to be a virtual certainty, regardless of the anticipated time to default.
SD and D - An obligor is rated ‘SD’ (selective default) or ‘D’ if Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings considers there to be a default on one or more of its financial obligations, whether long- or short-term, including rated and unrated obligations but excluding hybrid instruments classified as regulatory capital or in nonpayment according to terms. A ‘D’ rating is assigned when Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings believes that the default will be a general default and that the obligor will fail to pay all or substantially all of its obligations as they come due. An ‘SD’ rating is assigned when Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings believes that the obligor has selectively defaulted on a specific issue or class of obligations but it will continue to meet its payment obligations on other issues or classes of obligations in a timely manner. A rating on an obligor is lowered to ‘D’ or ‘SD’ if it is conducting a distressed debt restructuring.
* The ratings from ‘AA’ to ‘CCC’ may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.
| 2. | Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings |
Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings
A-1 - An obligor rated ‘A-1’ has strong capacity to meet its financial commitments. It is rated in the highest category by Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings. Within this category, certain obligors are designated with a plus sign (+). This indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments is extremely strong.
A-2 - An obligor rated ‘A-2’ has satisfactory capacity to meet its financial commitments. However, it is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligors in the highest rating category.
A-3 - An obligor rated ‘A-3’ has adequate capacity to meet its financial obligations. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to weaken the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments.
B - An obligor rated ‘B’ is regarded as vulnerable and has significant speculative characteristics. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties that could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.
C - An obligor rated ‘C’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment that would result in an ‘SD’ or ‘D’ issuer rating and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions to meet its financial commitments.
SD and D - An obligor is rated ‘SD’ (selective default) or ‘D’ if Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings considers there to be a default on one or more of its financial obligations, whether long- or short-term, including rated and unrated obligations but excluding hybrid instruments classified as regulatory capital or in nonpayment according to terms. A ‘D’ rating is assigned when Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings believes that the default will be a general default and that the obligor will fail to pay all or substantially all of its obligations as they come due. An ‘SD’ rating is assigned when Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings believes that the obligor has selectively defaulted on a specific issue or class of obligations but it will continue to meet its payment obligations on other issues or classes of obligations in a timely manner. A rating on an obligor is lowered to ‘D’ or ‘SD’ if it is conducting a distressed debt restructuring.
A-2
| B. | Municipal Short-Term Note Ratings |
An Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings U.S. municipal note rating reflects Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings’ opinion about the liquidity factors and market access risks unique to the notes. Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a note rating. Notes with an original maturity of more than three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating. In determining which type of rating, if any, to assign, Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings’ analysis will review the following considerations:
| ● | Amortization schedule--the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a note; and | |
| ● | Source of payment--the more dependent the issue is on the market for its refinancing, the more likely it will be treated as a note. |
Municipal Short-Term Note Ratings
SP-1 - Strong capacity to pay principal and interest. An issue determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service is given a plus (+) designation.
SP-2 - Satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.
SP-3 - Speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.
D - ‘D’ is assigned upon failure to pay the note when due, completion of a distressed debt restructuring, or the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions.
MOODY’S INVESTORS SERVICE INC. (“Moody’s”) LONG-TERM DEBT RATINGS*
Aaa – Obligations rated Aaa are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.
Aa –Obligations rated Aa are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk
A – Obligations rated A are judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.
Baa – Obligations rated Baa are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.
Ba – Obligations rated Ba are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk.
B – Obligations rated B are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.
Caa – Obligations rated Caa are judged to be speculative of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.
Ca – Obligations rated Ca are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.
C – Obligations rated C are the lowest rated and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal and interest.
* Moody’s appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from Aa through Caa. The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category.
STATE AND MUNICIPAL NOTES
Excerpts from Moody’s description of state and municipal note ratings:
MIG 1 This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.
A-3
MIG 2 This designation denotes strong credit quality. Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group.
MIG 3 This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.
SG This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.
FITCH, INC. BOND RATINGS
Fitch publishes credit ratings that are forward looking opinions on the relative ability of an entity or obligation to meet financial commitments. Issue level ratings are also assigned and often include an expectation of recovery which may be notched above or below the issuer-level rating. Credit ratings are indications of the likelihood of receiving repayment in accordance with the terms of the issuance. ‘AAA’ ratings denote the lowest expectation of default risk. They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events. ‘AA’ ratings denote expectations of very low default risk. They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events. ‘A’ ratings denote expectations of low default risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings. ‘BBB’ ratings indicate that expectations of default risk are currently low. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate, but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity. ‘BB’ ratings indicate an elevated vulnerability to default risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial flexibility exists that supports the servicing of financial commitments. ‘B’ ratings indicate that material default risk is present, but a limited margin of safety remains. Financial commitments are currently being met; however, capacity for continued payment is vulnerable to deterioration in the business and economic environment. CCC – Very low margin for safety. Default is a real possibility. CC - Default of some kind appears probable.
C - A default or default-like process has begun, or for a closed funding vehicle, payment capacity is irrevocably impaired. ‘RD’ ratings indicate an issuer that in Fitch’s opinion has experienced: a) an uncured payment default or distressed debt exchange on a bond, loan or other material financial obligation, but b) has not entered into bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation, or other formal winding-up procedure, and c) has not otherwise ceased operating.
‘D’ ratings indicate an issuer that in Fitch’s opinion has entered into bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation or other formal winding-up procedure or that has otherwise ceased business and debt is still outstanding.
MOODY’S
Ratings assigned on Moody’s global long-term and short-term rating scales are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations issued by non-financial corporates, financial institutions, structured finance vehicles, project finance vehicles, and public sector entities. Long-term ratings are assigned to issuers or obligations with an original maturity of eleven months or more and reflect both on the likelihood of a default on contractually promised payments and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default. Short-term ratings are assigned to obligations with an original maturity of thirteen months or less and reflect both on the likelihood of a default or impairment on contractual financial obligations and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default or impairment.
Moody’s differentiates structured finance ratings from fundamental ratings (i.e., ratings on nonfinancial corporate, financial institution, and public sector entities) on the global long-term scale by adding (sf ) to all structured finance ratings. The addition of (sf ) to structured finance ratings should eliminate any presumption that such ratings and fundamental ratings at the same letter grade level will behave the same. The (sf ) indicator for structured finance security ratings indicates that otherwise similarly rated structured finance and fundamental securities may have different risk characteristics. Through its current methodologies, however, Moody’s aspires to achieve broad expected equivalence in structured finance and fundamental rating performance when measured over a long period of time.
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GLOBAL SHORT-TERM RATING SCALE
P-1 Ratings of Prime-1 reflect a superior ability to repay short-term obligations.
P-2 Ratings of Prime-2 reflect a strong ability to repay short-term obligations.
P-3 Ratings of Prime-3 reflect an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.
NP Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.
U.S. MUNICIPAL SHORT-TERM DEBT AND DEMAND OBLIGATION RATINGS
SHORT-TERM OBLIGATION RATINGS
While the global short-term ‘prime’ rating scale is applied to US municipal tax-exempt commercial paper, these programs are typically backed by external letters of credit or liquidity facilities and their short-term prime ratings usually map to the long-term rating of the enhancing bank or financial institution and not to the municipality’s rating. Other short-term municipal obligations, which generally have different funding sources for repayment, are rated using two additional short-term rating scales (i.e., the MIG and VMIG scales discussed below).
The Municipal Investment Grade (MIG) scale is used to rate US municipal bond anticipation notes of up to three years maturity. Municipal notes rated on the MIG scale may be secured by either pledged revenues or proceeds of a take-out financing received prior to note maturity. MIG ratings expire at the maturity of the obligation, and the issuer’s long-term rating is only one consideration in assigning the MIG rating. MIG ratings are divided into three levels—MIG 1 through MIG 3—while speculative grade short-term obligations are designated SG.
MIG 1 This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.
MIG 2 This designation denotes strong credit quality. Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group.
MIG 3 This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.
SG This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.
FITCH’S SHORT-TERM RATINGS
A short-term issuer or obligation rating is based in all cases on the short-term vulnerability to default of the rated entity and relates to the capacity to meet financial obligations in accordance with the documentation governing the relevant obligation. Short-term deposit ratings may be adjusted for loss severity. Short-Term Ratings are assigned to obligations whose initial maturity is viewed as “short term” based on market convention (a long-term rating can also be used to rate an issue with short maturity). Typically, this means a time frame of up to 13 months for corporate, sovereign, and structured obligations and up to 36 months for obligations in U.S. public finance markets.
F1 - Indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.
F2 - Good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.
F3 - The intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.
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B - Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.
C – Default is a real possibility.
RD – Indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations. Typically applicable to entity ratings only.
D – Indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of a short-term obligation.
