As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 9, 2009

Securities Act Registration No. 333-159611

Investment Company Act File No. 811-8266

 

U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

 

 

Form N-2

 

 

 

 

(Check appropriate box or boxes)

 

þ REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

þ Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1

o Post-Effective Amendment No.

and/or

þ REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940

þ Amendment No. 12

 

 

 

 

The India Fund, Inc.
(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

 

 

345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10154
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

1-866-800-8933

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

 

 

Prakash A. Melwani
Director and President
The India Fund, Inc.

345 Park Avenue,

New York, New York 10154

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

 

 

 

 

Copies to:

 

Sarah E. Cogan, Esq.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

425 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10017

 

Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering:  As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

 

If any securities being registered on this form will be offered on a delayed or continuous basis in reliance on Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered in connection with a dividend reinvestment plan, check the following box. o

 

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (if appropriate, check box)

 

 

If appropriate, check the following boxes:

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

(1) This amount includes shares to be issued pursuant to oversubscription, as described herein.

(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee.

 

 

 

 

The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act, or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such dates as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

The India Fund, Inc.

 

Cross-Reference Sheet

Parts A and B of Prospectus*

 

 

 

Asia Advisors L.L.C.

The India Fund, Inc.

 

Rights Offering

Expires August 14, 2009*

 

 

Important Dates

 

Record Date: July 20, 2009

 

Subscription Period: July 20, 2009 to August 14, 2009*

 

Expiration Date: August 14, 2009*

 

*unless extended

Contact your financial advisor for more information

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED July 9, 2009

 

PROSPECTUS

 

THE INDIA FUND, INC.

 

12,826,207 Shares of Common Stock
Issuable Upon Exercise of Non-Transferable
Rights to Subscribe for Shares of Common Stock

 

The India Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) is offering to its common stockholders of record as of July 20, 2009 non-transferable rights. These rights will allow you to subscribe for one share of common stock for each three rights held. You will receive one right for each whole share of common stock that you hold of record as of July 20, 2009. You need three rights to purchase one share at the subscription price. The Fund will not issue fractional shares upon the exercise of less than three rights. The rights will not be listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) or any other exchange. The subscription price will be equal to 95% of the net asset value per share of the Fund’s common stock at the close of business on the date on which the offer expires.

 

THE OFFER WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, ON AUGUST 14, 2009, UNLESS EXTENDED TO NOT LATER THAN AUGUST 19, 2009 OR TERMINATED EARLY AS DESCRIBED HEREIN. The Fund announced the offer after the close of business on May 29, 2009. The last reported sale price of a share of the Fund’s common stock on the NYSE on May 29, 2009 and July 2, 2009 was $29.38 and $30.90, respectively. The net asset value per share at the close of business on May 29, 2009 and July 2, 2009 was $26.72 and $26.37, respectively. Because the expiration date and the date upon which the price of the rights will be determined will be the same date, stockholders who exercise their rights and submit their subscription certificates will not know the purchase price of the shares when they make their investment decision. Once you subscribe for shares and the Fund receives payment or a guarantee of payment, you will not be able to change your decision. The market price of the Fund’s common stock may, and has in the past, fluctuated below 95% of the Fund’s net asset value. If the market price of the Fund’s common stock is below the subscription price, it may not be in your interest to participate in this offering because you could purchase shares of the Fund on the open market for less than the subscription price. (continued on following page)

 

Investment in the Fund involves certain special considerations and risks arising in part from the Fund’s investment in securities of Indian companies, which are not associated with investments in securities of U.S. companies or certain other non-U.S. issuers. These risks relate to, among other things, political, social and economic conditions in India, and are described in greater detail elsewhere in this prospectus. The Fund may also invest in debt obligations that may be rated below investment grade or in comparable unrated debt obligations. Debt obligations of below investment grade quality are regarded as having predominately speculative characteristics with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal and are commonly referred to as “junk bonds.” There are special risks and considerations associated with investing in such high yield/high risk debt obligations. In addition, although the Fund’s shares of common stock have recently traded on the NYSE at a premium to their net asset value, the issuance of non-transferable rights may reduce or eliminate that premium or the Fund’s shares may instead trade at a discount to net asset value. You could lose some or all of your investment and you should carefully consider the “risk factors” beginning on page 36 of this prospectus before participating in this offer.

 

Stockholders who do not fully exercise their rights will own a smaller proportional interest in the Fund. In addition, because the subscription price will be less than the net asset value per share, the offer will result in an immediate dilution of the net asset value per share for all stockholders. See “Risk Factors” on page 36 of this prospectus.

 

This prospectus sets forth concisely the information about the Fund that a prospective investor ought to know before investing. Investors are advised to read this prospectus and to retain it for future reference.

 

For information regarding the offer, contact Georgeson Shareholder Communications Inc., the information agent, at 1-866-297-1264.

 

The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Fund may increase the number of shares of common stock subject to subscription by up to 25%, or up to an additional 3,206,551 shares, for an aggregate total of 16,032,758 shares. The shares will be ready for delivery on or about August 28, 2009.

The date of this prospectus is          .

 

The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

(continued from previous page)

 

The Fund is a closed-end investment company whose shares of common stock are listed and traded on the NYSE under the symbol “IFN” and whose investment goal is long-term capital appreciation by investing primarily in Indian equity securities. Under normal market conditions, at least 80% of the Fund’s total assets are invested in the equity securities of Indian companies. These are fundamental policies that may not be changed without the approval of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities. The Fund operates under an interval fund structure pursuant to which it conducts semi-annual repurchase offers for between 5% and 25% of the Fund’s outstanding common stock. See “Semi-Annual Repurchases of Securities” and “Risk Factors — Risks Related to the Fund’s Operations — The Fund’s “interval fund” structure involves certain risks and special considerations not typically associated with other closed-end funds” in this prospectus.

 

The information contained herein is not in the form of a prospectus or a statement in lieu of prospectus as per the provisions of the (Indian) Companies Act, 1956 and has not been or will not be registered as a prospectus or a statement in lieu of prospectus. The information set out herein does not constitute, and may not be used for or in connection with, an offer or solicitation to do business or purchase any securities or ownership interests by any person in India or in any other jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is not authorized or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such an offer or solicitation.

 

This prospectus contains important information you should know before investing. Please read it before you invest and keep it for future reference. A Statement of Additional Information dated          , 2009 containing additional information about the Fund has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and legally forms a part of this prospectus. The table of contents of the Statement of Additional Information appears on page 80 of this prospectus. You may obtain a copy of the Statement of Additional Information free of charge by contacting Blackstone Asia Advisors L.L.C., the Fund’s investment manager, 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10154, by calling 1-866-800-8933 toll free or on the Internet at www.blackstone.com. In addition, the Fund’s Annual Report, containing the fund’s financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, as filed on Form N-CSR, is available free of charge by contacting Blackstone Asia Advisors L.L.C. as indicated above. The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information and Annual Report and other information about the Fund, including material incorporated by reference into this prospectus, are also available free of charge on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

 

The information contained in this prospectus speaks only as of the date of this prospectus unless the information specifically indicates that another date applies. No dealer, salesperson or other person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this prospectus in connection with the offer contained herein and, if given or made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Fund.

 

 

 

 

In this prospectus and except as the context otherwise requires or indicates:

 

 

In this prospectus, unless otherwise indicated, all references to “U.S. dollars,” “US$,” “dollars” and “$” are to United States dollars, the lawful currency of the United States of America, and all reference to “rupees” and “Rs.” are to Indian rupees. On July 3, 2009, the U.S. dollar value of the Indian rupee was Rs. 47.824 = US$1.00, as reported in The Wall Street Journal on July 3, 2009.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

The Fund may not claim the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the federal securities laws of the United States because that safe harbor does not apply to investment companies. Nevertheless, you should note that certain statements in this prospectus are forward-looking statements, which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Fund’s actual results or level of performance to be materially different from any future results or level of performance expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, those listed under “Risk Factors,” “Appendix B: Republic of India,” “Appendix C: The Indian Securities Market” and elsewhere in this prospectus. As a result of these and other factors, the Fund cannot give you any assurances as to its future results or level of performance. To the extent required by law, the Fund undertakes to amend or reflect any material changes to it after the date of this prospectus.

 

You should read the entire prospectus, including the Statement of Additional Information that legally forms part of this prospectus, before you decide whether to exercise your rights. In particular, you should carefully read the risks of investing in the shares, as discussed under “Risk Factors.”

 

THE OFFER AT A GLANCE

 

The Offer

 

The India Fund, Inc., or the Fund, is offering to its common stockholders of record as of July 20, 2009 non-transferable rights. These rights will allow you to subscribe for one share of common stock, par value $.001 per share, for each three rights held. You will receive one right for each whole share of common stock that you hold of record as of July 20, 2009. You need three rights to purchase one share at the subscription price. The Fund will not issue fractional shares upon the exercise of less than three rights. The rights will not be listed for trading on the NYSE or any other exchange. Rights may be exercised at any time from July 20, 2009 through 5:00 p.m., Eastern daylight time, on August 14, 2009, unless extended to not later than August 19, 2009 or terminated early as described herein. See “The Offer- Expiration, Extension and Early Termination of the Offer.” Since the expiration date is the same date as the pricing date, stockholders who exercise their rights will not know the subscription price at the time they exercise their rights and subscription certificates are submitted. The market price of the Fund’s common stock may, and has in the past, fluctuated below 95% of the Fund’s net asset value. If the market price of the Fund’s common stock is below the subscription price, it may not be in your interest to participate in this offering because you could purchase shares of the Fund on the open market for less than the subscription price. Once you subscribe for shares and the Fund receives payment or a guarantee of payment, you will not be able to change your decision. In certain instances described below under “— Over-Subscription Privilege,” the Fund may increase the number of shares of common stock subject to subscription by up to 25% of the shares. We refer to any such additional shares as “additional shares.” See “The Offer.”

 

The Fund previously completed rights offerings for approximately 13.2 million shares in August 2006 and 9.4 million shares in January 2005. The net proceeds of each rights offering, approximately $448 million and $250 million, respectively, were fully invested in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective and policies within approximately three months of the completion of each respective offering. As a result of the August 2006 offering, the Fund’s net asset value was diluted by 1.54%.

 

Purposes of the Offer

 

The Board of Directors of the Fund has determined that it would be in the best interests of the Fund and its stockholders to increase the assets of the Fund through this offer because it may provide the following benefits: (i) a greater ability to take advantage of investment opportunities without being required to sell current portfolio positions that the Investment Manager believes should be retained; (ii) additional investment flexibility in a period when increased political stability may drive positive market-oriented reforms over the long-term; (iii) additional opportunity to capitalize on attractive investment opportunities in India, including initial public offerings, privatizations, placements and mid- and small-cap companies with attractive valuations; (iv) improved market visibility for the Fund; (v) enhanced liquidity of the trading market for the Fund’s shares on the NYSE; (vi) additional capital to meet the demand for repurchases and dividend distributions without having to liquidate attractive holdings; and (vii) an opportunity for existing stockholders by providing them with an opportunity to purchase additional shares potentially at a price below the current market price without incurring significant transaction costs. See “The Offer — Purposes of the Offer.”

 

The increased assets to the Fund as a result of the offer will result in increased fees to all of the Fund’s service providers whose fees are based on the Fund’s net assets, including fees paid to the Investment Manager, Country Adviser and Administrator. See “The Fund At A Glance — Investment Manager and Country Adviser”, “The Fund At A Glance — Fund Administrators” and “Investment Management and Other Services.”

Subscription Price

 

The subscription price will be equal to 95% of the net asset value per share of the Fund’s common stock at the close of business on the date on which the offer expires. See “The Offer — Subscription Price.”

 

Over-Subscription Privilege

 

Each stockholder as of the record date who fully exercises all rights issued to him or her will be entitled to subscribe for additional shares that were not subscribed for by other stockholders. This is known as the “over-subscription privilege.” If sufficient shares are available, all record stockholders’ over-subscription requests will be honored in full. If sufficient shares are not available to honor all requests for over-subscription, the Fund may increase the number of shares available by up to 25%, or 3,206,551 shares, in order to satisfy over-subscription requests. If the requests for additional shares exceed the shares available, the available shares, including any additional shares, will be allocated pro rata among stockholders who over-subscribe based on the number of rights originally issued to them by the Fund. See “The Offer — Over-Subscription Privilege.”

 

How to Exercise Rights

 

Rights may be exercised by stockholders who fill in and sign the accompanying subscription certificate and mail it in the envelope provided or deliver the completed and signed subscription certificate to the subscription agent, together with any required payment for the shares as described below under “The Offer — Payment for Shares.” Rights may also be exercised by a stockholder contacting his or her broker, bank or trust company, which can arrange, on the stockholder’s behalf, to guarantee delivery, by using a notice of guaranteed delivery, of a properly completed and executed subscription certificate and payment for the shares. The broker, bank or trust company may charge a fee for this service. Stockholders who choose to exercise their rights will not know at the time of exercise the subscription price for shares being acquired and will be required initially to pay for such shares at the estimated subscription price of $25.05 per share. In the event that the estimated subscription price is greater than the actual subscription price determined at the close of the subscription period, a refund is owed to the exercising rights holder. Fractional shares will not be issued. Completed subscription certificates must be received by the subscription agent prior to 5:00 p.m., Eastern daylight time, on the expiration date, which is August 14, 2009 (unless payment is to be effected by means of a notice of guaranteed delivery). See “The Offer — Payment for Shares.”

 

Rights May Not Be Purchased or Sold

 

You may not purchase or sell the rights, and they will not trade on any exchange. If you do not exercise your rights before the conclusion of this offer, your rights will expire without value. However, the shares to be issued pursuant to the offer will be listed on the NYSE, subject to the NYSE being officially notified of the issuance of those shares.

 

Restrictions on Foreign Stockholders

 

The Fund will not mail subscription certificates to stockholders whose record addresses are outside the United States. PNC Global Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. (formerly known as PFPC Inc.) will hold the rights to which subscription certificates relate for foreign stockholders accounts until instructions are received to exercise the rights. If no instructions are received prior to the expiration date, which is August 14, 2009, the rights will expire. Foreign stockholders holding shares through a U.S. broker-dealer should contact the broker-dealer regarding this offer. See “The Offer — Restrictions on Foreign Stockholders.”

 

Obtaining Subscription Information

 

If you have any questions or requests for assistance, please contact Georgeson Shareholder Communications Inc., the information agent, toll-free at 1-866-297-1264. You may also call your broker or nominee for information with respect to this offer. See “The Offer — Information Agent” and “The Offer — Subscription Agent.” Please note that the dates in the table may change if the offer is extended.

Important Dates to Remember

 

 

 

 

Tax Consequences

 

For federal income tax purposes, neither the receipt nor the exercise of the rights will result in taxable income to you. You will not realize taxable loss if your rights expire without being exercised. See “The Offer — United States Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Offer.”

 

Use of Proceeds

 

We estimate the net proceeds of this offer to be approximately $320,509,075. If the Fund increases the number of shares subject to subscription by 25%, then the total net proceeds of the offer will be approximately $400,833,178. These figures assume (i) all rights are exercised in full, (ii) a subscription price of $25.05 and (iii) payment of offering expenses estimated to be approximately $787,410.

 

The offering is designed to raise funds to be invested consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies. The Fund anticipates that investment of the net proceeds of this offer in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective and policies may take up to six months from their receipt by the Fund, depending on market conditions and the availability of appropriate securities. See “Use of Proceeds” and “Risk Factors — Risks Related to the Fund’s Operations.”

 

THE FUND AT A GLANCE

 

The Fund

 

The Fund is a Maryland corporation organized on December 27, 1993 and is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company. As of July 2, 2009, the net assets of the Fund were 1,014,520,399. Assuming that all rights are exercised at the estimated subscription price, including the additional shares that may be issued under the over-subscription privilege, the net assets of the Fund would be approximately $1.4 billion. For the purposes of the FII Regulations (as defined below), the Fund is a broad based fund.

 

Investment in India

 

The Fund’s investment objective and policies reflect the Investment Manager’s opinion that economic and political developments and changes in the last several years and the recent election have well positioned India to experience a period of continued economic growth. The Investment Manager believes that India should continue to grow as an economic force and that investment in its securities markets will continue to offer significant potential for returns. For a detailed description of India and its securities market, see “Appendix B: Republic of India” and “Appendix C: The Indian Securities Market.”

The Fund invests in India pursuant to the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Foreign Institutional Investors) Regulations, 1995, which we refer to as the “FII Regulations” and which were established by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (“SEBI”) to regulate investment by foreign institutional investors in Indian securities. The FII Regulations allow direct investment in Indian securities by registered foreign institutional investors or their clients, also known as “sub-accounts.” Under the FII regulations, the Fund invests in India as a sub-account of the Investment Manager, which is registered with SEBI as a foreign institutional investor. The Investment Manager in its capacity as a foreign institutional investor acts on behalf of the Fund and other approved clients. The Fund’s investments are held in the Fund’s name through the Fund’s custodian, Deutsche Bank AG. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to the Fund’s Operations” and “Investment in India.”

 

Investment Objective and Policies

 

The Fund’s investment objective is long-term capital appreciation by investing primarily in the equity securities of Indian companies, subject to applicable laws. Under normal market conditions, at least 80% of the Fund’s total assets are invested in equity securities of Indian companies. These are fundamental policies that may not be changed without the approval of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities. Equity securities include common and preferred stock (including convertible preferred stock), American, global or other types of depositary receipts, convertible bonds, notes and debentures, equity interests in trusts, partnerships, joint ventures or similar enterprises and common stock purchase warrants and rights. Most of the equity securities purchased by the Fund are traded on an Indian or other foreign stock exchange or over-the-counter market. However, the Fund may invest to a limited extent in securities that are not publicly traded and in investment funds, including unregistered funds, that invest at least 80% of their total assets in the equity securities of Indian companies in which the Fund is authorized to invest. The Fund invests in such investment funds when the Investment Manager believes that such investments may be more advantageous to the Fund than a direct market purchase of such securities. For temporary defensive purposes, the Fund may invest without limitation in temporary investments. No assurance can be given that the Fund’s investment objective will be realized. See “Investment Objective and Policies” and “Risk Factors — Risks Related to the Fund’s Operations.”

 

Indian companies are companies that:

 

 

See “Investment Objective and Policies — Portfolio Structure” for other eligible investments.

 

Up to 20% of the Fund’s total assets may be invested, subject to certain restrictions, in:

 

 

 

 

Up to 20% of the Fund’s total assets may also be utilized to purchase and sell options on securities, financial futures, fixed income indices and other financial futures contracts, enter into interest rate transactions and to enter into currency transactions, sell securities short and loan portfolio securities. The Fund will only invest in such assets in order to hedge against financial risks. With respect to interest rate transactions, the Fund may enter into interest

rate swaps and may purchase or sell interest rate caps and floors. Currency transactions may include currency forward contracts, exchange listed currency futures contracts, exchange listed and over-the-counter options on currencies and currency swaps. For additional discussion of these types of transactions in which the Fund may invest see “Appendix A — General Characteristics and Risks of Hedging.” Although the Fund does not presently do so or intend to do so to any significant extent, the Fund may from time to time sell securities short. See “Additional Investment Activities — Short Sales” for more information. The Fund will not be obligated, however, to do any hedging and makes no representation as to the availability of these techniques at this time or at any time in the future. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to the Fund’s Operations — The Fund’s ability to successfully hedge against financial risks may adversely affect the Fund’s net asset value” and “Additional Investment Activities — Hedging.”

 

The Fund’s assets may be invested in debt securities, including high yield/high risk and unrated debt (commonly referred to as “junk bonds”) (other than temporary investments) when the Investment Manager believes that, based upon factors such as relative interest rate levels and foreign exchange rates, such securities offer opportunities for long-term capital appreciation.

 

See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to the Fund’s Operations” and “— The Extent to which the Fund invests in high yield/high risk and unrated debt may adversely affect the Fund’s performance.”

 

Listing

 

The Fund’s common stock is listed and traded on the NYSE under the symbol “IFN.”

 

Dividends and Distributions

 

The Fund intends to distribute annually to holders of common stock substantially all of its net investment income and to distribute any net realized capital gains at least annually.

 

Under the Fund’s dividend reinvestment and cash purchase plan, all dividends and distributions are automatically reinvested in additional shares of common stock of the Fund unless a stockholder elects to receive cash. Participants also have the option of making additional cash payments, annually, to be used to acquire additional shares of common stock of the Fund in the open market. Stockholders whose shares are held in the name of a broker or nominee should contact such broker or nominee to confirm that they are able to participate in the plan. See “Dividends and Distributions; Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan.”

 

Semi-Annual Share Repurchases

 

The Fund operates as an interval fund structure, pursuant to which the Fund conducts semi-annual repurchase offers for between 5% and 25% of the Fund’s outstanding common stock. In accordance with the Fund’s fundamental periodic repurchase policy, the Fund’s next repurchase offer is expected to occur immediately following the expiration of the Offer. See “Semi-Annual Repurchases of Securities.”

 

Investment Manager and Country Adviser

 

The Investment Manager is Blackstone Advisors, an affiliate of The Blackstone Group (“Blackstone”). For more information on the Investment Manager, see “Investment Management and Other Services — Investment Manager.”

 

The Country Adviser is Blackstone India, an affiliate of Blackstone and Blackstone Advisors. For more information on the Country Adviser, see “Investment Management and Other Services — Country Adviser.”

 

Under the existing management agreement, the Fund pays the Investment Manager a monthly fee at an annual rate of: (i) 1.10% for the first $500,000,000 of the Fund’s average weekly net assets; (ii) 0.90% for the next $500,000,000 of the Fund’s average weekly net assets; (iii) 0.85% for the next $500,000,000 of the Fund’s average weekly net assets; and (iv) 0.75% of the Fund’s average weekly net assets in excess of $1,500,000,000 for its services. Under the existing country advisory agreement, the Investment Manager pays the Country Adviser a monthly fee at an annual rate of 0.10% of the Fund’s average weekly net assets.

 

Because the Investment Manager and the Country Adviser receive fees based on net assets, they will benefit from the increase in assets that will result from this offer. It is not possible to state precisely the amount of additional compensation that the Investment Manager and the Country Adviser might receive as a result of this offer because it is not known how many shares will be subscribed for and because the proceeds of this offer will be invested in additional portfolio securities, which will fluctuate in value. However, assuming that the value of the Fund’s assets remained constant prior to the offer at $1.0 billion (its approximate value as of July 2, 2009) and after the offer at $1.4 billion (which assumes that all rights are exercised at the estimated subscription price, including the additional shares that may be issued under the over-subscription privilege), the annual compensation received by the Investment Manager and the Country Adviser would be increased by approximately $3.4 million and $400,833, respectively. The Country Adviser’s fee is paid by the Investment Manager and not directly by the Fund.

 

The advisory fees paid by the Fund may be higher than those paid by most other investment companies that invest predominantly in the securities of U.S. companies, primarily due to the additional time and expense required of the Investment Manager and the Country Adviser in pursuing the Fund’s objective, which is long-term capital appreciation by investing primarily in the equity securities of Indian companies.

 

Fund Administrators

 

Blackstone Advisors, the Fund’s Investment Manager, also serves as the Fund’s administrator. The Fund pays Blackstone Advisors a monthly fee at an annual rate of: (i) 0.20% of the value of the Fund’s average monthly net assets for the first $1,500,000,000 of the Fund’s average monthly net assets and (ii) 0.15% of the value of the Fund’s average monthly net assets in excess of $1,500,000,000 of the Fund’s average monthly net assets. Because the Fund administrator receives fees based on net assets, it will benefit from the increase in assets that will result from this offer. Blackstone Advisors subcontracts certain of its services to PNC Global Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. (formerly known as PFPC Inc.). Assuming that the value of the Fund’s assets remained constant prior to the offer at $1.0 billion (its approximate value as of July 2, 2009) and after the offer at $1.4 billion (which assumes that all rights are exercised at the estimated subscription price, including the additional shares that may be issued under the over-subscription privilege), the annual compensation received by the Fund’s administrator would be increased by approximately $801,666.

