UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM N-Q

 

QUARTERLY SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY

 

Investment Company Act file number

811-08076

 

Aberdeen Emerging Markets Smaller Company Opportunities Fund, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

1735 Market Street, 32nd Floor

Philadelphia, PA

 

19103

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip code)

 

Ms. Andrea Melia

Aberdeen Asset Management Inc.

c/o 1735 Market Street, 32nd Floor

Philadelphia, PA 19103

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

866-839-5205

 

 

Date of fiscal year end:

October 31

 

 

Date of reporting period:

January 31, 2016

 

 



 

Item 1 - Schedule of Investments

 

The Schedule of Investments for the three-month period ended January 31, 2016 is filed herewith.

 



 

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited)

 

As of January 31, 2016

 

Shares

 

Description

 

Value
(US$)

 

LONG-TERM EQUITY SECURITIES IN EMERGING MARKET COUNTRIES—96.3%

 

 

 

COMMON STOCKS—94.7%

 

 

 

BRAZIL—9.7%

 

 

 

COMMERCIAL SERVICES & SUPPLIES—0.9%

 

 

 

106,852

 

Valid Solucoes e Servicos de Seguranca em Meios de Pagamento e Identificacao SA

 

$

1,065,368

 

HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS & SERVICES—1.4%

 

 

 

651,000

 

OdontoPrev SA

 

1,643,857

 

REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT & DEVELOPMENT—2.1%

 

 

 

485,155

 

Iguatemi Empresa de Shopping Centers SA

 

2,447,729

 

ROAD & RAIL—1.2%

 

 

 

243,450

 

Localiza Rent a Car SA

 

1,334,781

 

SOFTWARE—1.2%

 

 

 

177,000

 

Totvs SA

 

1,433,772

 

TEXTILES, APPAREL & LUXURY GOODS—1.7%

 

 

 

411,413

 

Arezzo Industria e Comercio SA

 

1,954,310

 

TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE—1.2%

 

 

 

201,000

 

Wilson Sons Ltd., BDR

 

1,433,704

 

 

 

 

 

11,313,521

 

CHILE—3.9%

 

 

 

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES—1.0%

 

 

 

745,000

 

Sonda SA

 

1,177,338

 

REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT & DEVELOPMENT—2.9%

 

 

 

2,192,849

 

Parque Arauco SA

 

3,414,992

 

 

 

 

 

4,592,330

 

CHINA—2.7%

 

 

 

CHEMICALS—0.9%

 

 

 

2,704,000

 

Yingde Gases Group Co. Ltd.(a)

 

1,023,058

 

HEALTH CARE—0.5%

 

 

 

345,000

 

Tong Ren Tang Technologies Co. Ltd., H Shares(a)

 

531,513

 

REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT & DEVELOPMENT—1.3%

 

 

 

2,130,000

 

Yanlord Land Group Ltd.(a)

 

1,531,614

 

 

 

 

 

3,086,185

 

EGYPT—2.5%

 

 

 

FOOD PRODUCTS—2.5%

 

 

 

66,957

 

Edita Food Industries SAE(b)

 

1,121,530

 

1,922,692

 

Juhayna Food Industries

 

1,841,647

 

 

 

 

 

2,963,177

 

 

 

 

 

2,963,177

 

HONG KONG—5.0%

 

 

 

BANKS—1.4%

 

 

 

1,000,000

 

Dah Sing Banking Group Ltd.(a)

 

1,579,785

 

HOTELS, RESTAURANTS & LEISURE—0.9%

 

 

 

400,000

 

Cafe de Coral Holdings Ltd.(a)

 

1,101,217

 

MARINE—0.4%

 

 

 

2,383,000

 

Pacific Basin Shipping Ltd.(a)

 

435,092

 

 

See Notes to Portfolio of Investments.

 

Aberdeen Emerging Markets Smaller Company Fund, Inc.

