UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
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Aberdeen Asia-Pacific Income Fund, Inc.
Aberdeen Global Income Fund, Inc.
Aberdeen Australia Equity Fund, Inc.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
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ABERDEEN ASIA-PACIFIC INCOME FUND, INC.
ABERDEEN GLOBAL INCOME FUND, INC.
ABERDEEN AUSTRALIA EQUITY FUND, INC.
1735 Market Street, 32nd Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To be held on March 28, 2013
TO THE SHAREHOLDERS:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the annual meeting of shareholders of each of Aberdeen Asia-Pacific Income Fund, Inc., Aberdeen Global Income Fund, Inc. and Aberdeen Australia Equity Fund, Inc. (each, a Fund, and collectively, the Funds) (each meeting, an Annual Meeting, and collectively, the Annual Meetings) will be held at the offices of Aberdeen Asset Management Inc. located at 712 Fifth Avenue, 49th Floor, New York, NY 10019, on the following dates and at the following times:
Aberdeen Asia-Pacific Income Fund, Inc. (NYSE MKT: FAX) |
March 28, 2013 | 10:00 a.m. eastern time | ||||||
Aberdeen Global Income Fund, Inc. (NYSE MKT: FCO) |
March 28, 2013 | 10:30 a.m. eastern time | ||||||
Aberdeen Australia Equity Fund, Inc. (NYSE MKT: IAF) |
March 28, 2013 | 11:00 a.m. eastern time |
The purpose of the Annual Meetings is to consider and act upon the following proposal (the Proposal) for each Fund and to consider and act upon such other matters as may properly come before the Annual Meetings or any adjournments or postponements thereof:
FAX To elect two Class I Directors, each to serve for a three-year term;
FCO To elect two Class III Directors, each to serve for a three-year term; and
IAF To elect two Class I Directors, each to serve for a three-year term.
The Proposal is discussed in greater detail in the enclosed Joint Proxy Statement. You are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting of a Fund if you owned shares of such Fund at the close of business on February 8, 2013 (the Record Date). If you attend the Annual Meetings, you may vote your shares in person. Even if you expect to attend the Annual Meetings, please complete, date, sign and return the enclosed proxy card(s) in the enclosed postage-paid envelope or authorize your proxy by telephone or through the Internet.
We will admit to an Annual Meeting (1) all shareholders of record on the Record Date, (2) persons holding proof of beneficial ownership at the Record Date, such as a letter or account statement from the persons broker, (3) persons who have been granted proxies, and (4) such other persons that we, in our sole discretion, may elect to admit. All persons wishing to be admitted to an Annual Meeting must present photo identification. If you plan to attend an Annual Meeting, we ask that you call us in advance at 1-800-522-5465 (FAX); 1-866-839-5233 (FCO); 1-866-839-5205 (IAF).
This notice and related proxy materials are first being mailed to shareholders on or about February 15, 2013.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meetings of Shareholders to Be Held on March 28, 2013: This Notice, the Joint Proxy Statement and the form of proxy cards are available on the Internet at http://www.aberdeen-asset.us/cef. On this website, you will be able to access the Notice, the Joint Proxy Statement the form of proxy cards and any amendments or supplements to the foregoing material that are required to be furnished to shareholders.
By order of the Boards of Directors,
Megan Kennedy, Vice President and Secretary
Aberdeen Asia-Pacific Income Fund, Inc.
Aberdeen Global Income Fund, Inc.
Aberdeen Australia Equity Fund, Inc.
WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETINGS IN PERSON, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOUR SHARES BE REPRESENTED AND VOTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETINGS. ACCORDINGLY, YOU ARE REQUESTED TO PLEASE DATE, SIGN AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD(S) FOR THE ANNUAL MEETINGS PROMPTLY, OR TO AUTHORIZE THE PROXY VOTE BY TELEPHONE OR THROUGH THE INTERNET PURSUANT TO THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD. NO POSTAGE IS REQUIRED IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOUR PROXY CARD(S) BE RETURNED PROMPTLY IN ORDER TO AVOID THE ADDITIONAL EXPENSE OF FURTHER SOLICITATION.
February 8, 2013
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
ABERDEEN ASIA-PACIFIC INCOME FUND, INC. (FAX)
ABERDEEN GLOBAL INCOME FUND, INC. (FCO)
ABERDEEN AUSTRALIA EQUITY FUND, INC. (IAF)
(each, a Fund and collectively, the Funds)
1735 Market Street, 32nd Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103
JOINT PROXY STATEMENT
For the Annual Meetings of Shareholders
each to be held on March 28, 2013
This Joint Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by each Funds Board of Directors (each, a Board, and collectively, the Boards, with members of each Board being referred to as Directors) to be voted at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of each Fund (each, a Meeting, and collectively, the Meetings) to be held at the offices of Aberdeen Asset Management Inc. located at 712 Fifth Avenue, 49th Floor, New York, NY 10019, on Thursday, March 28, 2013 and at any adjournments or postponements thereof. A Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and a proxy card (the Proxy) accompany this Joint Proxy Statement. This Joint Proxy Statement is first being mailed to shareholders on or about February 15, 2013.
All properly executed proxies received prior to a Meeting will be voted at the Meeting, or at any adjournments thereof, in accordance with the instructions marked on the proxy card. Unless instructions to the contrary are marked on the proxy card, proxies received will be voted FOR each Proposal (as defined below). The persons named as proxy holders on the proxy card will vote in their discretion on any other matters that may properly come before each Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof. Any proxy may be revoked at any time prior to its exercise by submitting a properly executed, subsequently dated proxy, giving written notice to Megan Kennedy, 1735 Market Street, 32nd Floor, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, or by attending the Meeting and voting in person. Shareholders may authorize proxy voting by using the enclosed proxy card(s) along with the enclosed envelope with pre-paid postage. Shareholders may also authorize proxy voting by telephone or through the internet by following the instructions contained on their proxy card. Shareholders do not have dissenters rights of appraisal in connection with any of the matters to be voted on by the shareholders at each Meeting.
The presence at each Meeting, in person or by proxy, of the shareholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at the Meeting shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. For purposes of determining the presence of a quorum at a Meeting, withheld votes and broker non-votes (that is, proxies from brokers or nominees indicating that such persons have not received instructions from the beneficial owner or other persons entitled to vote shares on a particular Proposal with respect to which the brokers or nominees do not have discretionary power) will be treated as shares that are present at the Meeting.
With regard to FAX and FCO, the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of common stock outstanding and entitled to vote thereon is necessary for the election of a Director. With regard to IAF, the vote of a plurality of all of the votes cast at a meeting at which a quorum is present is necessary for the election of a Director. For purposes of the election of Directors for all Funds, withheld votes will not be counted as votes cast and will have no effect on the result of the vote. Proxies from brokers or nominees indicating that such persons have not received instructions from the beneficial owner or other persons entitled to vote shares on the Proposal will be voted FOR such Proposal.
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If a quorum is not present in person or by proxy at the time a Meeting is called to order, the chairman of the Meeting may adjourn the Meeting. If a quorum is present but there are not sufficient votes to approve a Proposal, the chairman of the Meeting may adjourn the Meeting, or may permit the persons named as proxy holders to propose one or more adjournments of the Meeting, to permit further solicitation of proxies on that Proposal. If the persons named as proxy holders propose to adjourn the Meeting, the vote required for shareholders to adjourn the Meeting is the affirmative vote of a majority of all the votes cast on the matter. In such a case, the persons named as proxy holders will vote those proxies which they are entitled to vote in favor of the Proposal FOR the adjournment as to that Proposal, and will vote those proxies required to be voted against the Proposal AGAINST the adjournment as to that Proposal. For purposes of votes with respect to adjournment, broker non-votes will not be counted as votes cast and will have no effect on the result of the vote. If the motion for adjournment is not approved, the voting on that Proposal will be completed at the Meeting.
Only shareholders or their duly appointed proxy holders can attend a Meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof. To gain admittance, if you are a shareholder of record or a proxy holder of a shareholder of record, you must bring a form of personal identification to the Meeting, where your name will be verified against our shareholder list. If a broker or other nominee holds your shares and you plan to attend the Meeting, you should bring a recent brokerage statement showing your ownership of the shares, as well as a form of personal identification. If you are a beneficial owner and plan to vote at the Meeting, you should also bring a proxy card from your broker.
Each Board has fixed the close of business on February 8, 2013 as the record date (the Record Date) for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, each Meeting and at any adjournment or postponement thereof. Shareholders on the Record Date for each Fund will be entitled to one vote for each share held for their respective Meeting. As of the Record Date, the following number of shares of each Fund were issued and outstanding:
FAX had outstanding 265,200,517 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share.
FCO had outstanding 9,287,392 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share.
IAF had outstanding 22,574,119 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Shareholder Meetings to Be Held on Thursday, March 28, 2013. The Proxy and each Funds most recent annual report are available on the Internet at http://www.aberdeen-asset.us/cef. The Funds will furnish, without charge, a copy of each Funds annual report for its fiscal year ended October 31, 2012, and any more recent reports, to any Fund shareholder upon request. To request a copy, please write to the Funds c/o Aberdeen Asset Management Inc., 1735 Market Street, 32nd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103, or call 1-800-522-5465 (FAX); 1-866-839-5233 (FCO); 1-866-839-5205 (IAF). You may also call for information on how to obtain directions to be able to attend the Meeting and vote in person.
The ProposalElection of Directors
Each Funds bylaws provide that the Funds Board be elected by holders of the Funds common stock divided into three classes, as nearly equal in number as possible, each of which will serve for three years, with one class being elected each year. Each year the term of office of one class expires. Directors who are deemed interested persons (as that term is defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), of each Fund, the Funds investment manager, Aberdeen Asset Management Asia Limited (the Investment Manager or AAMAL), the Funds investment adviser, Aberdeen Asset Management Limited (the Investment Adviser or AAM Aus) or, in the case of FAX and FCO, the investment sub-adviser, Aberdeen Asset Managers Limited (the Sub-Adviser or AAML), are referred to in this Joint Proxy Statement as Interested Directors. Directors who are not interested persons, as described above, are referred to in this Joint Proxy Statement as Independent Directors.
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Each Board, including the Independent Directors, upon the recommendation of each Boards Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, which is composed entirely of Independent Directors, has nominated the following individuals for election to its Board as follows:
Aberdeen Asia-Pacific Income Fund, Inc. |
John T. Sheehy (Class I Director, 3-year term ending 2016) | |
Neville J. Miles (Class I Director, 3-year term ending 2016) | ||
Aberdeen Global Income Fund, Inc. |
Martin J. Gilbert (Class III Director, 3-year term ending 2016) | |
Neville J. Miles (Class III Director, 3-year term ending 2016) | ||
Aberdeen Australia Equity Fund, Inc. |
Neville J. Miles (Class I Director, 3-year term ending 2016) | |
Moritz Sell (Class I Director, 3-year term ending 2016) |
Each of the nominees has indicated an intention to serve if elected and has consented to be named in this Joint Proxy Statement.