 

Multiconsult Ltd. serves as the Fund’s Mauritius administrator. The Fund pays Multiconsult Ltd. a monthly fee of $1,500 for its services and is reimbursed for certain additional expenses.

 

See “Investment Management and Other Services — Administrator” and “Investment Management and Other Services — Mauritian Administrator.”

 

Custodian, Transfer Agent, Dividend Paying Agent and Registrar

 

Deutsche Bank AG is the domestic custodian of the assets of the Fund. Deutsche Bank (Mauritius) Limited acts as offshore custodian of the Fund. PNC Global Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. acts as transfer agent, dividend paying agent and registrar for the Fund.

 

RISK FACTORS AND SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS AT A GLANCE

 

You should carefully consider the following factors, as well as the other information in this prospectus, before making an investment in the Fund under this offer.

 

As a result of this offer, you will incur immediate economic dilution, and, if you do not exercise all of your rights, you may incur dilution of ownership, voting rights and your share of any distributions made by the Fund.

 

You should expect that you will, at the completion of this offer, experience immediate dilution of net asset value per share because the subscription price will be less than the net asset value per share, and the number of shares outstanding after the offer will have increased proportionately more than the increase in the size of the Fund’s net assets. This dilution of net asset value will disproportionately affect stockholders who do not exercise their rights. In addition, whether or not you exercise your rights, you will experience a dilution of net asset value because you will indirectly bear the expenses of this offer, which include, among other items, SEC registration fees, state

“blue sky” qualification fees, printing expenses and the fees assessed by service providers (including the cost of the Fund’s counsel and accountants). We cannot state precisely the amount of any decrease because we do not know at this time how many shares will be subscribed for or what the net asset value per share will be at the pricing date. The following example, assuming (i) a net asset value of $1.0 billion (the Fund’s approximate net asset value on July 2, 2009), (ii) a subscription price of $25.05 (which is 95% of the Fund’s approximate net asset value per share on July 2, 2009) and (iii) that all rights are exercised at the estimated subscription price, including the additional shares that may be issued under the over-subscription privilege, demonstrates the dilution of net asset value.

 

Example:

 

 

In addition to the economic dilution described above, if you do not exercise all of your rights, you may incur dilution of ownership and voting rights, as well as dilution of your share of any distributions made by the Fund, as a result of this offer. This dilution may occur because you could own a smaller interest in the Fund after the offer than you owned prior to the offer. If you do not submit a subscription request pursuant to the over-subscription privilege, you will also experience dilution in your Fund ownership if the Fund offers additional shares for subscription. In addition, regardless of whether you participate in the current offering, to the extent the Fund engages in subsequent rights offerings, your investment may be diluted by any such offering.

 

See “The Offer — Dilution” and “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to the Offer — As a result of this offer, you will incur immediate economic dilution, and, if you do not exercise all of your rights, you may incur dilution of ownership, voting rights and your share of any distributions made by the Fund.”

 

You may lose money by investing in the Fund, including the possibility that you may lose all of your investment.

 

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit in a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency.

 

Among the principal risks of investing in the Fund is market risk, which is the risk that the value of your investment may fluctuate as stock markets fluctuate.

 

As an investment company that primarily holds common stocks, the Fund’s portfolio is subject to the possibility that common stock prices will decline over short or even extended periods. The Fund may remain substantially fully invested during periods when stock prices generally rise and also during periods when they generally decline. Risks are inherent in investments in equities, and Fund stockholders should be able to tolerate significant fluctuations in the value of their investment in the Fund.

 

In addition, the Fund may invest up to 20% of its assets in debt securities whose value will tend to decrease as interest rates rise.

 

The Fund is intended to be a long-term investment vehicle and is not designed to provide investors with a means of speculating on short-term stock market movements. Investors should not consider the Fund a complete investment program. See “Risk Factors-Risks Related to the Offer — You may lose money by investing in the Fund, including the possibility that you may lose all of your investment.”

 

Investing in India involves certain risks and special considerations not typically associated with investing in U.S. companies.

 

Investing in an emerging market such as India, involves certain risks and special considerations not typically associated with investing in the securities of established U.S. companies, including: (i) greater political, economic and social uncertainty; (ii) significantly greater price volatility, substantially less liquidity and much smaller market capitalization of securities markets; (iii) less developed corporate disclosure and governance standards; (iv) greater

difficulty in enforcing judgments; (v) restrictions on foreign investment and repatriation of capital; (vi) exchange control regulations; (vii) currency devaluations and exchange rate fluctuations, which may increase the costs associated with conversion of investment principal and income from one currency to another; (viii) higher rates of inflation; and (ix) greater governmental involvement in the economy. These risks are described in more detail under “Risk Factors — Risks Related to the Fund’s Operations.”

 

In addition, future actions of the Indian Government or religious and ethnic unrest could have a significant impact on the economy, which could adversely affect private sector companies in which the Fund invests. In addition, accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards in India differ from U.S. standards, meaning that disclosure of certain material information may not be made, and less information may be available to the Fund than would be the case if the Fund invested primarily in U.S. issuers. There is also generally less governmental regulation of the securities industry in India than in the United States, and it may be more difficult to obtain a judgment in a court outside the United States. The Fund will be subject to withholding taxes, including withholding taxes imposed on dividends, interest and realized capital gains by the government of India. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to the Fund’s Operations” and “Taxation.”

 

The Fund’s investments in illiquid securities may restrict its ability to dispose of its investments in a timely fashion and at a price approximating the value at which the Fund carries the securities on its books.

 

The Fund may invest up to 20% of its total assets in illiquid securities, for which there may be no or only a limited trading market and for which a low trading volume of a particular security may result in abrupt and erratic price movements. The Fund may encounter substantial delays and could incur losses in attempting to resell illiquid securities. See “Additional Investment Activities” and “Risk Factors — Risks Related to the Fund’s Operations — The Fund’s investments in illiquid securities may restrict its ability to dispose of its investments in a timely fashion and at a price approximating the value at which the Fund carries the securities on its books.”

 

The concentration of the Fund’s investments in specific economic sectors and related industries may expose it to greater risk of loss with respect to its portfolio securities.

 

From time to time, the Fund may invest a greater proportion of its assets in the securities of companies that are part of specific sectors and related industries of the Indian economy. For example, at March 31, 2009, the Fund maintained approximately 19.72% of its total assets in the securities of Indian companies in the petroleum sector and related industries. The Fund is therefore subject to greater risk of loss with respect to its portfolio securities as a result of its concentration in such sectors and related industries. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to the Fund’s Operations — The concentration of the Fund’s investments in specific economic sectors and related industries may expose it to greater risk of loss with respect to its portfolio securities.”

 

Recent Developments in Financial Markets and Impact on the Fund.

 

Worldwide economic conditions have recently deteriorated significantly affecting the global financial markets and have caused significant reductions in available capital and liquidity from banks and other providers of credit, substantial reductions in equity and currency values in financial markets and extreme volatility in credit, equity and fixed income markets and general economic uncertainty. Conditions in the debt and equity capital markets in the United States and abroad have caused firms in the financial services sector to take significant losses relating to, among other things, subprime mortgages and the re-pricing of credit risk in the broadly syndicated loan market. While the economic crisis has not, at present, affected the Indian economy to the same extent as in the U.S. or European economies, the Indian economy and the Fund may be impacted in the future. The timing and nature of any recovery in the credit and financial markets remains uncertain, and there can be no assurance that market conditions will improve in the near future or that our results will not be materially and adversely affected.

 

A change in the Fund’s tax status could adversely affect the Fund’s return on its investments.

 

The Fund currently operates through a branch in the Republic of Mauritius to take advantage of favorable tax treatment by the Indian government pursuant to a taxation treaty between India and Mauritius. Recently, the

Supreme Court of India upheld the validity of this tax treaty in response to a lower court challenge contesting the treaty’s applicability to entities such as the Fund. Any change in the provision of this treaty or in its applicability to the Fund could result in the imposition of withholding and other taxes on the Fund by India, which would reduce the return to the Fund on its investments. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to the Fund’s Operations — A change in the Fund’s tax status could adversely affect the Fund’s return on its investments,” “Taxation-U.S. Stockholders” and “Taxation — Mauritian Tax Status.”

 

In addition, prior to Blackstone Advisors assuming management, the Fund may have failed to qualify to be taxed as a regulated investment company (a “RIC”) under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”) for the taxable year ended December 31, 2004. For the year ended December 31, 2005, a provision of $25,507,350 was made for U.S. federal income tax purposes as, at that time, it was unclear whether the Fund qualified to be taxed as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code for the taxable year ended December 31, 2004. In order to preserve the Fund’s tax status as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code for the taxable year ended December 31, 2004, on April 20, 2006 the Fund distributed a deficiency dividend (within the meaning of Section 860 of the Internal Revenue Code) to shareholders in the amount of $1.07 per share, of which $0.95 per share was designated as a capital gain dividend. Under the deficiency dividend procedure, the maximum amount that the Fund will be obligated to pay to the Internal Revenue Service in interest and penalties is approximately $4,956,314. Accordingly, a reversal of $20,551,036 was made in 2006 to the prior year’s tax provision to reflect the decrease in the amount of the tax liability due to the deficiency dividend distributed to shareholders. There can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to further reduce the liability. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to the Fund’s Operations — A change in the Fund’s tax status could adversely affect the Fund’s return on its investments” and “Taxation — The Fund.”

 

The Fund’s shares have traded and may in the future trade at a discount to net asset value.

 

Although the Fund’s shares of common stock have recently traded on the NYSE at a premium to their net asset value, the Fund’s shares have in the past traded at a discount to their net asset value. There can also be no assurance that the Fund’s shares will trade at a premium in the future or that the present premium is sustainable. The Fund’s shares have traded at discounts of as much as 40%.

 

In addition, you should note that shares of closed-end investment companies frequently trade at a discount from net asset value. This characteristic is a risk separate and distinct from the risk that the Fund’s net asset value will decrease as a result of its investment activities. The Fund cannot predict whether its shares will trade at, above or below net asset value. The Fund also cannot predict the effect of this offer on the market price of its shares because the market price of the Fund’s shares is, among other things, determined by the supply and demand for the Fund’s shares, the Fund’s investment performance and investor perception of the Fund’s overall attractiveness as an investment as compared with alternative investments. The Fund is intended primarily for long-term investors and should not be considered as a vehicle for trading purposes. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to the Fund’s Operations — The Fund’s shares have traded and may trade in the future at a discount to net asset value.”

 

The Fund’s “interval fund” structure involves certain risks and special considerations not typically associated with other closed-end funds.

 

The Fund has adopted an interval fund structure whereby the Fund conducts semi-annual repurchase offers for between 5% and 25% of the Fund’s outstanding common stock. The Fund’s required semi-annual repurchases are likely to continually decrease the overall size of the Fund which could over time: (i) harm investment performance in part by limiting the extent to which the Fund may pursue its investment strategy; (ii) increase the Fund’s expense ratio as the Fund’s assets decrease; and (iii) jeopardize the Fund’s viability and continued existence. Moreover, there are additional risks associated with the Fund’s repurchase offers, including the risk that: (i) if the repurchase offer is over-subscribed, stockholders may be unable to liquidate all or a given percentage of their investment at net asset value during the repurchase offer; (ii) because the Fund expects to liquidate portfolio securities in order to fund repurchase offers, the need to sell such securities may in turn affect the market for such securities and accordingly diminish the value of the Fund’s investments; (iii) share values may decrease as a result of currency fluctuations between the date of tender and the repurchase pricing date; (iv) the repurchase offer may not eliminate any discount, if any, at which the Fund’s shares trade; and (v) due to the potential for proration if the repurchase offer is over-

subscribed, some investors may tender more shares than they wish to have repurchased in order to ensure the repurchase of a specific number of shares. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to the Fund’s Operations — The Fund’s “interval fund” structure involves certain risks and special considerations not typically associated with other closed-end funds” and “Semi-Annual Repurchases of Securities.”

 

The Fund’s status as a “non-diversified” investment company may expose it to greater risk of loss with respect to its portfolio securities.

 

The Fund is classified as a “non-diversified” investment company under the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), which means that the Fund is not limited in the proportion of its assets that may be invested in the securities of a single issuer. However, the Fund intends to comply with the diversification requirements imposed by the Internal Revenue Code for qualification as a regulated investment company. As a non-diversified investment company, the Fund may invest a greater proportion of its assets in the securities of a smaller number of issuers and, as a result, is subject to greater risk of loss with respect to its portfolio securities. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to the Fund’s Operations — The Fund’s status as a “non-diversified” investment company may expose it to greater risk of loss with respect to its portfolio securities” and “Taxation — The Fund.”

 

There are no fixed limitations regarding portfolio turnover.

 

Frequency of portfolio turnover is not a limiting factor if the Fund considers it advantageous to purchase or sell securities. The Fund anticipates that its annual portfolio turnover rate will not exceed 150%. For the year ended December 31, 2008, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 49.41%. A high rate of portfolio turnover involves correspondingly greater aggregate payments for brokerage commissions than a lower rate, which expenses must be borne by the Fund and its stockholders, while a lower rate of portfolio turnover involves correspondingly lower aggregate payments and stockholder expenses. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to the Fund’s Operations — There are no fixed limitations regarding portfolio turnover.”

 

The extent to which the Fund invests in high yield/high risk and unrated debt may adversely affect the Fund’s performance.

 

The Fund has not established any rating criteria for the debt securities in which it may invest. Securities rated in medium to low rating categories of nationally recognized statistical rating organizations and unrated securities of comparable credit quality, or “high yield/ high risk securities,” are speculative with respect to the capacity to pay interest and repay principal in accordance with the terms of the security and generally involve a greater volatility of price than securities in higher-rated categories. These securities are commonly referred to as “junk bonds.” The value of Indian debt securities held by the Fund may be expected to vary inversely in relation to fluctuations in interest rates in India. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to the Fund’s Operations — The extent to which the Fund invests in high yield/high risk and unrated debt may adversely affect the Fund’s performance.”

 

The Fund’s ability to successfully hedge against financial risks may adversely affect the Fund’s net asset value.

 

The Fund may purchase and sell options on securities, financial futures, fixed income indices and other financial instruments, enter into financial futures contracts, enter into interest rate transactions, enter into currency transactions, enter into equity swaps and related transactions, enter into securities transactions on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis, enter into repurchase agreements, sell securities short and lend portfolio securities. Hedging involves special risks, including possible default by the other party to the transaction, illiquidity and, to the extent the Investment Manager’s view as to certain market movements is incorrect, the risks that the use of hedging could result in losses greater than if they had not been used. The extent to which the Fund can engage in such investment practices in India may be limited. See “Additional Investment Activities,” “Investment Objective and Policies — Other Investments” “Risk Factors — Risks Related to the Fund’s Operations — The Fund’s ability to successfully hedge against financial risks may adversely affect the Fund’s net asset value” and “Appendix A: General Characteristics and Risks of Hedging.”

The extent to which the Fund utilizes leverage to hedge against financial risks may increase its expenses and adversely affect the Fund’s performance.

 

Although the Fund has no present intention to do so to any significant extent, the Fund may utilize leverage by borrowing or by issuing preferred stock or short-term debt securities in an amount up to 25% of the Fund’s total assets. Leverage by the Fund creates an opportunity for increased return but, at the same time, creates special risks. For example, leverage may exaggerate changes in the net asset value of the Fund’s common stock and in the return on the Fund’s portfolio. Although the principal of any leverage will be fixed, the Fund’s assets may change in value during the time the leverage is outstanding. Leverage will create expenses for the Fund that can, during any period, exceed the income from the assets acquired with the proceeds of the leverage. All expenses associated with leverage would be borne by common stockholders. Furthermore, an increase in interest rates could reduce or eliminate the benefits of leverage and could reduce the value of the Fund’s securities. The Fund may also borrow by entering into reverse repurchase agreements, which will subject the Fund to additional market risk, as well as credit risk with respect to the buyer of the securities under such an agreement. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to the Fund’s Operations — The extent to which the Fund utilizes leverage to hedge against financial risks may increase its expenses and adversely affect the Fund’s performance.”

 

The anti-takeover provisions in the Fund’s charter and amended and restated by-laws and certain provisions of Maryland law may limit your ability to sell your shares at a premium.

 

The Fund’s charter and amended and restated by-laws and Maryland law contain certain anti-takeover provisions that, among other things, may have the effect of inhibiting the Fund’s possible conversion to open-end status and delaying or limiting the ability of other persons to acquire control of the Fund. In certain circumstances, these provisions may also inhibit the ability of holders of common stock to sell their shares at a premium over prevailing market prices by discouraging a third party from seeking to obtain control of the Fund. The Fund’s Board of Directors has determined that these provisions are in the best interests of the Fund and its stockholders. See “Risk Factors-Risks Related to the Fund’s Operations — The anti-takeover provisions in the Fund’s charter and amended and restated by-laws and certain provisions of Maryland law may limit your ability to sell your shares at a premium.”

 

The operating expenses of the Fund may be higher than investment companies that invest primarily in the securities of U.S. companies.

 

The Fund’s estimated annual operating expenses may be higher than those of most other investment companies that invest predominately in the securities of U.S. companies, primarily because of the additional time and expense required of the Investment Manager and the Country Adviser in pursuing the Fund’s objective of long-term capital appreciation through investing in equity securities of Indian companies. Investments in Indian equity securities require additional time and expense because the available public information regarding such securities is more limited in comparison to, and not as comprehensive as, the information available for U.S. equity securities. In addition, brokerage commissions, custodial fees and other fees are generally higher for investments in foreign securities markets. As a result of these higher expected operating expenses, the Fund needs to generate higher relative returns to provide investors with an equivalent economic return. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to the Fund’s Operations — The operating expenses of the Fund may be higher than investment companies that invest primarily in the securities of U.S. companies.”

 

Future market disruptions resulting from terrorist attacks in the United States and elsewhere or U.S. military action abroad could negatively and adversely affect the market for the Fund’s common stock.

 

The aftermath of the war with Iraq, instability in the Middle East and terrorist attacks in the United States and around the world may have a substantial impact on the U.S. and world economies and securities markets. The nature, scope and duration of the occupation of Iraq cannot be predicted with any certainty. Terrorist attacks closed some of the U.S. securities markets in 2001, and similar events cannot be ruled out in the future. The war and occupation, terrorism and related geopolitical risks have led, and may in the future lead to, increased short-term market volatility and may have adverse long-term effects on U.S. and world economies and markets generally. These risks may adversely affect individual issuers and securities markets, interest rates, secondary trading, ratings,

investor psychology, credit risk, inflation and other factors relating to the Fund’s common shares. High-yield securities tend to be more volatile than higher rated securities so that these events and any actions resulting from them may have a greater impact on the prices and volatility of high yield securities than on higher rated securities. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to the Fund’s Operations — Future market disruptions resulting from terrorist attacks in the United States and elsewhere or U.S. military action abroad could negatively and adversely affect the market for the Fund’s common stock.”

 

 

Example

 

The following example demonstrates the projected dollar amount of total cumulative expense that would be incurred over various periods with respect to a hypothetical investment in the Fund. These amounts are based upon payment by the Fund of investment management and advisory fees and other expenses at the levels set forth in the above table.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This example further assumes that the percentage amounts listed under Annual Expenses in the table above remain the same in the years shown, the reinvestment of all dividends and distributions at net asset value and the full exercise of all the rights. The above tables and the assumption in the example of a 5% annual return and reinvestment at net asset value are required by regulation of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which we refer to as the “SEC,” and are applicable to all investment companies, and the assumed 5% annual return is not a

prediction of, and does not represent, the projected performance of the Fund’s common stock. In addition, although the example assumes reinvestment of all distributions at net asset value, this may not be the case for participants in the dividend reinvestment and cash purchase plan. See “Dividends and Distributions; Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan.”

 

We have prepared the foregoing table and example to assist you in understanding the various costs and expenses that you will bear, directly or indirectly. You should not consider this example or the foregoing table as a representation of future expenses or rate of return. The Fund’s actual expenses may be more or less than those shown.

 

The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the periods presented and reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The information for each of the years presented has been derived from financial statements audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, whose report is included in the Fund’s financial statements which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus. The following information should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes, which legally form a part of this prospectus and are available upon request.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Fund, which was incorporated in Maryland on December 27, 1993, is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company registered under the 1940 Act. The Fund’s investment objective is long-term capital appreciation, which it seeks to achieve by investing primarily in the equity securities of Indian companies. Under normal market conditions, at least 80% of the Fund’s total assets are invested in the equity securities of Indian companies. These are fundamental policies that may not be changed without the approval of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities. The Fund cannot assure that its investment objective will be realized. Due to the risks inherent in international investments generally, you should consider the Fund as a vehicle for investing a portion of your assets in foreign securities markets and not as a complete investment program.

 

The Fund’s investment objective and policies reflect the Investment Manager’s opinion that economic and political developments and changes in the last several years and the recent election have well positioned India to experience a period of continued economic growth. The Investment Manager believes that India should continue to grow as an economic force and that investment in its securities markets will continue to offer significant potential for returns. For a description of India and its securities market, see “Appendix B: Republic of India” and “Appendix C: The Indian Securities Market.”

 

Background

 

Foreign investment in Indian securities is regulated by the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 and the rules, regulations and notifications issued thereunder. This Act is the principal legislation that governs foreign investment and foreign exchange transactions in India.

 

In 2000, the Reserve Bank of India issued the Indian Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or Issue of Security by a Person Resident Outside India) Regulations, 2000, which we refer to as the “FEMA regulations,” to regulate the issue of Indian securities to persons who reside outside India and the transfer of Indian securities by or to such persons. As a non-resident of India, the Fund must comply with FEMA Regulations. Under the FEMA regulations, a foreign investor may invest in Indian securities through the foreign direct investment route. Under the foreign direct investment route, investment may be made through the “automatic” route, which does not require the prior approval of the Reserve Bank of India/Foreign Investment Promotion Board, subject to certain conditions, or through the “approval” route, which requires the prior permission of the Reserve Bank of India/Foreign Investment Promotion Board but which is nonetheless subject to government-imposed foreign investment restrictions in certain economic sectors. The FEMA regulations also prescribe rules for the transfer of Indian securities between foreign, domestic, Indian and non-Indian security holders. Such transfers often require the approval of either the Indian government or the Reserve Bank of India.

 

Investments by Foreign Institutional Investors

 

A foreign investor may also invest in Indian securities through the foreign institutional investment route. Foreign institutional investors and sub-accounts thereof are regulated by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Foreign Institutional Investors) Regulations, 1995 which we refer to as the “FII Regulations.”

Foreign institutional investors and sub-accounts wishing to invest and trade in Indian securities in India are required to register with SEBI and obtain special permission from the Reserve Bank of India. Once qualified under applicable Indian law, a foreign institutional investor or its sub-account, subject to the restrictions noted below, may:

 

 

Under applicable Indian law, a foreign institutional investor or a sub-account may only invest in the following Indian securities:

 

 

 

 

FII investments are substantially restricted and controlled. These restrictions, such as the maximum percentage holding of any single equity, are controlled by SEBI, the RBI and are also subject to the Government of India Guidelines issues in this regard. Further, the operational mechanism for purchase, sale, settlement and movement of funds is restricted. For example, FIIs shall, subject to certain exceptions, deliver securities only in dematerialized form for settlement of their transactions undertaken on a recognized stock exchange

 

Investments by all foreign institutional investors and sub-accounts under the FEMA regulations in the primary and secondary markets are subject to an aggregate ceiling of 24% of the equity capital or the value of each series of convertible debentures of any Indian company, with certain exceptions. This ceiling can be increased to the applicable statutory cap by a board resolution of the Indian company. The ceiling would apply to the total holdings of foreign institutional investors collectively in an Indian company. The FII Regulations prescribe that each broad based foreign institutional investor investing on its own behalf or on the behalf of its sub-account (broad based) can invest up to 10% of the equity capital of an Indian company. A foreign corporate or individual sub-account can invest only up to 5% of the equity capital of an Indian company. Under the FII Regulations a “broad based fund” is defined as a fund established or incorporated outside of India, which has at least 20 investors, with no single individual investor holding more than 49% of the shares or units of the fund, provided that if the broad based fund has institutional investor(s) it shall not be necessary for the fund to have 20 investors, provided further that if the broad based fund has an institutional investor who holds more than 49% of the shares or units in the fund, then the institutional investor must itself be a broad based fund.