 



 

SPECIALTY RETAIL—0.7%

 

 

 

2,000,000

 

Giordano International Ltd.(a)

 

$

799,564

 

TEXTILES, APPAREL & LUXURY GOODS—0.9%

 

 

 

1,090,000

 

Texwinca Holdings Ltd.(a)

 

1,054,735

 

TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE—0.7%

 

 

 

136,000

 

Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Co. Ltd.(a)

 

864,596

 

 

 

 

 

5,834,989

 

INDIA—14.0%

 

 

 

CHEMICALS—4.1%

 

 

 

235,000

 

Castrol (India) Ltd.(a)

 

1,462,479

 

850,000

 

Kansai Nerolac Paints Ltd.(a)

 

3,286,794

 

 

 

 

 

4,749,273

 

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS—2.1%

 

 

 

440,000

 

Ramco Cements Ltd. (The)(a)

 

2,517,124

 

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES—1.3%

 

 

 

220,074

 

MphasiS Ltd.(a)

 

1,491,210

 

PERSONAL PRODUCTS—3.2%

 

 

 

204,372

 

Godrej Consumer Products Ltd.(a)

 

3,697,856

 

PHARMACEUTICALS—1.7%

 

 

 

134,500

 

Piramal Enterprises Ltd.

 

1,971,603

 

ROAD & RAIL—1.6%

 

 

 

109,000

 

Container Corp. of India(a)

 

1,913,879

 

 

 

 

 

16,340,945

 

INDONESIA—8.4%

 

 

 

BANKS—0.6%

 

 

 

15,300,000

 

Bank Permata Tbk PT(a)

 

747,813

 

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS—1.0%

 

 

 

17,142,800

 

Holcim Indonesia Tbk PT(a)

 

1,129,249

 

FOOD PRODUCTS—1.8%

 

 

 

1,280,000

 

Petra Foods Ltd.

 

2,066,545

 

SPECIALTY RETAIL—1.5%

 

 

 

30,000,000

 

Ace Hardware Indonesia Tbk PT(a)

 

1,752,997

 

TRADING COMPANIES & DISTRIBUTORS—3.5%

 

 

 

7,665,500

 

AKR Corporindo Tbk PT(a)

 

4,115,198

 

 

 

 

 

9,811,802

 

JORDAN—1.5%

 

 

 

PHARMACEUTICALS—1.5%

 

 

 

59,806

 

Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC(a)

 

1,726,225

 

KENYA—1.7%

 

 

 

BEVERAGES—1.7%

 

 

 

753,800

 

East African Breweries Ltd.(a)

 

1,959,130

 

LEBANON—0.8%

 

 

 

BANKS—0.8%

 

 

 

95,000

 

BLOM Bank SAL, GDR

 

915,800

 

MALAYSIA—5.9%

 

 

 

AUTOMOBILES—0.9%

 

 

 

640,200

 

Oriental Holdings Bhd

 

1,015,383

 

 

See Notes to Portfolio of Investments.

 



 

BEVERAGES—0.8%

 

 

 

300,000

 

Guinness Anchor Bhd(a)

 

$

963,608

 

FOOD PRODUCTS—1.2%

 

 

 

240,000

 

United Plantations Bhd

 

1,435,957

 

MULTILINE RETAIL—1.9%

 

 

 

3,737,900

 

Aeon Co. (M) Bhd(a)

 

2,256,286

 

REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT & DEVELOPMENT—1.1%

 

 

 

1,790,413

 

SP Setia Bhd

 

1,249,626

 

 

 

 

 

6,920,860

 

MEXICO—3.6%

 

 

 

TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE—3.6%

 

 

 

113,676

 

Grupo Aeroportuario del Centro Norte SAB de CV, ADR(b)

 

4,220,790

 

NETHERLANDS—1.5%

 

 

 

SEMICONDUCTORS & SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT—1.5%

 

 

 

45,000

 

ASM International NV(a)

 

1,792,383

 

NIGERIA—2.1%

 

 

 

BANKS—1.1%

 

 

 

19,437,011

 

Zenith Bank PLC

 

1,231,909

 

BEVERAGES—1.0%

 

 

 

2,125,000

 

Guinness Nigeria PLC

 

1,228,262

 

 

 

 

 

2,460,171

 

OMAN—0.9%

 

 

 

BANKS—0.9%

 

 

 

250,100

 

Bank Muscat SAOG, GDR(a)

 

1,080,432

 

PERU—0.4%

 

 

 

CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING—0.4%

 

 

 

195,354

 

Grana y Montero SA, ADR

 

429,779

 

PHILIPPINES—2.6%

 

 

 

HOTELS, RESTAURANTS & LEISURE—2.6%

 

 

 

705,660

 

Jollibee Foods Corp.(a)

 

3,049,694

 