It is the intention of the persons named on the enclosed proxy card(s) to vote FOR the election of the persons indicated above to serve as Directors. The Boards know of no reason why any of these nominees will be unable to serve, but in the event of any such inability, the proxies received will be voted for such substituted nominees as the affected Funds Board may recommend.
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The following tables set forth certain information regarding the nominees for election to the Boards of the Funds, Directors whose terms of office continue beyond the Meetings, and the principal officers of the Funds.
Name, Address and Age |
Position(s) Fund(s) |
Term of Office and Length of Time Served |
Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years |
Number of |
Other | |||||
Independent Nominees for Director: | ||||||||||
Neville J. Miles** 142 Martins Lane Knockrow NSW 2479 Australia
Year of Birth: 1946 |
IAF Chairman of the Board; FAX, IAF Class I Director; FCO Class III Director | FAX, IAF, FCO Terms expire 2013.
FAX, IAF Director since 1996; FCO Director since 1999. |
Mr. Miles is, and has been for a period in excess of ten years, Chairman of Ballyshaw Pty. Ltd. (share trading, real estate development and investment). He is Chairman of the Board of Directors of IAF. He also is a non-executive director of a number of Australian companies. | 28 | None | |||||
Moritz Sell 1 Crown Court, Cheapside London EC2V 6LR
Year of Birth: 1967 |
IAF Class I Director | IAF Term expires 2013. IAF Director since 2004. | Mr. Sell has been a director, market strategist of Landesbank Berlin AG (banking) and its predecessor, now holding company, Landesbank Berlin Holding AG (formerly named Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG) since 1996. | 3 | None | |||||
John T. Sheehy B.V. Murray and 666 Goodwin Avenue Suite 300 Midland Park, NJ 07432
Year of Birth: 1942 |
FAX, FCO Class I Director; IAF Class III Director | FAX Term expires 2013; FCO Term expires 2014; IAF Term expires 2015.
IAF Director since 1985; FAX Director since 1986; FCO Director since 1992. |
Mr. Sheehy has been a Senior Managing Director of B.V. Murray and Company (investment banking) since 2001 and Director of Macquarie AIR-serv Holding, Inc. (automotive services) since 2006. He was a Managing member of Pristina Capital Partners, LLC (water purification technology development) from 2007 to 2011, a Director of Smarte Carte, Inc. (airport services) from 2007 to 2010, and Managing Member of The Value Group LLC (venture capital) from 1997 to 2009. | 28 | None |
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Name, Address and Age |
Position(s) Fund(s) |
Term of Office and Length of Time Served |
Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years |
Number of |
Other | |||||
Interested Nominee for Director: | ||||||||||
Martin J. Gilbert Aberdeen Asset Management PLC 10 Queens Terrace Aberdeen, Scotland AB10 1YG
Year of Birth: 1955 |
FAX, FCO Class III Director; FAX, FCO, IAF Vice President | FCO Term expires 2013; FAX Term expires 2015;
FAX, FCO Director since 2001. |
Mr. Gilbert is a founding director and shareholder, and Chief Executive of Aberdeen Asset Management PLC, the holding company of the fund management group that was established in 1983. He was President of the each Fund from February 2004 to March 2008. He was Chairman of the Board of FCO and FAX from 2001 to September 2005. He has been a Director of the Investment Manager, since 1991, a Director of the Investment Adviser since 2000, and a Director of Aberdeen Asset Managers (C.I.) Limited, the Funds former investment manager, from 2000 to 2005. He has been a Director since 1995, and has been President since September 2006 of Aberdeen Asset Management Inc., each Funds Administrator. Mr. Gilbert also serves as officer and/or director of various Aberdeen group subsidiary companies, Aberdeen-managed investment trusts and funds boards. | 29 | None | |||||
Independent Directors: | ||||||||||
P. Gerald Malone** 48 Barmouth Road Wandsworth, London SW18 2DP United Kingdom
Year of Birth: 1950 |
FAX, FCO Chairman of the Board; FAX, IAF Class II Director; FCO Class I Director | FAX, IAF, FCO Terms expire 2014.
FAX Director since 2001; FCO Director since 2005; IAF Director since 2008. |
Mr. Malone is, by profession, a solicitor of some 38 years standing. He has served as a Minister of State in the United Kingdom Government. Mr. Malone currently serves as Independent Chairman of one London AIM-listed company (healthcare software) in addition to a privately owned pharmaceutical company. He is Chairman of the Board of Directors of FCO and FAX and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Aberdeen Funds. | 28 | None |
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Name, Address and Age |
Position(s) Fund(s) |
Term of Office and Length of Time Served |
Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years |
Number of |
Other | |||||
William J. Potter** c/o Aberdeen Asset Management Asia Limited 21 Church Street #01-01 Capital Square Two Singapore 049480
Year of Birth: 1948 |
FAX, IAF Class III Director; FCO Class II Director | FAX, IAF, FCO Terms expire 2015.
IAF Director since 1985; FAX Director since 1986; FCO Director since 1992. |
Mr. Potter has been Chairman of Meredith Financial Group (investment management) since 2004, a Director of Alexandria Bancorp (international banking and trustee serives) since 1989, and a Director of National Foreign Trade Council (international trade) since 1983. | 3 | None | |||||
Peter D. Sacks c/o Aberdeen Asset Management Inc., 1735 Market Street, 32nd Floor Philadelphia, PA 1a103
Year of Birth: 1945 |
FAX, IAF, FCO Class II Director | FCO Term expires 2012; FAX, IAF Terms expire 2014.
FCO Director since 1992; FAX Director since 1993; IAF Director since 1999. |
Mr. Sacks has been a Director and Founding Partner of Toron Investment Management (investment management) since 1988. He is also a Director and Investment Advisory Committee member of several private and public sector funds in Canada. | 28 | None | |||||
Interested Director: | ||||||||||
Hugh Young Aberdeen Asset Management Asia 21 Church Street #01-01 Capital Square Two Singapore 049480
Year of Birth: 1958 |
IAF Class II Director | IAF Term expires 2014.
IAF Director since 2001. |
Mr. Young has been a member of the Executive Management Committee of Aberdeen Asset Management PLC since 1991. He has been Managing Director of Aberdeen Asset Management Asia Limited since 1991. | 2 | None |
* | Aberdeen Asia-Pacific Income Fund, Inc., Aberdeen Global Income Fund, Inc., Aberdeen Australia Equity Fund, Inc., Aberdeen Chile Fund, Inc., Aberdeen Israel Fund, Inc., Aberdeen Indonesia Fund, Inc., Aberdeen Latin America Equity Fund, Inc., Aberdeen Emerging Markets Telecommunications and Infrastructure Fund, Inc., The Singapore Fund, Inc., The Asia-Tigers Fund, Inc., The India Fund, Inc., The Greater China Fund, Inc. and Aberdeen Funds (which currently consist of 25 portfolios) have a common investment manager and/or investment adviser, or an investment adviser that is affiliated with the Investment Manager and Investment Adviser, and may thus be deemed to be part of the same Fund Complex. |
** | Member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. |
| Member of the Audit and Valuation Committee. |
| Deemed to be an Interested Director of the Funds because of his affiliation with the Funds Investment Manager and Investment Adviser. |
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE DIRECTORS
Each Board believes that each Directors experience, qualifications, attributes and skills on an individual basis and in combination with those of the other Directors lead to the conclusion that the Directors possess the requisite experience, qualifications, attributes and skills to serve on their respective Board. Each Board believes that the Directors ability to review critically, evaluate, question and discuss information provided to them; to interact effectively with AAMAL, AAM Aus and AAML, as applicable, other service providers, counsel and independent auditors; and to exercise effective business judgment in the performance of their duties, support this conclusion. Each Board has also considered the contributions that each Director can make to the respective Board on which he serves and the Fund(s). A Directors ability to perform his duties effectively may have been attained through the Directors executive, business, consulting, and/or legal positions; experience from service as a Director of the Fund(s) and other funds/portfolios in the Aberdeen 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 Director in addition to the information set forth in the table above: Mr. Gilbert, Chief Executive Officer and director roles within the Aberdeen complex, board experience with other public companies and investment trusts; Mr. Young, investment management experience in director and executive roles within the Aberdeen complex and director experience with other investment management companies; Mr. Malone, legal background and public service leadership experience, board experience with other public and private companies, and executive and business consulting experience; Mr. Miles, financial services, investment management and executive experience and board experience with various Australian public and private companies; Mr. Potter, financial services, investment management and merchant banking experience, executive and consulting experience, and board experience with public companies and non-profit organizations; Mr. Sacks, accounting background (chartered accountant in Canada and South Africa), treasury experience in banking organizations, investment management and executive experience; Mr. Sell, director and executive experience at an investment banking and trading firm and board experience with another closed-end fund outside of the Aberdeen complex; and Mr. Sheehy, executive experience at venture capital and investment banking firms, as well as board experience at several public and private companies.