 

Investments by the foreign institutional investor made in its own behalf would be registered in the name of the foreign institutional investor while investments by the sub-accounts in Indian securities may be registered in the name of either the foreign institutional investor or the sub-account.

 

Foreign institutional investors are also limited in their ability to invest in certain industries, such as the banking sector, insurance sector, telecom sector etc. In such industries, there is often a ceiling on total foreign holdings, against which holdings of foreign institutional investors are counted. To the extent that the ceiling has been reached in that industry, further investment by foreign institutional investors may not be permitted. Further, pursuant to Press Note 2 of 2009 issued by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (Ministry of Commerce and Industry),

investments by foreign institutional investors is also included in the computation of indirect foreign investment in Indian companies. This may further restrict the ability of the Fund to invest in companies incorporated in India which operate in sectors that are subject to foreign investment caps.

 

If a foreign institutional investor or a sub-account wishes to invest in securities through the Indian secondary market, it must, with certain exceptions, conduct its securities transactions through brokers certified by SEBI.

 

With some exceptions, the total investments in equity and equity-related instruments, such as convertible debentures and tradeable warrants, made by a foreign institutional investor, whether on account of itself or its sub-accounts, cannot be less than 70% of the aggregate of all the investments of the foreign institutional investor in India, made on its own or through its various sub-accounts. Pursuant to SEBI circular dated October 16, 2008, in order to provide flexibility to FIIs to allocate investments across equity and debt, SEBI has decided to do away with the abovementioned restrictions on the ratio of equity and debt investments. Please note that no formal amendments to the FII Regulations have been made in this regard. It may be noted that there are certain industry-wide ceilings for FII investments in debt and accordingly, investment in debt would be subject to available headroom (discussed below). It may be noted that “debt securities” under the FII Regulations are defined to include government securities, commercial papers and treasury bills. Additionally, applicable Indian law imposes aggregate investment limitations on the dollar amount of certain Indian securities held by a foreign institutional investor. As per SEBI circular dated March 13, 2009, the cumulative debt investment limits for FIIs in corporate debt is $15 billion, of which $8 billion will be allocated on an open bidding platform and the remaining limit will be allocated on a first come first serve basis, subject to a ceiling of Rs. 2.49 billion per registered entity. Pursuant to SEBI circular dated January 31, 2008, investments by FIIs in units of debt oriented mutual funds are considered as investments in corporate debt and are reckoned within the stipulated limit earmarked for FII investments in corporate debt. The applicable investment limit for FIIs and sub-accounts is up to $5 billion in government securities and treasury bills and $500 million for investment in innovative perpetual debt instruments issued by banks. These limits are monitored by SEBI across all FIIs.

 

Currently, the following types of derivatives contracts are traded on the NSE and BSE: (a) index futures; (b) index options; (c) single stock futures; (d) single stock options; (e) interest rate derivatives (f) mini derivative contract on Index (Sensex and Nifty) and (g) exchange traded currency derivatives. The position limits for FII/sub-accounts are prescribed by SEBI on the basis of the type of derivative contract, the type of underlying i.e. index, single stock, interest rate/fixed income) and entity (i.e. FII or sub-account). The position limits are computed on a gross basis at the FII level and on a net basis at the level of sub-accounts and proprietary positions.

 

The open position for all derivative contracts is the open interest multiplied with the closing price of the respective underlying in the cash market. Set out below is a summary of the current position limits for derivative contracts:

 

 

 

A sub-account is not permitted to issue any off-shore derivative instruments such as participatory notes, equity-linked notes or other similar instruments against securities listed or proposed to be listed on an Indian stock exchange as the underlying. Only an entity registered as a foreign institutional investor is permitted to issue such offshore derivate instruments, only to entities which are regulated by an appropriate foreign regulatory authority and subject to the compliance of “know your client” requirements. As a person regulated by an appropriate foreign regulatory authority, the Fund may subscribe to offshore derivative instruments issued by foreign institutional investors registered with SEBI. Further, a foreign institutional investor shall ensure that there is no further downstream issue or transfer of any offshore derivative instrument to any person other than a person regulated by an appropriate foreign regulatory authority. Moreover, a foreign institutional investor is required to disclose periodically certain information relating to off-shore derivative instruments entered into by such foreign institutional investor with respect to Indian securities such as the name of the parties involved, and the principal terms of, such off-shore derivative transactions.

 

Pursuant to applicable laws, there are limits on ownership by (i) “persons resident in India,” (ii) “non-resident Indian,” (iii) “persons of Indian origin” or (iv) “overseas corporate bodies” of shares of certain foreign institutional investor sub-accounts. See “Appendix C: The Indian Securities Market — Regulatory Structure — Restricted Persons.” Such limits could apply to Fund shares.

 

At present, foreign institutional investor and sub-account registrations are granted on a permanent basis subject to the payment of the prescribed fees every three years.

 

Registered foreign institutional investors and sub-accounts are generally subject to tax under Section 115AD of the Indian Income Tax Act of 1961. There is uncertainty under Indian law as to the tax regime applicable to foreign institutional investors or sub-accounts that hold and trade in American depositary shares. See “Taxation — Indian Taxes.”

 

Pricing Regulations in Relation to Acquisition of Shares Through Secondary Purchase

 

Generally, for transfers of shares between residents and non-residents resulting from purchase or sale transaction, no prior permission of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board or the Reserve Bank of India is required if the transfer of shares is done in compliance with the guidelines issued by the Reserve Bank of India and the price for such transfer is in accordance with the pricing guidelines issued by the Reserve Bank of India. With regard to unlisted securities, the Reserve Bank of India pricing guidelines prescribe a floor price in relation to transfer of shares from a resident to a nonresident, and a cap in relation to the transfer of shares from a non-resident to a resident. As a FII or a sub-account, purchases and sales on the stock exchange are to be effected at the prevailing market price (except if executed through the “block deal” route).

 

Exchange Controls

 

A foreign institutional investor or its sub-account may open both foreign currency denominated accounts and “special non-resident rupee” accounts with Indian banks, and any amount that the investor or its sub-account transfers between these accounts may occur at the prevailing rate of exchange. However, under rules and policies promulgated by the Reserve Bank of India, a foreign institutional investor or its sub-account may only invest in Indian securities out of its special non-resident rupee account. In addition, it may only repatriate amounts from its foreign currency account after its designated bank or custodian has deducted and paid all withholding taxes relating to any capital gains.

 

Terms of the Offer

 

The Fund is offering to stockholders of record as of the close of business on July 20, 2009 non-transferable rights to subscribe for 12,826,207 shares of common stock of the Fund. The Fund may increase the number of shares of common stock subject to subscription by up to 25% of the shares, or up to 3,206,551 additional shares, for an aggregate total of 16,032,758 shares.

 

Each stockholder is being issued one right for each whole share of common stock owned on the record date. The rights entitle you to acquire at the subscription price one share for each three rights held. You need three rights to purchase one share at the subscription price. The Fund will not issue fractional shares upon the exercise of less than three rights.

 

Rights may be exercised at any time during the subscription period, which commences on July 20, 2009 and ends at 5:00 p.m., Eastern daylight time, on August 14, 2009, unless extended by the Fund to not later than August 19, 2009 or terminated early as described herein (such date, as it may be extended, is referred to in this prospectus as the “expiration date,” and such period, as it may be extended, is referred to in this prospectus as the “subscription period”). See “— Expiration, Extension and Early Termination of the Offer” below. A stockholder’s right to acquire one additional share for each three rights held during the subscription period at the subscription price is referred to as the “primary subscription.” The rights are evidenced by subscription certificates, which will be mailed to subscribing stockholders.

 

In addition, any stockholder who fully exercises all rights issued to him or her is entitled to subscribe for additional shares, which were not otherwise subscribed for in the primary subscription, at the subscription price, which we refer to as the “over-subscription privilege.” Shares acquired pursuant to the over-subscription privilege are subject to allotment and may be subject to increase, which is more fully discussed below under “— Over-Subscription Privilege.”

 

The subscription price will be equal to 95% of the net asset value per share of the Fund’s common stock at the close of business on the date on which the offer expires.

 

Because the expiration date and the date upon which the price of the rights will be determined will be the same date, stockholders who exercise their rights and submit subscription certificates will not know the purchase price of the shares when they make their investment decision. The market price of the Fund’s common shares may, and has in the past, fluctuated below 95% of the Fund’s net asset value. If the market price of the Fund’s common stock is below the subscription price, it may not be in your interest to participate in this offering because you could purchase shares of the Fund on the open market for less than the subscription price. Once you subscribe for shares and the Fund receives payment or a guarantee of payment, you will not be able to change your decision.

 

The rights are non-transferable. Therefore, only the underlying shares, and not the rights, will be listed for trading on the NYSE.

 

Purposes of the Offer

 

The Board of Directors of the Fund has determined that it would be in the best interests of the Fund and its stockholders to increase the assets of the Fund through this offer.

 

In consultation with the Investment Manager, the board determined that this offer may provide the following benefits:

 

 

 

 

 

Prior to reaching this conclusion, the Fund’s Board of Directors, in consultation with the Investment Manager and others, reviewed the structure, timing and terms of this offer, as well as its dilutive effect on both stockholders who exercise their rights and those who do not and other potentially adverse consequences resulting from this offer. The Board of Directors also considered the fact that the Fund’s semi-annual repurchase offers will tend to diminish assets over time and that diminution in assets will offset in whole or in part the potential benefits discussed above. After careful consideration, the Board of Directors voted unanimously to approve the terms of this offer. However, there can be no assurance that the offer will provide any of the benefits listed above.

 

Two of the Fund’s Directors who voted to authorize this offer are affiliated with the Investment Manager and the Country Adviser, and therefore could benefit indirectly from this offer. The other six Directors are not “interested persons” of the Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act. Subject to certain conditions as noted above, the Investment Manager, as well as the Country Adviser, may also benefit from this offer because their fees will be based on the net assets of the Fund. The Fund’s Board of Directors considered this in its evaluation of the offer and determined that, in its business judgment, these increased fees were offset by the potential benefits of the offer to the Fund and its stockholders. See “Investment Management and Other Services.” It is not possible to state precisely the amount of additional compensation the Investment Manager and the Country Adviser might receive as a result of this offer because it is not known how many shares will be subscribed for and because the proceeds of this offer will be invested in additional portfolio securities, which will fluctuate in value. However, assuming that the value of the Fund’s assets remained constant prior to the offer at $1.0 billion (its approximate value as of July 2, 2009) and after the offer at $1.4 billion (which assumes that all rights are exercised at the estimated subscription price, including the additional shares that may be issued under the over-subscription privilege), the annual compensation received by the Investment Manager and the Country Adviser would increase by approximately $4.2 million (including fees paid to the Investment Manager in its capacity as the Fund’s Administrator) and $400,833, respectively. The Country Adviser’s fee is paid by the Investment Manager and not directly by the Fund.

 

The Fund has no current plans to make additional rights offerings. However, the Fund may, in the future, choose to make additional rights offerings if the Fund’s Board of Directors determines that a rights offering would be in the best interests of the Fund and its stockholders and would result in a net benefit to the stockholders. Any such future rights offerings, if any, will be made in accordance with the then-applicable requirements of the 1940 Act and the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”).

 

There can be no assurance that the Fund or its stockholders will achieve any of the foregoing objectives or benefits through this offer.

 

Over-Subscription Privilege

 

If some stockholders as of the record date do not exercise all of the rights initially issued to them, any shares for which subscriptions have not been received from stockholders will be offered by means of the over-subscription privilege to those stockholders as of the record date who have exercised all of the rights initially issued to them and who wish to acquire additional shares. Stockholders who exercise all of the rights initially issued to them should indicate on the subscription certificate how many shares they are willing to acquire through this over-subscription privilege. If sufficient shares are available, all over-subscription requests will be honored in full. If sufficient shares are not available to honor all requests for over-subscription, the Fund may increase the number of shares available by up to 25%, or 3,206,551 shares in order to satisfy over-subscription requests.

 

To the extent that there are not sufficient shares to honor all over-subscription requests, the available shares will be allocated among those who over-subscribe based on the number of rights originally issued to them by the

Fund, so that the number of shares issued to stockholders who subscribe through the over-subscription privilege will generally be in proportion to the number of shares of the Fund owned by them on the record date. The percentage of remaining shares each over-subscribing stockholder may acquire may be rounded down to the nearest whole share to result in delivery of whole shares. The allocation process may involve a series of allocations in order to ensure that the total number of shares available for over-subscriptions is distributed, as nearly as may be practicable, on a pro rata basis. The Fund will not offer or sell any shares that are not subscribed for through the primary subscription or the over-subscription privilege.

 

Subscription Price

 

The subscription price will be equal to 95% of the net asset value per share of the Fund’s common stock at the close of business on the date on which the offer expires.

 

The Fund announced the offer after the close of business on May 29, 2009. The last reported sale price of a share of the Fund’s common stock on the NYSE on May 29, 2009 and July 2, 2009 was $29.38 and $30.90, respectively. The net asset value per share at the close of business on May 29, 2009 and July 2, 2009 was $26.72 and $26.37, respectively.

 

Rights May Not Be Purchased or Sold

 

The rights are non-transferable. You may not purchase or sell them. The rights will not trade on the NYSE or any other exchange. The shares to be issued upon the exercise of the rights, however, will trade on the NYSE under the symbol “IFN.” If you do not exercise your rights before the conclusion of this offer, your rights will expire without value.

 

Expiration, Extension and Early Termination of the Offer

 

The expiration date is 5:00 p.m., Eastern daylight time, on August 14, 2009, unless extended by the Fund to not later than August 19, 2009 or terminated early as described herein. The Fund may elect to extend the offer in order to, among other things, increase potential stockholder participation in the offer or allow stockholders additional time to evaluate the terms of the offer. Moreover, the Fund may extend the offer upon the occurrence of the events described below under “— Notice of Net Asset Value Decline-Possible Suspension or Withdrawal of the Offer.”

 

The rights will expire on the expiration date and may not be exercised after that date. Because the expiration date and the date upon which the price of the rights will be determined will be the same date, stockholders who exercise their rights will not know the purchase price of the shares when they make their investment decision. Once you subscribe for shares and the Fund receives payment or a guarantee of payment, you will not be able to change your decision except as provided under “— Notice of Net Asset Value Decline-Possible Suspension or Withdrawal of the Offer.”

 

The Fund may elect to terminate the offer early if, in the judgment of the Fund’s Board of Directors, market circumstances significantly change and the Fund’s board determines that the offer no longer constitutes a net benefit to the Fund or the Fund’s stockholders. In such event, the Fund’s board would likely determine that the risks associated with proceeding with the offer would be greater to the Fund and the Fund’s stockholders than the risks associated with early termination, which risks could include negative public perception of the Fund and a negative impact on the Fund’s performance.

 

Subscription Agent

 

The subscription agent for this offer is The Colbent Corporation, which will receive, for its administrative, processing, invoicing and other services as subscription agent, an estimated fee of $100,000 and reimbursement for all out-of-pocket expenses related to this offer. Stockholder inquiries may be directed to Georgeson Shareholder Communications Inc., the information agent, toll-free at 1-866-297-1264.

THE SIGNED SUBSCRIPTION CERTIFICATES SHOULD BE SENT TO THE COLBENT CORPORATION, by one of the following methods:

 

 

By Facsimile Transmission:

1-781-930-4939

 

Confirm by Telephone:

1-781-930-4900

 

The Fund will only accept subscription certificates actually received on a timely basis. If you deliver the certificates to an address other than as set forth above, that delivery will not be effective.

 

Information Agent

 

Any questions or requests for assistance may be directed to the information agent at its telephone number listed below:

Georgeson Shareholder Communications Inc.

Toll Free: 1-866-297-1264

 

Stockholders may also call their nominees, who hold shares for the account of others, for information with respect to this offer.

 

The Fund will pay an estimated fee of $100,000 to Georgeson Shareholder Communications Inc. and reimburse it for all out-of-pocket expenses related to its services as information agent.

 

Method for Exercising Rights

 

Rights may be exercised by stockholders who fill in and sign the accompanying subscription certificate and mail it in the envelope provided or deliver the completed and signed subscription certificate to the subscription agent, together with any required payment for the shares as described below under “— Payment for Shares.” Rights may also be exercised by a stockholder contacting his or her broker, bank or trust company, which can arrange, on the stockholder’s behalf, to guarantee delivery, using a “notice of guaranteed delivery,” of a properly completed and executed subscription certificate and payment for the shares. The broker, bank or trust company may charge a fee for this service. Fractional shares will not be issued. Completed subscription certificates must be received by the subscription agent prior to 5:00 p.m., Eastern daylight time, on the expiration date (unless payment is to be effected by means of a notice of guaranteed delivery at the offices of the subscription agent. See “— Payment for Shares.”

 

Depending on your status, the following methods of delivery should be used:

 

 

 

Payment for Shares

 

Stockholders who acquire shares in the primary subscription or pursuant to the over-subscription privilege may choose between the following methods of payment:

 

(1) If, prior to 5:00 p.m., Eastern daylight time, on the expiration date, the subscription agent has received a notice of guaranteed delivery by facsimile or otherwise from a bank, trust company or a NYSE member firm guaranteeing delivery of (a) payment of the full subscription price for the shares subscribed for in the primary subscription and any additional shares subscribed for through the over-subscription privilege and (b) a properly completed and executed subscription certificate, the subscription will be accepted by the subscription agent. The bank, trust company or NYSE member firm may charge you a fee for this service. The subscription agent will not honor a notice of guaranteed delivery if a properly completed and executed subscription certificate is not received by the subscription agent by the close of business on August 19, 2009.

 

(2) Alternatively, a record owner can send payment for the shares acquired in the primary subscription, together with the subscription certificate, to the subscription agent based on an estimated subscription price of $25.05 per share. To be accepted, such payment, together with the subscription certificate, must be received by the subscription agent prior to 5:00 p.m., Eastern daylight time, on the expiration date.

 

If the second method described above is used, payment by check must accompany any subscription certificate for the subscription certificate to be accepted.

 

If the market price of the Fund’s common stock is below the subscription price, it may not be in your interest to participate in this offering. You will have no right to rescind your subscription after receipt of your payment for shares by the subscription agent, except as provided below under “— Notice of Net Asset Value Decline/Possible Suspension or Withdrawal of the Offer.”

 

The subscription agent will deposit all checks received by it prior to the final due date into a segregated interest bearing and insured account at a non-affiliated bank pending distribution of the shares. Interest will accrue to the benefit of the Fund, and not the stockholder, regardless of whether shares are issued by the Fund.

 

The method of delivery of subscription certificates and payment of the subscription price to the Fund will be at your election and risk, but, if sent by mail, we recommend that you send the subscription certificates and payment by registered mail, properly insured with return receipt requested, and that a sufficient number of days be allowed to ensure delivery to the Fund prior to 5:00 p.m., eastern daylight time, on the expiration date. The Fund reserves the right not to accept your payment if payment is not received in a timely fashion. You are therefore strongly encouraged to pay, or arrange for payment, by means of a certified or bank cashier’s check.

 

A confirmation will be sent by the subscription agent to each stockholder (or, if the Fund’s shares on the record date are held by a nominee, to such nominee) by August 26, 2009, showing:

 

 

In the event that the estimated subscription price is greater than the actual subscription price determined at the close of the subscription period, a refund is owed to the exercising rights holder.

 

In the case of any stockholder who exercises his or her right to acquire shares pursuant to the over-subscription privilege, any excess payment which would otherwise be refunded to the stockholder will be applied by the Fund toward payment for additional shares acquired pursuant to exercise of the over-subscription privilege. Any additional payment required from a stockholder must be received by the subscription agent by August 28, 2009. Any excess payment to be refunded by the Fund to a stockholder will be mailed by the subscription agent to such stockholder as promptly as possible after August 28, 2009. All payments by a stockholder must be made in United States dollars by money order or check drawn on a bank located in the United States of America and payable to The India Fund, Inc.

 

Issuance and delivery of certificates for the shares purchased are subject to collection of checks and actual payment through any notice of guaranteed delivery.

 

If a stockholder who acquires shares pursuant to the primary subscription or over-subscription privilege does not make payment of all amounts due by August 28, 2009, the Fund reserves the right, among other things, to:

 

 

All questions concerning the timeliness, validity, form and eligibility of any exercise of rights will be determined by the Fund, whose determinations will be final and binding. The Fund may, in its sole discretion, waive any defect or irregularity, or permit a defect or irregularity to be corrected within such time as it may determine, or reject the purported exercise of any right. Subscriptions will not be deemed to have been received or accepted until all irregularities have been waived or cured within such time as the Fund determines in its sole discretion. The Fund will not be under any duty to give notification of any defect or irregularity in connection with the submission of subscription certificates or incur any liability for failure to give such notification.

 

Notice of Net Asset Value Decline/Possible Suspension or Withdrawal of the Offer

 

The Fund has, as required by the SEC, undertaken to suspend this offer until it amends this prospectus if, subsequent to the effective date of the Fund’s Registration Statement, the Fund’s net asset value declines more than 10% from its net asset value as of the effective date. Accordingly, the Fund will notify stockholders of any such decline and thereby permit them to cancel their exercise of rights.

 

Delivery of Share Certificates

 

Participants in the Fund’s dividend reinvestment and cash purchase plan will have any shares acquired in the primary subscription and pursuant to the over-subscription privilege credited to their accounts in the plan. Stock certificates will not be issued for shares credited to plan accounts. Stockholders whose shares are held of record by a nominee on their behalf will have any shares acquired in the primary subscription and pursuant to the over-subscription privilege credited to the account of such nominee. For all other stockholders, the Fund will issue stock certificates for shares acquired through subscription only upon request made at the time of exercise of the rights. If a request is made, stock certificates will be mailed promptly after August 28, 2009 and after full payment for the subscribed shares has been received and cleared. If a stockholder holds shares in more than one account, each account will be treated as a separate holder for purposes of the offer.

 

Restrictions on Foreign Stockholders

 

The Fund will not mail subscription certificates to stockholders whose record addresses are outside the United States. PNC Global Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. will hold the rights to which subscription certificates relate for foreign stockholders accounts until instructions are received to exercise the rights. If no instructions are received prior to the expiration date, which is August 14, 2009, the rights will expire. Foreign stockholders holding shares through a U.S. broker-dealer should contact the broker-dealer regarding this offer.

United States Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Offer

 

Stockholders who receive rights pursuant to this offer will not recognize taxable income for United States federal income tax purposes upon their receipt of the rights. If rights issued to a stockholder expire without being exercised, no basis will be allocated to such rights, and the stockholder will not recognize any gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes upon such expiration.

 

Provided that the fair market value of the rights distributed pursuant to this offer is less than 15% of the fair market value of the Fund’s common stock at the time of distribution, the tax basis of a stockholder’s common stock will remain unchanged, and the stockholder’s basis in the rights will be zero. A stockholder may, however, elect to allocate his basis in his common stock between his rights and common stock based on their relative fair market values on the date of distribution of the rights; this allocation is mandatory if the fair market value of the rights distributed pursuant to this offer is at least equal to 15% of the fair market value of the Fund’s common stock at the time of distribution. A stockholder who exercises rights will not recognize any gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes upon the exercise. The basis of the newly acquired common stock will equal the subscription price paid for the common stock plus the basis allocated to the rights that are exercised, if any. Upon a sale or exchange of the common stock so acquired, the stockholder will recognize gain or loss measured by the difference between the proceeds of the sale or exchange and the cost basis of such common stock. Assuming the stockholder holds the common stock as a capital asset, any gain or loss realized upon its sale will generally be treated as a capital gain or loss, and the gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if the common stock has a holding period of more than one year at the time of the sale. However, any loss recognized upon the sale of shares of common stock with a tax holding period of six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any capital gain distribution previously received or deemed received by the stockholder with respect to such shares, and a loss may be disallowed under wash sale rules to the extent that the stockholder purchases additional common stock (including by reinvestment of distributions) within 30 days before or after the sale date. The holding period for common stock acquired upon the exercise of rights will begin on the date of exercise of the rights.