POLAND—2.7%

 

 

 

FOOD & STAPLES RETAILING—2.7%

 

 

 

233,898

 

Eurocash SA(a)

 

3,166,458

 

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH KOREA—2.6%

 

 

 

BANKS—1.7%

 

 

 

261,171

 

BNK Financial Group, Inc.(a)

 

1,974,077

 

MULTILINE RETAIL—0.9%

 

 

 

6,000

 

Shinsegae Co. Ltd.(a)

 

1,068,925

 

 

 

 

 

3,043,002

 

ROMANIA—2.1%

 

 

 

BANKS—2.1%

 

 

 

1,045,000

 

BRD-Groupe Societe Generale(b)

 

2,494,662

 

RUSSIA—1.1%

 

 

 

BEVERAGES—0.7%

 

 

 

133,150

 

Synergy Co.(a)(b)

 

807,838

 

FOOD & STAPLES RETAILING—0.4%

 

 

 

274,900

 

O’Key Group SA, GDR

 

461,832

 

 

 

 

 

1,269,670

 

 

See Notes to Portfolio of Investments.

 



 

SOUTH AFRICA—7.4%

 

 

 

CHEMICALS—1.1%

 

 

 

1,303,000

 

African Oxygen Ltd.

 

$

1,312,412

 

DIVERSIFIED FINANCIAL SERVICES—1.4%

 

 

 

201,059

 

JSE Ltd.(a)

 

1,638,283

 

FOOD & STAPLES RETAILING—3.4%

 

 

 

351,900

 

Clicks Group Ltd.

 

1,925,063

 

172,735

 

SPAR Group Ltd.(a)

 

1,997,511

 

 

 

 

 

3,922,574

 

HOTELS, RESTAURANTS & LEISURE—1.5%

 

 

 

196,384

 

City Lodge Hotels Ltd.

 

1,804,949

 

 

 

 

 

8,678,218

 

SRI LANKA—1.6%

 

 

 

INDUSTRIAL CONGLOMERATES—1.6%

 

 

 

1,760,404

 

John Keells Holdings PLC(a)

 

1,887,619

 

THAILAND—6.0%

 

 

 

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS—1.2%

 

 

 

184,000

 

Siam City Cement PCL, Foreign Shares(a)

 

1,430,340

 

ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT INSTRUMENTS & COMPONENTS—1.2%

 

 

 

1,679,000

 

Hana Microelectronics PCL, Foreign Shares(a)

 

1,445,878

 

HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS & SERVICES—1.6%

 

 

 

302,000

 

Bumrungrad Hospital PCL, Foreign Shares(a)

 

1,870,318

 

MEDIA—0.9%

 

 

 

1,200,100

 

BEC World PCL, Foreign Shares(a)

 

1,014,461

 

REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT & DEVELOPMENT—1.1%

 

 

 

1,020,000

 

Central Pattana PCL, Foreign Shares(a)

 

1,284,834

 

 

 

 

 

7,045,831

 

TURKEY—4.0%

 

 

 

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS—2.1%

 

 

 

501,702

 

Cimsa Cimento Sanayi VE Ticaret A.S.(a)

 

2,447,800

 

INSURANCE—1.9%

 

 

 

1,982,000

 

Aksigorta AS(a)

 

1,076,034

 

176,154

 

AvivaSA Emeklilik ve Hayat AS

 

1,163,393

 

 

 

 

 

2,239,427

 

 

 

 

 

4,687,227

 

 

 

 

 

110,770,900

 

PRIVATE EQUITY —1.6%

 

 

 

GLOBAL—1.0%

 

 

 

7,248,829

(c)

Emerging Markets Ventures I, L.P.(a)(b)(d)(e)(f)(g)

 

184,193

 

2,400,000

(c)

Telesoft Partners II QP, L.P.(a)(b)(e)(f)(h)

 

984,192

 

 

 

 

 

1,168,385

 

ISRAEL—0.6%

 

 

 

1,674,587

(c)

BPA Israel Ventures, LLC(a)(b)(d)(e)(f)(g)

 

225,383

 

72,640

 

Exent Technologies Ltd. Preferred A1 Shares(a)(b)(e)(f)(h)(i)

 

 

62,304

 

Exent Technologies Ltd. Preferred C Shares(a)(b)(e)(f)(h)(i)

 

 

15,716

 

Exent Technologies Ltd. Warrants A1(a)(b)(e)(f)(h)(i)

 

 

46,856

 

Flash Networks Ltd. Ordinary Shares(a)(b)(e)(f)(h)(i)

 

33,589

 

12

 

Flash Networks Ltd. Series C Preferred(a)(b)(e)(f)(h)(i)

 

 

23,264

 

Flash Networks Ltd. Series C-1 Preferred(a)(b)(e)(f)(h)(i)

 

 

 

See Notes to Portfolio of Investments.