Each Board believes that the significance of each Directors experience, qualifications, attributes or skills is an individual matter (meaning that experience important for one Director may not have the same value for another) and that these factors are best evaluated at the Board level, with no single Director, or particular factor, being indicative of Board effectiveness. In its periodic self-assessment of the effectiveness of the Board, each Board considers the complementary individual skills and experience of the individual Directors in the broader context of the Boards overall composition so that the Board, as a body, possesses the experience, appropriate (and appropriately diverse) skills and experience to oversee the business of the Fund. References to the qualifications, attributes and skills of Directors are presented pursuant to disclosure requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, do not constitute holding out a Board or any Director 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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OFFICERS
Name, Address and Age |
Positions(s) Held |
Term of Office |
Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years | |||
Jeffrey Cotton** Aberdeen Asset Management Inc. 1735 Market St. 32nd Floor Philadelphia, PA 19103
Year of Birth: 1977 |
FAX, FCO, IAF Chief Compliance Officer; Vice President, Compliance | Since 2011 |
Currently, Vice President and Head of Compliance U.S. for Aberdeen Asset Management Inc. Mr. Cotton joined Aberdeen in 2010. Prior to joining Aberdeen, Mr. Cotton was a Senior Compliance Officer at Old Mutual Asset Management (2009-2010) supporting its affiliated investment advisers and mutual fund platform. Mr. Cotton was also a VP, Senior Compliance Manager at Bank of America/Columbia Management (2006-2009). | |||
Kevin Daly Aberdeen Asset Managers Limited Bow Bells House, 1 Bread Street London United Kingdom
Year of Birth: 1960 |
FCO Vice President | Since 2008 |
Currently, Portfolio Manager on Aberdeens Emerging Fixed Income Team (since 2007); previously, Credit Market Analyst for Standard & Poors London (1997-2007). | |||
Mark Daniels Aberdeen Asset Management Limited Level 6, 201 Kent St Sydney, NSW 2000 Australia
Year of Birth: 1955 |
IAF Vice President | Since 2005 |
Currently, Investment Director, Equities-Asia (since 2011). Previously, Head of Australian Equities of the Aberdeen Group (asset management group consisting of subsidiaries of Aberdeen Asset Management PLC) (since 2005); Fund Manager of Aberdeen Asset Managers Limited (1990 to 2005). | |||
Sharon Ferrari** Aberdeen Asset Management Inc. 1735 Market St. 32nd Floor Philadelphia, PA 19103
Year of Birth: 1977 |
FAX, FCO, IAF Assistant Treasurer |
Since 2009 |
Currently, Fund Accounting Manager for Aberdeen Asset Management Inc. Ms. Ferrari joined Aberdeen Asset Management Inc. as a Senior Fund Administrator in 2008. Prior to joining Aberdeen Asset Management Inc., Ms. Ferrari was an Accounting Analyst at Delaware Investments. | |||
Martin J. Gilbert Aberdeen Asset Management PLC 10 Queens Terrace Aberdeen, Scotland AB10 1YG
Year of Birth: 1955 |
FAX, FCO, IAF Vice President | Since 2008 |
Please see information in the Directors chart. |
8
Name, Address and Age |
Positions(s) Held |
Term of Office |
Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years | |||
Alan Goodson** Aberdeen Asset Management Inc. 1735 Market St. 32nd Floor Philadelphia, PA 19103
Year of Birth: 1974 |
FAX, FCO, IAF Vice President | Since 2009 |
Currently, Head of Product-US, overseeing both Product Management and Product Development for Aberdeens registered and unregistered investment companies in the US and Canada. Mr Goodson is Vice President of Aberdeen Asset Management Inc. and joined Aberdeen in 2000. | |||
Paul Griffiths** Aberdeen Asset Management Investment Services Limited Bow Bells House, 1 Bread Street London United Kingdom
Year of Birth: 1967 |
FAX, FCO Vice President | Since 2010 |
Currently, Global Head of Fixed Income for Aberdeen Asset Managers Limited. Mr. Griffiths joined Aberdeen Asset Management PLC following the acquisition of the Credit Suisse Asset Management business in July 2009. Mr. Griffiths was formerly Chief Investment Officer and Head of Fixed Income at Credit Suisse Asset Management. | |||
Matthew Keener** Aberdeen Asset Management Inc. 1735 Market St. 32nd Floor Philadelphia, PA 19103
Year of Birth: 1976 |
FAX, FCO, IAF Assistant Secretary | Since 2008 |
Currently, Senior Product Manager for Aberdeen Asset Management Inc. Mr. Keener joined Aberdeen Asset Management Inc. in 2006 as a Fund Administrator. Prior to joining Aberdeen Asset Management Inc., Mr. Keener was a Private Equity Supervisor with SEI Investments (2004-2006). | |||
Megan Kennedy** Aberdeen Asset Management Inc. 1735 Market St. 32nd Floor Philadelphia, PA 19103
Year of Birth: 1974 |
FAX, FCO, IAF Vice President, Secretary | Since 2008 |
Currently, Head of Product Management for Aberdeen Asset Management Inc. Ms. Kennedy joined Aberdeen Asset Management Inc. in 2005 as a Senior Fund Administrator. Ms. Kennedy was promoted to Assistant Treasurer Collective Funds/North American Mutual Funds in February 2008 and promoted to Treasurer Collective Funds/North American Mutual Funds in July 2008. |
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Name, Address and Age |
Positions(s) Held |
Term of Office |
Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years | |||
Adam McCabe** Aberdeen Asset Management Asia Limited 21 Church Street #01-01 Capital Square Two Singapore 049480
Year of Birth: 1979 |
FAX, FCO Vice President |
Since 2011 |
Currently, Senior Portfolio Manager on the Aberdeen fixed income Asia Pacific desk, responsible for currency and interest rate strategies in Aberdeens Asian fixed income portfolios. Mr. McCabe joined Aberdeen in 2009 following the acquisition of certain asset management businesses from Credit Suisse. Mr. McCabe worked for Credit Suisse since 2001, where he was an investment manager responsible for the development and implementation of its Asian currency and interest rate strategies. | |||
Andrea Melia** Aberdeen Asset Management Inc. 1735 Market St. 32nd Floor Philadelphia, PA 19103
Year of Birth: 1969 |
FAX, FCO, IAF Treasurer | Since 2009 |
Currently, Head of Fund Accounting and Vice President for Aberdeen Asset Management Inc. Ms. Melia joined Aberdeen Asset Management Inc. in September 2009. Prior to joining Aberdeen, Ms. Melia was Director of fund administration and accounting oversight for Princeton Administrators LLC, a division of BlackRock Inc. and had worked with Princeton Administrators since 1992. | |||
Anthony Michael** Aberdeen Asset Management Asia Limited 21 Church Street #01-01 Capital Square Two Singapore 049480
Year of Birth: 1963 |
FAX, FCO Vice President | Since 2008 |
Currently, Head of Fixed Income Asia-Pacific for Aberdeen Asset Management Asia Limited. Mr. Michael joined Aberdeen through the acquisition of Deutsche Asset Managements Australian Fixed Income business in June 2007. Previously, Mr. Michael was Director and Senior Portfolio Manager at Deutsche (2002-2007). | |||
Jennifer Nichols** Aberdeen Asset Management Inc. 1735 Market St. 32nd Floor Philadelphia, PA 19103
Year of Birth: 1978 |
FAX, FCO, IAF Vice President | Since 2008 |
Currently, Global Head of Legal and Vice President and Director for Aberdeen Asset Management Inc. Ms. Nichols joined Aberdeen Asset Management Inc. in October 2006. Prior to that, Ms. Nichols was an associate attorney in the Financial Services Group of Pepper Hamilton LLP (law firm) (2003-2006). |
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Name, Address and Age |
Positions(s) Held |
Term of Office |
Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years | |||
Christian Pittard** Aberdeen Asset Managers Limited Bow Bells House, 1 Bread Street London United Kingdom
Year of Birth: 1973 |
FAX, FCO, IAF President | Since 2009 |
Currently, Group Head of Product Development, for Aberdeen Asset Managers Limited. Previously, Director and Vice President (2006-2008), Chief Executive Officer (from October 2005 to September 2006) and employee (since June 2005) of Aberdeen Asset Management Inc.; Director of Aberdeen Asset Managers Limited since 2010. | |||
Victor Rodriguez** Aberdeen Asset Management Asia Limited 21 Church Street #01-01 Capital Square Two Singapore 049480
Year of Birth: 1971 |
FAX, FCO Vice President | Since 2009 |
Currently, Head of Fixed Income Australia for Aberdeen Asset Management Limited. Mr. Rodriguez joined Aberdeen Asset Management Limited following the acquisition of Credit Suisse Asset Management (Australia) Limited. Mr. Rodriguez was formerly a member of the fixed income team at Credit Suisse Asset Management since 1995. | |||
Lucia Sitar** Aberdeen Asset Management Inc. 1735 Market St. 32nd Floor Philadelphia, PA 19103
Year of Birth: 1971 |
FAX, FCO, IAF Vice President | Since 2008 |
Currently, U.S. Counsel for Aberdeen Asset Management Inc. Ms. Sitar joined Aberdeen Asset Management Inc. in July 2007. Prior to that, Ms. Sitar was an associate attorney in the Investment Management Group of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young LLP (law firm) (2000-2007). |
* | Officers hold their positions with the Fund(s) until a successor has been duly elected and qualifies. Officers are elected annually by each Board. |
** | Messrs. Cotton, Goodson, Griffiths, Keener, McCabe, Michael, Pittard and Rodriguez and Mses. Ferrari, Kennedy, Melia, Nichols and Sitar hold officer position(s) in one or more of the following: Aberdeen Asia-Pacific Income Fund, Inc., Aberdeen Global Income Fund, Inc., Aberdeen Australia Equity Fund, Inc., Aberdeen Chile Fund, Inc., Aberdeen Israel Fund, Inc., Aberdeen Indonesia Fund, Inc., Aberdeen Latin America Equity Fund, Inc., Aberdeen Emerging Markets Telecommunications and Infrastructure Fund, Inc., The Singapore Fund, Inc., The Asia Tigers Fund, Inc., The India Fund, Inc., and The Greater China Fund, Inc. and the Aberdeen Funds, each of which may also be deemed to be a part of the same Fund Complex. |
11
Ownership of Securities
Set forth in the table below is the dollar range of equity securities in each Fund and the aggregate dollar range of equity securities in the Aberdeen Family of Investment Companies (as defined below) beneficially owned by each Director or nominee. 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 Director or Nominee |
Dollar Range of Equity Securities Owned(1) |
Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in All Funds Overseen by Director or Nominee in Aberdeen Family of Investment Companies(2) |
||||||
Independent Directors: |
||||||||
P. Gerald Malone |
FAX: B | C | ||||||
FCO: C | ||||||||
IAF: C | ||||||||
Neville J. Miles |
FAX: B | C | ||||||
FCO: C | ||||||||
IAF: C | ||||||||
William J. Potter |
FAX: B | C | ||||||
FCO: C | ||||||||
IAF: C | ||||||||
Peter D. Sacks |
FAX: D | E | ||||||
FCO: C | ||||||||
IAF: C | ||||||||
Moritz Sell |
IAF: C | C | ||||||
John T. Sheehy |
FAX: B | C | ||||||
FCO: C | ||||||||
IAF: C | ||||||||
Interested Directors: |
||||||||
Martin Gilbert |
FAX: B | C | ||||||
FCO: C | ||||||||
Hugh Young |
IAF: C | C |
(1) | This information has been furnished by each Director as of October 31, 2012. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 1934 Act). |
(2) | Aberdeen Family of Investment Companies means those registered investment companies that are advised by the Investment Manager or an affiliate and that hold themselves out to investors as related companies for purposes of investment and investor services. |
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As of October 31, 2012, each Funds Directors and officers, in the aggregate, owned less than 1% of that Funds outstanding equity securities. As of October 31, 2012, none of the Independent Directors or their immediate family members owned any shares of the Investment Manager, Investment Adviser or Sub-Adviser or of any person (other than a registered investment company) directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Investment Manager, Investment Adviser or Sub-Adviser.
Mr. Pittard and Ms. Melia serve as executive officers of the Funds. As of October 31, 2012, Mr. Pittard and Ms. Melia did not own shares of the Funds common stock.
BOARD AND COMMITTEE STRUCTURE
The Board of Directors of FAX is composed of five Independent Directors and one Interested Director, Martin J. Gilbert. The Board of Directors of FCO is composed of five Independent Directors and one Interested Director, Martin J. Gilbert. The Board of Directors of IAF is composed of six Independent Directors and one Interested Director, Hugh Young. Each Funds bylaws provide that the Board shall be divided into three classes, as nearly equal in number as possible, each of which will serve for three years, with one class being elected each year. The Boards of FAX and FCO have each appointed Mr. Malone, an Independent Director, as Chairman. The Board of IAF has appointed Mr. Miles, an Independent Director, as Chairman. The Chairman presides at meetings of the Directors, participates in the preparation of the agenda for meetings of the Board, and acts as a liaison between the Independent Directors and management between Board meetings. Except for any duties specified herein, the designation of the Chairman does not impose on such Director any duties, obligations or liability that is greater than the duties, obligations or liability imposed on such person as a member of the Board, generally.
Each Board holds regular quarterly meetings each year to consider and address matters involving the respective Fund. Each Board also may hold special meetings to address matters arising between regular meetings. The Independent Directors also meet outside the presence of management in executive session at least quarterly and have engaged separate, independent legal counsel to assist them in performing their oversight responsibilities.