 

The foregoing is a summary of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences of this offer under the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and applicable existing and proposed regulations thereunder, all as currently in effect and all subject to change at any time, perhaps with retroactive effect. It does not include any state, local or foreign tax consequences of this offer. This summary is generally applicable to stockholders that are United States persons as defined in the Internal Revenue Code. Further, this summary is not intended to be, nor should it be, construed as legal or tax advice, and stockholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors to determine the tax consequences to them of this offer and their ownership of rights and common stock.

 

Dilution

 

As a result of this offer, you will incur immediate economic dilution, and, if you do not exercise all of your rights, you may incur dilution of ownership, voting rights and your share of any distributions made by the Fund.

 

You should expect that you will, at the completion of this offer, experience immediate dilution of net asset value per share because the subscription price will be less than the net asset value per share, and the number of shares outstanding after the offer will have increased proportionately more than the increase in the size of the Fund’s net assets. This dilution of net asset value will disproportionately affect stockholders who do not exercise their rights. In addition, whether or not you exercise your rights, you will experience a dilution of net asset value because you will indirectly bear the expenses of this offer, which include, among other items, SEC registration fees, state “blue sky” qualification fees, printing expenses and the fees assessed by service providers (including the cost of the Fund’s counsel and accountants). We cannot state precisely the amount of any decrease because we do not know at this time how many shares will be subscribed for or what the net asset value per share will be at the pricing date. The following example, assuming (i) a net asset value of $1.0 billion (the Fund’s approximate net asset value on July 2, 2009), (ii) a subscription price of $25.05 (which is 95% of the Fund’s approximate net asset value per share on

July 2, 2009) and (iii) that all rights are exercised at the estimated subscription price, including the additional shares that may be issued under the over-subscription privilege, demonstrates the dilution of net asset value.

 

Example:

 

 

In addition to the economic dilution described above, if you do not exercise all of your rights, you may incur dilution of ownership and voting rights, as well as dilution of your share of any distributions made by the Fund, as a result of this offer. This dilution may occur because you could own a smaller interest in the Fund after the offer than you owned prior to the offer. If you do not submit a subscription request pursuant to the over-subscription privilege, you will also experience dilution in your Fund ownership if the Fund offers additional shares for subscription. In addition, regardless of whether you participate in the current offering, to the extent the Fund engages in subsequent rights offerings, your investment may be diluted by any such offering.

 

We estimate the net proceeds of this offer to be approximately $320,509,075. If the Fund increases the number of shares subject to subscription by 25%, then the total net proceeds of the offer will be approximately $400,833,178. These figures assume all rights are exercised in full, a subscription price of $25.05, and payment of offering expenses of approximately $787,410.

 

The offering is designed to raise funds to be invested consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies. The Investment Manager anticipates that investment of the net proceeds of this offer in accordance with the Fund’s investment goal and policies may take up to six months from their receipt by the Fund depending on market conditions and the availability of appropriate securities. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to the Fund’s Operations.” Pending investment, the net proceeds of this offer will be held in the types of short- term debt securities and instruments in which the Fund may invest. See “Investment Objective and Policies.” As a result of this short-term investment of the proceeds, a lower yield may be realized.

 

The investment objective of the Fund is long-term capital appreciation, which it seeks to achieve by investing primarily in the equity securities of Indian companies. Equity securities include common and preferred stock (including convertible preferred stock), American, global or other types of depositary receipts, or ADRs, convertible bonds, notes and debentures, equity interests in trusts, partnerships, joint ventures or similar enterprises and common stock purchase warrants and rights. Most of the equity securities purchased by the Fund are expected to be traded on an Indian stock exchange or in an Indian over-the-counter market.

 

The Fund’s investment objective and its policy to invest, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its total assets in equity securities of Indian companies are fundamental policies of the Fund that may not be changed without the approval of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities. See “Investment Restrictions.”

 

Portfolio Structure

 

Under normal market conditions, at least 80% of the Fund’s total assets are invested in equity securities of Indian companies. “Indian companies” are companies that:

 

 

 

Up to 20% of the Fund’s total assets may be invested, subject to certain restrictions, in:

 

 

 

 

Up to 20% of the Fund’s assets may also be utilized to purchase and sell options on securities, financial futures, fixed income indices and other financial futures contracts, enter into interest rate transactions and to enter into currency transactions, sell securities short and loan portfolio securities. The Fund will only invest in such assets in order to hedge against financial risks. With respect to interest rate transactions, the Fund may enter into interest rate swaps and may purchase or sell interest rate caps and floors. Currency transactions may include currency forward contracts, exchange listed currency futures contracts, exchange listed and over-the-counter options on currencies and currency swaps. For additional discussion of these types of transactions in which the Fund may invest see “Appendix A — General Characteristics and Risks of Hedging.” Although the Fund does not presently do so or intend to do so to any significant extent, the Fund may from time to time sell securities short. See “Additional Investment Activities — Short Sales” for more information. The Fund will not be obligated, however, to do any hedging and makes no representation as to the availability of these techniques at this time or at any time in the future. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to the Fund’s Operations — The Fund’s ability to successfully hedge against financial risks may adversely affect the Fund’s net asset value” and “Additional Investment Activities — Hedging.”

 

The Fund’s assets may be invested in debt securities, other than temporary investments, when the Investment Manager believes that, based upon factors such as relative interest rate levels and foreign exchange rates, such securities offer opportunities for long-term capital appreciation. The Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in temporary investments for temporary defensive purposes due to political, market or other factors affecting markets in India.

 

The Fund may invest in investment funds, including unregistered funds, that invest at least 80% of their total assets in the equity securities of Indian companies in which the Fund is authorized to invest. The Fund may invest in investment funds as a means of investing in other equity securities in which the Fund is authorized to invest when the Investment Manager believes that such investments may be more advantageous to the Fund than a direct market purchase of such securities. Under the 1940 Act, the Fund is restricted in the amount it may invest in such funds. See “Additional Investment Activities — Investment Funds.”

 

The Fund may invest its assets in a broad spectrum of industries. In selecting industries and companies for investment, the Investment Manager will consider overall growth prospects, financial condition, competitive position, technology, research and development, productivity, labor costs, raw material costs and sources, profit margins, return on investment, structural changes in local economies, capital resources, the degree of government regulation or deregulation, management and other factors. See “Investment Restrictions.”

 

While the Fund invests a substantial portion of its assets in the securities of established Indian companies, it also may invest in the securities of less seasoned and smaller and mid-capitalization Indian companies. There are risks associated with investments in securities of small and medium capitalization companies that are not customarily associated with investments in securities of more established and larger capitalized companies. Although the opportunities for growth may be greater with these companies, they also involve greater risks. For example, they are more susceptible to abrupt and erratic price movements and adverse general market and economic developments, and it may be more difficult to obtain information about these companies because they tend to be less well known and

followed by fewer securities analysts. See “Risk Factors-Risks Related to the Fund’s Operations-Investments in unseasoned and small and mid-capitalization Indian companies may expose the Fund to greater investment risk.”

 

Temporary Investments

 

The Fund may hold and/or invest its assets in cash and/or temporary investments for cash management purposes, pending investment in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective and policies and to meet operating expenses. In addition, the Fund may take a temporary defensive posture and invest without limitation in temporary investments. The Fund may assume a temporary defensive posture when, due to political, market or other factors broadly affecting markets, the Investment Manager determines that either opportunities for capital appreciation in those markets may be significantly limited or that significant diminution in value of the securities traded in those markets may occur. To the extent that the Fund invests in temporary investments, it may not achieve its investment objective.

 

Specifically, “temporary investments” are debt securities denominated in U.S. dollars or in another freely convertible currency including:

 

 

 

 

Repurchase agreements are contracts pursuant to which the seller of a security agrees at the time of sale to repurchase the security at an agreed upon price and date. When the Fund enters into a repurchase agreement, the seller will be required to maintain the value of the securities subject to the repurchase agreement, marked to market daily, at not less than their repurchase price. Repurchase agreements may involve risks in the event of insolvency or other default by the seller, including possible delays or restrictions upon the Fund’s ability to dispose of the underlying securities.

 

Other Investments

 

Illiquid securities.  The Fund may invest up to 20% of its total assets in illiquid securities for which there may be no or only a limited trading market and for which a low trading volume of a particular security may result in abrupt and erratic price movements. The Fund does not currently intend to invest in privately placed securities other than those where no term, other than price and payment terms, is negotiated. The Fund may be unable to dispose of its holdings in illiquid securities at then-current market prices and may have to dispose of such securities over extended periods of time. See “Risk Factors-Risks Related to the Fund’s Operations — The Fund’s investments in illiquid securities may restrict its ability to dispose of its investments in a timely fashion and at a price approximating the value at which the Fund carries the securities on its books.” In some cases, illiquid securities will be subject to contractual or legal restrictions on transfer. In addition, issuers whose securities are not publicly

traded may not be subject to the disclosure and other investor protection requirements that may be applicable if their securities were publicly traded.

 

Rule 144A securities.  The Fund may purchase certain restricted securities, or Rule 144A securities, for which there is a secondary market of qualified institutional buyers, as contemplated by Rule 144A under the 1933 Act. Rule 144A provides an exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act for the resale of certain restricted securities to qualified institutional buyers. One effect of Rule 144A is that certain restricted securities may now have liquidity, though there is no assurance that a liquid market for Rule 144A securities will develop or be maintained. To the extent that the number of qualified institutional buyers is reduced, a previously liquid Rule 144A security may be determined to be illiquid, thus increasing the percentage of illiquid assets in the Fund’s portfolio. The Board of Directors has adopted policies and procedures for the purpose of determining whether securities that are eligible for resale under Rule 144A are liquid or illiquid securities. Pursuant to those policies and procedures, the Board of Directors has delegated to the Investment Manager the determination as to whether a particular security is liquid or illiquid.

 

Convertible securities.  A convertible security is a bond, debenture, note, preferred stock or other security that may be converted into or exchanged for a prescribed amount of common stock of the same or a different issuer within a particular period of time at a specified price or formula. A convertible security entitles the holder to receive interest generally paid or accrued on debt or the dividend paid on preferred stock until the convertible security matures or is redeemed, converted or exchanged. Convertible securities have several unique investment characteristics such as:

 

 

A convertible security might be subject to redemption at the option of the issuer at a price established in the convertible security’s governing instrument. If a convertible security held by the Fund is called for redemption, the Fund may be required to permit the issuer to redeem the security, convert it into the underlying common stock or sell it to a third party.

 

In selecting convertible debt securities for the Fund, the following factors, among others, may be considered by the Investment Manager:

 

 

Warrants.  The Fund may invest in warrants, which are securities permitting but not obligating their holder to subscribe for other securities. Warrants do not carry with them the right to dividends or voting rights with respect to the securities that they entitle their holder to purchase, and they do not represent any rights in the assets of an issuer. As a result, an investment in warrants may be considered more speculative than certain other types of investments. In addition, the value of a warrant does not necessarily change with the value of the underlying securities, and a warrant ceases to have value if it is not exercised prior to its expiration date.

 

Equity-linked debt securities.  The Fund may invest in equity-linked debt securities. The amount of interest and/or principal payments that an issuer of equity-linked debt securities is obligated to make is linked to the performance of a specified index of equity securities and may be significantly greater or less than payment obligations in respect of other types of debt securities. As a result, an investment in equity-linked debt securities may be considered more speculative than other types of debt securities. In selecting equity-linked debt securities for

the Fund, the Investment Manager may consider, among other factors, the creditworthiness of the issuers of the securities and the volatility of the index of equity securities.

 

In addition to the investment policies discussed above, the Fund may engage in certain additional investment activities. These activities may be limited by Indian law or regulations.

 

Hedging

 

The Fund is authorized to use various hedging and investment strategies. From time to time and as permitted by the 1940 Act, the Fund may engage in certain hedging activities described below to hedge various market risks (such as broad or specific market movements and interest rates and currency exchange rates).

 

In addition, techniques and instruments may change over time as new instruments and strategies are developed or regulatory changes occur. Limitations on the portion of the Fund’s assets that may be used in connection with the investment strategies described below are set out in “Appendix A: General Characteristics and Risks of Hedging.”

 

Subject to the constraints described above, the Fund may purchase and sell interest rate, currency or stock index futures contracts and enter into currency forward contracts and currency swaps. It may purchase and sell (or write) exchange listed and over-the-counter put and call options on debt and equity securities, currencies, futures contracts, fixed income and stock indices and other financial instruments. And it may enter into interest rate transactions, equity swaps and related transactions and other similar transactions that may be developed to the extent the Investment Manager determines are consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and policies and applicable regulatory requirements. The Fund’s futures transactions will be entered into for hedging purposes. There is, however, no limit on the Fund’s assets that can be put at risk through the use of futures contracts and options thereon, and the value of the Fund’s futures contracts and options thereon may equal or exceed 100% of the Fund’s total assets. The Fund’s interest rate transactions may take the form of swaps, caps, floors and collars, currency forward contracts, currency futures contracts, currency swaps and options on currency or currency futures contracts.

 

Hedging may be used to attempt to protect against possible changes in the market value of securities held in or to be purchased for the Fund’s portfolio resulting from securities markets or currency exchange rate fluctuations, to protect the Fund’s unrealized gains in the value of its portfolio securities, to facilitate the sale of those securities for investment purposes, to manage the effective maturity or duration of the Fund’s portfolio or to establish a position in the derivatives markets as a temporary substitute for purchasing or selling particular debt or equity securities. The ability of the Fund to utilize hedging successfully will depend on the Investment Manager’s ability to predict pertinent market movements, and this ability cannot be assured. These skills are different from those needed to select portfolio securities. The use of hedging in certain circumstances will require that the Fund segregate cash, U.S. government securities or other liquid debt obligations to the extent the Fund’s obligations are not otherwise “covered” through ownership of the underlying security, financial instrument or currency.

 

A detailed discussion of hedging, including applicable requirements of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the requirement to segregate assets with respect to these transactions and special risks associated with such strategies, appears in this prospectus as “Appendix A: General Characteristics and Risks of Hedging.” See also “Risk Factors — Risks Related to the Fund’s Operations — The Fund’s ability to successfully hedge against financial risks may adversely affect the Fund’s net asset value.”

 

When-Issued and Delayed Delivery Securities

 

The Fund may purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis. Securities purchased on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis are purchased for delivery beyond the normal settlement date at a stated price. No income accrues to the purchaser of a security on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis prior to delivery. Such securities are recorded as an asset and are subject to changes in value based upon changes in market prices. Purchasing a security on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis can involve a risk that the market price at the time of delivery may be lower than the agreed-upon purchase price, in which case there could be an unrealized loss at the

time of delivery. The Fund will only make commitments to purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis with the intention of actually acquiring the securities, but it may sell them before the settlement date if it is deemed advisable. The Fund generally will establish a segregated account in which it will maintain liquid assets in an amount at least equal in value to the Fund’s commitments to purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis. If the value of these assets declines, the Fund will place additional liquid assets in the account on a daily basis so that the value of the assets in the account is equal to the amount of such commitments. As an alternative, the Fund may elect to treat when-issued or delayed delivery securities as senior securities representing indebtedness, which are subject to asset coverage requirements under the 1940 Act. See “Investment Restrictions.”

 

Loans of Portfolio Securities

 

The Fund may lend portfolio securities. By doing so, the Fund attempts to earn income through the receipt of interest on the loan. In the event of the bankruptcy of the other party to a securities loan, the Fund could experience delays in recovering the securities that it lent. To the extent that, in the meantime, the value of the securities that the Fund has lent has increased, the Fund could experience a loss.

 

The Fund may lend securities from its portfolio if liquid assets in an amount at least equal to the current market value of the securities lent (including accrued interest thereon) plus the interest payable to the Fund with respect to the loan is maintained by the Fund in a segregated account. Any securities that the Fund may receive as collateral will not become a part of its portfolio at the time of the loan and, in the event of a default by the borrower, the Fund will, if permitted by law, dispose of such collateral except for such part thereof that is a security in which the Fund is permitted to invest. During the time that securities are on loan, the borrower will pay the Fund any accrued income on those securities, and the Fund may invest the cash collateral and earn additional income or receive an agreed-upon fee from a borrower that has delivered cash equivalent collateral. Cash collateral received by the Fund will be invested in securities in which the Fund is permitted to invest. The value of securities lent will be marked to market daily. Portfolio securities purchased with cash collateral are subject to possible depreciation. Loans of securities by the Fund will be subject to termination at the Fund’s or the borrower’s option. The Fund may pay reasonable negotiated fees in connection with loaned securities, so long as such fees are set forth in a written contract and approved by the Fund’s Board of Directors.

 

SEBI has, in a press release dated October 20, 2008 in respect of offshore stock lending activities by an FII, stated that it disapproves of the overseas lending and borrowing activities of FIIs and the consequent selling pressure in the cash market in India. SEBI has communicated this disapproval to the FIls. Consequently, the lending and borrowing activities of FIls are being monitored and if necessary stronger measures may be taken by SEBI as considered appropriate, which may include the imposition of further restrictions or reporting requirements on an FII

 

Investment Funds

 

The Fund may invest in investment funds, including unregistered funds, other than those for which the Investment Manager or Country Adviser serve as investment adviser or sponsor and which invest principally in securities in which the Fund is authorized to invest. Under the 1940 Act, the Fund may invest a maximum of 10% of its total assets in the securities of other investment companies. In addition, the Fund may not invest more than 5% of its total assets in the securities of any one investment company, and it may not invest in any investment company if it would own more than 3% of the outstanding voting stock of that company. To the extent that the Fund invests in other investment funds, including unregistered funds, the Fund’s stockholders will incur certain duplicative fees and expenses, including investment advisory fees. As a stockholder in an investment fund, the Fund will bear its ratable share of the investment fund’s expenses and will remain subject to payment of the Fund’s advisory and other fees and expenses with respect to assets so invested. See “Risk Factors — The operating expenses of the Fund may be higher than investment companies that invest primarily in the securities of U.S. companies.”

 

Short Sales

 

Although the Fund does not presently do so or intend to do so to any significant extent, the Fund may from time to time sell securities short. A short sale is a transaction in which the Fund would sell securities it does not own but has borrowed. In the event the Fund elects to sell securities short, the Fund’s intention would be to seek to take

advantage of decreases in the market prices of securities in order to increase the Fund’s return on its investments. When the Fund makes a short sale, the proceeds it receives from the sale will be held on behalf of a broker until the Fund replaces the borrowed securities. To deliver the securities to the buyer, the Fund will need to arrange through a broker to borrow the securities, and, in so doing, the Fund will become obligated to replace the securities borrowed at their market price at the time of replacement, whatever that price may be. The Fund may have to pay a premium to borrow the securities and must pay any dividends or interest payable on the securities until they are replaced.

 

The Fund’s obligation to replace the securities borrowed in connection with a short sale will be secured by collateral deposited with the broker that consists of cash, U.S. government securities or other liquid debt obligations. In addition, the Fund will place in a segregated account with its custodian, or designated sub-custodian, an amount of cash, U.S. government securities or other liquid debt obligations equal to the difference, if any, between the market value of the securities sold at the time they were sold short and any cash, U.S. government securities or other liquid obligations deposited as collateral with the broker in connection with the short sale (not including the proceeds of the short sale). Until it replaces the borrowed securities, the Fund will maintain the segregated account daily at a level so that the amount deposited in the account plus the amount deposited with the broker (not including the proceeds from the short sale) will equal the current market value of the securities sold short and the amount deposited in the account plus the amount deposited with the broker (not including the proceeds from the short sale) will not be less than the market value of the securities at the time they were sold short.

 

Short sales by the Fund involve certain risks and special considerations. Possible losses from short sales differ from losses that could be incurred from a purchase of a security because losses from short sales may be unlimited whereas losses from purchases can equal only the total amount invested.

 

Further, SEBI issued a circular on December 20, 2007, which permits all classes of investors to engage in short selling of securities subject to the broad framework specified by SEBI. SEBI set April 21, 2008 as the date of implementation of the short selling of securities and securities lending and borrowing scheme. In addition, the stock exchanges have also stipulated certain procedural requirements, including entering into appropriate agreements for this purpose. Further, the RBI has by its circular dated December 31, 2007 permitted FIIs/ sub-accounts to short sell, lend and borrow equity shares of Indian companies subject to certain condition prescribed in the said circular.

 

The custodian of the Fund in India would be required to separately report all transactions pertaining to short selling of equity shares and lending and borrowing in India of equity shares by the Fund in its daily reporting with a suitable remark (short sold / lent / borrowed equity shares) for the purpose of monitoring by the RBI.

 

Leverage

 

Although the Fund does not presently do so or intend to do so in the upcoming year, the Fund may utilize leverage by borrowing or by issuing preferred stock or short-term debt securities in an amount up to 25% of the Fund’s total assets. Borrowings may be secured by the Fund’s assets. Temporary borrowings in an additional amount of up to 5% of the Fund’s total assets may be made without regard to the foregoing limitation for temporary or emergency purposes such as clearance of portfolio transactions, share repurchases and payment of dividends.

 

Leverage by the Fund creates an opportunity for increased return but, at the same time, creates special risks. For example, leverage may exaggerate changes in the net asset value of the common stock and in the return on the Fund’s portfolio. Although the principal of any leverage will be fixed, the Fund’s assets may change in value during the time the leverage is outstanding. Leverage will create expenses for the Fund that can exceed the income from the assets acquired with the proceeds of the leverage. All expenses associated with leverage would be borne by common stockholders. Furthermore, an increase in interest rates could reduce or eliminate the benefits of leverage and could reduce the value of the Fund’s common stock.

 

The Fund also may enter into reverse repurchase agreements with any member bank of the U.S. Federal Reserve System and any broker-dealer or any foreign bank that has been determined by the Investment Manager to be creditworthy. Under a reverse repurchase agreement, the Fund would sell securities and agree to repurchase them at a mutually agreed upon date and price. At the time the Fund enters into a reverse repurchase agreement, it may establish and maintain a segregated account with its custodian or a designated sub- custodian that contains cash, U.S. government securities or other liquid debt obligations that have a value not less than the repurchase price

(including accrued interest). Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the market value of the securities purchased with the proceeds of the sale of securities received by the Fund may decline below the price of the securities that the Fund is obligated to repurchase. In the event that the buyer of securities under a reverse repurchase agreement files for bankruptcy or becomes insolvent, the buyer or its trustee or receiver may receive an extension of time to determine whether to enforce the Fund’s obligations to repurchase the securities, and the Fund’s use of proceeds of the reverse repurchase agreement may effectively be restricted pending the decision. Reverse repurchase agreements will be treated as borrowings for purposes of calculating the Fund’s borrowing limitation to the extent the Fund does not establish and maintain a segregated account.

 

Asset Coverage Requirements

 

The 1940 Act requires the Fund to satisfy an asset coverage requirement of 300% of its indebtedness, including amounts borrowed, measured at the time that the Fund incurs the indebtedness. This requirement, which we refer to as the “asset coverage requirement,” means that the value of the Fund’s total indebtedness may not exceed one-third of the value of its total assets (including such indebtedness), measured at the time the Fund incurs the indebtedness. The staff at the SEC’s Division of Investment Management has taken the position that short sales of securities, reverse repurchase agreements, use of margin, sales of put and call options on specific securities or indices, investments in certain other types of instruments (including certain derivatives, such as swap agreements) and the purchase and sale of securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis may be deemed to constitute indebtedness subject to the asset coverage requirement.