 



 

$

13,526

 

Flash Networks Ltd. Series D Preferred(a)(b)(e)(f)(h)(i)

 

$

 —

 

9,952

 

Flash Networks Ltd. Series E Preferred(a)(b)(e)(f)(h)(i)

 

 

22

 

Flash Networks Ltd. Warrants C(a)(b)(e)(f)(h)(i)

 

 

52

 

Flash Networks Ltd. Warrants Ordinary(a)(b)(e)(f)(h)(i)

 

 

2,750,000

(c)

Giza GE Venture Fund III, L.P.(a)(b)(e)(f)(g)

 

111,705

 

761,184

(c)

Neurone Ventures II, L.P.(a)(b)(e)(f)(h)

 

282,087

 

32,574

 

Vidyo, Inc. Trust A (Preferred)(a)(b)(e)(f)(h)(j)

 

 

15,531

 

Vidyo, Inc. Trust B (Preferred)(a)(b)(e)(f)(h)(j)

 

 

13,219

 

Vidyo, Inc. Trust B1 (Preferred)(a)(b)(e)(f)(h)(j)

 

 

6,864

 

Vidyo, Inc. Trust C (Preferred)(a)(b)(e)(f)(h)(j)

 

 

4,150

 

Vidyo, Inc. Trust C1 (Preferred)(a)(b)(e)(f)(h)(j)

 

 

1,802

 

Vidyo, Inc. Trust Common(a)(b)(e)(f)(h)(j)

 

 

2,713

 

Vidyo, Inc. Trust D (Preferred)(a)(b)(e)(f)(h)(j)

 

 

 

 

 

 

652,764

 

 

 

 

 

1,821,149

 

WARRANT—0.0%

 

 

 

SRI LANKA—0.0%

 

 

 

INDUSTRIAL CONGLOMERATES—0.0%

 

 

 

92,603

 

John Keells Holdings PLC, expires 11/11/16(b)

 

11,824

 

 

 

 

 

11,824

 

 

 

Total Long-Term Equity Securities in Emerging Market Countries—96.3% (cost $160,856,458)

 

112,603,873

 

LONG-TERM EQUITY SECURITIES IN DEVELOPED MARKET COUNTRIES—3.0%

 

 

 

COMMON STOCK—3.0%

 

 

 

UNITED STATES—3.0%

 

 

 

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES—3.0%

 

 

 

45,962

 

EPAM Systems, Inc.(b)

 

3,442,554

 

 

 

 

 

3,442,554

 

PRIVATE EQUITY —0.0%

 

 

 

UNITED STATES—0.0%

 

 

 

1,952,000

(c)

Technology Crossover Ventures IV, L.P.(a)(b)(d)(e)(f)(g)

 

1,971

 

 

 

 

 

1,971

 

 

 

Total Long-Term Equity Securities in Developed Market Countries—3.0% (cost $1,966,358)

 

3,444,525

 

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENT—0.9%

 

 

 

$

1,064,000

 

Repurchase Agreement, Fixed Income Clearing Corp., 0.03% dated 01/29/2016, due 02/01/2016 repurchase price $1,064,003, collateralized by U.S. Treasury Bond, maturing 02/15/2043; total market value of $1,085,560

 

1,064,000

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investment—0.9% (cost $1,064,000)

 

1,064,000

 

 

 

Total Investments—100.2% (cost $163,886,816) (k)

 

117,112,398

 

 

 

Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets—(0.2)%

 

(187,819

)

 

 

Net Assets—100.0%

 

$

116,924,579

 

 


(a)

Fair Valued Security. Fair Values are determined pursuant to procedures approved by the Fund’s Board of Directors. See Note (a) of the accompanying Notes to Portfolio of Investments.

(b)

Non-income producing security.

(c)

Represents contributed capital.