Each Board has established a committee structure that includes an Audit and Valuation Committee, a Contract Review Committee, a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, a Cost Review Committee and a Leverage Committee (FAX and FCO only) (each discussed in more detail below) to assist each Board in the oversight and direction of the business affairs of the respective Fund, and from time to time may establish informal ad hoc committees or working groups to review and address the practices of the respective Fund with respect to specific matters. The Committee system facilitates the timely and efficient consideration of matters by the Directors, and facilitates effective oversight of compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and of each Funds activities and associated risks. The standing Committees currently conduct an annual review of their charters, which includes a review of their responsibilities and operations. Each Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and each Board as a whole also conduct an annual evaluation of the performance of the Board, including consideration of the effectiveness of the Boards Committee structure. Each Committee is comprised entirely of Independent Directors. Each Committee member is also independent within the meaning of the NYSE MKT listing standards. Each Board reviews its structure regularly and believes that its leadership structure, including having a super-majority of Independent Directors, coupled with an Independent Director as Chairman, is appropriate because it allows the Board to exercise informed and independent judgment over the matters under its purview and it allocates areas of responsibility among the Committees and the full Board in a manner that enhances efficient and effective oversight.
Audit and Valuation Committee
Each Funds Audit and Valuation Committee, established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 1934 Act), is responsible for the selection and engagement of the Funds
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independent registered public accounting firm (subject to ratification by the Funds Independent Directors), pre-approves and reviews both the audit and nonaudit work of the Funds independent registered public accounting firm, and reviews compliance of the Fund with regulations of the SEC and the Internal Revenue Service, and other related matters. The members of each Funds Audit and Valuation Committee are Messrs. Neville J. Miles, Peter D. Sacks, Moritz Sell (IAF only) and John T. Sheehy.
Each Board has adopted an Audit and Valuation Committee Charter for its Audit and Valuation Committee, the current copy of which is attached to this Joint Proxy Statement as Appendix A.
Each Audit and Valuation Committee oversees the activities of its Funds Pricing Committee and performs the responsibilities assigned to the Audit and Valuation Committee in the Funds Valuation and Liquidity Procedures, such as overseeing the implementation of the Valuation and Liquidity Procedures. Each Board has delegated to its Audit and Valuation Committee the responsibility of determining the fair value of its Funds securities or other assets in situations set forth in the Valuation and Liquidity Procedures.
Contract Review Committee
Each Contract Review Committee reviews and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors with respect to entering into, reviewing or amending the Funds management agreement, advisory agreement, sub-advisory agreement, administration agreement, investor relations services agreement and other agreements. The members of each Funds Contract Review Committee are Messrs. P. Gerald Malone, Neville J. Miles, William J. Potter, Peter D. Sacks, Moritz Sell (IAF only) and John T. Sheehy.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee; Consideration of Potential Director Nominees
Each Funds Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee recommends nominations for membership on the Board and reviews and evaluates the effectiveness of the Board in its role in governing the Fund and overseeing the management of the Fund. It evaluates candidates qualifications for Board membership and, with respect to nominees for positions as Independent Directors, their independence from the Funds Investment Manager, Investment Adviser and Sub-Adviser, as appropriate, and other principal service providers. Each Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee generally meets twice annually to identify and evaluate nominees for director and makes its recommendations to its respective Board at the time of each Boards December meeting. Each Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee also periodically reviews director compensation and will recommend any appropriate changes to the Boards as a group. Each Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee also reviews and may make recommendations to its respective Board relating to the effectiveness of the Board in carrying out its responsibilities in governing the Fund and overseeing the management of the Fund. Each Board has adopted a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Charter, a copy of which is attached to this Joint Proxy Statement as Appendix B. The members of each Funds Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are Messrs. P. Gerald Malone, Neville J. Miles and William J. Potter.
Each Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may take into account a wide variety of factors in considering prospective director candidates, including (but not limited to): (i) availability (including availability to attend to Board business on short notice) and commitment of a candidate to attend meetings and perform his or her responsibilities on the Board; (ii) relevant industry and related experience; (iii) educational background; (iv) reputation; (v) financial expertise; (vi) the candidates ability, judgment and expertise; (vii) overall diversity of the Boards composition; and (viii) commitment to the representation of the interests of the Fund and its shareholders. Each Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee also considers the effect of any relationships beyond those delineated in the 1940 Act that might impair independence, such as business, financial or family relationships with the Investment Manager, Investment Adviser or Sub-Adviser or their affiliates. Each Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider potential director
14
candidates, if any, recommended by its Fund shareholders provided that the proposed candidates: (i) satisfy any minimum qualifications of the Fund for its directors, and (ii) are not interested persons of the Fund, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act; and (iii) are independent as defined in the listing standards of any exchange on which the Funds shares are listed.
While the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees have not adopted a particular definition of diversity or a particular policy with regard to the consideration of diversity in identifying candidates, when considering a candidates and a Boards diversity, the Committees generally consider the manner in which each candidates leadership, independence, interpersonal skills, financial acumen, integrity and professional ethics, educational and professional background, prior director or executive experience, industry knowledge, business judgment and specific experiences or expertise would compliment or benefit the Board and, as a whole, contribute to the ability of the Board to oversee the Fund. Each Committee may also consider other factors or attributes as they may determine appropriate in their judgment. Each Committee believes that the significance of each candidates background, experience, qualifications, attributes or skills must be considered in the context of the Board as a whole.
Each Funds bylaws contain provisions regarding minimum qualifications for directors. These include a requirement that, to qualify as a nominee for a directorship, each candidate, at the time of nomination, other than persons who were directors at the time of the adoption of the minimum qualifications, must possess at least the following specific minimum qualifications: (i) a nominee shall have at least five years experience in any of investment management, economics, public accounting or Australian business; (ii) a nominee shall have a college undergraduate or graduate degree in economics, finance, business administration, accounting or engineering, or a professional degree in law, engineering, or medicine, from an accredited university or college in the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada or New Zealand, or the equivalent degree from an equivalent institution of higher learning in another country; and (iii) a nominee shall not have violated any provision of the U.S. federal or state securities laws, or comparable laws of another country.
Each Funds bylaws also contain advance notice provisions and general procedures with respect to the submission of proposals, including the nomination of directors. Shareholders who intend to propose potential director candidates must substantiate compliance with these requirements. Notice of shareholder proposals must be provided to the Funds Secretary not earlier than the 150th day and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the 120th day prior to the first anniversary of the date of the preceding years proxy statement. Any shareholder may obtain a copy of the Funds bylaws by calling the Investor Relations department of Aberdeen Asset Management Inc., the Funds investor relations services provider, toll-free at 1-800-522-5465 (FAX); 1-866-839-5233 (FCO); 1-866-839-5205 (IAF), or by sending an e-mail to Aberdeen Asset Management Inc. at InvestorRelations@aberdeen-asset.com.
Cost Review Committee
Each Cost Review Committee reviews on an ongoing basis the fees and expenses incurred by the Fund, to ensure that such expenses are commensurate with the services provided. The members of each Funds Cost Review Committee are Messrs. Neville J. Miles, Peter D. Sacks and John T. Sheehy.
Leverage Committee
The Leverage Committee monitors the Funds leverage and reviews leverage options for the Fund. The members of the FAX and FCOs Leverage Committee are Messrs. P. Gerald Malone, Peter D. Sacks and John T. Sheehy.
15
Board Oversight of Risk Management
The Funds are subject to a number of risks, including, among others, investment, compliance, operational and valuation risks. Risk oversight forms part of each Boards general oversight of the respective Fund and is addressed as part of various Board and Committee activities. Each Board has adopted, and periodically reviews, policies and procedures designed to address these risks. Different processes, procedures and controls are employed with respect to different types of risks. Day-to-day risk management functions are subsumed within the responsibilities of AAMAL, who carries out each Funds investment management and business affairs, and also by AAM Aus and AAML, as applicable, and other service providers in connection with the services they provide to the Funds. Each of AAMAL, AAM Aus and AAML, as applicable, and other service providers have their own, independent interest in risk management, and their policies and methods of risk management will depend on their functions and business models. As part of its regular oversight of each Fund, the respective Board, directly and/or through a Committee, interacts with and reviews reports from, among others, AAMAL, AAM Aus and AAML, as applicable, and each Funds other service providers (including the Funds transfer agent), the Funds Chief Compliance Officer, the Funds independent registered public accounting firm, legal counsel to the Funds, and internal auditors, as appropriate, relating to the operations of the Funds. The Boards also require AAMAL to report to the Boards on other matters relating to risk management on a regular and as-needed basis. The Boards recognize that it may not be possible to identify all of the risks that may affect the Funds or to develop processes and controls to eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects. Each Board may, at any time and in its discretion, change the manner in which it conducts risk oversight.
Board and Committee Meetings in Fiscal 2012
During the Funds fiscal year ended October 31, 2012, the Boards of FAX and IAF held four regular meetings and two special meetings; the Board of FCO held four regular meetings and one special meeting; the Audit and Valuation Committee of FAX, FCO and IAF each held four meetings; the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of FAX and IAF held three meetings; the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of FCO held two meetings the Contract Review Committee of FAX, FCO and IAF each held one meeting; the Cost Review Committee of FAX, FCO and IAF each held one meeting and the Leverage Committees of FAX and FCO each held five meetings. During such period, each incumbent Director attended at least 75% of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board and of Committees of the Board on which he served with the exception of Martin Gilbert and Hugh Young who attended 50% and 67%, respectively, of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board on which they served.
Communications with the Board of Directors
Shareholders who wish to communicate with Board members with respect to matters relating to the Funds may address their written correspondence to the Boards as a whole or to individual Board members c/o Aberdeen Asset Management Inc., the Funds investor relations service provider, at 1735 Market Street, 32nd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103, or may send e-mail correspondence to the Director(s) c/o Aberdeen Asset Management Inc. at InvestorRelations@aberdeen-asset.com.
Director Attendance at Annual Meetings of Shareholders
Generally, in the event that any of the Funds Directors are geographically close to the site of an annual meeting of shareholders at the time of such meeting, one or more of such Directors may attend the meeting. However, since a majority of the Funds Directors reside outside of the United States, the Funds recognize that it would be impractical for most Directors to attend such meetings and would create a significant expense for the Funds. In light of the fact that the residences of most Directors are substantial distances from the location of the annual meetings of shareholders and that, historically, few shareholders have attended the annual meetings in person, the Funds have not established a policy with respect to Director attendance at annual meetings of shareholders. Messers. Malone and Potter attended the 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders for FAX and FCO.
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REPORTS OF THE AUDIT AND VALUATION COMMITTEES; INFORMATION REGARDING THE FUNDS INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Each Audit and Valuation Committee has selected, and each Funds Independent Directors have ratified the selection of, KPMG LLP (KPMG), 1601 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, an independent registered public accounting firm, to audit the financial statements of the Funds for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2013. Representatives from KPMG are not expected to be present at the Meetings to make a statement or respond to questions from shareholders. However, such representatives are expected to be available by telephone to respond for questions raised by shareholders, if any, during the Meetings.