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Appendix B—Proxy voting guidelines
Aberdeen Investments U.S. Registered Advisers (the “Advisers”)
Proxy Voting Guidelines
Effective as of March 2026
Rule 206(4)-6 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”) requires the Advisers to vote proxies in a manner consistent with clients’ best interest and must not place its interests above those of its clients when doing so. It requires the Advisers to: (i) adopt and implement written policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to ensure that the Advisers vote proxies in the best interest of the clients, and (ii) to disclose to the clients how they may obtain information on how the Advisers voted proxies. In addition, Rule 204-2 requires the Advisers to keep records of proxy voting and client requests for information. As of August 31, of each year, investment managers that are required to file reports under Section 13(f) are required to report their proxy voting records on Form N-PX for the twelve-month period ended June 30, with respect to certain shareholder advisory votes on executive compensation (those required by Section 14A of the Exchange Act).
As registered investment advisers, the Advisers have an obligation to vote proxies with respect to securities held in its client portfolios in the best interests of the clients for which it has proxy voting authority.
The Advisers are committed to exercising responsible ownership with a conviction that companies adopting best practices in corporate governance will be more successful in their core activities and deliver enhanced returns to shareholders.
The Advisers have adopted a proxy voting policy. The proxy voting policy is designed and implemented in a way that is reasonably expected to ensure that proxies are voted in the best interests of clients.
Resolutions are analysed by a member of our regional investment teams or our Active Ownership Team and votes instructed following consideration of our policies, our views of the company and our investment insights. To enhance our analysis, we will often engage with a company prior to voting to understand additional context and explanations, particularly where there is a deviation from what we believe to be best practice.
Where contentious issues arise in relation to motions put before a shareholders’ meeting, Advisers will usually contact the management of the company to exchange views and give management the opportunity to articulate its position. The long-term nature of the relationships that we develop with investee company boards should enable us to deal with any concerns that we may have over strategy, the management of risk or governance practices directly with the chairman or senior independent director. In circumstances where this approach is unsuccessful, Advisers are prepared to escalate their intervention by expressing their concerns through the company’s advisers, through interaction with other shareholders or attending and speaking at General Meetings.
In managing third party money on behalf of clients, there are a limited number of situations where potential conflicts of interest could arise in the context of proxy voting. One case is where funds are invested in companies that are either clients or related parties of clients. Another case is where one fund managed by Aberdeen Investments invests in other funds managed by Aberdeen Investments.
For cases involving potential conflicts of interest, Advisers have implemented procedures to ensure the appropriate handling of proxy voting decisions. The guiding principle of the Advisers’ conflicts of interest policy is simple – to exercise our right to vote in the best interests of the clients on whose behalf we are managing funds.
We employ ISS as a service provider to facilitate electronic voting. We require ISS to provide recommendations based on our own set of customized voting policy which is tailored to Aberdeen’s views and approach but remain conscious that all voting decisions, where we have been given voting authority, are our own on behalf of our clients. We consider ISS’s recommendations and those based on our custom policy as input to our voting decisions. We make use of the ISS benchmark research and recommendations and those recommendations based on our own custom policy as input to our voting decisions. Where our analysts make a voting decision that is different from the custom policy recommendations, they will provide a rationale for such decisions which will be made available upon request.
In order to make proxy voting decisions, an Aberdeen Investments analyst will assess the resolutions at general meetings of companies held in our active investment portfolios. This analysis will be based on our knowledge of the company but will also make use of the custom and benchmark recommendations provided by ISS as described above. The product of this analysis will be a final voting decision instructed through ISS and applied to all funds for which Aberdeen Investments have been appointed to vote. For funds managed by a sub-adviser, we may delegate to the sub-adviser the authority to vote proxies; however, the sub-adviser will be required to either follow our policies and procedures or to demonstrate that their policies and procedures are consistent with ours or otherwise implemented in the best interest of clients.
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There may be certain circumstances where Aberdeen may take a more limited role in voting proxies. We will not vote proxies for client accounts in which the client contract specifies that Aberdeen will not vote. We may abstain from voting a client proxy if the voting is uneconomic or otherwise not in clients’ best interests. For companies held only in passively managed portfolios, Aberdeen Investments custom policy recommendations provided by ISS will be used to automatically apply our votes; we have scope to intervene to test that this delivers appropriate results and will on occasions opt to instruct a vote differently from custom recommendations if we consider this to be in clients’ best interests. If voting securities are part of a securities lending program, we may be unable to vote while the securities are on loan. However, we have the ability to recall shares on loan or to restrict lending when required, in order to ensure all shares have voted. In addition, certain jurisdictions may impose share-blocking restrictions at various times which may prevent Aberdeen from exercising our voting authority.
We recognize that there may be situations in which we vote at a company meeting where we encounter a conflict of interest. Such situations include, but are not limited to:
| ● | An investee company that is also a segregated client | |
| ● | An investee company where an executive director or officer of our company is also a director of that company | |
| ● | An investee company where an employee of Aberdeen is a director of that company | |
| ● | A significant distributor of our products | |
| ● | Any other companies which may be relevant from time to time |
In order to manage such conflicts of interests, we have established procedures to escalate decision-making so as to ensure that our voting decisions are based on our clients’ best interests and are not impacted by any conflict.
The implementation of this policy, along with conflicts of interest, will be reviewed periodically by the Active Ownership team. Aberdeen Investments’ Listed Company Investment Principles and Voting Policies are published on our website.
To the extent that the Adviser may rely on sub-advisers, whether affiliated or unaffiliated, to manage any client portfolio on a discretionary basis, the Adviser may delegate responsibility for voting proxies to the sub-adviser. However, such sub-advisers will be required either to follow these Policies and Procedures or to demonstrate that their proxy voting policies and procedures are consistent with these Policies and Procedures or otherwise implemented in the best interests of the Advisers’ clients. Clients that have not granted Aberdeen voting authority over securities held in their accounts will receive their proxies in accordance with the arrangements they have made with their service providers.
As disclosed in Part 2A of each Adviser’s Form ADV, a client may obtain information on how its proxies were voted by requesting such information from its Adviser. Unless specifically requested by a client in writing, and other than as required for the Funds, the Advisers do not generally disclose client-specific proxy votes to third parties.
On occasions when it is deemed to be a fiduciary for an ERISA client’s assets, Aberdeen Investments will vote the Plan assets in accordance with Aberdeen Investments’ Proxy Voting Policy and in line with DOL guidance.
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Listed Company Investment Principles & Voting Policies
March 2026
Our expectations
As global investors, we are particularly aware that sustainable investment structures and frameworks vary across regions. Furthermore, what we expect of the companies in which we invest varies between different stages of business development and the underlying history and nature of the company in question. We seek to understand each company’s individual circumstances and evaluate how it can best be governed and overseen. As such, we strive to apply the principles and policies set out on these pages in response to the needs of that individual company at that particular time. Our heritage as a predominantly active fund manager helps drive this bespoke approach to understanding good governance and risk management.
We have a clear perception of what we consider to be best practice globally – as set out in this document. However, we will reflect the nature of the business, our close understanding of individual companies and regional considerations, where appropriate, in our approach to applying these policies, which are not exhaustive.
The principles and voting policies noted herein reflect our current position. We are monitoring and have contributed to the many reform agendas and consultations in the governance arena, particularly in the UK, on areas such as market competitiveness, listing rules, the approval of corporate transactions and greater flexibility in remuneration practices, including wider use of restricted stock. We are actively involved in these discussions, both as a corporate issuer and an investor, and our position will evolve as rules, guidance and practice develops.
This document has received approval from Aberdeen’s Chief Investment Officer (CIO) and the Chief Sustainable Investment Officer (CSIO) following consultation with various internal stakeholders.
Scope of Application
This document has been published for information only. It is not a marketing communication and does not provide financial or legal advice.
Aberdeen Investments is the asset management business of the Aberdeen Group. This document applies to Aberdeen Investments entities, including the below, which carry out the activities described herein. “our” “we” and “Aberdeen” shall mean the relevant entity within the Aberdeen Group as the context may require.
United Kingdom
| ● | abrdn Alternative Funds Limited, registered in Scotland (SC111488) |
| ● | abrdn Fund Managers Limited, registered in England and Wales (740118) |
| ● | abrdn Investments Limited, registered in Scotland (SC108419) |
| ● | abrdn Investment Management Limited, registered in Scotland (SC123321) |
| ● | abrdn Life and Pensions Limited registered in England (03526143). |
Europe
| ● | abrdn Investments Deutschland AG | |
| ● | abrdn Investments Ireland Limited | |
| ● | abrdn Investments Luxembourg S.A. | |
| ● | abrdn Investments Switzerland AG. |
APAC
| ● | abrdn Oceania Pty Ltd |
| ● | abrdn Hong Kong Limited |
| ● | abrdn Japan Limited |
| ● | abrdn Malaysia Sdn Bhd |
| ● | Aberdeen Asset Management (Thailand) Limited. |
| ● | abrdn Asia Limited (registered in Singapore) |
| ● | abrdn Private Fund Management (Shanghai) Company Limited. |
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Americas
| ● | abrdn Inc. |
| ● | abrdn Canada Limited. |
Our Approach to Stewardship
We seek to integrate and appraise environmental, social and governance factors in our investment process.
Our aim is to generate the best long-term outcomes for our clients, proportionate to the risk preference they have accepted, and we will actively take steps as stewards and owners to protect and enhance the value of our clients’ assets.