 

The SEC’s staff has stated, however, that it will not deem a portfolio position involving these instruments to be subject to the asset coverage requirement if an investment company “covers” its position by segregating liquid securities on its books or in an account with its custodian in an amount sufficient to offset the liability associated with the position. Generally, in conjunction with portfolio positions that are deemed to constitute senior securities, the Fund must:

 

 

Segregation of assets or covering portfolio positions with offsetting portfolio positions may limit the Fund’s ability to otherwise invest those assets or dispose of those securities. If the Fund were to issue preferred stock, the asset coverage requirement with respect to such preferred stock would be 200%.

 

The following restrictions, along with the Fund’s investment objective, its policy to invest at least 80% of the Fund’s total assets in the equity securities of Indian companies under normal market conditions and its interval fund structure, are, subject to the next sentence, the Fund’s only fundamental policies, that is, policies that cannot be changed without the approval of the holders of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities. In addition, as a matter of fundamental policy and notwithstanding any other fundamental investment policy or limitation, the Fund may invest all or a portion of its assets invested in India through a subsidiary, trust or other similar arrangement (including a branch) established by the Fund at any such time that the Board of Directors of the Fund determines that it is in the best interests of the Fund’s stockholders. As used in here and otherwise in this prospectus, a “majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities” means the lesser of (i) 67% of the shares represented at a meeting at which more than 50% of the outstanding shares are represented or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding shares. The other policies and investment restrictions referred to in this prospectus are not fundamental policies of the Fund and may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Directors without stockholder approval. If a percentage restriction set forth below is adhered to at the time a transaction is effected, later changes in any percentage resulting from any cause other than actions by the Fund will not be considered a violation.

Under its fundamental restrictions, the Fund may not:

 

 

For purposes of the above restrictions on senior securities and as further described above under “Additional Investment Activities — Asset Coverage Requirements,” the 1940 Act requires the Fund to satisfy an asset coverage requirement of 300% of its indebtedness, including amounts borrowed, measured at the time the Fund incurs the indebtedness. Short sales of securities, reverse repurchase agreements, use of margin, sales of put and call options on specific securities or indices, investments in certain other types of instruments (including certain derivatives, such as swap agreements) and the purchase and sale of securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis may be deemed to constitute indebtedness subject to this requirement.

 

For purposes of the above restrictions on loans of portfolio securities and as further described under “Additional Investment Activities — Loans of Portfolio Securities,” the Fund may make loans of portfolio securities if liquid assets in an amount at least equal to the current market value of the securities lent (including

accrued interest thereon) plus the interest payable to the Fund with respect to the loan is maintained by the Fund in a segregated account.

 

You should carefully consider the following risks and the other information in this prospectus before you decide to participate in this offer. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones facing the Fund. Additional risks and uncertainties may also adversely affect and impair the Fund. If any of the following risks actually occur, the Fund’s operations, results of operations and financial condition would likely suffer, which in turn could materially adversely affect your investment in the Fund.

 

Risks Relating to the Offer

 

As a result of this offer, you will incur immediate economic dilution, and, if you do not exercise all of your rights, you may incur dilution of ownership, voting rights and your share of any distributions made by the Fund.

 

You should expect that you will, at the completion of this offer, experience immediate dilution of net asset value per share because the subscription price will be less than the net asset value per share, and the number of shares outstanding after the offer will have increased proportionately more than the increase in the size of the Fund’s net assets. This dilution of net asset value will disproportionately affect stockholders who do not exercise their rights. In addition, whether or not you exercise your rights, you will experience a dilution of net asset value because you will indirectly bear the expenses of this offer, which include, among other items, SEC registration fees, state “blue sky” qualification fees, printing expenses and the fees assessed by service providers (including the cost of the Fund’s counsel and accountants). We cannot state precisely the amount of any decrease because we do not know at this time how many shares will be subscribed for or what the net asset value per share will be at the pricing date. The following example, assuming (i) a net asset value of $1.0 billion (the Fund’s approximate net asset value on July 2, 2009), (ii) a subscription price of $25.05 (which is 95% of the Fund’s approximate net asset value per share on July 2, 2009) and (iii) that all rights are exercised at the estimated subscription price, including the additional shares that may be issued under the over-subscription privilege, demonstrates the dilution of net asset value.

 

Example:

 

 

In addition to the economic dilution described above, if you do not exercise all of your rights, you may incur dilution of ownership and voting rights, as well as dilution of your share of any distributions made by the Fund, as a result of this offer. This dilution may occur because you could own a smaller interest in the Fund after the offer than you owned prior to the offer. If you do not submit a subscription request pursuant to the over-subscription privilege, you will also experience dilution in your Fund ownership if the Fund offers additional shares for subscription. In addition, regardless of whether you participate in the current offering, to the extent the Fund engages in subsequent rights offerings, your investment may be diluted by any such offering.

 

You may lose money by investing in the Fund, including the possibility that you may lose all of your investment.

 

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit in a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency.

 

Among the principal risks of investing in the Fund is market risk, which is the risk that the value of your investment may fluctuate as stock markets fluctuate.

As an investment company that holds primarily common stocks, the Fund’s portfolio is subject to the possibility that common stock prices will decline over short or even extended periods. The Fund may remain substantially fully invested during periods when stock prices generally rise and also during periods when they generally decline. Moreover, as a holder of common stock, the Fund’s rights to the assets of the companies in which it invests will be subordinated to such companies’ holders of preferred stock and debt in the event of a bankruptcy, liquidation or similar proceeding. Accordingly, if such an event were to occur to such a company in which the Fund invests, the Fund would be entitled to such a company’s assets only after such company’s preferred stockholders and debt holders have been paid. Risks are inherent in investments in equities, and Fund stockholders should be able to tolerate significant fluctuations in the value of their investment in the Fund.

 

In addition, the Fund may invest up to 20% of its assets in debt securities whose value will tend to decrease as interest rates rise.

 

The Fund is intended to be a long-term investment vehicle and is not designed to provide investors with a means of speculating on short-term stock market movements. Investors should not consider the Fund a complete investment program.

 

Risks Related to the Fund’s Operations

 

Political, economic, social and other factors in India may adversely affect the Fund’s performance.

 

An emerging market such as India has undergone and may continue to undergo rapid change and lack the social, political and economic stability of more developed countries. The value of the Fund’s assets may be adversely affected by political, economic, social and religious factors, changes in Indian law or regulations and the status of India’s relations with other countries. In addition, the economy of India may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as the rate of growth of gross domestic product, the rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of payments position. Agriculture occupies a more prominent position in the Indian economy than in the United States, and the Indian economy therefore is more susceptible to adverse changes in weather. The Indian government has exercised and continues to exercise significant influence over many aspects of the economy, and the number of public sector enterprises in India is substantial. Accordingly, Indian government actions in the future could have a significant effect on the Indian economy, which could affect private sector companies and the Fund, market conditions, and prices and yields of securities in the Fund’s portfolio.

 

Since mid-1991, the Indian government has committed itself to implementing an economic structural reform program with the objective of liberalizing India’s exchange and trade policies, reducing the fiscal deficit, controlling inflation, promoting a sound monetary policy, reforming the financial sector, and placing greater reliance on market mechanisms to direct economic activity. A significant component of the program is the promotion of foreign investment in key areas of the economy and the further development of, and the relaxation of restrictions in, the private sector. These policies have been coupled with the expressed intention to redirect the government’s central planning function away from the allocation of resources and toward the issuance of indicative guidelines. While the government’s policies have resulted in improved economic performance there can be no assurance that the economic recovery will be sustained. Moreover, there can be no assurance that these economic reforms will persist. There can be no assurance that the government will continue the program of economic liberalization of the last government which may adversely affect Indian laws and policies affecting foreign investment and currency exchange. In addition, economic growth in India is constrained by inadequate infrastructure, a cumbersome bureaucracy, corruption, labor market rigidities, regulatory and foreign investment controls, the “reservation” of key products for small-scale industries and high fiscal deficits. Such changes in economic policies, or lack of movement toward economic liberalization, could negatively affect the general business and economic conditions in India, which could in turn affect the Fund’s investments.

 

Further, the economies of developing countries such as India generally are heavily dependent upon international trade and, accordingly, have been and may continue to be adversely affected by trade barriers, exchange controls, managed adjustments in relative currency values and other protectionist measures imposed or negotiated by the countries with which they trade. The Indian economy also has been and may continue to be adversely affected by economic conditions in the countries with which it trades.

There is also the possibility of nationalization, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, political changes, government regulation, social instability or diplomatic developments (including war or terrorist attacks). All of these factors could adversely affect the economy of India, make the prices of Indian securities generally more volatile than the prices of securities of companies in developed markets and increase the risk of loss to the Fund.

 

The Indian population is comprised of diverse religious, linguistic and ethnic groups. Religious and border disputes persist in India. The longstanding grievances between the Hindu and Muslim populations resulted in communal violence during 1993 in the aftermath of the destruction of a mosque in Ayodhya by radical elements of the Hindu population. As recently as 2002, there has been communal violence between Hindus and Muslims in the western Indian state of Gujarat. Moreover, India has from time to time experienced civil unrest and hostilities with neighboring countries such as Pakistan. The Indian government has confronted separatist movements in several Indian states. The longstanding dispute with Pakistan over the border Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, a majority of whose population is Muslim, remains unresolved. Moreover, in late November 2008, terrorists killed at least 164 people in a series of coordinated attacks around Mumbai. If the Indian government is unable to control the violence and disruption associated with these tensions, the results could destabilize the economy and, consequently, adversely affect the Fund’s investments.

 

Since early 2003, there have also been military hostilities and civil unrest in Afghanistan, Iraq and other Asian countries. These events could adversely influence the Indian economy and, as a result, negatively affect the Fund’s investments. See “Appendix B: Republic of India.”

 

Recent Developments in Financial Markets and Impact on the Fund.

 

Worldwide economic conditions have recently deteriorated significantly affecting the global financial markets and have caused significant reductions in available capital and liquidity from banks and other providers of credit, substantial reductions in equity and currency values in financial markets and extreme volatility in credit, equity and fixed income markets and general economic uncertainty. Conditions in the debt and equity capital markets in the United States and abroad have caused firms in the financial services sector to take significant losses relating to, among other things, subprime mortgages and the re-pricing of credit risk in the broadly syndicated loan market. While the economic crisis has not, at present, affected the Indian economy to the same extent as in the U.S. or European economies, the Indian economy and the Fund may be impacted in the future. The timing and nature of any recovery in the credit and financial markets remains uncertain, and there can be no assurance that market conditions will improve in the near future or that our results will not be materially and adversely affected.

 

Indian securities markets are substantially smaller, less liquid and more volatile than securities markets in the United States.

 

There are over 20 recognized stock exchanges in India, including The Over the Counter Exchange of India. Most stock exchanges are governed by regulatory boards. The Stock Exchange, Mumbai, which we refer to as the “BSE,” and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, which we refer to as the “NSE,” have nationwide trading terminals and, taken together, are the principal Indian stock exchanges in terms of the number of listed companies, market capitalization and trading volume. The regional exchanges have seen a steady drop in volumes since the introduction of screen based trading and the phase out of lending/borrowing (badla) system. The securities market in India is substantially smaller, less liquid and significantly more volatile than the securities market in the United States. At March 31, 2009, there were approximately 6,349 companies listed on the BSE and the NSE and the aggregate market capitalization of listed equity securities of these companies was approximately $610 billion. By comparison, on March 31, 2009, the global market capitalization of the New York Stock Exchange was approximately $10.0 trillion. The relatively small market capitalizations of, and trading values on, the BSE and NSE may cause the Fund’s investments in securities listed on these exchanges to be comparatively less liquid and subject to greater price volatility than comparable U.S. investments.

 

Under current Indian law, only companies organized under the laws of India may list their securities on the Indian securities exchanges or over-the-counter markets, except for Indian depositary receipts. If we invest in Indian depositary receipts or if Indian law changes in this regard, the Fund would be able to invest in companies that are principally traded in India but which may be organized outside of India, which could subject the Fund to different

risks of the country where they are organized. Similarly, Indian companies may have operations outside of India and, accordingly, may be subject to risks in the various countries where they have operations.

 

A high proportion of the shares of many Indian issuers are held by a limited number of persons, which may limit the number of shares available for investment by the Fund. In addition, further issuances, or the perception that such issuances may occur, of securities by Indian issuers in which the Fund has invested could dilute the earnings per share of the Fund’s investment and could adversely affect the market price of such securities. Sales of securities by such issuer’s major stockholders, or the perception that such sales may occur, may also significantly and adversely affect the market price of such securities and, in turn, the Fund’s investment. A limited number of issuers represent a disproportionately large percentage of market capitalization and trading value. At March 31, 2009, the 10 largest companies by market capitalization accounted for approximately 37% of the aggregate market capitalization of the NSE. The limited liquidity of the Indian securities markets may also affect the Fund’s ability to acquire or dispose of securities at the price and time that it desires.

 

Anticipation of this offering in the Indian securities markets may adversely influence the prices paid by the Fund in purchasing certain securities for its portfolio and may affect the speed with which the Fund can initially invest in Indian securities. In addition, the small trading volume concentrated in a limited number of the largest companies, combined with certain investment diversification requirements and other restrictions applicable to the Fund, also may affect the rate at which the Fund can initially invest. Accordingly, to the extent the Fund purchases securities at present levels, there may be greater risk that the value of such securities may decline.

 

Indian stock exchanges, including the BSE and the NSE, have in the past experienced substantial fluctuations in the prices of their listed securities. They have also experienced problems such as temporary exchange closures, broker defaults, settlement delays and broker strikes that, if they occur again in the future, could affect the market price and liquidity of the Indian securities in which the Fund invests. In addition, the governing bodies of the various Indian stock exchanges have from time to time imposed restrictions on trading in certain securities, limitations on price movements and margin requirements. Disputes have also occurred from time to time among listed companies, the stock exchanges and other regulatory bodies, and in some cases those disputes have had a negative effect on overall market sentiment.

 

The foregoing factors could impede the ability of the Fund to effect portfolio transactions on a timely basis and could have an adverse effect on the net asset value of the Fund’s shares of common stock and the price at which those shares trade.

 

Volatility of the Indian stock market may affect the value of the Fund’s shares.

 

The stock market in India is volatile. Indian stocks, like those in other emerging markets, have a history of extreme volatility with sharp advances and rapid declines, which can be sudden and unpredictable. For example, Indian share prices declined by 65.1% in 2008, but increased by 54.6% in 2009 up to May 27 (as measured by MSCI India Index in U.S. dollars). As of May 27, 2009, Indian shares traded on a 14.7 times 12-month forward price-earnings ratio (consensus estimates provided by the Institutional Brokers’ Estimate System). Since November 1992, the historical valuation range is 7.1 times to 29.2 times. Since the value of the Fund’s shares is sensitive to stock market volatility, if there is a decline in the value of exchange-listed stocks in India, the value of our common shares would also likely decline.

 

India has different corporate disclosure, governance and regulatory requirements than you may be familiar with in the United States.

 

In addition to their smaller size, lesser liquidity and greater volatility, Indian securities markets are less developed than U.S. securities markets. Disclosure and regulatory standards are in many respects less stringent than U.S. standards. Issuers in India are subject to accounting, auditing and financial standards and requirements that differ, in some cases significantly, from those applicable to U.S. issuers. In particular, the assets and profits appearing on the financial statements of an Indian issuer may not reflect its financial position or results of operations in the way they would be reflected had such financial statements been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. There is substantially less publicly available information about Indian issuers than there is about U.S. issuers.

There is less regulation and monitoring of Indian securities markets and the activities of investors, brokers and other participants than in the United States. Moreover, issuers of securities in India are not subject to the same degree of regulation as are U.S. issuers with respect to such matters as insider trading rules, tender offer regulation, stockholder proxy requirements and the timely disclosure of information. There is also less publicly available information about Indian companies than U.S. companies. See “Appendix C: The Indian Securities Market.”

 

Legal principles relating to corporate affairs and the validity of corporate procedures, directors’ fiduciary duties and liabilities and stockholders’ rights may differ from those that may apply in other jurisdictions. Stockholders’ rights under Indian law may not be as extensive as those that exist under the laws of the United States. The Fund may therefore have more difficulty asserting its rights as a stockholder of an Indian company in which it invests than it would as a stockholder of a comparable American company.

 

The Fund may have difficulty enforcing foreign judgments against Indian companies or their management.

 

The Indian companies in which the Fund invests are primarily limited liability companies incorporated under the laws of India. Generally, the directors, executive officers and a substantial portion of the assets of such companies are located in India. It may be difficult for the Fund to obtain a judgment in a court outside the United States to the extent that there is a default with respect to the security of an Indian issuer or with respect to any other claim that the Fund may have against any such issuer or its directors and officers. As a result, even if the Fund initiates a suit against the issuer in a U.S. court, it may not be possible for the Fund to effect service of process in India. Moreover, if the Fund obtains a judgment in a U.S. court, it may be difficult to enforce such judgment in India since the United States been not declared by the Government of India to be a reciprocating territory. A judgment of a court in a jurisdiction that is not a reciprocating territory may be enforced only by a fresh suit upon the judgment and not by proceedings in execution. The suit must be brought in India within three years from the date of the judgment in the same manner as any other suit filed to enforce a civil liability in India. It is unlikely that a court in India would award damages on the same basis as a foreign court if an action were brought in India. Furthermore, it is unlikely that an Indian court would enforce foreign judgments if it viewed the amount of damages awarded as excessive or inconsistent with public policy. A party seeking to enforce a foreign judgment in India is also required to obtain approval from the RBI to execute such a judgment or to repatriate outside India any amount recovered and any such amount may be subject to income tax in accordance with applicable laws.

 

Indian investment restrictions may hinder the Fund’s investment program.

 

The Fund will invest in India as a sub-account of the Investment Manager, which is registered as a foreign institutional investor with SEBI. Generally, under SEBI regulations applicable to foreign institutional investors and subject to certain exceptions, total investments by foreign institutional investors and their sub-accounts, taken together, in the primary and secondary Indian markets may not exceed 24% of the equity capital or the value of each series of convertible debentures of any Indian company in which they invest. The ceiling would apply to the total holdings in any Indian Company of all foreign institutional investors and their sub-accounts collectively in a given Indian company. In addition, to this 24% overall investment limitation, no individual foreign institutional investor, together with its sub- accounts, may generally invest more than 10% of the equity capital of any Indian company. The ceiling would apply to the total holdings of foreign institutional investors collectively in an Indian company. The FII Regulations prescribe that each broad based foreign institutional investor investing on its own behalf or on the behalf of its sub-account (broad based) can invest up to 10% of the equity capital of an Indian company. A foreign corporate or individual sub-account can invest only up to 5% of the equity capital of an Indian company. Investments by the foreign institutional investor made in its own behalf would be registered in the name of the foreign institutional investor while investments by the sub-accounts in Indian securities may be registered in the name of either the foreign institutional investor or the sub-account.

 

In addition, a foreign institutional investor and its sub-accounts, may not, with certain exceptions, hold more than 30% of their total investments in the debt securities of Indian companies. However, SEBI may permit registration as a 100% debt FII / sub-account, in which the case the said 70% condition would not be applicable. However, pursuant to SEBI circular dated October 16, 2008, in order to provide flexibility to FIIs to allocate investments across equity and debt, SEBI has decided to do away with the abovementioned restrictions on the ratio

of equity and debt investments. Please note that no formal amendments to the FII Regulations have been made in this regard. It may be noted that there are certain industry-wide ceilings for FII investments in debt and accordingly, investment in debt would be subject to available headroom (discussed below). It may be noted that “debt securities” under the FII Regulations are defined to include government securities, commercial papers and treasury bills. As per SEBI circular dated March 13, 2009, the cumulative debt investment limits for FIIs in corporate debt is $15 billion, out of which $8 billion will be allocated on an open bidding platform and the remaining limit will be allocated on a first come first serve basis, subject to a ceiling of Rs. 2.49 billion per registered entity. Pursuant to SEBI circular dated January 31, 2008, investments by FIIs in units of debt oriented mutual funds are considered as investments in corporate debt and are reckoned within the stipulated limit earmarked for FII investments in corporate debt. The applicable investment limit for FIIs and sub-accounts is up to $5 billion in government securities and treasury bills and $500 million for investment in innovative perpetual debt instruments issued by banks. These limits are monitored by SEBI across all FIIs.

 

Currently, the following types of derivatives contracts are traded on the NSE and BSE: (a) index futures; (b) index options; (c) single stock futures; (d) single stock options; (e) interest rate derivatives and (f) exchange traded currency derivatives. The position limits for FII/sub-accounts are prescribed by SEBI on the basis of the type of derivative contract, the type of underlying i.e. index, single stock, interest rate/fixed income) and entity (i.e. FII or sub-account). The position limits are computed on a gross basis at the FII level and on a net basis at the level of sub-accounts and proprietary positions. The open position for all derivative contracts is the open interest multiplied with the closing price of the respective underlying in the cash market. For a detailed description of the position limits applicable to sub-account investments in derivative contracts, see “Investments in India — Investments by Foreign Institutional Investors.” Such position limits may restrict the ability of the Fund to invest in derivatives in India.

 

Foreign institutional investors are also limited in their ability to invest in certain industries, such as the banking sector, insurance sector, telecom sector etc. In such industries, there is often a ceiling on total foreign holdings, against which holdings of foreign institutional investors are counted. To the extent that the ceiling has been reached in that industry, further investment by foreign institutional investors may not be permitted. Further, pursuant to Press Note 2 of 2009 issued by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (Ministry of Commerce and Industry), investments by foreign institutional investors is also included in the computation of indirect foreign investment in Indian companies. This may further restrict the ability of the Fund to invest in companies incorporated in India which operate in sectors that are subject to foreign investment caps.

 

Indian takeover regulations contain certain provisions that may delay, deter, or prevent a future takeover or change in control of Indian companies. For example, an acquirer who, along with persons acting in concert, acquires 15% or more of the shares or voting rights in a company is required to make a public announcement offering to acquire a further 20% of the shares of a company. In addition, regardless of whether there has been any acquisition of shares or voting rights in a company, an acquirer cannot directly or indirectly acquire control over a company (for example, by way of acquiring the right to appoint a majority of the directors or to control the management or the policy decisions of the company) unless such acquirer makes a public announcement offering to acquire a minimum of 20% of the shares of the company. However, the public announcement requirement will not apply to any change in control which takes place pursuant to a special resolution passed by way of a postal ballot by the shareholders of the company. These provisions may discourage or prevent a third party from acquiring control of an Indian company, even if a change in control would result in the purchase of equity shares of such company at a premium to the market price or would otherwise be beneficial to the Fund. Further, certain reportings are required to be made upon crossing the prescribed thresholds under the Indian takeover regulations.

 

The due diligence that the Fund can conduct be limited by Indian regulations that restrict the ability to conduct inside due diligence on listed companies. Indian insider trading regulations prohibit any dealings in securities on the basis of unpublished price sensitive information. The Fund and others involved in the investments may violate the insider trading regulations if an investment decision is made based on unpublished price sensitive information obtained during the due diligence of a listed company and as result may not be able to make the investment. This restriction will impact the ability of the Fund to receive and analyze such information, which could adversely affect the quality and effectiveness of the due diligence. In addition, any dealings on the basis of unpublished price sensitive information may expose the recipient to insider trading charges.

Accordingly, the ability of the Fund to invest in certain companies may be restricted, and there can be no assurance that additional restrictions on investments permissible for foreign institutional investors will not be imposed in the future. There can be no assurance that the foreign institutional investor guidelines will not be applied or administered by Indian regulatory bodies or authorities or amended, clarified, interpreted by judicial or administrative ruling or superseded in the future in such a way that may adversely affect the Fund. For example, if Indian regulatory authorities determined that limitations on ownership by Restricted Persons are not being followed or the Fund ceasing to be a broad based fund as defined under the FII Regulations, they could take various actions, including among other things prohibiting the Fund from investing in Indian securities through the foreign institutional investor route, which could have a material adverse effect on the Fund. At present, foreign institutional investor and sub-account registrations are granted on a permanent basis subject to the payment of the prescribed fees every three years.