Each Audit and Valuation Committee has received from KPMG the written disclosures and the letter required by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding KPMGs communications with the Audit and Valuation Committee concerning independence, and have discussed with KPMG its independence. Each Audit and Valuation Committee has also reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements with Fund management and KPMG, and discussed certain matters with KPMG addressed by Statements on Auditing Standards Nos. 61 and 90. Based on the foregoing, each Audit and Valuation Committee recommended to its Board that the Funds audited financial statements be included in the respective Funds Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2012.
The following table sets forth the aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by KPMG during the Funds two most recent fiscal years:
2012 | 2011 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
FAX | FCO | IAF | FAX | FCO | IAF | |||||||||||||||||||
Audit Fees |
$ | 97,600 | $ | 80,200 | $ | 51,700 | $ | 97,600 | $ | 80,200 | $ | 98,000 | ||||||||||||
Audit-Related Fees |
$ | 30,500 | (2) | $ | 30,000 | (2) | $ | 0 | $ | 3,000 | $ | 3,000 | $ | 20,000 | (2) | |||||||||
Tax Fees(1) |
$ | 6,700 | $ | 6,700 | $ | 6,700 | $ | 6,433 | $ | 6,433 | $ | 6,433 | ||||||||||||
All Other Fees |
Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
(1) | The Tax Fees are for the completion of the Funds federal and state tax returns. |
(2) | Amounts relate to the public offering of shares of FAX, FCO and IAF that occurred on August 17, 2012, January 3, 2012 and April 13, 2011 respectively. |
For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2012, KPMG billed $1,023,077 for aggregate non-audit fees for services to the Investment Manager and Investment Adviser of the Funds. For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2011, KPMG billed $736,785 for aggregate non-audit fees for services to the Investment Manager, Investment Adviser and Sub-Adviser of FAX and FCO, and $536,099 for aggregate non-audit fees for services to the Investment Manager and Investment Adviser of IAF.
All of the services described in the table above were pre-approved by the relevant Audit and Valuation Committee.
Each Audit and Valuation Committee has adopted an Audit and Valuation Committee Charter that provides that the Audit and Valuation Committee shall annually select, retain or terminate the Funds independent auditor and, in connection therewith, evaluate the terms of the engagement (including compensation of the auditor) and the qualifications and independence of the independent auditor, including whether the independent auditor provides any consulting, auditing or tax services to the Investment Manager, Investment Adviser or Sub-Adviser, if applicable, and receive the independent auditors specific representations as to their independence, delineating all relationships between the independent auditor and the Fund, consistent with the Independent Standards Board (ISB) Standard No. 1. Each Audit and Valuation Committee Charter also
17
provides that the Committee shall review in advance, and consider approval of, any and all proposals by Fund management or the Investment Manager that the Fund, Investment Manager or their affiliated persons, employ the independent auditor to render permissible non-audit services to the Fund and to consider whether such services are consistent with the independent auditors independence.
Each Audit and Valuation Committee has considered whether the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to the Investment Manager, Investment Adviser, or Sub-Adviser, if applicable, and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with these entities that provides ongoing services to the relevant Fund that were not pre-approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X is compatible with maintaining the principal accountants independence and has concluded that it is.
COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth information regarding compensation of Directors by each Fund and by the Fund Complex of which the Funds are a part for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2012. Officers of the Funds and Directors who are interested persons of the Funds do not receive any compensation directly from the Funds or any other fund in the Fund Complex for performing their duties as officers or Directors, respectively.
Name of Director |
Aggregate Compensation from Fund Fiscal Year Ended October 31, 2012 |
Total Compensation From Fund and Fund Complex Paid To Directors* |
||||||||||||||
FAX | FCO | IAF | ||||||||||||||
|
Independent Directors: |
|
||||||||||||||
P. Gerald Malone |
$ | 63,671 | $ | 57,837 | $ | 38,418 | $ | 183,652 | (28) | |||||||
Neville J. Miles |
$ | 47,170 | $ | 37,211 | $ | 58,004 | $ | 161,285 | (28) | |||||||
William J. Potter |
$ | 41,253 | $ | 39,543 | $ | 38,418 | $ | 119,215 | (3) | |||||||
Pater D. Sacks |
$ | 46,628 | $ | 39,293 | $ | 39,418 | $ | 145,065 | (28) | |||||||
Moritz Sell |
N/a | N/a | $ | 35,418 | $ | 35,418 | (2) | |||||||||
John T. Sheehy |
$ | 51,545 | $ | 45,711 | $ | 44,336 | $ | 159,591 | (28) | |||||||
Brian Sherman** |
$ | 19,068 | N/a | $ | 17,163 | $ | 36,231 | (2) | ||||||||
|
Interested Directors: |
|
||||||||||||||
Martin J. Gilbert |
N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | (29) | |||||||||||
Hugh Young |
N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | (2) |
* | The number in parentheses indicates the total number of funds in the Fund Complex on which the Director serves or served at any time during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2012. |
** | Brian Sherman resigned from the Boards of FAX and IAF on July 9, 2012. |
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the 1934 Act and Section 30(h) of the 1940 Act, as applied to the Funds, require the Funds officers, Directors, the Investment Manager and Investment Adviser, affiliates of the Investment Manager or Investment Adviser, and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of a registered class of a Funds outstanding securities (Reporting Persons) to electronically file reports of ownership of that Funds securities and changes in such ownership with the SEC and the NYSE MKT. Such persons are required by SEC regulations to furnish the Fund with copies of all such filings.
18
Based solely on its review of the copies of such forms received by it and written representations from certain Reporting Persons that no year-end reports were required for those persons, and except as provided in the following sentence, each Fund believes that during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2012, its Reporting Persons complied with all applicable filing requirements. Mr. Timothy Sullivan, previously an officer of the Funds, filed a Form 4 Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership of each Funds securities subsequent to the 2-day period specified in the Form.
Relationship of Directors or Nominees with the Investment Manager and the Investment Adviser
Aberdeen Asset Management Asia Limited serves as the Investment Manager to the Funds pursuant to management agreements dated as of April 3, 2009 for FAX, as of June 7, 2006 for FCO, and as of March 8, 2004 for IAF. The Investment Manager is a Singapore corporation with its registered office located at 21 Church Street, #01-01 Capital Square Two, Singapore 049480. Aberdeen Asset Management Limited serves as the Investment Adviser to the Funds pursuant to advisory agreements dated as of April 3, 2009 for FAX, as of June 7, 2006 for FCO, and as of March 8, 2004 for IAF. The Investment Adviser is an Australian corporation with its registered offices located at Level 6, 201 Kent Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia. Aberdeen Asset Managers Limited serves as the Sub-Adviser to FAX and FCO pursuant to sub-advisory agreements dated March 1, 2012 for each of FAX and FCO. The Sub-Adviser is a United Kingdom corporation with its registered offices located at Bow Bells House 1 Bread Street, London, United Kingdom, EC4M 9HH. The Investment Manager, Investment Adviser and Sub-Adviser are each wholly-owned subsidiaries of Aberdeen Asset Management PLC (Aberdeen PLC), a Scottish company. The registered offices of Aberdeen PLC are located at 10 Queens Terrace, Aberdeen, Scotland AB10 1YG. Mr. Martin Gilbert, a Director (FAX and FCO) and Vice President of the Funds, also serves as a Director of the Investment Manager, a Director of the Investment Adviser and as the Chief Executive and an Executive Director of Aberdeen PLC. Mr. Gilbert is also a shareholder of Aberdeen PLC. Mr. Hugh Young, a Director of IAF, serves as the Managing Director of the Investment Manager and a Director of Aberdeen PLC. Mr. Young is also a shareholder of Aberdeen PLC.
Aberdeen Asset Management Inc. (AAMI), an affiliate of the Investment Manager, Investment Adviser and Sub-Adviser, serves as the Funds administrator. Pursuant to an administration agreement between AAMI and each of FAX and FCO, AAMI receives a fee at an annual rate equal to 0.125% of each Funds average weekly Managed Assets (as defined in each Funds management agreement) between $0 to $1 billion, computed based upon the value of managed assets determined at the end of each week, 0.10% of such assets between $1 billion to $2 billion, computed based upon the value of Managed Assets determined at the end of each week, and 0.075% of such assets in excess of $2 billion. Pursuant to an administration agreement between IAF and AAMI, AAMI receives a fee at an annual rate equal to 0.08% of the Funds average weekly Managed Assets (as defined in IAFs management agreement) between $0 to $500 million, computed based upon the value of managed assets determined at the end of each week, 0.07% of such assets between $500 million to $1.5 billion, computed based upon the value of Managed Assets determined at the end of each week, and 0.06% of such assets in excess of $1.5 billion. AAMI is a Delaware corporation with its principal business office located at 1735 Market Street, 32nd Floor, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103. AAMI also provides investor relations services to the Funds under an investor relations services agreement. Messrs. Gilbert and Goodson, and Mmes. Melia and Nichols, who serve as officers of the Funds, are also directors and/or officers of AAMI.
EACH FUNDS BOARD, INCLUDING THE INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS, RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR FOR THE RELEVANT FUND.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Expenses. The expense of preparation, printing and mailing of the enclosed proxy card and accompanying Notice and Joint Proxy Statement will be borne proportionately by each Fund. Each Fund will reimburse banks, brokers and others for their reasonable expenses in forwarding proxy solicitation material to the beneficial owners of the shares of that Fund. In order to obtain the necessary quorum at each Meeting, supplementary solicitation may be made by mail, telephone, telegraph or personal interview. Such solicitation may be conducted by, among others, officers, Directors and employees of the Funds, the Investment Manager, the Investment Adviser, the Sub-Adviser (in the case of FAX and FCO) or the Funds Administrator.
AST Fund Solutions, LLC (AST) has been retained to assist in the solicitation of proxies and will receive an estimated fee of $3,500 (FAX), $1,100 (FCO) and $2,800 (IAF) and be reimbursed for its reasonable expenses. Total payments to AST are expected to be between $10,000 and $14,000.
Solicitation and Voting of Proxies. Solicitation of proxies is being made primarily by the mailing of this Joint Proxy Statement with its enclosures on or about February 15, 2013. As mentioned above, AST has been engaged to assist in the solicitation of proxies. As the meeting date approaches, certain shareholders of a Fund may receive a call from a representative of AST, if the Fund has not yet received their vote. Authorization to permit AST to execute proxies may be obtained by telephonic instructions from shareholders of a Fund. Proxies that are obtained telephonically will be recorded in accordance with procedures that management of each of the Funds believes are reasonably designed to ensure that the identity of the shareholder casting the vote is accurately determined and that the voting instructions of the shareholder are accurately determined.