Stewardship is a reflection of this bespoke approach to good governance and risk management. We seek to understand each company’s specific approach to governance, how value is created through business success and how investors’ interests are protected through the management of risks that materially impact business success. This requires us to play our part in the governance process by being active stewards of companies, involved in dialogue with management and non-executive directors where appropriate, understanding the material risks and opportunities – including those relating to environmental and social factors and helping to shape the future success of the business.
We will:
| ● | Take into consideration, in our investment process, the policies and practices on environmental, social and governance matters of the companies in which we invest. | |
| ● | Seek to enhance long-term shareholder value through constructive engagement with the companies in which we invest. | |
| ● | Actively engage with companies and assets in which we invest where we believe we can influence or gain insight. | |
| ● | Exercise voting rights, where held, in a manner consistent with our clients’ long-term best interests. | |
| ● | Seek to influence the development of appropriately high standards of corporate governance and corporate responsibility in relation to environmental and social factors for the benefit of our clients. | |
| ● | Communicate our Listed Company Investment Principles and Voting Policies to clients, companies and other interested parties. | |
| ● | Be accountable to clients within the constraints of professional confidentiality and legislative and regulatory requirements. | |
| ● | Be transparent in reporting our engagement and voting activities. |
Aberdeen is committed to exercising responsible ownership with a conviction that companies seeking to upgrade their practices in corporate governance and risk management will be more successful in their core activities and deliver enhanced long-term returns to shareholders. As owners of companies, the process of stewardship is a natural part of our investment approach as we seek to benefit from their long-term success on our clients’ behalf.
Engagement
It is a central tenet of our active investment approach that we strive to meet with the management and directors of our investee companies on a regular basis. We will concentrate that engagement on investee companies undergoing transformation or facing exceptional challenges or opportunities. The discussions we have cover a wide range of topics, including: strategic, operational, and sustainable investment issues and consider the long-term drivers of value. Engagement with companies on environmental, social and governance risks and opportunities is a fundamental part of our investment process. It is a process through which we can discuss how a company identifies, prioritises and mitigates its key risks and optimises outcomes from its most significant opportunities. As such, we regard engagement as:
| ● | Important to understanding investee companies holistically. |
| ● | Helpful when conducting comprehensive ESG analysis. |
| ● | Useful to maintaining open dialogue and constructive relationships with companies. |
| ● | An opportunity to generate positive change on a company’s holistic risk management programme - be active with our holdings rather than activist. |
Proxy Voting
Proxy voting is an integral part of our active stewardship approach and we exercise voting rights in a manner in line with our clients’ best interests. We seek to ensure that voting reflects our understanding of the companies in which we invest on behalf of our clients. We believe that voting is a vital mechanism for holding boards and management teams to account, and is an important tool for escalation and shareholder action.
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This document includes our process and overarching policy guidelines which we apply when voting at general meetings. These policies are not exhaustive and we evaluate our voting on a case-by-case basis. As a global investment firm we recognise the practical necessity of adopting a regional approach, taking into account differing and developing market practices. Where a policy is specific to one region this is denoted.
We endeavour to engage with companies regarding our voting decisions to maintain a dialogue on matters of concern.
Voting Process
In line with our active ownership approach, we review the majority of general meeting agendas convened by companies which are held in our active equity portfolios.
Analysis is undertaken by a member of our regional investment teams or our Active Ownership team and votes instructed following consideration of our policies, our views of the company and our investment insights. To enhance our analysis we may engage with a company prior to voting to understand additional context and explanations, particularly where there is deviation from what we believe to be best practice.
To supplement our own analysis we may also make use of the benchmark research and recommendations provided by ISS, a provider of proxy voting services. In the UK we also make use of the Investment Association’s (IA) Institutional Voting Information Service.
We have implemented regional voting policy guidelines with ISS which they apply to all meetings in order to produce customised vote recommendations. These custom recommendations help identify resolutions which deviate from our expectations. They are also used to determine votes where a company is held only in passive funds. For passive only holdings, we generally vote in line with our regional custom voting policies. Within our custom policies, however, we do specify numerous resolutions which should be referred to us for active review. For example, we will review any resolution at company meetings we have identified as covering environmental and social factors.
While it is most common for us to vote in line with a board’s voting recommendation we will vote our clients’ shares against resolutions which we believe are not consistent with their best interests. We may also vote against resolutions which conflict with domestic governance guidelines, such as those issued by the IA in the UK. Although we seek to vote either in favour or against a resolution we do make use of an abstain vote where this is considered appropriate. For example we may use an abstention to acknowledge some improvement, but as a means to reserve our position in expectation that further improvement is needed before we can vote in favour.
Where we vote against a resolution we endeavour to inform companies of our rationale. In exceptional circumstances we may attend and speak at a shareholder meeting to reinforce our views to the company’s board.
We endeavour to vote all shares for which we have voting authority. We may not vote when there are obstacles to do so, for example those impacting liquidity, such as share-blocking, or where there is a significant conflict of interest. We use the voting platform of ISS to instruct our votes.
Where we lend stock on behalf of clients, and subject to the terms of client agreements, we hold the right to recall shares where it is in clients’ interests to do so and where we take the view that to maintain full voting weight on a particular meeting or resolution may impact the final vote.
Governance
Strategy
We invest in companies that will create the best outcome for our clients in line with their investment mandates. Companies must be clear about the drivers of their business success and their strategy for maintaining and enhancing it. Investment is a forward-looking process; we seek to understand the opportunity for a business and its scope for future value-creation over the long term. In order to do this, we need clarity on past business delivery and its drivers, and on the effective track record of management and we require honest and open reporting to build confidence in that track record. We seek confidence that companies and their management can maintain their competitive positioning and operational performance and subsequently enhance returns for investors. A clear strategy and clarity about the drivers of operational success provides the lens through which we will consider most corporate issues, not least assessing performance and risk management.
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| ● | We will consider voting against executive or non-executive directors if we have serious concerns regarding the oversight or implementation of strategy. |
Board of Directors
We believe effective board governance promotes the long-term success and value creation of the company. The board should be responsible for establishing the company’s purpose and strategy, overseeing management in their implementation of strategy and performance against objectives. The board should ensure a strong framework of control and risk oversight, including material sustainable investment risks. The board should assess and monitor culture and be engaged with the workforce, shareholders and wider society.
Board Composition
Effective decision making requires a mix of skills around the table and constructive debate between diverse and different-minded individuals. A range of skills, experience and perspectives should be drawn together on the board.
These include industry knowledge, experience from other sectors and relevant geographical knowledge. Independence of thought plays a crucial role in the ability of a board to generate the debate and discussion that will challenge management, help enhance business performance and improve decision-making. Board assessments will help the board ensure it has the necessary mix of skills, diversity and quality of individuals to address the risks and opportunities the company faces. Unitary boards should comprise an appropriate combination of executive and non-executive directors such that no group of individuals dominates decision-making. We expect the size of the board to reflect the size, nature and complexity of the business. We also expect regular internal and external board evaluations which include an assessment of board composition and effectiveness.
Leadership
Running businesses effectively for the long term requires effective collaboration and cooperation, with no individual or small group having unfettered powers. Nor should any individual or small group have dominant influence over the way a business is run or over major decisions about its operations or future. There should be a division of responsibility between board leadership and executive leadership of the business. We believe that there should be a division of roles at the top of the organisation, typically between a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and an independent Chair.
| ● | We will consider supporting the re-election of an existing Chair & CEO role combination, recognising that this remains common in certain geographies. In reviewing this on a case-by-case basis we will take account of the particular circumstances of the company and consider what checks and balances are in place, such as the presence of a strong Senior Independent Director (SID) with a clear scope of responsibility. | |
| ● | We will generally oppose any re-combination of the roles of CEO and Chair, unless the move is on a temporary basis due to exceptional circumstances or other mitigating factors. | |
| ● | We will generally oppose any move of a retiring CEO to the role of Chair. |
Independence
Companies should be led and overseen by genuinely independent boards. When looking at board composition we generally expect to see a majority of independent directors, with boards identifying their independence classifications in the Annual Report. It is preferable to see an identified Senior Independent Director on the board, who will lead the appraisal of and succession planning for the Chair. We expect SIDs to meet with investors and be a point of contact for escalating concerns if required.
In assessing a director’s independence we will have due regard for whether a director:
| i. | Has been an employee of the company within the last five years. | |
| ii. | Has had within the last three years a material business relationship with the company. | |
| iii. | Has received remuneration in addition to director fees or participates in the company’s option or variable incentive schemes or is a member of the company’s pension scheme. | |
| iv. | Has close family ties with any of the company’s advisers, directors or senior employees. | |
| v. | Holds cross-directorships or has significant links with other directors through involvement in other companies or bodies. | |
| vi. | Represents a significant shareholder. | |
| vii. | Has served on the board for more than 12 years (or 9 for UK companies). |
| ● | We will consider voting against the re-election of non-independent directors if the board is not majority independent (excluding employee representatives). In doing so we will have regard for whether a company is controlled and the nature of the non-independence – for example, we are unlikely to vote against shareholder representatives unless their representation is disproportionate to their shareholding. |
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Succession Planning & Refreshment
Regular refreshment of the non-executive portion of a board helps draw in fresh perspectives, not least in the context of changes to business and emerging opportunities and risks. It also helps limit the danger of group-think. Thoughtful and proactive succession planning is therefore needed for board continuity, to ensure that a board is populated by individuals with an appropriate mix of skills, experience and perspective.