 

Validity of registration with SEBI.

 

The registration of the Fund as a sub-account is co-terminus with the Investment Manager’s registration as a FII. Any cancellation of such FII registration will result in the cancellation of the sub-account registration. If the sub-account registration of the Fund is cancelled, the Fund will not be permitted to trade in the Indian securities markets any further, and will be required to sell its holdings in the Indian securities markets within a specified time. Such unintended sale of holdings of Indian securities by the Fund may adversely impact the value of the Fund’s assets and thereby the Fund’s shareholders. If the FII’s status is lost, the Fund may, subject to the compliances, register itself as a sub-account of another FII.

 

Under certain circumstances such as a change in law or regulation or loss of FII authorization, governmental regulation or approval for the repatriation of investment income, capital or the proceeds of sales of securities by foreign investors may be required.

 

Foreign currency fluctuations could adversely affect the Fund’s performance.

 

The Fund’s assets will be invested principally in securities of Indian issuers and substantially all of the income received by the Fund will be in Indian rupees. However, the Fund will compute and distribute its income in U.S. dollars, and the computation of income will be made on the date that the income is earned by the Fund at the foreign exchange rate on that date. Therefore, if the value of the Indian rupee falls relative to the U.S. dollar between the earning of the income and the time at which the Fund converts the Indian rupees to U.S. dollars, the Fund may be required to liquidate securities in order to make distributions if the Fund has insufficient cash in U.S. dollars to meet distribution requirements. The liquidation of investments, if required, may have an adverse impact on the Fund’s performance. See “Taxation” and “Dividends and Distributions; Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan.”

 

Since the Fund will invest primarily in securities denominated or quoted in Indian rupees, changes in the U.S. dollar-Indian rupee exchange rate will affect the dollar value of securities in the Fund’s portfolio and the unrealized appreciation or depreciation of investments. The exchange rate between the Indian rupee and the U.S. dollar has changed substantially in the last two decades and may fluctuate substantially in the future. On an annual average basis, the Indian rupee declined against the U.S. dollar from 1980 until 2002. From April 1, 1999 until March 31, 2002, the rupee lost approximately 15% of value relative to the U.S. dollar. From April 1, 2002 until March 31, 2004, the value of the Indian rupee appreciated 12.5% in value relative to the U.S. dollar. Since 2004, the value of the rupee has fluctuated, depreciating approximately 6% against the U.S. dollar between March 31, 2004 and August 31, 2004, appreciating approximately 7% between August 31, 2004 and December 31, 2004, depreciating approximately 6% between December 31, 2004 and November 30, 2005, appreciating approximately 4% between November 30, 2005 and January 31, 2006. From February 1, 2006 until March 31, 2009, the value of the rupee has depreciated by approximately 15%.

 

Furthermore, the Fund may incur costs in connection with conversions between U.S. dollars and Indian rupees. Foreign exchange dealers realize a profit based on the difference between the prices at which they are buying and selling various currencies. Thus, a dealer normally will offer to sell a foreign currency to the Fund at one rate, while offering a lesser rate of exchange should the Fund desire immediately to resell that currency to the dealer. The Fund will conduct its foreign currency exchange transactions either at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market or through entering into forward, futures or options contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies, if available.

Exchange controls in India may restrict the Fund’s ability to repatriate investment.

 

The ability of the Fund to invest in Indian securities, exchange Indian rupees into U.S. dollars and repatriate investment income, capital and proceeds of sales realized from its investments in Indian securities is subject to the Indian Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 and the rules, regulations and notifications issued thereunder. See “Investment in India.”

 

Under certain circumstances, such as a change in law or regulation or loss of foreign institutional investor authorization, governmental regulation or approval for the repatriation of investment income, capital or the proceeds of sales of securities by foreign investors may be required. In addition, there can be no assurance that the Indian government in the future, whether for purposes of managing its balance of payments or for other reasons, will not impose restrictions on foreign capital remittances abroad or otherwise modify the exchange control regime applicable to foreign institutional investors in such a way that may adversely affect the ability of the Fund to repatriate its income and capital. If for any reason the Fund is unable, through borrowing or otherwise, to distribute an amount equal to substantially all of its investment company taxable income (as defined for U.S. tax purposes, without regard to the deduction for dividends paid) within the applicable time periods, the Fund would cease to qualify for the favorable tax treatment afforded to regulated investment companies under the Internal Revenue Code.

 

In addition, indirect foreign investment in the securities of companies listed and traded on the stock exchanges in India may be permitted through investment funds that have been specially authorized. The Fund may invest in these investment funds subject to the provisions of the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as discussed above under “Investment Objective and Policies-Portfolio Structure” and “Additional Investment Activities — Investment Funds.” If the Fund invests in investment funds, the Fund’s stockholders will bear not only their proportionate share of the expenses of the Fund (including operating expenses and the fees of the Investment Manager), but also will indirectly bear similar expenses of the underlying investment funds.

 

Investments in unseasoned and small and mid-capitalization Indian companies may expose the Fund to greater investment risk.

 

While the Fund invests a substantial portion of its assets in the securities of established Indian companies, it also may invest in the securities of less seasoned and smaller and mid-capitalization Indian companies. Investments in the securities of these companies may present greater opportunities for growth but also involve greater risks than are customarily associated with investments in securities of more established and larger capitalized companies. The securities of less seasoned and smaller capitalized companies are often traded in the over-the-counter market and have fewer market makers and wider price spreads, which may in turn result in more abrupt and erratic market price movements and make the Fund’s investments more vulnerable to adverse general market or economic developments than would investments only in large, more established Indian companies.

 

The Fund has not established any minimum capitalization or length of operating history for the smaller, less seasoned issuers in whose securities it may invest.

 

The Fund’s investments in illiquid securities may restrict its ability to dispose of its investments in a timely fashion and at a price approximating the value at which the Fund carries the securities on its books.

 

The Fund may invest up to 20% of its total assets in illiquid securities. Illiquid securities are securities that are not readily marketable. The prices of such securities may change abruptly and erratically, and investment of the Fund’s assets in illiquid securities may restrict the ability of the Fund to dispose of its investments in a timely fashion and at a price approximating the value at which the Fund carries the securities on its books, as well as restrict its ability to take advantage of market opportunities. The risks associated with illiquidity will be particularly acute in situations in which the Fund’s operations require cash, such as when the Fund repurchases shares or pays dividends or distributions, and could result in the Fund borrowing to meet short-term cash requirements or incurring capital losses on the sale of illiquid investments. Further, companies whose securities are not publicly traded are not subject to the disclosure and other investor protection requirements that would be applicable if their securities were publicly traded.

The concentration of the Fund’s investments in specific economic sectors and related industries may expose it to greater risk of loss with respect to its portfolio securities.

 

From time to time, the Fund may invest a greater proportion of its assets in the securities of companies that are part of specific sectors and related industries of the Indian economy. For example, at March 31, 2009, the Fund maintained 19.72% of its total assets in the securities of Indian companies in the petroleum sector and related industries. The Fund is therefore subject to greater risk of loss with respect to its portfolio securities as a result of its concentration in such sectors and related industries.

 

A change in the Fund’s tax status could adversely affect the Fund’s return on its investments.

 

The Fund currently operates through a branch in the Republic of Mauritius to take advantage of favorable tax treatment by the Indian government pursuant to a taxation treaty between India and Mauritius. Recently, the Supreme Court of India upheld the validity of this tax treaty in response to a lower court challenge contesting the treaty’s applicability to entities such as the Fund. Any change in the provision of this treaty or in its applicability to the Fund could result in the imposition of withholding and other taxes on the Fund by India, which would reduce the return to the Fund on its investments.

 

The Fund intends to elect to “pass-through” to the Fund’s stockholders as a deduction or credit the amount of foreign taxes paid by the Fund. The taxes passed through to stockholders are included in each stockholder’s income. Certain stockholders, including some non-U.S. stockholders, are not entitled to the benefit of a deduction or credit with respect to foreign taxes paid by the Fund. Other foreign taxes, such as transfer taxes, may be imposed on the Fund, but would not give rise to a credit, or be eligible to be passed through to stockholders. See “Taxation-U.S. Stockholders” and “Taxation-Mauritian Tax Status.”

 

In addition, prior to Blackstone Advisors assuming management, the Fund may have failed to qualify to be taxed as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code for the taxable year ended December 31, 2004. For the year ended December 31, 2005, a provision of $25,507,350 was made for U.S. federal income tax purposes as, at that time, it was unclear whether the Fund qualified to be taxed as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code for the taxable year ended December 31, 2004. In order to preserve the Fund’s tax status as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code for the taxable year ended December 31, 2004, on April 20, 2006 the Fund distributed a deficiency dividend (within the meaning of Section 860 of the Internal Revenue Code) to shareholders in the amount of $1.07 per share, of which $0.95 per share was designated as a capital gain dividend. Under the deficiency dividend procedure, the maximum amount that the Fund will be obligated to pay to the Internal Revenue Service in interest and penalties is approximately $4,956,314. Accordingly, a reversal of $20,551,036 was made in 2006 to the prior year’s tax provision to reflect the decrease in the amount of the tax liability due to the deficiency dividend distributed to shareholders. There can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to further reduce the liability. See “Taxation — The Fund.”

 

The Fund’s shares have traded and may trade in the future at a discount to net asset value.

 

Although the Fund’s shares of common stock have recently traded on the NYSE at a premium to their net asset value, the Fund’s shares have traded at a discount to their net asset value in the past. There can also be no assurance that the Fund’s shares will trade at a premium in the future or that the present premium is sustainable. The Fund’s shares have traded at discounts of as much as 40%.

 

Shares of closed-end investment companies frequently trade at a discount from their net asset values. This characteristic of shares of a closed-end fund is a risk separate and distinct from the risk that a fund’s net asset value will decrease. The Fund cannot predict whether its own shares will trade at, below or above net asset value. The Fund also cannot predict the effect of this offer on the market price of its shares because the market price of the Fund’s shares is, among other things, determined by the supply and demand for the Fund’s shares, the Fund’s investment performance and investor perception of the Fund’s overall attractiveness as an investment as compared with alternative investments.

The Fund’s “interval fund” structure involves certain risks and special considerations not typically associated with other closed-end funds.

 

The Fund has adopted an interval fund structure whereby the Fund conducts semi-annual repurchase offers for between 5% and 25% of the Fund’s outstanding common stock. The Fund’s required semi-annual repurchases are likely to continually decrease the overall size of the Fund, which could over time:

 

 

Moreover, there are additional risks associated with the Fund’s repurchase offers, including that:

 

 

The decrease in the Fund’s assets resulting from the semi-annual repurchase offers will likely offset in whole or in part the potential benefits to the Fund associated with having increased assets as a result of this offer.

 

See “Semi-Annual Repurchases of Securities” and “Semi-Annual Repurchases of Securities-Fundamental Policy Regarding Semi-Annual Repurchase Offers.”

 

The Fund’s status as a “non-diversified” investment company may expose it to greater risk of loss with respect to its portfolio securities.

 

The Fund is classified as a non-diversified investment company under the 1940 Act, which means that the Fund is not limited in the proportion of its assets that may be invested in the obligations of a single issuer. The Fund, however, intends to comply with the diversification requirements imposed by the Internal Revenue Code for qualification as a regulated investment company. Because the Fund is not limited by the 1940 Act for diversification purposes, the Fund may invest a greater proportion of its assets in the securities of a smaller number of issuers and, as a result, will be subject to greater risk of loss with respect to its portfolio securities. See “Taxation-The Fund” and “Investment Restrictions.”

 

There are no fixed limitations regarding portfolio turnover.

 

Frequency of portfolio turnover is not a limiting factor if the Fund considers it advantageous to purchase or sell securities. The Fund anticipates that its annual portfolio turnover rate will not exceed 150%. For the year ended December 31, 2008, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 49.41%. A high rate of portfolio turnover involves correspondingly greater aggregate payments for brokerage commissions than a lower rate, which expenses must be borne by the Fund and its stockholders, while a lower rate of portfolio turnover involves correspondingly lower aggregate payments and stockholder expenses.

The extent to which the Fund invests in high yield/high risk and unrated debt may adversely affect the Fund’s performance.

 

The Fund has not established any rating criteria for the debt securities in which it may invest and such securities may not be rated at all for creditworthiness. Securities rated in medium to low rating categories by nationally recognized statistical rating organizations and unrated securities of comparable quality, or “high yield/high risk securities,” are speculative with respect to the capacity to pay interest and repay principal in accordance with the terms of the security and generally involve a greater volatility of price than securities in higher rated categories. These securities are commonly referred to as “junk bonds,” and credit ratings issued with respect to such securities evaluate only the safety of principal and interest in respect of such securities and not the risk of change in market value. In purchasing such securities, the Fund will rely on the Investment Manager’s analysis, judgment and experience in evaluating the creditworthiness of an issuer of such securities. The Investment Manager will take into consideration, among other things, the issuer’s financial resources, its operating history, its sensitivity to economic conditions and trends, the quality of the issuer’s management and regulatory matters.

 

The market values of high yield/high risk securities tend to reflect individual issuer developments to a greater extent than do higher rated securities, which react primarily to fluctuations in the general level of interest rates. Issuers of high yield/high risk securities may be highly leveraged and may not have available to them more traditional methods of financing. Therefore, the risks associated with acquiring the securities of such issuers generally are greater than is the case with higher rated securities. For example, during a sustained period of rising interest rates or an economic downturn, issuers of high yield/high risk securities may be more likely to experience financial stress, especially if such issuers are highly leveraged. During such periods, service of debt obligations also may be adversely affected by the issuer’s inability to meet specific projected business forecasts, specific issuer developments or the unavailability of additional financing. The risk of loss due to default by the issuer is significantly greater for the holders of high yield/high risk securities because such securities may be unsecured and may be subordinated to other creditors of the issuer.

 

High yield/high risk securities may have redemption or call features that would permit an issuer to repurchase the securities from the Fund. If a call were exercised by the issuer during a period of declining interest rates, the Fund in all likelihood would have to replace the called securities with lower yielding securities, thus decreasing the net investment income to the Fund and dividends to stockholders.

 

The Fund may have difficulty disposing of certain high yield/high risk securities, as there may be a thin trading market for such securities. To the extent that a secondary trading market for high yield/high risk securities does exist, it is generally not as liquid as the secondary market for higher rated securities. Reduced secondary market liquidity may have an adverse impact on market price and the Fund’s ability to dispose of particular issues when necessary to meet the Fund’s liquidity needs or in response to a specific economic event, such as a deterioration in the creditworthiness of the issuer. Reduced secondary market liquidity for certain high yield/high risk securities may also make it more difficult for the Fund to obtain accurate market quotations for purposes of valuing the Fund’s portfolio. Market quotations are generally available on many high yield/high risk securities only from a limited number of dealers and may not necessarily represent firm bids of such dealers of prices for actual sales. The Fund’s Board of Directors or the Investment Manager will carefully consider the factors affecting the market for high yield/high risk securities in determining whether any particular security is liquid or illiquid and whether current market quotations are readily available. Adverse publicity and investor perceptions, which may not be based on fundamental analysis, also may decrease the value and liquidity of high yield/high risk securities, particularly in a thinly traded market. Factors adversely affecting the market value of high yield/high risk securities are likely to adversely affect the Fund’s net asset value. In addition, the Fund may incur additional expenses to the extent it is required to seek recovery upon a default on a portfolio holding or to participate in the restructuring of the obligations.

 

The Fund’s ability to successfully hedge against financial risks may adversely affect the Fund’s net asset value.

 

The risks and special considerations of certain of the investment practices in which the Fund may engage are described under “Investment Objective and Policies” and “Additional Investment Activities.” Hedging involves special risks, including possible default by the other party to the transaction, illiquidity and, to the extent the

Investment Manager’s view as to certain market movements is incorrect, the risk that the use of hedging could result in losses greater than if they had not been used. Use of put and call options could result in losses to the Fund, force the sale or purchase of portfolio securities at inopportune times or for prices higher than (in the case of put options) or lower than (in the case of call options) current market values, or cause the Fund to hold a security that it might otherwise sell. The use of currency transactions could result in the Fund’s incurring losses as a result of the imposition of exchange controls, suspension of settlements or the inability to deliver or receive a specified currency. The use of options and futures transactions entails certain special risks. In particular, the variable degree of correlation between price movements of futures contracts and price movements in the related portfolio position of the Fund could create the possibility that losses on the hedging instrument will be greater than gains in the value of the Fund’s position. In addition, futures and options markets could be illiquid in some circumstances, and certain over-the-counter options could have no markets. As a result, in certain markets, the Fund might not be able to close out a position without incurring substantial losses. To the extent that the Fund utilizes futures and options transactions for hedging, such transactions should tend to minimize the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged position and, at the same time, limit any potential gain to the Fund that might result from an increase in value of the position. There is, however, no limit on the amount of the Fund’s assets that can be put at risk through the use of futures contracts and options thereon, and the value of the Fund’s futures contracts and options thereon may equal or exceed 100% of the Fund’s total assets. Finally, the daily variation margin requirements for futures contracts create a greater ongoing potential financial risk than would purchases of options, in which case the exposure is limited to the cost of the initial premium and transaction costs. Losses resulting from the use of hedging will reduce the Fund’s net asset value, and possibly income, and the losses can be greater than if hedging had not been used. See “Appendix A: General Characteristics and Risks of Hedging.”

 

The extent to which the Fund utilizes leverage to hedge against financial risks may increase its expenses and adversely affect the Fund’s performance.

 

Although the Fund has no present intention to do so to any significant extent, the Fund may utilize leverage by borrowing or by issuing preferred stock or short-term debt securities in an amount up to 25% of the Fund’s total assets. Leverage by the Fund creates an opportunity for increased return but, at the same time, creates special risks. For example, leverage may exaggerate changes in the net asset value of the common stock and in the return on the Fund’s portfolio. Although the principal of any leverage will be fixed, the Fund’s assets may change in value during the time the leverage is outstanding. Leverage will create expenses for the Fund that can, during any period, exceed the income from the assets acquired with the proceeds of the leverage. All expenses associated with leverage would be borne by common stockholders. Furthermore, an increase in interest rates could reduce or eliminate the benefits of leverage and could reduce the value of the Fund’s securities. The Fund may also borrow by entering into reverse repurchase agreements, which will subject the Fund to additional market risk as well as credit risks with respect to the buyer of the securities under the agreement.

 

The anti-takeover provisions in the Fund’s charter and amended and restated by-laws and certain provisions of Maryland law may limit your ability to sell your shares at a premium.

 

The Fund’s charter and amended and restated by-laws and Maryland law contain certain anti-takeover provisions that, among other things, may have the effect of inhibiting the Fund’s possible conversion to open-end status and delaying or limiting the ability of other persons to acquire control of the Fund. In certain circumstances, these provisions might also inhibit the ability of holders of common stock to sell their shares at a premium over prevailing market prices by discouraging a third party from seeking to obtain control of the Fund. The Fund’s Board of Directors has determined that these provisions are in the best interests of the Fund and its stockholders.

 

The operating expenses of the Fund may be higher than investment companies that invest primarily in the securities of U.S. companies.

 

The Fund’s estimated annual operating expenses may be higher than those of most other investment companies that invest predominately in the securities of U.S. companies, primarily because of the additional time and expense required of the Investment Manager and the Country Adviser in pursuing the Fund’s objective of long-term capital appreciation through investing in equity securities of Indian companies. Investments in Indian equity securities

require additional time and expense because the available public information regarding such securities is more limited in comparison to, and not as comprehensive as, the information available for U.S. equity securities. In addition, brokerage commissions, custodial fees and other fees are generally higher for investments in foreign securities markets. As a result of these higher expected operating expenses, the Fund needs to generate higher relative returns to provide investors with an equivalent economic return.

 

Future market disruptions resulting from terrorist attacks in the United States and elsewhere or U.S. military action abroad could negatively and adversely affect the market for the Fund’s common stock.

 

The aftermath of the war with Iraq, instability in the Middle East and terrorist attacks in the United States and around the world may have a substantial impact on the U.S. and world economies and securities markets. The nature, scope and duration of the occupation of Iraq cannot be predicted with any certainty. Terrorist attacks closed some of the U.S. securities markets in 2001, and similar events cannot be ruled out in the future. The war and occupation, terrorism and related geopolitical risks have led, and may in the future lead to, increased short-term market volatility and may have adverse long-term effects on U.S. and world economies and markets generally. These risks may adversely affect individual issuers and securities markets, interest rates, secondary trading, ratings, investor psychology, credit risk, inflation and other factors relating to Fund’s common shares. High-yield securities tend to be more volatile than higher rated securities so that these events and any actions resulting from them may have a greater impact on the prices and volatility of high yield securities than on higher rated securities.

 

The names of the Directors and principal officers of the Fund are set forth below, together with their positions with the Fund and their principal occupations during the past five years. None of the Fund’s nonresident Directors has authorized an agent in the United States to receive notice.

 

Directors considered by the Fund to be “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund or of the Investment Manager:

 

 

 

 

Directors considered by the Fund not to be “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund or the Investment Manager:

 

The following table provides information concerning the number and dollar range of equity securities owned beneficially by each Director as of December 31, 2008:

 

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2008, the holdings of no Director or executive officer, nor the Directors and executive officers of the Fund as a group, represented more than 1% of the outstanding shares of the Fund’s common stock. During calendar years 2007 and 2008, no Director who is not an “interested person” of the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act) nor any immediate family member of such persons, had any interest in Blackstone Advisors, Blackstone India or person or entity (other than the Fund) directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with Blackstone Advisors or Blackstone India.

 

Responsibilities of the Board of Directors

 

The Board of Directors is responsible for directing the management of the business and affairs of the Fund. In performing his duties, each Director is required to act in good faith, in a manner he reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the Fund and its stockholders and with the care of an ordinarily prudent person in a like position under similar circumstances. The Directors oversee the Fund’s business by, among other things, meeting with the Fund’s management and evaluating the performance of the Fund’s service providers including Blackstone Advisors, Blackstone India, the custodian, the transfer agent and the sub-administrator. As part of this process, the Directors consult with the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and with their own separate independent counsel.

 

The Board of Directors has four regularly scheduled meetings each year and additional meetings are scheduled as needed. In addition, the Board has an audit committee and a nominating committee that meet periodically during the year and whose responsibilities are described below.

 

The Directors regularly review the Fund’s financial statements, performance and market price as well as the quality of the services being provided to the Fund. As part of this process, the Directors review the Fund’s fees and expenses to determine if they are reasonable and competitive in light of the services being received, while also ensuring that the Fund continues to have access to high quality services in the future. Based on these reviews, the Directors periodically make suggestions to the Fund’s management and monitor to ensure that responsive action is taken. The Directors also monitor potential conflicts of interest among the Fund, Blackstone Advisors, Blackstone India and their affiliates and other funds and clients managed by Blackstone Advisors to ensure that the Fund is managed in a manner which is in the best interest of the Fund’s stockholders.