Beneficial Owners. To the best of knowledge of FAX and IAF, based upon filings made with the SEC, as of January 31, 2013, no persons or group beneficially owned more than 5% of the voting securities of FAX and IAF. Based upon filings made with the SEC, as of January 31, 2013, the following table shows certain information concerning persons who may be deemed beneficial owners of 5% or more of the shares of FCO because they possessed or shared voting or investment power with respect to FCOs shares:
Fund |
Class | Name and Address |
Number of Shares Beneficially Owned |
Percentage of Shares |
||||||||||
FCO |
Common | First Trust Portfolios L.P. | 1,396,409 | 15.0 | % |
Shareholder Proposals. If a shareholder intends to present a proposal, including the nomination of a director, at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Funds to be held in 2014 and desires to have the proposal included in the Funds proxy statement and form of proxy for that meeting, the shareholder must deliver the proposal to the Secretary of the Funds at the office of the Funds, 1735 Market Street, 32nd Floor, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, and such proposal must be received by the Secretary no later than October 18, 2013.
Shareholders wishing to present proposals, including the nomination of a director, at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Funds to be held in 2014 which they do not wish to be included in the Funds proxy materials must send written notice of such proposals to the Secretary of the Funds at the office of the Fund, 1735 Market Street 32nd Floor, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, and such notice must be received by the Secretary no sooner than September 18, 2013 and no later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on October 18, 2013 in the form prescribed from time to time in the Funds bylaws.
SHAREHOLDERS WHO DO NOT EXPECT TO BE PRESENT AT THE MEETINGS AND WHO WISH TO HAVE THEIR SHARES VOTED ARE REQUESTED TO DATE AND SIGN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD(S) AND RETURN THEM IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. NO POSTAGE IS REQUIRED IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.
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Delivery of Proxy
Unless the Funds have received contrary instructions from shareholders, only one copy of this Joint Proxy Statement may be mailed to households, even if more than one person in a household is a shareholder of record. If a shareholder needs an additional copy of this Joint Proxy Statement, please contact the Funds at 1-800-522-5465 (FAX), 1-866-839-5233 (FCO) or 1-866-839-5205 (IAF). If any shareholder does not want the mailing of this Joint Proxy Statement to be combined with those for other members of its household, please contact the Funds in writing at: 1735 Market Street, 32nd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103 or call the Funds at 1-800-522-5465 (FAX), 1-866-839-5233 (FCO) or 1-866-839-5205 (IAF).
Other Business
Management knows of no business to be presented at the Meetings, other than the Proposal set forth in this Joint Proxy Statement, but should any other matter requiring the vote of shareholders arise, the proxies will vote thereon according to their discretion.
By order of the Boards of Directors,
Megan Kennedy, Secretary
Aberdeen Asia-Pacific Income Fund, Inc.
Aberdeen Global Income Fund, Inc.
Aberdeen Australia Equity Fund, Inc.
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APPENDIX A
Aberdeen Asia-Pacific Income Fund, Inc.
Aberdeen Global Income Fund, Inc.
Aberdeen Australia Equity Fund, Inc.
(each, a Fund)
Audit and Valuation Committee Charter
Mission
The mission of the Funds Audit and Valuation Committee (the Committee) is to oversee: (i) the Funds accounting and financial reporting policies and practices; (ii) its internal controls and, as appropriate, the internal controls of certain service providers; (iii) the integrity, quality and objectivity of the Funds financial statements and the independent audit thereof, including, but not limited to, oversight of the independent auditors qualifications and independence. The Committee will also oversee the activities of the Funds Pricing Committee and perform the responsibilities assigned to the Committee in the Valuation and Liquidity Procedures (the Procedures). The Committee serves to provide an open avenue of communication among the independent auditor, the internal accounting staff of the Funds administrator (the Administrator) and the Board of Directors (the Board). The Committee will report to the Board, if necessary, any relationships between the independent auditor and the Fund, or any other relationships, which come to the Committees attention that may adversely affect the independence of the independent auditor. References throughout this Charter to the Committee, the Board and the Fund shall be interpreted to refer to each Committee, each Board and each Fund respectively.
The function of the Committee is to provide oversight; it is the responsibility of the Fund, the Funds investment adviser (the Adviser) and the Administrator to maintain appropriate systems for (i) accounting and internal control and (ii) maintaining appropriate systems for pricing of the Funds assets. It is the responsibility of the Funds independent auditor and the Funds management (Management) to plan and carry out a proper audit.
Although the Committee has the responsibilities and powers set forth in this Charter, it is not the duty of the Committee to plan or conduct audits or to determine that the Funds financial statements are complete or accurate or have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
The Pricing Committee is directly accountable to the Committee and the Board. The independent auditor is directly accountable to the Committee and must report directly to the Committee.
Committee Membership
The Committee shall be composed of at least three members. Each member must have been determined not to be an interested person (as that term is defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (1940 Act)) of the Fund, other than in his or her capacity as a member of the Board or any Board committee (an Independent Director) and, in addition, each member shall have the additional qualifications indicated below.
Qualifications of Committee Members
1. | Members of the Committee must be members of the Board and may not be officers of the Fund. Each member of the Committee must also meet the NYSE MKTs independence requirements for audit committee members of listed registered investment companies and the independence requirements applicable to investment companies set forth in Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 1934 Act). In addition, members should be free of any relationships that would interfere with their exercise of independent judgment as Committee members. |
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2. | Each member of the Committee must not have participated in the preparation of the financial statements of the Fund or any current subsidiary of the Fund at any time during the past three years. |
3. | Each member of the Committee must be able to read and understand fundamental financial statements, including the Funds balance sheet, income statement and statement of cash flows, or must become able to do so within a reasonable period of time after his or her appointment to the Committee. The Committee may, in its discretion, recommend to the Board that the Board designate one or more Committee members as Audit Committee Financial Experts (ACFE). In recommending that a person be designated an ACFE, the Committee shall consider the factors prescribed by Section 407 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, relevant regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and such other factors as the Committee deems relevant. Further, at least one member of the Committee must be financially sophisticated, as such term is defined in the listing standards of the NYSE MKT.1 A Committee member designated as an ACFE shall not be subject to a different or higher degree of individual responsibility, care or obligation than other members of the Committee. The designation of one or more Committee members as ACFE shall not alter or decrease the duties and obligations of members of the Committee not so designated. If none of the members of the Committee is a financial expert (as that term is defined in the rules and regulations of the SEC), the Funds periodic reports shall disclose the reason why. On an annual basis, the Committee shall determine whether one or more of the Committee members qualifies as an ACFE. |
4. | Unless exempted by an order of the SEC, each member of the Committee may not, other than in his or her capacity as a member of the Committee, the Board or any other committee of the Board, directly or indirectly, accept any consulting, advisory or other compensatory fee from the Fund. |
5. | The additional compensation, if any, of the Committee members and Chairperson shall be as determined by the Board. |
Duties and Powers
To carry out its mission under this Charter, the Committee shall, to the extent it deems appropriate, carry out the following functions:
1. | To annually select, retain or terminate the Funds independent auditor and, in connection therewith, to evaluate the terms of the engagement (including compensation of the auditor) and the qualifications and independence of the independent auditor, including whether the independent auditor provides any consulting, auditing or tax services to the Adviser or any sub-adviser, and to receive the independent auditors specific representations as to its independence, delineating all relationships between the independent auditor and the Fund, consistent with PCAOB Rule 3526.2 The Committee is responsible for actively engaging in a dialogue with the independent auditor with respect to any disclosed relationships or services that may impact the objectivity and independence of the independent auditor and for taking, or recommending that the full Board take, appropriate action to oversee the independence of the independent auditor; |
1 | An individual that qualifies as an ACFE under Item 3 of Form N-CSR is presumed to be financially sophisticated. |
2 | PCAOB Rule 3526 requires that, at least annually, the auditor: (1) disclose to the Committee, in writing, all relationships between the auditor and its related entities and the Fund and its related entities that in the auditors professional judgment may reasonably be thought to bear on independence; (2) confirm in the letter that, in its professional judgment, it is independent of the Fund within the meaning of the Securities Acts administered by the SEC; and (3) discuss the auditors independence with the audit committee. |
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2. | To review in advance, and consider approval of, any and all proposals by Management or the Adviser that the Fund, the Adviser or their affiliated persons, employ the independent auditor to render permissible non-audit services3 to the Fund and to consider whether such services are consistent with the independent auditors independence.4 The Committee may delegate to one or more of its members (Delegates) authority to pre-approve permissible non-audit services to be provided to the Fund (a description of the Committees current delegation is included as Exhibit A). Any pre-approval determination of a Delegate shall be presented to the full Committee at its next meeting. The Committee shall communicate any pre-approval made by it or a Delegate to the Adviser, who will ensure that the appropriate disclosure is made in the Funds periodic reports required by Section 30 of the 1940 Act, as amended, and other documents as required under the federal securities laws; |
3. | To select, recommend and engage new independent auditors, should it prove necessary, subject to ratification by the Board and shareholder approval, if required; |
4. | To meet periodically with the Funds independent auditor and Management, including private meetings, as necessary (i) to review the arrangements for and scope of the annual audit and any special audits, and the fees proposed to be charged in connection with such services, (ii) review, discuss and recommend to the Board that the Funds annual audited financial statements be included in the annual report to shareholders and review and discuss the unaudited semi-annual financial statements, (iii) to discuss any matters of concern relating to the Funds financial statements, including any adjustments to such statements recommended by the independent auditor, or other results of said audit(s), including |
3 | Permissible non-audit services include any professional services, including tax services, provided to the Fund by the independent auditor, other than those provided to the Fund in connection with an audit or a review of the financial statements of the Fund. Permissible non-audit services may not include: (i) bookkeeping or other services related to the accounting records or financial statements of the Fund; (ii) financial information systems design and implementation; (iii) appraisal or valuation services, fairness opinions or contribution-in-kind reports; (iv) actuarial services; (v) internal audit outsourcing services; (vi) management functions or human resources; (vii) broker or dealer, investment adviser or investment banking services; (viii) legal services and expert services unrelated to the audit; and (ix) any other service the PCAOB determines, by regulation, is impermissible. |
4 | Pre-approval by the Committee of any permissible non-audit services is not required so long as: (i) the aggregate amount of all such permissible non-audit services provided to the Fund constitutes not more than 5% of the total amount of revenues paid by the Fund to its auditor during the fiscal year in which the permissible non-audit services are provided; (ii) the permissible non-audit services were not recognized by the Fund at the time of the engagement to be non-audit services; and (iii) such services are promptly brought to the attention of the Committee and approved by the Committee or its Delegate(s) prior to the completion of the audit. |
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matters required to be discussed by the Statement on Auditing Standards (SAS) No. 114, as amended,5 and Managements response to such matters, (iv) to consider the independent auditors comments with respect to the Funds financial policies, procedures and internal accounting controls and managements responses thereto, (v) to review the form of opinion the independent auditor proposes to render to the Board and shareholders, and (vi) to review the performance of the independent auditor; |
5. | To review and resolve any disagreements between Management and the independent auditor regarding financial reporting; |
6. | To review the fees charged by the independent auditor for audit and permissible non-audit services; |
7. | To review and discuss policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management with respect to the Fund; |
8. | To review annually with Management and the independent auditors their separate evaluations of the adequacy and effectiveness of the Funds system of internal controls. |