We expect the board to implement a formal process for the recruitment and appointment of new directors, and to provide transparency of this in the Annual Report.
| ● | We will vote against non-executive directors where there are concerns regarding board refreshment or excessive tenure. Where there are directors who have served for over 12 years on a board which has seen no refreshment in 3 years (2 in UK), we will generally vote against their re-election. If a director has served for over 15 years we will generally vote against their re-election. We will, however, consider the impact on board continuity and the company’s succession planning efforts prior to doing so. We may also not apply the tenure limit to directors who are founders or shareholder representatives where we believe this is appropriate. |
Diversity
We believe diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies can help ensure that the best people are appointed to each role in the company, with the combination of skills and experience judged most likely to contribute to long-term value creation. We believe diversity of thought, paired with a culture of inclusion, can help companies to tackle increasingly complex challenges and markets. We take into consideration whether boards report on how they promote DEI throughout the business. We recognise the necessity of adopting a regional approach to DEI, allowing us to account for variation in the needs and requirements of the company based on geography. We have for several years, actively encouraged progress in gender diversity at all levels, and have expanded our scope in relation to diversity, equity and inclusion across geographies. In respect of ethnic diversity, this is coming increasingly into focus as we encourage boards to progress in ensuring that their composition reflects their employee and customer bases.
Our regional specific policies are below. In determining our votes we will take account of mitigating factors, such as the sudden departure of a female board member. We will also consider the trajectory of diversity at the company and any assurance that diversity shortfalls will soon be addressed.
Gender Diversity
| ● | UK: We will generally vote against the Nomination Committee Chair of FTSE 350 companies if the board is not comprised of at least one third female directors. We expect companies to seek to comply with the FCA’s diversity targets and may vote against the Chair of the Nomination Committee if we have concerns regarding the Committee’s efforts in succession planning to achieve the gender diversity target of 40% female members. For smaller companies, we will take action if the board does not include at least one female director. | |
| ● | Europe: We will generally vote against the Nomination Committee Chair of LargeCap companies if the supervisory board is not comprised of at least 30% female directors or is not in line with the local standard if higher. For smaller companies, we will take this action if the supervisory board does not include at least one female director. | |
| ● | Australia: We will generally vote against the Nomination Committee Chair of ASX300 companies if the board is not comprised of at least 30% female directors. |
Ethnic Diversity
| ● | UK: We will generally vote against the Nomination Committee Chair at the boards of FTSE 350 companies, if the board does not include at least one member from an ethnic minority background. This is in line with targets set up by the Parker Review. |
Directors’ Time Commitment
Individual directors need sufficient time to carry out their role effectively and therefore we seek to ensure that all directors maintain an appropriate level of overall commitments such that allows them to be properly diligent.
| ● | We will consider opposing the election or re-election of any director where there is a concern regarding their ability to dedicate sufficient time to the role. In making this assessment we will have regard to the ISS classification of ‘overboarding’. | |
| ● | We will generally oppose the re-election of any director who has attended fewer than 75% of board meetings in two consecutive years. |
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Board Committees
Boards should establish committees, populated by independent and appropriately skilled non-executive directors, to oversee (as a minimum) the nomination, audit and remuneration processes. It may also be appropriate for additional committees to be established, such as a risk or sustainability committee. These committees should report openly on an annual basis about their activities and key decisions taken.
| ● | We will consider voting against committee members if we have concerns regarding the composition of a committee in relation to independence or skills. |
Nomination Committee
This committee has responsibility for leading the process for orderly non-executive and senior management succession planning and recruitment, and for overseeing the composition of the board including skillset, experience and diversity. We expect the committee to be comprised of a majority of independent directors with an independent Chair.
| ● | We will consider voting against the re-election of the Nomination Committee Chair if we have concerns regarding the composition of the board or concerns regarding poor succession planning. |
Audit Committee
This committee has responsibility for monitoring the integrity of the financial statements, reviewing the company’s internal financial controls and risk
management systems, reviewing the effectiveness of the company’s internal audit function and appointing and overseeing the quality of the work done by external auditors. We prefer the committee to be wholly independent and expect this at UK and US companies in view of general market practice and board composition.
In other regions, as a minimum, we expect the committee to be comprised of a majority of independent directors with an independent Chair. Furthermore, we expect at least one member of the committee to have recent and relevant financial experience.
| ● | UK & US: We will generally vote against the re-election of non-independent members of the Audit Committee. | |
| ● | Europe: We will generally vote against the re-election of non-independent members of the Audit Committee if the committee is not majority independent. We will also generally vote against a non-independent Chair of the Audit Committee. | |
| ● | We will generally vote against the re-election of the Audit Committee Chair if at least one member of the committee does not have recent and relevant financial experience. |
Remuneration Committee
This committee is responsible for determining the policy and setting remuneration levels for executive and non-executive directors. The committee should ensure that directors’ remuneration is aligned with strategy and company performance. Remuneration policy should be cognisant of the company’s licence to operate and the potential overall level of remuneration. We expect remuneration committees to be robust in their approach to developing and implementing remuneration policies, with formal and transparent procedures for developing policies and for determining remuneration packages.
Remuneration committees should be comprised of a majority of independent directors with an independent Chair and we expect members to have appropriate experience and knowledge of the business and remuneration practices in the jurisdiction in which they operate. No executive should be involved in setting their own remuneration.
| ● | Where we have significant concerns regarding the company’s remuneration policy or reward outcomes we may escalate these concerns through a vote against the Chair or members of the Remuneration Committee. |
Director Accountability
We expect to be able to hold boards to account through engagement and regular director re-elections and directors should feel that they are accountable to investors. We encourage individual, rather than bundled, director elections. While our preference is for directors to be subject to re-election annually, we expect re-elections to take place at least every three years. Lengthier board mandates, while not uncommon in some markets, risk divorcing directors from an appropriate sense of accountability.
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Directors and management should make themselves available for discussions with major shareholders as we expect to have open dialogue to share our perspectives and gain confidence that the individuals are carrying out their roles with appropriate vigour and diligence.
A further important element of director accountability to shareholders is that investors should have the right, both formal and informal, to propose and promote individual directors to be considered for election to the board by all shareholders.
| ● | We will generally oppose the re-election of non-independent NEDs who are proposed for a term exceeding three years. We may not apply this to directors who are shareholder representatives. | |
| ● | Where we have significant concerns regarding a board member’s performance, actions or inaction to address issues raised we may vote against their re-election. | |
| ● | We may vote against directors who decline appropriate requests for meetings without a clear justification. | |
| ● | Where a director has held a position of responsibility at a company which has suffered a material governance failure, we will consider whether we are comfortable to support their re-election at other listed companies. | |
| ● | We will generally support resolutions to discharge the supervisory board or management board members from legal liability unless we have serious concerns regarding actions taken during the year under review. Where there is insufficient information regarding allegations of misconduct, we may prefer to abstain. In exceptional circumstances we may vote against the discharge resolution to reflect serious ESG concerns if there is not another appropriate resolution. | |
| ● | We will not support the election of directors who are not personally identified but are proposed as corporations. |
Reporting
A company’s board should present a fair, balanced and understandable assessment of the company’s position and prospects – financial and non-financial – and of how it has fulfilled its responsibilities. We support the principle of full disclosure of relevant and useful information, subject to issues of commercial confidentiality and prejudice. Boilerplate disclosure should be avoided.
We encourage companies to consider using the appropriate globally developed standards and would particularly encourage the use of those created by the Taskforce for Climate related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC), the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). Audited reporting and financial numbers should be published ahead of any relevant shareholder meetings. We continue to monitor the evolving reporting landscape and consider new reporting developments as they emerge, either voluntary or regulatory.
| ● | We may consider voting against a company’s Annual Report & Accounts if we have concerns regarding timely provision or adequacy of disclosure. |
Political Donations & Lobbying
Companies should be consistent in their public statements and not undermine these in private commentary to market participants or to politicians and regulators.
We welcome transparency from companies about their lobbying activities and believe that good companies have nothing to hide in this respect. Similarly, we encourage transparency of any political donations that companies deem appropriate – and we expect a clear explanation of why such donations are an appropriate use of corporate funds.
Risk & Audit
The board is responsible for determining the company’s risk appetite, establishing procedures to manage risk and for monitoring the company’s internal controls. We expect boards to conduct robust assessments of the company’s material risks and report to shareholders on risks, controls and effectiveness. The introduction of widely accepted global accounting standards has led to much greater investor confidence in the accounts produced by companies around the world. It has also assisted in creating consistency of reporting across companies, enabling fairer comparisons between different operating businesses. We therefore encourage companies seeking international investment to report under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) or US GAAP. As a firm Aberdeen supports the continued development of high-quality global accounting standards.