(d)

As of January 31, 2016, the aggregate amount of open commitments for the Fund is $1,524,584.

(e)

Illiquid security.

(f)

Restricted security, not readily marketable. See Note (c) of the accompanying Notes to Portfolio of Investments.

 

See Notes to Portfolio of Investments.

 



 

(g)

In liquidation.

(h)

Active investments.

(i)

Exent Technologies Ltd. and Flash Networks Ltd. were securities received from the dissolution of Concord Fund I Liquidating Main Trust. See Note (c) of the accompanying Notes to Portfolio of Investments.

(j)

Vidyo, Inc. Trust was a spinoff from SVE Star Ventures IX. See Note (c) of the accompanying Notes to Portfolio of Investments.

(k)

See accompanying Notes to Portfolio of Investments for tax unrealized appreciation/depreciation of securities.

 

 

ADR

American Depositary Receipt

BDR

Brazilian Depositary Receipt

GDR

Global Depositary Receipt

 

See Notes to Portfolio of Investments.

 


 


 

Notes to Portfolio of Investments (unaudited)

 

January 31, 2016

 

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

a. Security Valuation:

 

The Fund values its securities at current market value or fair value, consistent with regulatory requirements. “Fair value” is defined in the Fund’s valuation and liquidity procedures as the price that could be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between willing market participants without a compulsion to contract at the measurement date.

 

Equity securities that are traded on an exchange are valued at the last quoted sale price on the principal exchange on which the security is traded at the “Valuation Time” subject to application, when appropriate, of the valuation factors described in the paragraph below. The Valuation Time is as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time). In the absence of a sale price, the security is valued at the mean of the bid/ask price quoted at the close on the principal exchange on which the security is traded. Securities traded on NASDAQ are valued at the NASDAQ official closing price. Closed-end funds and exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) are valued at the market price of the security at the Valuation Time. A security using any of these pricing methodologies is determined to be a Level 1 investment.

 

Foreign equity securities that are traded on foreign exchanges that close prior to the Valuation Time are valued by applying valuation factors to the last sale price or the mean price as noted above. Valuation factors are provided by an independent pricing service provider approved by the Fund’s Board of Directors (the “Board”). These valuation factors are used when pricing the Fund’s portfolio holdings to estimate market movements between the time foreign markets close and the time the Fund values such foreign securities. These valuation factors are based on inputs such as depositary receipts, indices, futures, sector indices/ETFs, exchange rates, and local exchange opening and closing prices of each security. When prices with the application of valuation factors are utilized, the value assigned to the foreign securities may not be the same as quoted or published prices of the securities on their primary markets. A security that applies a valuation factor is determined to be a Level 2 investment because the exchange-traded price has been adjusted. Valuation factors are not utilized if the independent pricing service provider is unable to provide a valuation factor or if the valuation factor falls below a predetermined threshold; in such case, the security is determined to be a Level 1 investment.

 

In the event that a security’s market quotations are not readily available or are deemed unreliable (for reasons other than because the foreign exchange on which it trades closes before the Valuation Time), the security is valued at fair value as determined by the Fund’s Pricing Committee, taking into account the relevant factors and surrounding circumstances using valuation policies and procedures approved and established by the Board. A security that has been fair valued by the Pricing Committee may be classified as Level 2 or 3 depending on the nature of the inputs.

 

The Fund also invests in private equity private placement securities, which represented 1.6% of the net assets of the Fund as of January 31, 2016. The private equity private placement securities are deemed to be restricted securities. In the absence of readily ascertainable market values, these securities are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by, or under the direction of the Board, pursuant to valuation policies and procedures established by the Board. The Fund’s estimate of fair value assumes a willing buyer and a willing seller neither of whom are acting under the compulsion to buy or sell. Although these securities may be resold in privately negotiated transactions, the prices realized on such sales could differ from the prices originally paid by the Fund or the current carrying values, and the difference could be material. These securities are categorized as Level 3 investments. Level 3 investments have significant unobservable inputs, as they trade infrequently. In determining the fair value of these investments, management uses the market approach which includes as the primary input the capital balance reported; however, adjustments to the reported capital balance may be made based on various factors, including, but not limited to, the attributes of the interest held, including the rights and obligations, and any restrictions or illiquidity of such interests, and the fair value of these private equity investments.