9. | To review with Management and the independent auditor any significant audit findings related to the Funds systems for accounting, reporting and internal controls; and any recommendations for the improvement of internal control procedures or particular areas where new or more detailed controls or procedures are desirable; |
10. | To consider, in consultation with the independent auditor, reports from Fund legal counsel with respect to compliance with laws and regulations, significant litigation, and possible impact of financial results; |
11. | To review the Funds tax compliance and status, including the status of the Funds position relative to tax audits and significant issues disputed by tax authorities; |
12. | To develop, establish and periodically review procedures for: (i) the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Fund from any source regarding accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing matters; and (ii) the confidential, anonymous submission of concerns regarding questionable accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters related to the Fund by employees of the Fund and employees of its service providers, including, but not limited to, employees of the Adviser, the Administrator, the Funds custodian, the Funds principal underwriter, if any, and any other provider of accounting related services (such procedures are included as Exhibit B); |
13. | To investigate improprieties or suspected improprieties in Fund operations and other matters within the scope of its duties, as they are presented to the Committee or brought to the attention of the Committee; |
5 | SAS 114 requires independent auditors to communicate certain matters related to the conduct of an audit to those who have responsibility for oversight of the financial reporting process, specifically the audit committee. Among the matters to be communicated to the audit committee are: (1) methods used to account for significant unusual transactions; (2) the effect of significant accounting policies in controversial or emerging areas for which there is a lack of authoritative guidance or consensus; (3) the process used by management in formulating particularly sensitive accounting estimates and the basis for the auditors conclusions regarding the reasonableness of those estimates; (4) adjustments arising from the audit that could, in the auditors judgment, have a significant effect on the companys financial reporting process, or uncorrected misstatements aggregated by the auditor that were determined by management to be immaterial to the financial statements; (5) disagreements with management over the application of accounting principles, the basis for managements accounting estimates, and the disclosures in the financial statements; (6) the auditors responsibilities under generally accepted auditing standards; and (7) the planned scope and timing of the audit. SAS No. 90 clarifies that the auditor must discuss certain information relating to its judgment about the quality, not just the acceptability, of the companys accounting principles with the audit committee and encourages a three-way discussion among the auditor, management and the audit committee. |
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14. | To appoint a Pricing Committee for the Funds, in accordance with the Procedures; |
15. | To review the actions of the Pricing Committee and to ratify or revise such actions, in accordance with the Procedures; |
16. | To investigate matters brought to the Pricing Committees attention within the scope of its duties; |
17. | To review any fair price valuation in a special meeting, if called to do so by the Pricing Committee; and |
18. | To report its activities to the full Board on a regular basis and to make such recommendations with respect to the above and other matters as the Committee may deem necessary or appropriate. |
Other Powers and Responsibilities
1. | The Committee normally shall meet twice yearly, and may meet at such other time or times as the Committee or Board may determine appropriate or necessary, and is empowered to hold special meetings as circumstances require. The Committee shall keep written minutes of its meetings, which minutes shall be maintained with the books and records of the Fund, and the Committee shall report to the Board on its meetings. |
2. | The Funds officers shall provide, or arrange to provide, such information, data and service as the Committee may request. The Committee shall conduct interviews or discussions as it deems appropriate with personnel of the Fund, and/or others whose views would be considered helpful to the Committee. The Committee may ask Management and representatives of the service providers to attend meetings as necessary. |
3. | The Committee shall have the resources and authority appropriate to discharge its responsibilities, including authority to: (i) engage legal counsel and to retain experts or other persons with specific competence at the expense of the Fund; (ii) compensate any independent auditor engaged for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review or attest services for the Fund; and (iii) determine and request appropriate funding from the Fund to cover the ordinary administrative expenses of the Committee that are necessary or appropriate in carrying out its duties. |
4. | The Committee shall review this Charter annually and recommend any changes to the full Board. |
As amended December 5, 2012.
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EXHIBIT A
On June 7, 2011, pursuant to this authority, each Funds Committee delegated to the Committee Chairman, subject to subsequent ratification by the full Committee, the authority to pre-approve non-routine permissible non-audit services on behalf of the Funds Committee up to a maximum amount of $25,000, which includes any professional services, including tax services, provided to the Fund by KPMG LLP other than those provided to the Fund in connection with an audit or a review of the financial statements of the Fund.
EXHIBIT B
Audit and Valuation Committee
Procedures for Handling Complaints and Concerns
The Fund seeks to ensure the integrity of its financial reporting and its compliance with applicable law. The Fund also desires to conduct itself in a prudent and ethical manner. The Fund believes that any measures which assist it in protecting the integrity of its financial reporting and promoting its compliance with applicable law benefits the interests of its stockholders.
Pursuant to the requirements of Rule 10A-3(b)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, Section 803 B(4) of the NYSE MKT Company Guide, the Funds Audit and Valuation Committee Charter, and in accordance with Section 806 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Audit and Valuation Committee of each Fund (the Committee) has adopted the following procedures for handling complaints and concerns to assist each Fund in meeting certain legal obligations in connection with its accounting and auditing practices (the Procedures). These Procedures have also been adopted to address complaints and concerns and encourage reporting of any potential conduct that is dishonest, illegal or unethical, including, but not limited to, conduct which involves violations of any rules and regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission as well as any federal rules relating to fraud against stockholders. The goal of these Procedures is to reduce the prospect of illegal conduct.
Although the Fund has officers, the Fund does not have employees. The Fund contracts with third parties which provide management, administrative, custodial, accounting, auditing, transfer agency and other services to the Fund (the Service Providers). The Committee relies on its officers and Service Providers for information about the Funds accounting, internal accounting controls and auditing matters (collectively, Accounting Matters) as well as information concerning the daily operations of the respective Fund (Operational Matters). Because each Committee is dependent upon the information provided to it by the relevant Funds officers and Service Providers, it is important for each Committee to ensure that open and effective channels of communication are available for the reporting of concerns and complaints regarding Accounting and Operational Matters.
Each Committee has established these Procedures for the:
| receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Fund regarding Accounting and Operational Matters; and |
| the confidential, anonymous submission by officers of the Fund or employees of Service Providers (collectively, Reporting Persons) of concerns regarding questionable Accounting and Operational Matters. |
1. | Submission of Complaints and Concerns |
(a) | The Fund encourages any officer of the Fund or employee of a Service Provider who has a concern regarding a potentially questionable Accounting and/or Operational Matter to bring this concern to the attention of the respective Funds Committee Chairman. A matter may be a potentially questionable Accounting Matter if, for example, it involves fraud or deliberate error in the preparation, evaluation, review or audit of any financial statement of a Fund; fraud or deliberate error in the recording and maintaining of financial records of a Fund; deficiencies in or noncompliance with any internal accounting controls affecting a Fund; any misrepresentation or false statement regarding a matter contained in the financial records, financial reports or audit reports of a Fund; or any deviation from full and fair reporting of a Funds financial condition. A matter may be a potentially questionable Operational Matter if, for example, it involves fraud or intentional illegal conduct affecting a Fund or |
its stockholders; potential violation of the applicable federal securities laws or other applicable federal or foreign laws governing a Fund; or potentially unethical conduct impacting the operations of a Fund. |
(b) | Any such concerns involving questionable Operational or Accounting Matters should be submitted directly to the Committees Chairman (the Chairman). John T. Sheehy, the Chairman, may be contacted as follows: |
By mail: |
B.V. Murray and Company | |
666 Goodwin Ave. Suite 330 | ||
Midland Park, NJ 07432 | ||
By telephone: |
(201) 227-8001 | |
By fax: |
(201) 227-8004 | |
By e-mail: |
johnsheehy200@att.net |
If a Reporting Person does not want to be identified with the submission, he or she should mail his or her communications to the Chairman, without including his or her name in the correspondence but, instead, prominently indicating on the submission that it is a Confidential, Anonymous Submission.
(c) | Any complaint received by an officer of the Fund or an employee of a Service Provider with respect to Accounting or Operating Matters should be promptly forwarded to the Chairman. Given the sensitivity of such matters, any written correspondence regarding a complaint should be marked Confidential. |
(d) | A Funds Committee Chairman will observe the following procedures in investigating a complaint or concern: |
| the Committee Chairman will take all appropriate action to investigate any complaints or concerns reported to him or her, which actions may (but need not) include the use of internal or external counsel, accountants or other personnel; and |
| the Committee Chairman will promptly report any complaint or concern he or she receives to the President of the Fund and to the Funds legal counsel, although the Committee Chairman may refrain from notifying the President of the Fund if after consultation with the Funds legal counsel or the Committee, the Chairman believes that refraining would be in the Funds best interest. |
The Committee Chairman will inform the Committee of any complaints or concerns reported under these Procedures at the next regularly scheduled Committee meeting, although the Committee Chairman will notify the Committee before the meeting if the Committee Chairman determines that the Committee should be notified more promptly. The Committee in its discretion may take any action it deems appropriate to investigate any complaints or concerns of which it becomes aware, which may include referring the matter to the President of the relevant Fund or another Fund officer or initiating an independent investigation. The Committee may also choose to take no action. If the Committee chooses to conduct an investigation, it may, at the relevant Funds expense, use internal or external counsel, accountants and other personnel. The Committee will maintain records of all complaints and concerns reported under these Procedures, the disposition of such complaints and concerns, and the basis for such disposition.
2. | Freedom to Report (No Retaliation) |
None of the Funds will tolerate any form of retaliation against a Fund Director or officer; or against an Service Provider employee (i) who submits a good faith complaint or concern about a Funds Accounting or Operational Matters or (ii) who assists in an investigation of challenged practices.
Accordingly, any Director or officer of a Fund, or employee of an Service Provider is prohibited from discharging, demoting, suspending, threatening, harassing, or in any other manner discriminating against a Reporting Person that would have an impact on the terms and conditions of the Reporting Persons employment, because of any lawful act done by the Reporting Person to provide information, cause information to be provided, or otherwise assist in an investigation regarding any conduct which the Reporting Person reasonably believes is reportable under these Procedures. Reporting Persons have the option, and are encouraged to, report any violation to the relevant Funds Committee Chairman with confidentiality. These Procedures are intended to create an environment where Reporting Persons can act without fear of reprisal or retaliation. So as to ensure that Service Providers are aware of, and complying with, the Procedures, a Fund may, as part of these Procedures, provide Service Providers with the Procedures and obtain annual affirmations of such Service Providers receipt of, and compliance with, the Procedures.
In order to monitor whether the Reporting Person is being subjected to reprisals or retaliation, a Funds Committee Chairman may contact the Reporting Person (if the Reporting Persons identity is known) to determine whether any changes in the Reporting Persons work situation have occurred as a result of providing such information. If the Committee Chairman determines that any reprisal or retaliation has occurred, a report of this shall be made to the Service Provider and to the Committee if consented to by the Reporting Person.
Any Reporting Person who feels he or she has been the subject of reprisal or retaliation because of his or her reporting under these Procedures should immediately notify the relevant Funds Audit Committee Chairman.
3. | Director Concerns |
Any Director who has a concern regarding what he or she views as questionable Accounting or Operational Matters should bring such concern to the attention of the relevant Funds Committee Chairman no later than the first Committee meeting held after he or she becomes concerned.