An independent audit, delivered by a respected audit firm, is a required element for investor confidence in reporting by companies. We strongly favour meaningful, transparent and informative auditor reports, giving us additional insights into the audit process and accounting outcomes. Audit fees must be sufficient to pay for an appropriately in-depth assurance process. We would be concerned if a company sought to make unjustified savings in this respect as the cost in terms of damage to audit effectiveness and confidence in the company’s accounts would be much more substantial.
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The independence of the auditor and the standard of their work, particularly in challenging management, should be subject to regular assessment that is appropriately disclosed. Even when individuals carrying out the audit are refreshed, we believe that the independence of the audit firm erodes over time, and we will encourage a tender process and change of audit firm where an engagement has lasted for an extended period. In order to demonstrate the level of independence, companies should not have the same audit firm in place for more than 20 years.
The relationship with the auditor should be mediated through the Audit Committee. Where we are significant shareholders, we expect to be consulted on plans to tender and replace auditors.
| ● | We will generally vote against the re-election of an auditor which has a tenure of 20 years or over if there are no plans for rotation in the near term. | |
| ● | We will consider voting against the auditors if we have concerns regarding the accounts presented or the audit procedures used. | |
| ● | We will vote against the approval of auditor fees if we have concerns regarding the level of fees or the balance of non-audit and audit fees. |
Executive Remuneration
Executive Remuneration policies and the overall levels of pay should be aligned with strategy, attracting and retaining talent and incentivising the decisions and behaviours needed to create long-term value. The component parts of remuneration should be structured so as to link rewards to corporate and individual performance, and they should be considered in the context of the remuneration policies when taken as a whole. We recognise the benefits of simplicity in forming the policy, which should clearly link outcomes and expectations for those receiving the remuneration, as well as external stakeholders. The structure should be transparent and understandable.
A company’s annual report should contain an informative statement of remuneration policy which communicates clearly to stakeholders how it has developed and evolved. This should include details of any stress testing that may have been undertaken to understand the policy outcomes for different business scenarios. The Remuneration Committee should provide a clear description of the application of policy and the outcomes achieved.
Executive Directors’ base salary should be set at a level appropriate for the role and responsibility of the executive. We discourage increases which are driven solely by peer benchmarking and expect increases to be aligned with the wider workforce. Consideration should also be given to the knock-on impact to variable remuneration potential. Pension arrangements and benefits should be clearly disclosed. We generally expect pension structures to be aligned with the wider workforce.
A company should structure variable, performance-related pay to incentivise and reward management in a manner that is aligned with the company’s sustainable performance and risk appetite over the long term.
We expect all variable pay to be capped, preferably as a multiple of base salary. In the UK we expect variable pay to be capped as a multiple of base salary. In other markets, if variable pay is capped at a number of shares, we expect the value of grants to be kept under review annually to ensure the value remains appropriate and is not excessive.
Performance metrics used to determine variable pay should be clearly disclosed and aligned with the company’s strategy. A significant portion of performance metrics should seek to measure significant improvements in, or resilience with regard to, the underlying financial performance of the company. We also encourage the inclusion of non-financial metrics linked to targets which are aligned with the company’s progress inter alia on its sustainability strategy. Where possible we expect these targets to be quantifiable and disclosed.
At Aberdeen, we recognise the influence of executive pay on driving corporate progress on climate change. For companies identified as high financed emitters, we expect, where appropriate, climate-related performance measures to be meaningfully embedded in incentive structures. These measures should be clear, ambitious, and focused on real emissions reductions, aligning executive rewards with credible long-term decarbonisation strategies.
Variable pay arrangements should over the long term incentivise participants to achieve above-average performance through the use of challenging targets.
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We encourage sliding-scale performance measures and expect performance target ranges to be disclosed to enable shareholders to assess the level of challenge and pay for performance alignment. We expect annual bonus targets to be disclosed retrospectively and encourage the disclosure of long term incentive (LTI) targets at the beginning of the performance period, but at minimum we expect retrospective disclosure. Where bonus or LTI targets are not disclosed due to commercial sensitivity we expect an explanation of why the targets continue to be considered sensitive retrospectively and expect some detail regarding the level of achievement vs target.
Where a share price metric is being used, we expect this to be underpinned by a challenging measure of underlying performance.
We encourage settlement of a portion of the annual bonus in shares which are deferred for at least one year. We expect settlement of long term incentives to be in shares, with rationale provided for any awards settled in cash. Long term incentives should have a performance period of no less than three years. In the UK we expect a further holding period of two years to be applied, and we encourage this in other markets.
We do not generally support value creation plans or one-off awards and are particularly sensitive to such awards being granted to reward a corporate transaction. We will consider supporting the use of restricted share plans (RSP) in the UK which have been structured consistent with the guidelines of the Investment Association. We will consider restricted share plans either individually or as part of a hybrid scheme. Any restricted share scheme would be expected to be issued at a significant quantum discount to conventional LTIP plans. The board would be expected to justify why the introduction of these plans is in the best interest of shareholders. We expect appropriate malus and clawback provisions to be applied to variable remuneration plans.
We expect shareholding guidelines to be adopted for executive directors and encourage the adoption of post-departure shareholding guidelines.
We expect details of any use of discretion to be disclosed and its use should be justifiable, appropriate and clearly explained. We would expect policies to be sufficiently robust so that discretion is only necessary in exceptional circumstances.
We expect executive service contracts to provide for a maximum notice period of 12 months. We will consider local best practice provisions related to severance arrangements when voting.
Non-executive fees should reflect the role’s level of responsibility and time commitment. We do not support NED’s participation in option or performance-related arrangements. However, we do support the payment of fees in shares, particularly where conservation of cash is an issue.
In the UK our expectations of companies are aligned with the Investment Association’s Principles of Remuneration.
Where significant changes to remuneration arrangements are being considered, we would expect remuneration committees to consult with their largest shareholders prior to finalising any changes. Where any increase to variable remuneration is proposed, we would expect this to be accompanied by a demonstrable increase in the stretch of the targets. Furthermore, we expect any increases to remuneration to be subject to shareholder approval.
In response to the issues arising from the cost-of-living crisis being experienced by many people, we expect companies to focus additional capacity towards those members of the workforce who need it most. We expect Remuneration Committees to take into account factors arising from the cost-of-living crisis when deliberating over executive pay outcomes. We would be concerned by reputational issues arising from decisions made in these unusual circumstances and may make this a factor in our voting decisions at relevant AGMs.
In line with the expectations set out above we will generally vote against the appropriate resolution(s) where:
| ● | We consider the overall reward potential or outcome to be excessive. | |
| ● | A significant increase to salary has been granted which is not aligned with the workforce or is not sufficiently justified. | |
| ● | A significant increase to performance-related pay has been granted which is not sufficiently justified, is not accompanied by an increase in the level of stretch required for achievement or results in the potential for excessive reward. |
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| ● | There is no appropriate cap on variable incentive schemes. | |
| ● | Performance targets for annual bonus awards are not disclosed retrospectively and the absence of disclosure is not explained. | |
| ● | Performance targets for long term incentive awards are not disclosed up front and there is no compelling explanation regarding the absence of disclosure or a commitment to disclose retrospectively. | |
| ● | Performance targets are not considered sufficiently challenging, either at threshold, target or maximum. | |
| ● | Relative performance targets allow vesting of awards for below median performance. | |
| ● | Retesting provisions apply. | |
| ● | Incentives that have been conditionally awarded have been repriced or performance conditions changed part way through a performance period. | |
| ● | We have concerns regarding the use of discretion or the grant of exceptional awards. | |
| ● | Pension arrangements are excessive. | |
| ● | Pension arrangements are not aligned with the wider workforce (UK). |
Investor Rights
The interests of minority shareholders must be protected and any major, or majority, investor should not enjoy preferential treatment. The structure of ownership or control should minimise the potential for abuse of public shareholders.
Corporate Transactions
Companies should not make significant changes to their structure or nature without being fully transparent to their investors. Shareholders should have the opportunity to vote on significant corporate activity, such as mergers and acquisitions. Where a transaction is with a related party, only independent shareholders should have a vote. Even in markets where no vote is given to shareholders in these circumstances, investors need transparent disclosure of the reasons for any such major change. Companies should expect that shareholders may want to discuss and debate proposed developments.
Diversification beyond the core skills of the business needs to be justified as it is more often than not a distraction from operational performance. All major deals need to be clearly explained and justified in the context of the pre-existing strategy and be subject to shareholder approval.
| ● | We will vote on corporate transactions on a case-by-case basis. | |
| ● | In markets where no vote is required on significant transactions, we may take voting action at a future general meeting if we have concerns regarding the transaction undertaken. |
Dividends
We will generally support the payment of dividends but will scrutinise the proposed level where it appears excessive given the company’s financial position.
Share Capital
The board carries responsibility for prudent capital management and allocation.