 

In accordance with the authoritative guidance on fair value measurements and disclosures under GAAP, the Fund discloses the fair value of its investments using a three-level hierarchy that classifies the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure the fair value. The hierarchy assigns Level 1 measurements to valuations based upon unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets, Level 2 measurements to valuations based upon other significant observable inputs, including adjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets, and Level 3 measurements to valuations based upon unobservable inputs that are significant to the valuation. Observable inputs are inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, which are based on market data obtained

 



 

Notes to Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

 

January 31, 2016

 

from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The three-level hierarchy of inputs is summarized below:

 

Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical investments;

Level 2 — other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, and credit risk); or

Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments).

 

The following is a summary of the inputs used as of January 31, 2016 in valuing the Fund’s investments and other financial instruments at fair value. The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. Please refer to the Portfolio of Investments for a detailed breakout of the security types:

 

Investments, at Value

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-Term Investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Automobiles

 

$

1,015,383

 

$

 

$

 

$

1,015,383

 

Banks

 

4,642,371

 

5,382,107

 

 

10,024,478

 

Beverages

 

1,228,262

 

3,730,576

 

 

4,958,838

 

Chemicals

 

1,312,412

 

5,772,331

 

 

7,084,743

 

Commercial Services & Supplies

 

1,065,368

 

 

 

1,065,368

 

Construction & Engineering

 

429,779

 

 

 

429,779

 

Food & Staples Retailing

 

2,386,895

 

5,163,969

 

 

7,550,864

 

Food Products

 

6,465,679

 

 

 

6,465,679

 

Health Care Providers & Services

 

1,643,857

 

1,870,318

 

 

3,514,175

 

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure

 

1,804,949

 

4,150,911

 

 

5,955,860

 

Industrial Conglomerates

 

11,824

 

1,887,619

 

 

1,899,443

 

Information Technology Services

 

4,619,892

 

1,491,210

 

 

6,111,102

 

Insurance

 

1,163,393

 

1,076,034

 

 

2,239,427

 

Pharmaceuticals

 

1,971,603

 

1,726,225

 

 

3,697,828

 

Real Estate Management & Development

 

7,112,347

 

2,816,448

 

 

9,928,795

 

Road & Rail

 

1,334,781

 

1,913,879

 

 

3,248,660

 

Software

 

1,433,772

 

 

 

1,433,772

 

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods

 

1,954,310

 

1,054,735

 

 

3,009,045

 

Transportation Infrastructure

 

5,654,494

 

864,596

 

 

6,519,090

 

Other

 

 

28,072,949

 

 

28,072,949

 

Private Equity

 

 

 

1,823,120

 

1,823,120

 

Short-Term Investment

 

 

1,064,000

 

 

1,064,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

47,251,371

 

$

68,037,907

 

$

1,823,120

 

$

117,112,398

 

 

Amounts listed as “-” are $0 or round to $0.

 

For movements between the Levels within the fair value hierarchy, the Fund has adopted a policy of recognizing transfers at the end of each period. The utilization of valuation factors may result in transfers between Level 1 and Level 2. For the period ended January 31, 2016, the security issued by MphasiS Ltd. in the amount of $1,491,210 transferred from Level 1 to Level 2 because there was a valuation factor applied at January 31, 2016. The securities issued by BRD-Groupe Societe Generale, Clicks Group Ltd. and Zenith Bank PLC in the amounts of $2,494,662, $1,925,063 and $1,231,909, respectively, transferred from Level 2 to Level 1 because there was not a valuation factor applied at January 31, 2016.

 

The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of the Fund’s private equity holdings are audited financial statements, interim financial statements, capital calls, distributions and Aberdeen Pricing Committee decisions. These unobservable inputs are used by taking the most recent quarterly valuation statements and adjusting the value using the unobservable inputs mentioned above. Significant increases (decreases) in any of those inputs in isolation would result in a significantly lower (higher) fair value measurement.

 



 

Notes to Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

 

January 31, 2016

 

 

 

Fair Value
at 1/31/16

 

Valuation Technique

 

Unobservable
Inputs

 

Range

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Private Equity

 

$

1,823,120

 

Partner Capital Value/Net Asset Value

 

Distributions

 

$

 

 

The following is a reconciliation of investments in which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining value:

 

Investments, at value

 

Balance as of
10/31/15

 

Accrued
Discounts
(Premiums)

 

Realized Gain
(Loss)

 

Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

 

Capital
Contributed

 

Distributions /
Sales

 

Net Transfers in
to Level 3

 

Net Transfers
out of Level 3

 

Balance as of
1/31/16

 

Private Equity

 

$

2,077,668

 

$

 

$

(960,834

)

$

706,286

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

1,823,120

 

Total

 

$

2,077,668

 

$

 

$

(960,834

)

$

706,286

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

1,823,120

 

 

Amounts listed as “—“ are $0 or round to $0.