Officers

 

The executive officers of the Fund are chosen each year at the first meeting of the Board of Directors of the Fund following the Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to hold office until the meeting of the Board following the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their successors are chosen and qualified. The current executive officers of the Fund are:

 

 

Audit Committee

 

The Fund’s Audit Committee is composed entirely of Directors who are not “interested persons” of the Fund, Blackstone Advisors or its affiliates within the meaning of the 1940 Act, and who are “independent” as defined in the New York Stock Exchange listing standards. Currently, Messrs. Becker, Gelb, Hardy, Henry, Rubio and Salacuse are members of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee convened two times during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008. The principal functions of the Audit Committee are to appoint and retain the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, to review with the independent registered public accounting firm the scope, performance and anticipated cost of their audit and to receive and consider a report from the independent registered public accounting firm concerning their conduct of the audit, including the form of the opinion proposed to be rendered and any comments or recommendations the independent registered public accounting firm might want to make in that connection. The Board has determined that Mr. Becker is an “audit committee financial expert,” as defined in Section 401(h) of Regulation S-K. The Fund adopted an Audit Committee Charter in February 2000, which was most recently amended and restated in November 2005. The Fund’s amended and restated Audit Committee Charter was filed as an exhibit to the Proxy Statement filed by the Fund on March 25, 2009. The Audit Committee Charter states that no member of the Committee may serve on the audit committees of more than three public companies, including the Fund, unless the Board of Directors determines that such simultaneous service would not impair the ability of such member to serve on the Committee effectively. The Board of Directors has determined that the service by Messrs. Becker, Gelb and Salacuse on the audit committees of more than two other public companies does not impair each of their ability to serve effectively on the Fund’s Audit Committee.

 

The members of the Audit Committee are not professionally engaged in the practice of auditing or accounting and are not employed by the Fund for accounting, financial management or internal control. Moreover, the Audit Committee relies on and makes no independent verification of the facts presented to it or representations made by management or the independent registered public accounting firm. Accordingly, the Audit Committee’s oversight does not provide an independent basis to determine that management has maintained appropriate accounting and financial reporting principles and policies, or internal controls and procedures, designed to assure compliance with accounting standards and applicable laws and regulations. Furthermore, the Audit Committee’s considerations and discussions referred to above do not provide assurance that the audit of the Fund’s financial statements has been

carried out in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards or that the financial statements are presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

 

Nominating Committee

 

The Nominating Committee is composed entirely of Directors who are not “interested persons” of the Fund, Blackstone Advisors or its affiliates within the meaning of the 1940 Act, and who are “independent” as defined in the NYSE listing standards. Currently Messrs. Becker, Gelb, Hardy, Henry, Rubio and Salacuse are members of the Nominating Committee. This Committee met once during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008. The principal function of the Nominating Committee is to select and nominate persons for election as Directors of the Fund. The Fund adopted a Nominating Committee Charter on December 18, 2003, which was filed as Exhibit A to the Proxy Statement filed by the Fund on March 20, 2007.

 

The Nominating Committee identifies potential nominees through its network of contacts. While the Nominating Committee meets to discuss and consider such candidates’ qualifications and then chooses a candidate by majority vote, the Nominating Committee does not have specific, minimum qualifications for nominees and has not established specific qualities or skills that it regards as necessary for one or more of the Fund’s Directors to possess (other than any qualities or skills that may be required by applicable law, regulation or listing standard).

 

In identifying and evaluating nominees, the Nominating Committee considers factors it deems relevant which include: whether or not the person is an “interested person” as defined in the 1940 Act and whether the person is otherwise qualified under applicable laws and regulations to serve on the Board of Directors of the Fund; whether or not the person has any relationship that might impair his or her independence, such as any business, financial or family relationships with Fund management, the investment manager of the Fund, Fund service providers or their affiliates; whether or not the person serves on boards of, or is otherwise affiliated with, competing organizations or funds; and the character and integrity of the person and the contribution which the person can make to the Board. The Nominating Committee will accept nominations for the office of Director made by Fund Stockholders. Stockholders who wish to recommend a nominee should send nominations to the Secretary of the Fund which include biographical information and set forth the qualifications of the proposed nominee. There are no differences in the manner in which the Nominating Committee evaluates nominees based on whether such nominees are recommended by a Stockholder.

 

Stockholders who wish to recommend a nominee should send nominations to the Secretary of the Fund which include biographical information and set forth the qualifications of the proposed nominee. There are no differences in the manner in which the Nominating Committee evaluates nominees based on whether such nominees are recommended by a Stockholder.

 

The Fund does not pay a fee to any third party or parties to identify or evaluate or assist in identifying or evaluating potential nominees. The Nominating Committee did not receive a recommended nominee from a Stockholder who beneficially owned, or a group of Stockholders who beneficially owned, more than 5% of the Fund’s shares for at least one year as of the date the recommendation was made.

 

Board Meetings

 

During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, the Board of Directors held four regular meetings and two special meetings. Each Director attended at least 75% of the meetings of the Board or the committee(s) of the Board on which he served.

 

Director Compensation

 

Under the federal securities laws, the Fund is required to provide to Stockholders in connection with the Meeting information regarding compensation paid to Directors by the Fund as well as by the various other U.S. registered investment companies advised by the investment manager or an affiliate of the investment manager during the Fund’s prior fiscal year. The following table provides information concerning the approximate compensation paid during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 to the Directors of the Fund and the aggregate compensation paid to them from all registered funds in the Fund Complex for the fiscal year ended December 31,

2008. The Fund does not provide any pension or retirement benefits to Directors. Robert L. Friedman is not included in the table because he was appointed by the Fund’s Board of Directors to serve as a Class I director of the Fund effective January 7, 2009 to fill the vacancy created by Peter G. Peterson’s resignation. Mr. Peterson retired from The Blackstone Group L.P. and resigned from the Board of Directors of the Fund effective December 31, 2008. Mr. Friedman will not receive compensation for his service on the Fund’s Board of Directors.

 

A Fund Complex means two or more registered investment companies that hold themselves out to investors as related companies for purposes of investment and investor services, or that have a common investment manager or that have an investment manager that is an affiliated person of the investment manager of any of the other registered investment companies. Investment companies are considered to be in the same family if they share the same investment manager or principal underwriter and hold themselves out to investors as related companies for purposes of investment and investor services

 

 

Code of Ethics

 

The Fund’s Board of Directors approved a code of ethics under Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act. Subject to certain conditions and restrictions, the code of ethics permits Directors, officers and other personnel subject to its provisions to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund.

 

The code of ethics can be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information about the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 202-551-8090. The code of ethics is available on the EDGAR database on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Copies may also be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request to “publicinfo@sec.gov” or by writing to the SEC’s Public Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549.

 

Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

 

The Fund has adopted the Investment Manager’s policies and procedures with respect to the voting of proxies related to portfolio securities. These proxy voting policies and procedures delegate to the Investment Manager the responsibility for voting proxy securities, subject to the Board of Directors’ continuing oversight. A copy of the Fund’s proxy voting policies and procedures is included in the Statement of Additional Information which is available without charge by calling the Fund at 1-866-800-8933.

 

Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities for the 12-month period ended June 30, 2008 is available, without charge, by calling 1-866-800-8933 or on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership of shares of the Fund, as of July 2, 2009, by each person (including any group) known to the Fund to be deemed to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the Fund:

 

 

At July 2, 2009, to the knowledge of the Fund, no person owned of record or owned beneficially more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the Fund, except that Cede & Co., a nominee for participants in The Depository Trust Company, held of record 38,292,558 shares, equal to approximately 99.5% of the outstanding shares of the Fund.

 

The Fund has no obligation to deal with any brokers or dealers in the execution of transactions in portfolio securities. Subject to policy established by the Fund’s Board of Directors, the Investment Manager is primarily responsible for the Fund’s portfolio decisions and the initiation of the Fund’s portfolio transactions.

 

In placing orders, it is the policy of the Fund to obtain the best results taking into account the general execution and operational facilities of the broker or dealer, the type of transaction involved and other factors such as the risk of the broker or dealer in positioning the securities involved. While generally the best price is sought in placing orders, the Fund may not necessarily be paying the lowest price available. Securities firms that provide supplemental research to the Investment Manager or the Country Adviser may receive orders for transactions by the Fund. In these circumstances, as contemplated by Section 28(e) of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), the Fund may pay commissions that are higher than those that the Fund might otherwise have paid to another broker if those services had not been provided. Information so received will be in addition to and not in lieu of the services that the Investment Manager and the Country Adviser must perform under their respective agreements, and the expenses of the Investment Manager or the Country Adviser will not necessarily be reduced as a result of the receipt of such supplemental information. The Investment Manager and the Country Adviser may use the research services furnished to them by brokers who effect securities transactions for the Fund in servicing other investment companies and accounts that they manage. Similarly, the Investment Manager and the Country Adviser may use the research services furnished to them by those brokers in servicing the Fund. The Investment Manager and the Country Adviser do not use all of these research services in managing any particular account, including the Fund. To the extent that any services are provided by other NYSE members, the Fund will consider whether the commissions and fees with respect to those transactions are fair and reasonable.

 

In connection with the execution of portfolio transactions on its behalf, affiliated persons (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund, or affiliated persons of such persons, may from time to time be selected to perform brokerage services for the Fund, subject to the considerations discussed above. The 1940 Act prohibits such affiliated persons from dealing with the Fund as principal in the purchase or sale of securities. In order for such an affiliated person to be permitted to effect any portfolio transactions for the Fund, the commissions, fees or other remuneration received by such affiliated person must be reasonable and fair compared to the commissions, fees or other remuneration received by other brokers in connection with comparable transactions involving similar securities being purchased or sold on a securities exchange during a comparable period of time. This standard would allow such an affiliated person to receive no more than the remuneration that an unaffiliated broker would expect to receive in a commensurate arm’s-length transaction.

 

The Investment Manager makes investment decisions or recommendations for the Fund independently from those rendered for other funds that it manages, which may also invest in the same securities as the Fund. If another fund is prepared to invest in, or desires to dispose of, the same security at the same time as the Fund, however, transactions in such securities will be made, insofar as feasible, for the respective funds in a manner deemed equitable to all. In some cases, this procedure may adversely affect the size of the position obtained for or disposed of by the Fund or the price paid or received by the Fund. In addition, because of different investment objectives, a

particular security may be purchased for one fund when another fund is selling the same security. In the future, the Investment Manager may advise or manage other funds or accounts, in which case similar issues may arise. See “Portfolio Manager-Potential Conflicts of Interest.”

 

Although the management agreement does not contain any restrictions on portfolio turnover, the Fund’s policy is not to engage in transactions with the objective of seeking profits from short-term trading. It is expected that the annual portfolio turnover rate of the Fund will not exceed 150%. The portfolio turnover rate is calculated by dividing the lesser of sales or purchases of portfolio securities by the average monthly value of the Fund’s portfolio securities. For purposes of this calculation, portfolio securities exclude all securities having a maturity when purchased of one year or less. Higher portfolio turnover involves correspondingly higher transaction costs and may result in greater amounts of short-term capital gains, which are taxed to stockholders as ordinary income when distributed. See “Taxation — U.S. Stockholders.”

 

For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008, the Fund paid commissions for the execution of its portfolio transactions amounting in the aggregate to $4,580,359, $6,197,781 and $5,609,104, respectively.

 

General

 

Under the 1940 Act, the Fund may repurchase its securities:

 

 

The Fund has adopted an “interval fund” structure, pursuant to which the Fund conducts semi-annual repurchase offers for between 5% and 25% of the Fund’s outstanding common stock. The Fund currently intends to fund repurchase offers by using cash on hand and liquidating portfolio securities and does not intend to make additional discretionary repurchase offers. In accordance with the Fund’s fundamental periodic repurchase policy, the Fund’s next repurchase offer is expected to occur immediately following the expiration of the Offer.

 

If the Fund repurchases its shares of common stock for a price below their net asset value, the net asset value of those shares of common stock that remain outstanding would be enhanced, but this does not necessarily mean that the market price of those outstanding shares would be affected, either positively or negatively. Repurchases of shares of common stock by the Fund would also decrease its total assets and accordingly may increase its expenses as a percentage of average net assets. Further, interest on any borrowings to finance any such share repurchase transactions would reduce the Fund’s net income.

 

Fundamental Policy Regarding Semi-Annual Repurchase Offers

 

The Fund’s fundamental policy with respect to repurchase offers is as follows:

 

 

 

The foregoing policy cannot be changed without stockholder approval.

 

From the date that notice is sent to stockholders announcing the repurchase offer until the repurchase pricing date, the Fund maintains a percentage of its portfolio assets in liquid securities at least equal to the value of the percentage of the Fund’s shares that the Fund has offered to purchase.

 

Procedures Relating to Semi-Annual Repurchase Offers

 

Prior to each repurchase offer, the Board of Directors, in the exercise of its fiduciary duties, will determine the number of shares subject to the repurchase offer based upon such considerations as market demand and the Fund’s net asset value per share. If a repurchase offer is oversubscribed, the Fund may, but is not obligated to, either:

 

 

All shares tendered may be withdrawn at any time prior to the repurchase request deadline in accordance with certain procedures.

 

Repurchase prices are set at a price equal to the net asset value of the Fund as of a specified date that occurs after the repurchase request deadline. The Fund charges a repurchase fee of up to 2% of the value of the shares that are repurchased. Payment for tendered shares is distributed within one week thereafter. All repurchase offer materials are mailed to stockholders of record before commencement of the repurchase offer. Stockholders whose shares are held in the name of a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee should contact such firm if they desire to tender their shares in the repurchase offer.

 

During repurchase offers, net asset value per share is calculated as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE each Friday and each of the five business days preceding the repurchase request deadline. Stockholders who wish to obtain the net asset value during this period should contact the Fund’s information agent for the repurchase offer.

 

See “Taxation — U.S. Stockholders — Dispositions and repurchases.”

 

The Fund intends to distribute annually to stockholders substantially all of its net investment income and to distribute any net realized capital gains at least annually. Net investment income for this purpose is income other than net realized long-and short-term capital gains net of expenses.

 

Pursuant to the Fund’s dividend reinvestment and cash purchase plan, which we refer to as the “plan,” stockholders whose shares of common stock are registered in their own names will be deemed to have elected to have all distributions automatically reinvested by PNC Global Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc., which serves as the plan agent, in Fund shares pursuant to the plan, unless such stockholders elect to receive distributions in cash. Stockholders who elect to receive distributions in cash will receive all distributions in cash paid by check in dollars mailed directly to the stockholders by the dividend paying agent. In the case of stockholders, such as banks, brokers or nominees, that hold shares for others who are beneficial owners, the plan agent will administer the plan on the basis of the number of shares certified from time to time by the stockholders as representing the total amount registered in such stockholders’ names and held for the account of beneficial owners that have not elected to receive distributions in cash. Investors that own shares registered in the name of a bank, broker or other nominee should consult with such nominee as to participation in the plan through such nominee, and may be required to have their shares registered in their own names in order to participate in the plan.

 

The plan agent serves as agent for the stockholders in administering the plan. If the Directors of the Fund declare an income dividend or a capital gains distribution payable either in the Fund’s common stock or in cash,

nonparticipants in the plan will receive cash and participants in the plan will receive common stock, to be issued by the Fund or purchased by the plan agent in the open market. If the market price per share on the valuation date equals or exceeds net asset value per share on that date, the Fund will issue new shares to participants at net asset value, except if the net asset value is less than 95% of the market price on the valuation date, in which case such shares will then be issued at 95% of the market price. The valuation date will be the dividend or distribution payment date or, if that date is not a NYSE trading day, the next preceding trading day. If the net asset value exceeds the market price of Fund shares at such time, or if the Fund should declare an income dividend or capital gains distribution payable only in cash, the plan agent will, as agent for the participants, buy Fund shares in the open market, on the NYSE or elsewhere, for the participants’ accounts on, or shortly after, the payment date. If, before the plan agent has completed its purchases, the market price exceeds the net asset value of a Fund share, the average per-share purchase price paid by the plan agent may exceed the net asset value of the Fund’s shares, resulting in the acquisition of fewer shares than if the distribution had been paid in shares issued by the Fund on the dividend payment date. Because of the foregoing difficulty with respect to open-market purchases, the plan provides that if the plan agent is unable to invest the full dividend amount in open- market purchases during the purchase period or if the market discount shifts to a market premium during the purchase period, the plan agent will cease making open-market purchases and will receive the uninvested portion of the dividend amount in newly issued shares at the close of business on the last purchase date.

 

Participants have the option of making additional cash payments to the plan agent annually in any amount from $100 to $3,000 for investment in the Fund’s common stock. The plan agent will use all such funds received from participants to purchase Fund shares in the open market on or about February 15 of each year. Any voluntary cash payment received more than 30 days prior to this date will be returned by the plan agent, and interest will not be paid on any uninvested cash payment. To avoid unnecessary cash accumulations and also to allow ample time for receipt and processing by the plan agent, it is suggested that participants send in voluntary cash payments to be received by the plan agent approximately 10 days before an applicable purchase date specified above. A participant may withdraw a voluntary cash payment by written notice if the notice is received by the plan agent not less than 48 hours before such payment is to be invested.

 

The plan agent maintains all stockholder accounts in the plan and furnishes written confirmations of all transactions in an account, including information needed by stockholders for personal and tax records. Shares in the account of each plan participant will be held by the plan agent in the name of the participant, and each stockholder’s proxy will include those shares purchased pursuant to the plan.

 

There is no charge to participants for reinvesting dividends or capital gains distributions or voluntary cash payments. The Fund will pay the plan agent’s fees for the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions and voluntary cash payments. There will be no brokerage charges with respect to shares issued directly by the Fund as a result of dividends or capital gains distributions payable either in stock or in cash. However, each participant will pay a pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred with respect to the plan agent’s open market purchases in connection with the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions and voluntary cash payments made by the participant. Brokerage charges for purchasing small amounts of stock for individual accounts through the plan are expected to be less than the usual brokerage charges for such transactions, because the plan agent will be purchasing stock for all participants in blocks and prorating the lower commission thus attainable.

 

The receipt of dividends and distributions under the plan will not relieve participants of any income tax which may be payable on such dividends or distributions. See “Taxation.”

 

Experience under the plan may later indicate that changes in the plan are desirable. Accordingly, the Fund and the plan agent reserve the right to terminate the plan as applied to any voluntary cash payments made and any dividend or distribution paid subsequent to notice of the termination sent to members of the plan at least 30 days before the record date for such dividend or distribution. The plan also may be amended by the Fund or the plan agent, but (except when necessary or appropriate to comply with applicable law, rules or policies of a regulatory authority) only by at least 30 days’ written notice to participants in the plan. All correspondence concerning the plan should be directed to the plan agent at P.O. Box 43027, Westborough, Massachusetts 01581 (telephone: 1-508-871-8500).

 

The following is a general summary of certain United States federal income tax considerations affecting the Fund and its stockholders. It is not expected that stockholders will be subject to the alternative minimum tax as a result of their investment in the Fund. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of all federal, state, local and foreign income tax considerations, and this discussion is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. Accordingly, potential investors are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding an investment in the Fund. This summary reflects applicable tax laws as of the date of this prospectus, which tax laws may be changed or subject to new interpretations by the courts of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), retroactively or prospectively.

 

The Fund

 

The Fund has qualified and intends to continue to qualify as a “regulated investment company” for federal income tax purposes under the Internal Revenue Code, except as noted below. In order to so qualify, the Fund must, among other things, (a) derive in each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from (i) dividends, interest, payments with respect to loans of securities, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock or securities or foreign currencies, or other income derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies (including, but not limited to, gains from options, futures or forward contracts) and (ii) net income derived from interests in certain publicly traded partnerships that are treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes and that derive less than 90% of their gross income from the items described in (i) above (each, a “Qualified Publicly Traded Partnership”) and (b) diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of each taxable year, (i) at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s assets is represented by cash, cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies, and other securities which, with respect to any one issuer, do not represent more than 5% of the value of the Fund’s assets nor more than 10% of the voting securities of such issuer, and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s assets is invested in the securities (other than U.S. government securities or the securities of other regulated investment companies) of any one issuer, any two or more issuers that the Fund controls and that are engaged in the same, similar or related trades or businesses or any one or more Qualified Publicly Traded Partnerships.

 

The Fund may not have qualified to be taxed as a regulated investment company for the taxable year ended December 31, 2004. Section 855(a) of the Internal Revenue Code provides that, in order to eliminate taxable income for a taxable year, a regulated investment company may elect to treat dividends distributed during the twelve months following the taxable year as having been paid during such taxable year. In order to make this election, a fund must (1) declare such dividend prior to the due date of filing its tax return for the taxable year (including any extensions granted), and (2) distribute the dividend during the twelve months following the taxable year. For the taxable year ended December 31, 2004, the Fund distributed the appropriate dividend within the twelve month timeframe; however, the declaration was made on December 19, 2005, which was subsequent to the filing deadline for the 2004 tax return (i.e., September 15, 2005). As such, the Fund may have failed to qualify to be taxed as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code for the taxable year ended December 31, 2004. A provision of $25,507,350 was made for U.S. federal income tax purposes in the Fund’s 2005 financial statements. However, on April 6, 2006, the Fund declared a deficiency dividend (within the meaning of Section 860 of the Internal Revenue Code) of $1.07 per share with respect to its income for the taxable year ending December 31, 2004. As a result of this deficiency dividend, the Fund has reduced its recorded tax liability to approximately $4,956,314. There can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to further reduce the liability.

 

If the Fund qualifies as a regulated investment company and distributes to its stockholders at least 90% of its investment company taxable income (as that term is defined in the Internal Revenue Code, without regard to the deduction for dividends paid), then the Fund will not be subject to federal income tax on the income so distributed. However, the Fund would be subject to corporate income tax at a rate of 35% on any undistributed income. Investment company taxable income includes dividends, interest, and net short-term capital gains in excess of net long-term capital losses, but does not include “net capital gain,” which is net long-term capital gains in excess of net short-term capital losses. If in any year the Fund should fail to qualify as a regulated investment company, the Fund would be subject to federal income tax in the same manner as an ordinary corporation, and distributions to stockholders would be taxable to such holders as ordinary dividend income to the extent of the earnings and profits

of the Fund. Such distributions generally would be eligible (i) to be treated as “qualified dividend income” (as discussed below) in the case of individual stockholders and (ii) for the dividends-received deduction in the case of corporate stockholders. Distributions in excess of earnings and profits will be treated as a tax-free return of capital, to the extent of a holder’s basis in its shares, and any excess, as a long- or short-term capital gain. In addition, the Fund will be subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax on the amount by which the aggregate income it distributes in any calendar year is less than the sum of: (a) 98% of the Fund’s ordinary income for such calendar year, (b) 98% of the excess of capital gains over capital losses for the one-year period ending on October 31 of such year, and (c) 100% of the undistributed ordinary income and gains from prior years. For these purposes, the Fund will be deemed to have distributed any income or gains on which it paid corporate income tax.

 

The Fund intends to distribute sufficient income so as to avoid both corporate income tax and the excise tax.

 

The Fund may engage in hedging involving foreign currencies, forward contracts, options and futures contracts (including options and futures contracts of foreign currencies). See “Additional Investment Activities — Hedging.” Such transactions will be subject to special provisions of the Internal Revenue Code that, among other things, may affect the character of gains and losses realized by the Fund (that is, may affect whether gains or losses are ordinary or capital), accelerate recognition of income to the Fund and defer recognition of certain of the Fund’s losses. These rules could therefore affect the character, amount and timing of distributions to stockholders. In addition, these provisions (1) will require the Fund to “mark-to-market” certain types of positions in its portfolio (that is, treat them as if they were closed out) and (2) may cause the Fund to recognize income without receiving cash with which to pay dividends or make distributions in amounts necessary to satisfy the distribution requirements for avoiding income and excise taxes. In addition, certain Fund investments may produce income that will not qualify as good income for purposes of the 90% annual gross income requirement discussed above. The Fund intends to monitor its transactions, will make the appropriate tax elections and will make the appropriate entries in its books and records when it acquires any forward contract, option, futures contract, or hedged investment in order to mitigate the effect of these rules and prevent disqualification of the Fund as a regulated investment company.

 

The Fund will maintain accounts and calculate income by reference to the U.S. dollar for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Investments generally will be maintained and income therefrom calculated by reference to certain foreign currencies and such calculations will not necessarily correspond to the Fund’s distributable income and capital gains for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of fluctuations in currency exchange rates. Under Section 988 of the Internal Revenue Code, gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates between the time the Fund accrues income or receivables or expenses or other liabilities denominated in a foreign currency and the time the Fund actually collects such income or receivables or pays such liabilities are generally treated as ordinary income or loss. Similarly, gains or losses on foreign currency forward contracts and the disposition of debt securities denominated in foreign currency, to the extent attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates between the acquisition and disposition dates, are also treated as ordinary income or loss.