Share Issuance
We will consider capital raises which are proposed for a specific purpose on a case-by-case basis but recognise that it can be beneficial for companies to have some general flexibility to issue shares to raise capital. However, we expect issuances to be limited to the needs of the business and companies should not issue significant portions of shares unless offering these on a pro-rata basis to existing shareholders to protect against inappropriate dilution of investments.
| ● | Where a UK company seeks a general authority to issue shares we generally expect this to be limited to 33% of the company’s share capital for pre-emptive issuances. In the UK we are aligned with the guidance of the Investment Association Share Capital Management Guidelines. There is no global standard on pre-emptive issuance limits, and in the rest of the world we use 25% as a benchmark limit. | |
| ● | Where a company seeks a general authority to issue shares we generally expect this to be limited to 10% of the company’s share capital for non-pre-emptive issuances. In the UK we are aligned with the guidance of the Investment Association Share Capital Management Guidelines and those of the Pre-Emption Group. | |
| ● | We will not generally support share issuance by investment trusts in the UK unless there is a commitment that shares would only be issued at a price at or above net asset value. |
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When considering our votes we will, however, take account of the company’s circumstances and any further detail regarding proposed capital issuance authorities prior to voting.
Following changes to the UK’s Pre-Emption Group Guidelines in November 2022, which reflect an increase on previous limits, we will hold the Chair of the company accountable for any perceived misuse of the increased flexibility through a vote against their re-election.
Buyback
We recognise that share buybacks can be a flexible means of returning cash to shareholders.
| ● | We will generally support buyback authorities of up to 10% of the issued share capital. In the UK we will generally support authorities which are in line with the levels permitted under the Listing Rules. |
Related Party Transactions
The nature of relations – particularly any related party transactions (RPTs) – with parent or related companies, or other major investors, must be disclosed fully.
Related party transactions must be agreed on arm’s length terms and be made fully transparent. Where they are material, they should be subject to the approval of independent shareholders.
| ● | Where we are given a vote, we will vote against RPTs where there is insufficient transparency of the nature of the transaction, the rationale, the terms or the views and assessment of directors and advisors. | |
| ● | In markets where no vote is required on RPTs, we may take voting action at a future general meeting if we have concerns regarding the transaction undertaken. |
Article/Bylaw Amendments
While it is standard to see proposals from companies to amend their articles of association or bylaws, we will review these on a case-by-case basis. When doing so we expect full transparency of the proposed changes to be disclosed.
| ● | We will generally vote against amendments which will reduce shareholder rights. |
Anti-Takeover Defences
There should be no artificial structures put in place to entrench management and protect companies from takeover. The best defence from hostile takeover is strong operational delivery.
| ● | We will generally vote against anti-takeover/‘poison pill’ proposals. |
Voting Rights
We are supporters of the principle of ‘one share, one vote’ and therefore favour equal voting rights for all shareholders. Where multiple voting rights are implemented at the point of listing, we expect an appropriate sunset clause to apply (ideally with a maximum of 7 years, in line with common market practice).
| ● | We will generally vote against proposals which seek to introduce or continue capital structures with multiple voting rights, unless there is an exceptional justification and also a suitable sunset clause in place. | |
| ● | We will consider voting against proposals to raise new capital at companies if we have concerns regarding the use of multiple share classes and voting rights. |
General Meetings
Shareholder meetings provide an important opportunity to hold boards to account not only through voting on the proposed resolutions but also by enabling investors the opportunity to raise questions, express views and emphasise concerns to the entire board.
We may make a statement at a company’s AGM as a means of escalation to reinforce our views to a company’s board. We welcome the opportunity to attend meetings virtually, being of the view that this can increase participation given obstacles such as location or meeting concentration. However, we are not supportive of companies adopting virtual-only meetings as we believe this format reduces accountability. Our preference is for a hybrid meeting format to balance the flexibility of remote attendance with the accountability of an in-person meeting.
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| ● | We will generally support resolutions seeking approval to shorten the EGM notice period to minimum 14 days, unless we have concerns regarding previous inappropriate use of this flexibility. | |
| ● | We will generally support proposals to enable virtual meetings to take place as long as there is confirmation that the format will be hybrid, with physical meetings continuing to take place (unless prohibited by law). We expect virtual attendees to have the same rights to speak and raise questions as those attending in-person. We will generally vote against proposals which permit wholly virtual general meetings. |
Sustainability
As part of strategic planning, boards need to have oversight of, and clearly articulate, the key opportunities and risks affecting the sustainability of the business model. This includes having a process for, and transparent disclosure of, potential and emerging opportunities and risks and the actions being taken to address them.
The effective management of risks extends to long-term issues that are hard to measure and whose timeframe is uncertain and will include the management of environmental and social issues. We use the UN Global Compact’s four areas of focus in assessing how companies are performing in this area.
Specifically, we expect companies to be able to demonstrate how they manage their exposures under the following headings:
The Environment
It is generally accepted that companies are responsible for the effects of their operations and products on the environment. The steps they take to assess and reduce those impacts can lead to cost savings and reduce potential reputational damage. Companies are held responsible for their impact on the climate, and they face increased regulation from world governments on activities that contribute to climate change.
We expect that companies will:
| ● | Identify, manage and reduce their environmental impacts, as applicable. | |
| ● | Understand their impact along the company value chain. | |
| ● | Develop group-level climate policies commensurate to their business and, where relevant, set targets to manage the impact, report on policies, practices and actions taken to reduce carbon and other environmental risks within their operations. | |
| ● | Comply with all environmental laws and regulations or recognised international best practice as a minimum. |
Where we have serious concerns regarding a board’s actions, or inaction, in relation to the environment we will consider taking voting action on an appropriate resolution.
We will use the indicators within the Carbon Disclosure Project to identify companies which are not fulfilling their climate commitments. Where appropriate we will take voting action to encourage better practice among companies which we deem to be laggards.
Labour and Employment
Companies that respect internationally recognised labour rights and provide safe and healthy working environments for employees are likely to reap the benefits. This approach is likely to foster a more committed and productive workforce, and help reduce damage to reputation and a company’s license to operate. We expect companies to comply with all employment laws and regulations and adopt practices in line with the International Labour Organisation’s core labour standards as a minimum.
In particular, companies will:
| ● | Take affirmative steps to ensure that they uphold decent labour standards. |
| ● | Adopt strong health and safety policies and programmes to implement such policies. |
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| ● | Adopt equal employment opportunity and diversity policies and a programme for ensuring compliance with such policies. | |
| ● | Adopt policies and programmes for investing in employee training and development. | |
| ● | Adopt initiatives to attract and retain talented employees, foster higher productivity and quality, and encourage in their workforce a commitment to achieving the company’s purpose. | |
| ● | Ensure policies are in place for a company’s suppliers that promote decent labour standards, and programmes are in place to ensure high standards of labour along supply chains. | |
| ● | Report regularly on its policy and implementation of managing human capital. |
Where we have serious concerns regarding a board’s actions, or inaction, in relation to labour and employment we will consider taking voting action on an appropriate resolution.
Human Rights
We recognise the impact that human-rights issues can have on our investments and the role we can play in stimulating progress. We draw upon a number of international, legal and voluntary agreements for guidance on human-rights responsibilities and compliance. Our primary sources are the International Bill of Rights and the core conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), which form the list of internationally agreed human rights, and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), which clarifies the roles of states and businesses. We encourage companies to use the UNGPs Reporting Framework and encourage disclosure in line with this guidance.
We expect companies to:
| ● | Continually work to understand their actual and potential impacts on human rights. |
| ● | Establish systems that actively ensure respect for human rights. |
| ● | Take appropriate action to remedy any infringements on human rights. |
Where we have serious concerns regarding a board’s actions, or inaction, in relation to human rights we will consider taking voting action on an appropriate resolution.
Business Ethics
As institutions of wealth and influence, companies have a significant impact on the prosperity of their local communities and the wider world. Having a robust code of ethics and ensuring professional conduct mean companies operate more effectively, particularly when it comes to ethical principles governing decision-making. A company’s failure to conform to internationally recognised standards of business ethics on matters such as bribery and corruption, can increase its risk of facing investigation, litigation and fines. This could undermine its license to operate and affect its reputation and image.
We expect companies to have policies in place to support the following:
| ● | Ethics at the heart of the organisation’s governance. | |
| ● | A zero-tolerance policy on bribery and corruption. | |
| ● | How people are rewarded, as pay can influence behaviour. | |
| ● | Respect for human rights. | |
| ● | Tax transparency. | |
| ● | Ethical training for employees. |
Where we have serious concerns regarding a board’s actions, or inaction, related to business ethics we will consider taking voting action on an appropriate resolution.
Environmental & Social Resolutions
We will review any resolution at company meetings we have identified as covering environmental and social factors. The following will detail our overarching approach and expectations.