 

Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation relating to investments still held at January 31, 2016 is $(176,516).

 

b. Repurchase Agreements:

 

The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements under the terms of a Master Repurchase Agreement. It is the Fund’s policy that its custodian/counterparty segregate the underlying collateral securities, the value of which exceeds the principal amount of the repurchase transaction, including accrued interest. The repurchase price generally equals the price paid by the Fund plus interest negotiated on the basis of current short-term rates. To the extent that any repurchase transaction exceeds one business day, the collateral is valued on a daily basis to determine its adequacy. Under the Master Repurchase Agreement, if the counterparty defaults and the value of the collateral declines, or if bankruptcy proceedings are commenced with respect to the counterparty of the repurchase agreement, realization of the collateral by the Fund may be delayed or limited. Repurchase agreements are subject to contractual netting arrangements with the counterparty, Fixed Income Clearing Corp. For additional information on the Fund’s repurchase agreements, see the Portfolio of Investments. The Fund held a repurchase agreement of $1,064,000 as of January 31, 2016. The value of the related collateral exceeded the value of the repurchase agreement at January 31, 2016.

 

c. Private Equity Investments:

 

Certain of the Fund’s investments, listed in the chart below, are restricted as to resale and are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by, or under the direction of, the Board in the absence of readily ascertainable market values.

 

Security (1)

 

Acquisition Date(s)

 

Cost

 

Fair Value
At 1/31/16

 

Percent
of
Net
Assets

 

Cumulative
Distributions
Received

 

Open
Commitments
(3)

 

BPA Israel Ventures, LLC

 

10/05/00 – 12/09/05

 

$

929,799

 

$

225,383

 

0.19

 

$

327,976

 

$

625,413

 

Emerging Markets Ventures I, L.P.

 

01/22/98 – 01/10/06

 

2,474,673

 

184,193

 

0.16

 

7,552,733

 

851,171

 

Exent Technologies Ltd. Preferred A1 Shares (4)

 

11/29/15

 

124,482

 

 

0.00

 

 

 

Exent Technologies Ltd. Preferred C Shares (4)

 

11/29/15

 

 

 

0.00

 

 

 

Exent Technologies Ltd. Warrants A1 (4)

 

11/29/15

 

 

 

0.00

 

 

 

Flash Networks Ltd. Ordinary Shares (4)

 

11/29/15

 

114,457

 

33,589

 

0.03

 

 

 

Flash Networks Ltd. Series C Preferred (4)

 

11/29/15

 

 

 

0.00

 

 

 

Flash Networks Ltd. Series C-1 Preferred (4)

 

11/29/15

 

 

 

0.00

 

 

 

Flash Networks Ltd. Series D Preferred (4)

 

11/29/15

 

 

 

0.00

 

 

 

Flash Networks Ltd. Series E Preferred (4)

 

11/29/15

 

 

 

0.00

 

 

 

Flash Networks Ltd. Warrants C (4)

 

11/29/15

 

 

 

0.00

 

 

 

Flash Networks Ltd. Warrants Ordinary (4)

 

11/29/15

 

 

 

0.00

 

 

 

Giza GE Venture Fund III, L.P.

 

01/31/00 – 11/23/06

 

1,717,032

 

111,705

 

0.10

 

885,262

 

 

Neurone Ventures II, L.P.

 

11/24/00 – 12/21/10

 

121,786

 

282,087

 

0.24

 

533,564

 

 

Technology Crossover Ventures IV, L.P.

 

03/08/00 - 09/27/10

 

359,691

 

1,971

 

0.00

 

3,045,426

 

48,000

 

Telesoft Partners II QP, L.P.