 

Furthermore, exchange control regulations may restrict the ability of the Fund to repatriate investment income or the proceeds of sales of securities. These restrictions and limitations may limit the Fund’s ability to make sufficient distributions to satisfy the 90% distribution requirement and avoid the 4% excise tax.

 

The tax treatment of certain investments of the Fund is not free from doubt and it is possible that an IRS examination of the issuers of such securities or of the Fund could result in adjustments to the income of the Fund. An upward adjustment by the IRS to the income of the Fund may result in the failure of the Fund to satisfy the 90% distribution requirement necessary for the Fund to maintain its status as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code. In such event, the Fund may be able to make a “deficiency dividend” distribution to its stockholders with respect to the year under examination to satisfy this requirement. Such distribution will be taxable as a dividend to the stockholders receiving the distribution (whether or not the Fund has sufficient current or accumulated earnings and profits for the year in which such distribution is made) in the taxable year in which such dividends are received. A downward adjustment by the IRS to the income of the Fund may cause a portion of the previously made distribution with respect to the year under examination not to be treated as a dividend. In such event, the portion of distributions to each stockholder not treated as a dividend would be recharacterized as a return of capital and reduce the stockholder’s basis in the shares held at the time of the previously made distributions.

Accordingly, this reduction in basis could cause a stockholder to recognize additional gain upon the sale of such stockholder’s shares.

 

The Fund intends to make investments which may, for federal income tax purposes, constitute investments in shares of foreign corporations. If the Fund purchases shares in certain foreign investment entities, called “passive foreign investment companies” (“PFICs”), the Fund may be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a portion of any “excess distribution” or gain from the disposition of the shares even if the income is distributed as a taxable dividend by the Fund to its stockholders. The Fund will generally not be able to pass through to its stockholders any credit or deduction for this tax. Additional charges in the nature of interest may be imposed with respect to deferred taxes arising from the distributions or gains. If the Fund were to invest in a PFIC and (if the Fund received the necessary information available from the PFIC, which may be difficult to obtain) elected to treat the PFIC as a “qualified electing fund” under the Internal Revenue Code, in lieu of the foregoing requirements, the Fund would generally be required to include in income each year a portion of the ordinary earnings and net capital gains of the PFIC, even if not distributed to the Fund, and the amounts would be subject to the 90% and calendar year distribution requirements described above.

 

Alternatively, the Fund may elect to “mark-to-market” any stock in a PFIC it owns at the end of its taxable year. “Marking-to-market,” in this context, means including in ordinary income for each taxable year the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the stock over the Fund’s adjusted basis therein as of the end of that year. Pursuant to the election, the Fund also may deduct (as an ordinary, not capital, loss) the excess, if any, of its adjusted basis in PFIC stock over the fair market value thereof as of the taxable year-end, but only to the extent of any net mark-to-market gains with respect to that stock the Fund included in income for prior taxable years under the election. The Fund’s adjusted basis in each PFIC’s stock subject to the election would be adjusted to reflect the amounts of income included and deductions taken thereunder. Any income recognized by the Fund pursuant to the “mark-to-market” election would be subject to the 90% and calendar year distribution requirements described above.

 

U.S. Stockholders

 

Distributions.  Distributions to stockholders of investment company taxable income will, except in the case of distributions attributable to “qualified dividend income” described below, be taxable as ordinary income to the extent of the Fund’s earnings and profits, whether such distributions are paid in cash or reinvested in additional shares. It is not anticipated that a significant portion of such dividends, if any, will qualify for the dividends-received deduction generally available for corporate stockholders under the Internal Revenue Code. Stockholders receiving distributions from the Fund in the form of additional shares pursuant to the dividend reinvestment plan (i) will be treated as receiving a distribution in the amount of cash that they would have received if they had elected to receive the distribution in cash, unless the Fund issues new shares that are trading at or above net asset value, and (ii) will be treated for federal income tax purposes as receiving a distribution in an amount equal to the fair market value of the additional shares on the date of such a distribution if the Fund issues new shares that are trading at or above net asset value. Consequently, if the number of shares distributed reflects a market premium, the amount distributed to stockholders participating in the plan would exceed the amount of the cash distributed to nonparticipating stockholders.

 

For taxable years beginning on or before December 31, 2010, distributions of investment company taxable income that are designated by the Fund as derived from “qualified dividend income” are taxed to individual stockholders at the rates applicable to long-term capital gain, which reach a maximum of 15%. Qualified dividend income includes dividends received from foreign corporations only if such corporations are “qualified foreign corporations” and the Fund meets holding period and other requirements with respect to its investment in such corporations. The Fund will not be able to pass through to any stockholder the tax treatment of qualified dividend income (namely, that such income will be taxed at long-term capital gain rates) unless that stockholder also meets the same holding period and other requirements with respect to its investment in stock of the Fund. A foreign corporation is a “qualified foreign corporation” if it is (i) eligible for benefits of a comprehensive income tax treaty with the United States that the United States Treasury Department determines is satisfactory for this purpose and that includes an exchange of information program or (ii) any other foreign corporation with respect to any dividend paid by such corporation if the stock with respect to which such dividend is paid is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States. The United States Treasury Department has issued a notice indicating that the

income tax convention between the United States and India currently in effect (the “Convention”) satisfies the requirements described in clause (i) of the preceding sentence. Accordingly, dividends paid by Indian corporations that are eligible for the benefits of the Convention will generally be eligible to be passed through to Fund stockholders as qualified dividend income. Dividends paid by PFICs, however, will not be treated as qualified dividend income. The provisions of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to qualified dividend income and the 15% maximum individual tax rate on long-term capital gains are currently effective through 2010. Thereafter, qualified dividend income will no longer be taxed at the rates applicable to long-term capital gains, and the maximum individual tax rate on long-term capital gains will increase to 20%, unless Congress enacts legislation providing otherwise.

 

Distributions to stockholders of net capital gain that are designated by the Fund as “capital gain dividends” will be taxable as long-term capital gains, whether paid in cash or additional shares, regardless of how long the shares have been held by such stockholders. Capital gain dividends will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction. The current maximum federal income tax rate imposed on individuals with respect to long-term capital gains is limited to 15%, whereas the current maximum federal income tax rate imposed on individuals with respect to ordinary income (and short-term capital gains, which are taxed at the same rates as ordinary income) is 35%. With respect to corporate taxpayers, long-term capital gains are currently taxed at the same federal income tax rates as ordinary income and short-term capital gains.

 

A distribution to a stockholder of an amount in excess of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits will be treated by the stockholder as a return of capital which is applied against and reduces the stockholder’s basis in his shares. To the extent that the amount of any such distribution exceeds the stockholder’s basis in its shares, the excess will be treated by the stockholder as gain from a sale or exchange of the shares.

 

The Fund may elect to retain its net capital gain or a portion thereof for investment and be taxed at corporate rates on the amount retained. In such case, it may designate the retained amount as undistributed capital gains in a notice to its stockholders, who will be treated as if each received a distribution of its pro rata share of such gain, with the result that each stockholder will (i) be required to report his pro rata share of such gain on his tax return as long-term capital gain, (ii) receive a refundable tax credit for his pro rata share of tax paid by the Fund on the gain and (iii) increase the tax basis for his shares by an amount equal to the deemed distribution less the tax credit.

 

Dividends and distributions by the Fund are generally taxable to the stockholders at the time the dividend or distribution is made (even if paid or reinvested in additional shares). Any dividend declared by the Fund in October, November or December of any calendar year, however, which is payable to stockholders of record on a specified date in such a month and which is not paid on or before December 31 of such year will be treated as paid by the Fund and received by the stockholders as of December 31 of such year, provided that the dividend is paid during January of the following year.

 

A notice detailing the tax status of dividends and distributions paid by the Fund will be mailed annually to the stockholders of the Fund.

 

Dispositions and repurchases.  Gain or loss, if any, recognized on the sale or other disposition of shares of the Fund will be taxed as capital gain or loss if the shares are capital assets in the stockholder’s hands. Generally, a stockholder’s gain or loss will be a long-term gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than one year. If a stockholder sells or otherwise disposes of a share of the Fund before holding it for more than six months, any loss on the sale or other disposition of such share shall be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any capital gain dividends received or deemed received by the stockholder with respect to such share. A loss realized on a sale or exchange of shares may be disallowed if other substantially identical shares are acquired (whether under the plan or otherwise) within a 61-day period beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the date that the shares are disposed of. In such a case, the basis of the shares acquired will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.

 

A repurchase by the Fund of shares generally will be treated as a sale of the shares by a stockholder provided that after the repurchase the stockholder does not own, either directly or by attribution under Section 318 of the Internal Revenue Code, any shares. If, after a repurchase a stockholder continues to own, directly or by attribution, any shares, it is possible that any amounts received in the repurchase by such stockholder will be taxable as a dividend to such stockholder, and there is a risk that stockholders who do not have any of their shares repurchased

would be treated as having received a dividend distribution as a result of their proportionate increase in the ownership of the Fund. Use of the Fund’s cash to repurchase shares may adversely affect the Fund’s ability to satisfy the 90% distribution requirement described above. The Fund may also recognize income in connection with the liquidation of portfolio securities to fund share purchases. Any such income would be taken into account in determining whether the 90% distribution requirement has been satisfied.

 

Foreign taxes.  The Fund will be subject to withholding and other taxes imposed by India and may be subject to certain taxes imposed by other foreign countries with respect to dividends, interest, capital gains and other income. If the Fund qualifies as a regulated investment company, the 90% distribution requirement discussed above is satisfied and more than 50% in value of the Fund’s total assets at the close of any taxable year consists of stocks or securities of foreign corporations, which for this purpose should include obligations issued by foreign governmental issuers, then the Fund may elect to treat any foreign income taxes paid by it (if such taxes are treated as income taxes under U.S. income tax principles) as paid by its stockholders. The Fund has historically made and intends to continue to qualify for and to make this election. For any year that the Fund makes such an election, an amount equal to the foreign income taxes paid by the Fund that can be treated as income taxes under U.S. income tax principles will be included in the income of its stockholders. Each stockholder will be required to include in its gross income, even though not actually received, his pro rata share of the foreign income taxes paid by the Fund, and will be entitled (subject to certain limitations) to credit the amount included in his income against his U.S. tax liabilities, if any, or to deduct such amount from his U.S. taxable income, if any. Shortly after any year for which it makes such an election, the Fund will report to its stockholders, in writing, the amount per share of such foreign income taxes that must be included in each stockholder’s gross income and the amount that will be available for deductions or credit. In general, a stockholder may elect each year whether to claim deductions or credits for foreign taxes. No deductions for foreign taxes may be claimed, however, by non-corporate stockholders (including certain foreign stockholders as described below) who do not itemize deductions. If a stockholder elects to credit foreign taxes, the amount of credit that may be claimed in any year may not exceed the same proportion of the U.S. tax against which such credit is taken that the stockholder’s taxable income from foreign sources (but not in excess of the stockholder’s entire taxable income) bears to his entire taxable income. This limitation must be applied separately to certain categories of income and the related foreign taxes. In certain circumstances, a stockholder that (i) has held shares of the Fund for less than a specified minimum period during which it is not protected from risk of loss or (ii) is obligated to make payments related to the dividends, will not be allowed a foreign tax credit for foreign taxes deemed imposed on dividends paid on such shares. Additionally, the Fund must meet this holding period requirement with respect to its foreign stock and securities in order for “creditable” foreign taxes to be passed through to its stockholders. Generally, under U.S. law, capital gains realized by U.S. residents are treated as U.S. source income. Under the Convention, however, capital gains realized by U.S. residents which may be taxed in India will be treated as foreign source income, unless inconsistent with U.S. law. Section 865(h) of the Internal Revenue Code provides that if a taxpayer elects, gain from the sale of stock of a foreign corporation by a U.S. resident (as defined in Section 865(g) of the Internal Revenue Code) will be treated as foreign source if, pursuant to a U.S. tax treaty (without regard to the general U.S. sourcing rule for capital gains), such income is treated as foreign source. Accordingly, capital gains realized by the Fund which may be subject to Indian capital gains tax should be treated as foreign source if the election is made. Stockholders should consult their own tax advisors with respect to making this election and the general application of foreign tax credits.

 

Backup withholding.  The Fund may be required to withhold federal income tax (“backup withholding”) from dividends and redemption proceeds paid to non-corporate stockholders. This tax may be withheld from dividends if (i) the stockholder fails to furnish the Fund with the stockholder’s correct taxpayer identification number, (ii) the IRS notifies the Fund that the stockholder has failed to report properly certain interest and dividend income to the IRS and to respond to notices to that effect, or (iii) when required to do so, the stockholder fails to certify that he or she is not subject to backup withholding. Redemption proceeds may be subject to withholding under the circumstances described in (i) above. Corporate stockholders and other stockholders specified in the Internal Revenue Code or the Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder are exempt from backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules from payments made to a stockholder may be credited against such stockholder’s federal income tax liability, provided the required information is furnished to the IRS.

Disclosure regulations.  Treasury regulations provide that, if a stockholder recognizes a loss with respect to shares of $2 million or more for an individual stockholder or $10 million or more for a corporate stockholder (or a greater loss over a combination of years), the stockholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on IRS Form 8886. Direct stockholders of portfolio securities are in many cases excepted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance, stockholders of a regulated investment company are not excepted. Future guidance may extend the current exception from this reporting requirement to stockholders of most or all regulated investment companies. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Stockholders should consult their own tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.

 

Foreign Stockholders

 

U.S. taxation of a stockholder who, as to the United States, is a non-resident alien individual, a foreign trust or estate, a foreign corporation, or a foreign partnership (“foreign stockholder”), depends on whether the income from the Fund is “effectively connected” with a U.S. trade or business carried on by such stockholder. Ordinarily, income from the Fund will not be treated as so “effectively connected.”

 

Income not effectively connected.  If the income from the Fund is not “effectively connected” with a U.S. trade or business carried on by the foreign stockholder, then, except as described below with respect to interest-related dividends and short-term capital gain dividends, distributions of investment company taxable income (including dividends designated as qualified dividend income) will generally be subject to a U.S. tax of 30% (or lower treaty rate), which tax is generally withheld from such distributions. Furthermore, foreign stockholders may be subject to U.S. tax at the rate of 30% (or lower treaty rate) of the income resulting from the Fund’s election to treat any foreign taxes paid by it as paid by its stockholders, but will not be able to claim a credit or deduction for the foreign taxes as having been paid by them unless they file U.S. tax returns.

 

The 30% U.S. withholding tax is not imposed on dividends paid by regulated investment companies to the extent the dividends are designated as “interest-related dividends” or “short-term capital gain dividends.” Under this exemption, interest-related dividends and short-term capital gain dividends generally represent distributions of interest or short-term capital gains that would not have been subject to U.S. withholding tax at the source if they had been received directly by a foreign person, and that satisfy certain other requirements. The exemption applies to dividends with respect to taxable years of regulated investment companies beginning before January 1, 2010.

 

Distributions of capital gain dividends to a non-resident alien who is present in the United States for fewer than one hundred eighty-three days during the taxable year will not be subject to the 30% U.S. tax. An alien individual who is physically present in the United States for more than one hundred eighty-two days during the taxable year generally is treated as a resident for U.S. federal income tax purposes, in which case he or she will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on his or her worldwide income, including ordinary income and capital gain dividends, at the graduated rates applicable to U.S. citizens, rather than the 30% U.S. tax. In the case of a foreign stockholder who is a non-resident alien individual, the Fund may be required to withhold U.S. federal income tax from distributions of capital gain dividends under the backup withholding system unless the foreign stockholder makes required certifications to the Fund on a properly completed IRS Form W-8BEN (or other applicable form), or otherwise establishes an exemption. The amount so withheld could be applied as a credit against any U.S. tax due from the stockholder or, if no tax is due, refunded pursuant to a claim therefor properly filed on an income tax return.

 

Any gain that a foreign stockholder realizes upon the sale or other disposition of shares of the Fund will ordinarily be exempt from U.S. tax unless the stockholder is an alien individual who is physically present in the United States for more than one hundred eighty-two days during the taxable year (as discussed above), the gain is U.S. source income and certain other requirements are met.

 

Income effectively connected.  If the income from the Fund is “effectively connected” with a U.S. trade or business carried on by a foreign stockholder, then distributions of investment company taxable income and net capital gain, and any gains realized upon the sale of shares or the Fund, will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the graduated rates applicable to U.S. citizens, residents and domestic corporations. Corporate stockholders may also be subject to the 30% branch profits tax.

The tax consequences to a foreign stockholder entitled to claim the benefits of an applicable tax treaty may be different from those described herein. Foreign stockholders are advised to consult their own tax advisers with respect to the particular tax consequences to them of an investment in the Fund.

 

Indian Taxes

 

The discussion of Indian tax matters contained herein is based on existing law, including the provisions of the Indian Income Tax Act, 1961 (“Income Tax Act”) and the provisions of the tax treaty between Mauritius and India. The Income Tax Act is amended every year by the Indian Finance Act of the relevant year, and this summary reflects changes through the date hereof. No assurance can be given that future legislation, administrative rulings or court decisions will not significantly modify the conclusions set forth in this summary, possibly with retroactive effect.

 

Additionally, the discussion of Indian tax matters contained herein does not address the tax consequences to investors arising from the acquisition, holding or disposition of interests in their respective local jurisdictions.

 

The Fund will be subject to taxation in India if (i) it is treated as a resident of India because its “control and management” is wholly in India or (ii) as a non-resident any income accrues to it, whether directly or indirectly, through a business connection in India or through any asset or source of income in India or through the transfer of a capital asset in India or (iii) it receives income in India.

 

The Fund conducts its investment activities in India as a tax resident of Mauritius and as such expects to obtain benefits under the tax treaty between Mauritius and India. In light of Circular 789 of April 13, 2000 issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes in India, the Fund should be eligible for the benefits under the treaty if it holds a valid tax residence certificate issued by the Mauritius income tax authorities. The validity of the circular was also upheld by the Supreme Court of India in a judgment delivered on October 7, 2003. However, investments in India through Mauritius are continuously under the review of the Indian revenue authorities. The Fund has obtained a certificate from the Mauritius tax authorities to the effect that it is a resident of Mauritius under the treaty.

 

The Fund continues to (i) comply with the requirements of the tax treaty, (ii) be a tax resident of Mauritius and (iii) maintain that its central management and control resides in Mauritius, and therefore the Fund’s management believes that the Fund will be able to obtain the benefits of the tax treaty, subject to the continuance of the current terms of the treaty.

 

In case income of the Fund is characterized as capital gain, the Fund will not be subject to Indian tax solely by reason of investing in the portfolio companies in India unless it is treated as a resident of India as well as Mauritius and unless it is considered to have the place of effective management in India.

 

In case income of the Fund is characterized as business income, it will not be taxable in India, unless it has a permanent establishment in India. Certain factors that may result in the Fund being considered as conducting business through a permanent establishment in India include the maintenance by the Fund of a branch or an office or a place of management in India, the physical presence of the Fund’s employees or directors in India (beyond a prescribed time period) and the existence of dependent agents in India with authority to conclude contracts in India on behalf of the Fund. Although the Fund is expected to operate in a manner that will not cause it to be treated as having a permanent establishment in India, there can be no assurances made in this regard.

 

If the Fund does not have a permanent establishment in India, capital gains earned by the Fund should not be taxed in India by virtue of Article 13 of the treaty.

 

Dividends paid by Indian companies to the Fund should be exempt from tax in India. Any interest income earned on Indian securities is subject to withholding tax in India at the rate of 21.115%.

 

Where the benefits under the India-Mauritius tax treaty are denied for any reason, the domestic income tax laws in India would apply in such case. The Indian income tax laws provide that the income of foreign institutional investors and their sub-accounts, including the Fund, from the transfer of securities or from capital gains arising

from the transfer of securities is taxable as per the provisions of Section 115AD of the Indian Income Tax Act, 1961. Selected provisions as they apply to the Fund are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

As used above, the term “securities” has the meaning assigned to it Section 2(h) of the Indian Securities Contract (Regulations) Act, 1956 and includes:

 

 

As used above, “equity-oriented mutual fund” means a mutual fund registered with SEBI or such other mutual fund set up by a public sector bank or a public financial institution or authorized by the Reserve Bank of India, that has invested more than 65% of its total proceeds in the equity shares of Indian companies.

 

Provisions that would otherwise apply to non-residents to protect them from currency fluctuations in computing the capital gains arising from the transfer of shares or debentures of an Indian company do not apply to the capital gains of foreign institutional investors and their sub-accounts. In addition, the benefit of cost inflation

indexation is also not available to foreign institutional investors and their sub-accounts when computing long-term capital gains from the transfer of securities.

 

Shares in a company, or any other securities listed in a recognized stock exchange in India or units of a mutual fund or a zero coupon bond must be held for more than twelve months in order to qualify as a long-term capital asset. All other securities must be held for more than thirty-six months in order to qualify as a long-term capital asset.

 

The income of foreign institutional investors and their sub-accounts from securities is subject to a tax deduction at source. However, no deduction may be made on any capital gains income from the transfer of securities.

 

Dividends paid by an Indian company to a foreign institutional investor or sub-account will not be subject to tax. However, the Indian company must pay a “dividend distribution tax,” which is currently 16.995%, on the total amount distributed as a dividend. A distribution to non-residents of bonus shares or rights to subscribe for shares is not subject to Indian tax.

 

Securities transaction tax.  All transactions of purchase and sale of an equity share in a company or a unit of an equity-oriented fund entered into on a recognized stock exchange in India will be subject to a securities transaction tax (“STT”), levied on the taxable securities transaction value. There is no treaty exemption for STT. With respect to the purchases and sales of equity shares and units of an equity-oriented mutual fund, which are settled by actual delivery or transfer of the equity share or unit, STT will be levied at the rate of 0.125% on both the buyer and seller of the equity share or unit. For sales of equity shares and units of an equity-oriented mutual fund (where the transaction of such sale is entered into in a recognized stock exchange), the contract of which is settled other than by actual delivery or transfer of the equity share or unit, STT will be levied at the rate of 0.025% on the seller of the equity share or unit. Furthermore, sellers of option/futures in securities would be subject to an STT of 0.017% while a purchaser of an option in securities would be subject to a STT of 0.125% where the option is exercised. A seller of a unit of an equity-oriented fund would be subject to STT at the rate of 0.25% where the sale of such unit is made to the Fund. STT paid can be claimed as an expense while computing the income chargeable under the head “Profits and Gains of Business or Profession” where the gains on the transactions are, in fact, treated as business income, and not capital gains.

 

Value of Taxable Securities Transaction.  The value of a taxable securities transaction, in the case of the sale of an option in securities, shall be the option premium, where the option is not exercised and the settlement price where the option is exercised. In the case of a taxable securities transaction relating to futures, the value of the taxable securities transaction shall be the price at which such futures are traded. In the case of any other taxable securities transaction, the value shall be the price at which such securities are purchased or sold.

 

Capital losses.  Section 115AD of the Indian Income Tax Act does not contain provisions for the tax treatment of capital losses arising on a transfer of shares in India. In general, losses arising from a transfer of a capital asset in India can only be set off against capital gains and not against any other income. To the extent that the losses are not absorbed in the year of transfer, they may be carried forward for a period of eight assessment years immediately succeeding the assessment year for which the loss was first computed and may be set off against the capital gains assessable for such subsequent assessment years. However, a long-term capital loss can be set off only against a long-term capital gain. In order to make use of capital losses in this manner, the foreign institutional investor or sub-account must file appropriate and timely tax returns in India and undergo certain assessment procedures. After October 1, 2004, long-term capital losses with respect to (i) a sale transaction of equity shares or units of an equity-oriented mutual fund on an Indian securities exchange or (ii) a repurchase of units of an equity-oriented mutual fund may not be set off against long-term capital gains and may not be carried forward to subsequent years.