Our approach to vote analysis is consistent across active and quantitative investment strategies:
| ● | Review the resolution, proponent and board statements, existing disclosures, and external research. | |
| ● | Engage with the company, proponents, and other stakeholders as required. | |
| ● | Involve thematic experts, investment analysts and other specialists, as needed, in our decision-making to harness a wide range of expertise and address material factors in our analysis. | |
| ● | Ensure consistency by using our own in-house guidance to frame case-by-case analysis. | |
| ● | Monitor the outcomes of votes. | |
| ● | Follow-up with on-going engagement as required. |
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Given the nature of the topics covered by these resolutions we do not apply binary voting policies. We adopt a nuanced approach to our voting research and outcomes and will consider the specific circumstances of the company concerned. Our objective is to determine the best outcome for the company in the context of the best outcome for our clients. There may be instances where we welcome the spirit of a resolution, but other factors preclude our support for the proposal. For example, where the wording is overly prescriptive or ambiguous, when suggested implementation is overly burdensome or where the proposal strays too close to the board’s responsibility for setting the company’s strategy.
Management Proposals
We are supportive of the steps being taken by companies to provide transparent, detailed reporting of their sustainability strategies and targets. Some companies are presenting management proposals, seeking shareholder approval for sustainability strategies. While we welcome the intention of accountability behind these votes, we have reservations about the potential for them to limit the scope for subsequent investor challenge, increase a company’s exposure to litigation, and diminish the direct responsibility and accountability of the board and individual directors.
We believe it is the role of the board and the executive to develop and apply strategy, including sustainability strategies, and we will continue to use existing voting items to hold boards to account on the oversight and implementation of these strategies. As active investors we also regularly engage with investee companies on sustainability topics and find this dialogue to be the best opportunity to provide feedback.
Shareholder Proposals
The vast majority of resolutions focused on environmental and social issues are filed by shareholders.
The following provides an overview of some of the factors we consider when assessing the most prevalent themes for shareholder proposals.
Climate
We do not evaluate a company’s climate strategy in isolation. Our approach recognises the links between corporate governance, strategy and climate approach. Where a company’s operational response to climate change has significant shortcomings, the effectiveness of board oversight and corporate governance may also be called into question.
We use a range of mechanisms to evaluate whether companies appear to be fulfilling their climate commitments. Through engagement and voting we seek to work with companies, in the context of their local market and sector, to support robust methodologies underpinned by targets and, where required, improved reporting and disclosure in alignment with relevant standards. Our proprietary Climate Transition Assessment framework helps us assess the credibility of certain climate strategies and identify aspects that could be improved. We also consider it important for companies to carefully manage climate-related lobbying. Ensuring appropriate oversight and disclosure of direct and indirect lobbying activities can help companies reduce the risk of misalignment with corporate strategy.
Nature and Biodiversity
For investors, the risks and opportunities associated with the use of natural capital (the world’s natural resources, which underpin our economy and society) are becoming increasingly financially material. However, company reporting on these issues, and how they are managed, has historically been poor and difficult to compare. The focus of nature and biodiversity resolutions varies; however, the main themes are plastic production, use, and recycling, waste and the circular economy, and increased disclosure of environmental policies.
The Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosure (TNFD) was established to develop and deliver a risk management and disclosure framework. While it is not currently mandatory, the TNFD framework is likely to become the default standard for disclosure of nature-based risks. Aberdeen is supportive of TNFD and will generally support proposals asking for companies to report in line with it, taking into consideration best practice for the local market and sector. In addition, we welcome efforts by companies to consider enhancements to their disclosure and reporting on natural capital as we believe it can support our analysis of financially material nature-related risks and opportunities.
Artificial Intelligence
As Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies quickly evolve, Aberdeen’s objective is to work with the companies in which we invest to encourage a future where AI delivers sustainable benefits for shareholders and other stakeholders. Heightened investor scrutiny of AI practices has become evident in shareholder resolutions filed at the annual meetings of companies - from technology giants to entertainment businesses.
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Resolutions typically request a report on the use of AI and any ethical guidelines adopted by companies, enhanced disclosure regarding board oversight, or further information about the mitigation of AI-generated misinformation. Our voting approach builds upon the principles that we believe will support positive and sustainable outcomes for our investee companies.
We encourage companies to focus on implementing robust governance and oversight, clear ethical guidelines, appropriate due diligence, and sufficient transparency.
Where AI is likely to have significant impact on operations and labour relations, we believe it is prudent for companies to demonstrate a responsible approach at the earliest opportunity. Collaborating with the workforce can enable companies to mitigate negative outcomes and avoid costly disruption to labour relations. As technology develops, we believe these issues will remain crucial to the responsible development and use of AI.
Human Rights
Aberdeen believes that poor oversight of human rights can have a material impact on long-term value creation and cause avoidable harm. Resolutions concerning human rights are filed with companies operating in a broad range of sectors and focus on operations and supply chains in regions with a poor record of protecting human rights.
As a supporter of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, we expect companies to demonstrate how human rights due diligence is conducted across operations, services, product use and the supply chain.
When analysing a company’s approach to human rights, we will assess its existing policies to decide if voting action would enhance its approach and benefit the company and shareholders. Where we believe sufficient disclosure and due diligence are already in place, we may vote against a proposal to avoid unnecessary and unduly burdensome reporting. We are usually not supportive of resolutions that seek to dictate where and to whom companies can sell products and services or other resolutions which may be considered unduly prescriptive.
Political Disclosure
Corporate lobbying and political contributions disclosure continues to be a recurrent theme of shareholder resolutions, particularly in the US. These proposals typically encompass direct lobbying undertaken by the company and indirect lobbying undertaken by trade associations and other organisations of which it is a member or supporter. Proposals may also request the disclosure of more information regarding the process and rationale for political contributions.
We expect companies to make transparent, consolidated disclosures of direct and indirect lobbying and political expenditure. We have seen progress in this area and will carefully consider whether additional disclosure is in the interest of the company and its shareholders.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) is a major theme for shareholder resolutions. In recent years resolutions have focused on pay gap reporting, racial equity audits, disclosure of DEI metrics and assessments of the efficacy of DEI programmes.
We are generally supportive of shareholder proposals for disclosure of standardised DEI metrics and pay gap reporting. Such disclosures can support assessments of how companies are addressing opportunity and inclusion. We will, however, consider whether companies are allowed sufficient discretion to report on pay gaps in a way that adequately reflects the demographic and legal variations between jurisdictions.
A racial equity or civil rights audit is an independent analysis of a company’s business practices designed to identify aspects that may have a discriminatory effect. In applicable geographies, we tend to support racial equity and civil rights audits in relation to internal and external DEI programmes where there could be an elevated risk of discrimination. Resolutions should allow companies to carry out audits at a reasonable cost and within a reasonable timeframe. We carefully consider a company’s existing disclosure to ensure that proposals requesting these audits are not duplicative, prescriptive, or unduly onerous.
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Important Information
The value of investments, and the income from them, can go down as well as up and investors may get back less than the amount invested.
Applying ESG and sustainability criteria in the investment process may result in the exclusion of securities within the universe of potential investments. The interpretation of ESG and sustainability criteria is subjective meaning that products may invest in companies which similar products do not (and thus perform differently) and which do not align with the personal views of any individual investor. Furthermore, the lack of common or harmonised definitions and labels regarding ESG and sustainability criteria may result in different approaches by managers when integrating ESG and sustainability criteria into investment decisions. This means that it may be difficult to compare strategies within ostensibly similar objectives and that these strategies will employ different security selection and exclusion criteria. Consequently, the performance profile of otherwise similar vehicles may deviate more substantially than might otherwise be expected. Additionally, in the absence of common or harmonised definitions and labels, a degree of subjectivity is required and this will mean that a product may invest in a security that another manager or an investor would not.
This content is available in the following countries/regions and issued by the respective Aberdeen Group members detailed below. The Aberdeen Group comprises Aberdeen Group plc and its subsidiaries: (entities as at 22 September 2025).
United Kingdom (UK)
abrdn Investment Management Limited registered in Scotland (SC123321) at 1 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 2LL, Authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Europe, Middle East and Africa
Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden: abrdn Investment Management Limited registered in Scotland (SC123321) at 1 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 2LL. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK. Switzerland: abrdn Investments Switzerland AG. Registered in Switzerland (CHE-114.943.983) at Schweizergasse 14, 8001 Zürich. Abu Dhabi Global Market (“ADGM”): abrdn Investments Middle East Limited, Cloud Suite 403, 11th floor, Al Sarab Tower, Abu Dhabi Global Market Square, Al Maryah Island, P.O. Box 5327224, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Regulated by the ADGM Financial Services Regulatory Authority. For Professional Clients and Market Counterparties only. South Africa: abrdn Investments Limited (“abrdnIL”). Registered in Scotland (SC108419) at 1 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 2LL. abrdnIL is not a registered Financial Service Provider and is exempt from the Financial Advisory And Intermediary Services Act, 2002. abrdnIL operates in South Africa under an exemption granted by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA FAIS Notice 3 of 2022) and can render financial services to the classes of clients specified therein. Aberdeen Investments Global is a business name of the foregoing entities.