4. | Retention of Records |
The Funds Chief Compliance Officer, on behalf of the Funds and their Committees, will maintain a confidential file of materials related to complaints or concerns received concerning each Funds Accounting or Operational Matters. These materials will be retained for a period of five (5) years or such longer period as may be required by law. Any records relating to a report may, if necessary, be redacted (or similar steps taken) to preserve the confidentiality of the person(s) submitting the report.
5. | Communication and Training |
The officers of each Fund shall be responsible for ensuring that all persons involved with their respective Funds Accounting and Operational Matters (including employees of Service Providers) are made aware of and encouraged to report matters under these Procedures.
6. | Review of Procedures |
These Procedures shall be reviewed by each Funds Committee at the same time as the review of a Funds Committee Charter.
APPENDIX B
Aberdeen Asia-Pacific Income Fund, Inc. (FAX)
Aberdeen Global Income Fund, Inc. (FCO)
Aberdeen Australia Equity Fund, Inc. (IAF)
Aberdeen Funds
(each, a Fund)
NOMINATING & CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE CHARTER
PURPOSE & SCOPE
Each Fund has established a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (the Committee) to promote the effective participation of qualified individuals on the Board of Directors/Trustees (the Board), committees of the Board, and as executive officers of the Fund, and to review, evaluate and enhance the effectiveness of the Board in its role in governing the Fund and overseeing the management of the Fund so that the interests of shareholders in the Fund are well-served. References throughout this Charter to the Committee, the Board and the Fund shall be interpreted to refer to each Committee, each Board and each Fund respectively.
In pursuit of this purpose, the scope of the Committees responsibilities shall include:
| the nomination of new Directors/Trustees. |
| the coordination of the evaluation of the Board and its committee structure. |
MEMBERSHIP
(a) The Committee for each Fund shall consist of all of the Directors/Trustees who are not interested persons of the Fund, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act) (independent directors), and, if applicable, independent as such term is defined by the listing standards of the principal national securities exchange upon which the Funds shares are listed.
(b) The Committee shall appoint its Chairperson by a majority vote of its members.
(c) The additional compensation, if any, of the Committee members and Chairperson shall be as determined by the Board.
NOMINATION AND APPOINTMENT POLICY AND RESPONSIBILITIES
(a) The Committee shall make nominations for directors/trustees and officers of the Fund and submit such nominations to the full Board. The Committee shall evaluate candidates qualifications for such positions, and, in the case of candidates for independent director positions, their independence from the Funds Investment Manager, Investment Adviser, Sub-Adviser and other principal service providers.
(b) In nominating candidates, the Committee will seek to identify candidates who can bring to the Board the skills, experience and judgment necessary to address the issues directors/trustees of investment companies may confront in fulfilling their duties to fund shareholders. The Committee may, in its discretion, establish specific, minimum qualifications (including skills) that must be met by Committee-nominated or shareholder-nominated candidates. The
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Committee may take into account a wide variety of factors in considering prospective director/trustee candidates, which may include (but are not limited to): (i) availability (including availability to attend to Board business on short notice) and commitment of a candidate to attend meetings and perform his or her responsibilities on the Board; (ii) relevant industry and related experience; (iii) educational background; (iv) reputation; (v) financial expertise; (vi) the candidates ability, judgment and expertise; (vii) overall diversity of the Boards composition; and (viii) commitment to the representation of the interests of the Fund and its shareholders.
(c) Persons selected as independent directors/trustees must not be interested persons of the Fund as that term is defined in the 1940 Act. The Committee shall also consider the effect of any relationships beyond those delineated in the 1940 Act that might impair independence, e.g. business, financial or family relationships with the Investment Manager, Investment Adviser or Sub-Adviser or their affiliates.
(d) While the Committee has not adopted a particular definition of diversity or a particular policy with regard to the consideration of diversity in identifying candidates, when considering a candidates and the Boards diversity, the Committee generally considers the manner in which each candidates leadership, independence, interpersonal skills, financial acumen, integrity and professional ethics, educational and professional background, prior director or executive experience, industry knowledge, business judgment and specific experiences or expertise would compliment or benefit the Board and, as a whole, contribute to the ability of the Board to oversee the Fund. The Committee may also consider other factors or attributes as they may determine appropriate in their judgment. The Committee believes that the significance of each candidates background, experience, qualifications, attributes or skills must be considered in the context of the Board as a whole.
(e) The Committee shall evaluate the participation and contribution of each director coming to the end of his or her term before deciding whether to recommend re-election. The Committee may seek the views of other directors to assist it in this evaluation.
(f) The Committee will consider potential director candidates, if any, recommended by stockholders, provided that the proposed candidates (i) satisfy any minimum qualifications of the Fund for its directors/trustees; (ii) are not interested persons of the Fund, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act; and (iii) for FAX, FCO and IAF, are independent as defined in the listing standards of any exchange on which the Funds shares are listed.
(g) The Committee is empowered to establish such procedures and eligibility requirements for stockholder submission of nominee candidates as the Committee deems appropriate, in addition to such procedures and requirements as are set forth in the Funds bylaws.
(h) The Committee may identify prospective directors/trustees from any reasonable source, including, but not limited to, consultation with third-party director search services, and may pay for such search services from the assets of the Fund.
(i) It shall be in the Committees sole discretion as to whether or not to nominate a candidate for membership on the Board.
ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITIES
(a) The Committee shall be responsible for and implement an annual evaluation of the performance of the Board and the committees of the Board, including a consideration of the effectiveness of the committee structure and the number of Funds the Board oversees.
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(b) The Committee shall have the authority to investigate any matter brought to its attention within the scope of its duties, and shall have the authority to meet with the compliance personnel of management as the Committee deems appropriate in connection with the performance of its responsibilities.
(c) The Committee shall have the authority to delegate all or a portion of its duties and responsibilities to a subcommittee of the Committee.
(d) The Committee shall periodically review the amount of compensation to be paid by the Fund to Directors/Trustees for their service as members of the Board and as members of committees, and shall recommend any appropriate changes to the Board as a group.
(e) So long as the Fund relies on any of Rule 10f-3, Rule 12b-1, Rule 15a-4(b)(2), Rule 17a-7, Rule 17d-1(d)(7), Rule 17e-1, Rule 17g-1(j), Rule 18f-3 or Rule 23c-3, (i) a majority of the directors of the Fund shall be independent directors, (ii) the selection and nomination of any other independent directors shall be committed to the discretion of the existing independent directors, and (iii) any person who acts as counsel to the independent directors shall be independent legal counsel as defined in the rules under the 1940 Act.
(f) The Committee shall periodically review issues related to the succession of officers of the Fund.
(g) The Committee shall have any other duties or responsibilities expressly delegated to the Committee by the Board from time to time relating to the nomination of the Board members or any Committee members.
(h) The Committee shall make nominations for membership on all committees of the Board and shall review committee assignments as necessary.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE FUNCTION
The Committee shall review, discuss, and make recommendations to the Board relating to those issues that pertain to the effectiveness of the Board in carrying out its responsibilities in governing the Fund and overseeing the management of the Fund. These may include, but are not limited to, issues relating to:
(a) | Composition of the Board, including: |
| the size of the Board and the qualifications and representative areas of expertise; |
| years of service on the Board; and |
| retirement policies relating to members of the Board. |
(b) | Members of the Board, including: |
| guidelines relating to ownership by members of the Board of shares of the Fund; |
| continuing education of members of the Board; and |
| identification of best practices for members of the Board. |
(c) | Meetings of the Board, including: |
| coordination with the Chairman of the Board in developing the agenda for the meetings of the Board; |
| frequency of meetings of the Board; |
| Board meeting attendance policies. |
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(d) | The role of the Independent Directors/Trustees, including: |
| ability of independent members of the Board to act and function independently of management; and |
| responsibilities pursuant to statutory and regulatory requirements. |
(e) | The role of the committees of the Board, including: |
| scope of the responsibilities of the committees; and |
| whether there is a continuing need for each committee, whether there is a need for additional committees, and whether committees should be combined or reorganized. |
(f) | The relationship between the Board and management, including: |
| oversight of management; |
| communication with management; and |
| coordination with management in ensuring that management has developed an appropriate plan to deal with potential crisis management situations. |
(g) | Board self-evaluation. |
| The Committee may confer with the Board, and with independent consultants, in connection with the foregoing, and shall make recommendations for any action to the full Board. The Committee may pay for the services of such independent consultants from the assets of the Fund. |
PROCEDURAL MATTERS
(a) The Committee shall meet as deemed necessary or appropriate to carry out its nominating function, and at such other time or times as the Committee or Board may determine appropriate or necessary, and is empowered to hold special meetings as circumstances require.
(b) The Committee shall keep written minutes of its meetings, which minutes shall be maintained with the books and records of the Fund, and the Committee shall report to the Board on its meetings.
(c) The Committee shall, from time to time as it deems appropriate, review and reassess the adequacy of this Charter and recommend any proposed changes to the Board for approval.
(d) The Committee shall have the resources and authority appropriate to discharge its responsibilities, including authority to: (i) engage and compensate independent legal counsel and other experts or consultants at the expense of the Fund; and (ii) determine and request appropriate funding from the Fund to cover the ordinary administrative expenses of the Committee that are necessary or appropriate in carrying out its duties.
Dated: December 5, 2012
B-4
Using a black ink pen, mark your votes with an X as shown in this example. Please do not write outside the designated areas. |
X |
Annual Meeting Proxy Card Aberdeen Asia-Pacific Income Fund, Inc. |
q PLEASE FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. q
A |
Election of two Class I Directors (3-year term ending in 2016) The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the nominees listed. |
1. Nominees: |
For | Withhold | For | Withhold | + | |||||||||||
01 - John T. Sheehy |
¨ | ¨ | 02 - Neville J. Miles | ¨ | ¨ |
In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such
other business as may properly come before the Annual
Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
B |
Authorized Signatures This section must be completed for your vote to be counted. Date and Sign Below |
Please sign exactly as the name (or names) appears on the stock certificate (as indicated hereon). If the shares are issued in the names of two or more persons, all such persons should sign the proxy. A proxy executed by a corporation should be signed in its name by its authorized officers. Executors, administrators, trustees and partners should indicate their positions when signing.
Date (mm/dd/yyyy) Please print date below. |
Signature 1 Please keep signature within the box. | Signature 2 Please keep signature within the box. | ||||||
/ / | ||||||||
¢ | 1 U P X 1 5 2 1 6 4 2 | + | ||||||
01KCFC |
q PLEASE FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. q
Proxy Aberdeen Asia-Pacific Income Fund, Inc.
PROXY FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
March 28, 2013
The undersigned hereby appoints Mr. Alan Goodson and Mr. Matthew Keener, or either of them, each with power of substitution, as proxies to represent the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Aberdeen Asia-Pacific Income Fund, Inc., to be held on March 28, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time), and any adjournment or postponement thereof, and to vote the number of shares the undersigned would be entitled to vote if personally present on the following matters set forth on the reverse side.
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED. IN THE ABSENCE OF DIRECTION, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR EACH NOMINEE LISTED.
PLEASE VOTE, DATE, AND SIGN ON REVERSE SIDE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.