 

07/14/00 - 03/01/10

 

1,112,731

 

984,192

 

0.84

 

1,282,411

 

 

Vidyo, Inc. Trust A (Preferred) (2)

 

10/24/12

 

29,796

 

 

0.00

 

 

 

Vidyo, Inc. Trust B (Preferred) (2)

 

10/24/12

 

14,207

 

 

0.00

 

 

 

Vidyo, Inc. Trust B1 (Preferred) (2)

 

10/24/12

 

12,092

 

 

0.00

 

 

 

Vidyo, Inc. Trust C (Preferred) (2)

 

10/24/12

 

6,279

 

 

0.00

 

 

 

Vidyo, Inc. Trust C1 (Preferred) (2)

 

10/24/12

 

3,796

 

 

0.00

 

 

 

Vidyo, Inc. Trust Common (2)

 

10/24/12

 

1,648

 

 

0.00

 

 

 

Vidyo, Inc. Trust D (Preferred) (2)

 

10/24/12

 

2,482

 

 

0.00

 

 

 

Total

 

 

 

$

7,024,951

 

$

1,823,120

 

1.56

 

$

13,627,372

 

$

1,524,584

 

 



 

Notes to Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

 

January 31, 2016

 


Amounts listed as “—“ are $0 or round to $0.

 

(1) Neurone Ventures II, L.P., Flash Networks Ltd., Extent Technologies Ltd., Telesoft Partners II QP, L.P. and Vidyo, Inc. Trust are still considered active investments by the Fund’s Adviser. BPA Israel Ventures, LLC, Giza GE Venture Fund III, L.P., Emerging Markets Ventures I, L.P. and Technology Crossover Ventures IV, L.P. are in liquidation.

 

(2) Vidyo, Inc. Trust was a spinoff from SVE Star Ventures IX. SVE Star Ventures IX reached the end of its term in 2012 and, accordingly, its entire portfolio was sold in a secondary transaction which closed on December 24, 2012. During the secondary transaction, the Fund’s pro rata holdings in Vidyo (and its affiliate Delta Vidyo) were excluded from the transaction, placed in trust and considered as a distribution-in-kind.

 

(3) The open committments are unlikely to be called.

 

(4) Exent Technologies Ltd. and Flash Networks Ltd. were securities received from the dissolution of Concord Fund I Liquidating Main Trust.

 

d. Rights Issues and Warrants:

 

Rights issues give existing shareholders the right to buy a proportional number of additional securities at a given price (generally at a discount) within a fixed period (generally on a short term period) and are offered at the company’s discretion. Warrants are securities that give the holder the right to buy common stock at a specified price for a specified period of time. Rights issues and warrants are speculative and have no value if they are not exercised before the expiration date. Rights issues and warrants are valued at the last sale price on the exchange on which they are traded.

 

e. Federal Income Taxes:

 

The U.S. federal income tax basis of the Fund’s investments and the net unrealized depreciation as of January 31, 2016 were as follows:

 



 

Notes to Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) (concluded)

 

January 31, 2016

 

Cost

 

Appreciation

 

Depreciation

 

Net
Unrealized
Depreciation

 

$

 164,059,666

 

$

12,904,254

 

$

(59,851,522

)

$

(46,947,268

)

 



 

Item 2 - Controls and Procedures

 

a)             The Registrant’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, have concluded that the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30a-3(c))) are effective, as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of the report that includes the disclosure required by this paragraph, based on the evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30a3(b)) and Rule 13a-15(b) or 15d-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR 240.13a-15(b) or 240.15d-15(b)).

 

b)             There was no change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30a-3(d))) that occurred during the registrant’s last fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Item 3 - Exhibits

 

a)             Certification of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer of the Registrant as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30a-2(a)) is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.302CERT.

 



 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

Aberdeen Emerging Markets Smaller Company Opportunities Fund, Inc.

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Christian Pittard

 

 

Christian Pittard,

 

 

Principal Executive Officer of

 

 

Aberdeen Emerging Markets Smaller Company Opportunities Fund, Inc.

 

 

 

 

Date: March 30, 2016

 

 

 

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Christian Pittard

 

 

Christian Pittard,

 

 

Principal Executive Officer of

 

 

Aberdeen Emerging Markets Smaller Company Opportunities Fund, Inc.

 

 

 

 

Date: March 30, 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Andrea Melia

 

 

Andrea Melia,

 

 

Principal Financial Officer of

 

 

Aberdeen Emerging Markets Smaller Company Opportunities Fund, Inc.

 

 

 

 

Date: March 30, 2016