Asia-Pacific
Australia and New Zealand: abrdn Oceania Pty Ltd (ABN 35 666 571 268) is a Corporate Authorised Representative (CAR No. 001304153) of AFSL Holders MSC Advisory Pty Ltd, ACN 607 459 441, AFSL No. 480649 and Melbourne Securities Corporation Limited, ACN 160 326 545, AFSL No. 428289. In New Zealand, this material is provided for information purposes only. It is intended only for wholesale investors as defined in the Financial Markets Conduct Act (New Zealand). Hong Kong: abrdn Hong Kong Limited. This material has not been reviewed by the Securities and Futures Commission. Japan: abrdn Japan Limited Financial Instruments Firm: Kanto Local Finance Bureau (Kinsho) No.320 Membership: Japan Investment Advisers Association, The Investment Trusts Association, Type II Financial Instruments Firms Association. Malaysia: abrdn Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Company Number: 200501013266 (690313-D). This material has not been reviewed by the Securities Commission of Malaysia. Thailand: Aberdeen Asset Management (Thailand) Limited. Singapore: abrdn Asia Limited, Registration Number 199105448E. Aberdeen Investments Global is a business name of the foregoing entities.
Americas
Brazil: abrdn Brasil Investimentos Ltda. is an entity duly registered with the Comissão de Valores Mobiliários (CVM) as an investment manager. Aberdeen Investments Global is a business name of the foregoing entity. Canada: Aberdeen Investments and Aberdeen Investments Global are the registered marketing names in Canada for the following entities: abrdn Canada Limited, abrdn Investments Luxembourg S.A., and abrdn Alternative Funds Limited. abrdn Canada Limited is registered as a Portfolio Manager and Exempt Market Dealer in all provinces and territories of Canada as well as an Investment Fund Manager in the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, and Newfoundland and Labrador. United States: Aberdeen Investments Global is the trade name of Aberdeen’s investments business, herein referred to as “Aberdeen Investments” or “Aberdeen”. In the United States, Aberdeen Investments refers to the following affiliated, registered investment advisers: abrdn Inc., abrdn Investments Limited, and abrdn Asia Limited.
For more information visit aberdeeninvestments.com
GB-070223-187536-4 © Aberdeen Group plc 2026. All rights reserved.
aberdeeninvestments.com
STA0726194740-001
B-18
Part C—Other Information
Item 25. Financial Statements and Exhibits
1. Financial Statements. The Registrant’s unaudited financial statements for the fiscal period ended March 31, 2026 are incorporated herein by reference to the Fund’s Semi-Annual Report, contained in its Form N-CSR for the fiscal period ended March 31, 2026. The Registrant’s audited financial statements, notes to the financial statements and the report of the independent public accounting firm are included in the Fund’s Annual Report for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025, contained in its Form N-CSR, and are incorporated herein by reference.
2. Exhibits:
(1) Filed herewith.
Item 26. Marketing Arrangements
The information contained under the heading “Plan of Distribution” in the Prospectus is incorporated by reference, and any information concerning any underwriters will be contained in the accompanying Prospectus Supplement, if any.
Item 27. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
The following table sets forth the estimated expenses to be incurred in connection with the offering described in this registration statement:
| SEC Registration Fees | $ | 41,430 | ||
| Independent Public Accounting Firm Fees and Expenses | $ | 7,500 | ||
| Legal Fees and Expenses | $ | 150,000 | ||
| FINRA Fees | $ | 45,500 | ||
| Miscellaneous | $ | 5,000 | ||
| Total | $ | 249,430 |
Item 28. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control
None.
Item 29. Number of Holders of Securities
As of September 1, 2026, the number of record holders of the Registrant was:
| Number of | ||||
| Title of Class | Record Holders | |||
| Common shares of beneficial interest, $0.001 par value per share | 77 | |||
Item 30. Indemnification
Maryland law permits a Maryland statutory trust to include in its declaration of trust a provision limiting the liability of its trustees and officers to the trust and its shareholders for money damages except for liability resulting from (a) actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services or (b) action or failure to act, which is the result of active and deliberate dishonesty that is established by a final judgment as being material to the cause of action. The Registrant’s Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust contains such a provision that limits present and former trustees’ and officers’ liability to the Registrant and its shareholders for money damages to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, subject to the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).
The Registrant’s Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust obligates it to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law to indemnify and, without requiring a preliminary determination of the ultimate entitlement to indemnification, to pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to:
| 1. | any individual who is a present or former trustee or officer of the Registrant who is made or threatened to be made a party to a proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity; or |
| 2. | any individual who, while a trustee or officer of the Registrant and at the Registrant’s request, serves or has served as a director, trustee, officer, partner, member or manager of another trust, corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, employee benefit plan or any other enterprise and who is made or threatened to be made a party to the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity. |
The Registrant’s Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust also permits it, with Board approval, to indemnify and advance expenses to any person who served a predecessor of the Registrant in any of the capacities described above and to any employee or agent of the Registrant or a predecessor of the Registrant.
In accordance with the 1940 Act, the Registrant will not indemnify any person for any liability to which such person would be subject by reason of such person’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.
Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Act”) may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
Reference is also made to:
Section 7(b) of the Investment Advisory Agreement with abrdn Inc. (formerly, Aberdeen Standard Investments Inc.)
Section 10(b) of the Investment Subadvisory Agreement among the Fund, abrdn Inc. (formerly, Aberdeen Standard Investments Inc.) and abrdn Investments Limited (formerly, Aberdeen Asset Managers Limited).
Item 31. Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser
The information in the prospectus under the caption “Management of the Fund—The Adviser and Subadviser” and the Statement of Additional Information under the caption “Management of the Fund—Trustees and Officers” is hereby incorporated by reference. For information as to the business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature of each of the officers and directors of the Advisers in the last two (2) years, reference is made to the Adviser’s (abrdn Inc.) current Form ADV (File No. 801-49966) and Sub-Adviser’s (abrdn Investments Limited) current Form ADV (File No. 801-75074) and filed under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, incorporated herein by reference.
Item 32. Location of Accounts and Records
The Registrant’s accounts, books, and other documents required by Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder to be maintained are maintained at the offices of the Registrant, the Registrant’s investment adviser and administrator, abrdn Inc., at 1900 Market Street, Suite 200, Philadelphia, PA 19103, and the Registrant’s subadviser, abrdn Investments Limited, at 1 George Street, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, EH22LL, at the offices of the custodian and sub-administrator, State Street Bank and Trust Company NA, at 1776 Heritage Drive, North Quincy, Massachusetts 02171, or at the offices of the transfer agent, Computershare Trust Company N.A., at P.O. Box 43006, Providence, RI 02940-3078.
Item 33. Management Services
Not applicable.
Item 34. Undertakings
(1) Not applicable.
(2) Not applicable.
(3) The Registrant hereby undertakes:
| a. | to file, during a period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement: |
| (1) | to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act; |
| (2) | to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement. |
| (3) | to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement. |
Provided, however, that paragraphs a(1), a(2), and a(3) of this section do not apply to the extent the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference into the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
| b. | that for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; |
| c. | to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering; |
| d. | that, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser: |
| (1) | if the Registrant is subject to Rule 430B: |
(A) Each prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (x), or (xi) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date; or
| (2) | if the Registrant is subject to Rule 430C: each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use. |
| e. | that for the purpose of determining liability of the Registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of securities: |
The undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to the purchaser:
| (1) | any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act; |
| (2) | free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned Registrant; |
| (3) | the portion of any other free writing prospectus or advertisement pursuant to Rule 482 under the Securities Act relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant; and |
| (4) | any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned Registrant to the purchaser. |
| (4) | The Registrant undertakes that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of the Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in the form of prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) will be deemed to be a part of the Registration Statement as of the time it was declared effective. |
The Registrant undertakes that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus will be deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time will be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
| (5) | The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference into the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
| (6) | Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. |
| (7) | The Registrant undertakes to send by first class mail or other means designed to ensure equally prompt delivery, within two business days of receipt of a written or oral request, any prospectus or Statement of Additional Information. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Philadelphia and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on the 15th day of September, 2026.
| abrdn Global Infrastructure Income Fund | ||
| By: | /s/ Alan Goodson | |
| Alan Goodson | ||
| President and Chief Executive Vice President | ||
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| Signature | Capacity | Date | ||
/s/ Todd Reit* Todd Reit |
Chairman and Trustee | September 15, 2026 | ||
/s/ Nancy Yao* Todd Reit |
Trustee | September 15, 2026 | ||
/s/ John P. Sievwright* John P. Sievwright |
Trustee | September 15, 2026 | ||
/s/ Gordon A. Baird* Gordon A. Baird |
Trustee | September 15, 2026 | ||
/s/ Thomas W. Hunersen* Thomas W. Hunersen |
Trustee | September 15, 2026 | ||
| /s/ Chris LaVictoire Mahai* | Trustee | September 15, 2026 | ||
| Chris LaVictoire Mahai | ||||
| /s/ Alan Goodson | Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer | September 15, 2026 | ||
| Alan Goodson | (Principal Executive Officer) | |||
| /s/ Sharon Ferrari | Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer | September 15, 2026 | ||
| Sharon Ferrari | (Principal Financial Officer/Principal Accounting Officer) | |||
| By: | /s/ Lucia Sitar | |
| Lucia Sitar | ||
| Attorney In Fact | ||
* Pursuant to a power of attorney filed herewith.
Exhibit Index
ATTACHMENTS / EXHIBITS
XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION SCHEMA
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