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INDIA FUND, INC. — Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement 2011
Mar 17, 2011
32692_psi_2011-03-17_fd5399aa-351a-4911-8f0e-ac429efc1e75.zip
Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement
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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
þ Filed by the Registrant o Filed by a Party other than the Registrant
Check the appropriate box:
o Preliminary Proxy Statement o Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) þ Definitive Proxy Statement o Definitive Additional Materials o Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12
The India Fund, Inc.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
Payment of Filing Fee (check the appropriate box):
| þ | No fee required. |
|---|---|
| o | Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
| (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to
Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which |
| --- |
| the filing fee is calculated and
state how it is determined): |
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
(5) Total fee paid:
| o | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
|---|---|
| o | Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and |
| identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous | |
| filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. |
(1) Amount Previously Paid:
(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
(3) Filing Party:
(4) Date Filed:
Folio /Folio
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The India Fund, Inc.
345 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10154
March 17, 2011
Dear Stockholder:
We are pleased to enclose the notice and proxy statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of The India Fund, Inc. (NYSE: IFN; the Fund) to be held on Thursday, April 21, 2011, at the offices of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, 425 Lexington Avenue, 30th Floor, New York, New York at 11:00 a.m., New York time.
At the meeting, you will be asked to vote on the election of Directors.
After careful consideration, the Board of Directors of the Fund, including all of the independent Directors, recommends that you vote FOR the election of each of the nominees.
Whether or not you intend to attend the meeting, you may vote by proxy by signing and returning your proxy card in the enclosed postage-paid envelope or by following the instructions on your proxy card to vote by telephone or over the Internet. Please familiarize yourself with the proposal and vote immediately, even if you plan to attend the meeting.
If your completed proxy card is not received, you may be contacted by representatives of the Fund or by our proxy solicitor, Georgeson Inc. (Georgeson). Georgeson has been engaged to assist the Fund in soliciting proxies. Representatives of Georgeson will remind you to vote your shares. You may also call the number provided on your proxy card for additional information.
As always, we thank you for your confidence and support.
Sincerely,
Prakash A. Melwani
Director and President
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The India Fund, Inc.
345 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10154
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
March 17, 2011
To the Stockholders:
An Annual Meeting of Stockholders of The India Fund, Inc. (the Fund) will be held on Thursday, April 21, 2011, at the offices of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, 425 Lexington Avenue, 30th Floor, New York, New York at 11:00 a.m., New York time, for the purpose of considering and voting upon proposals to:
| 1. | Elect three Class II Directors to the Board of Directors. |
|---|---|
| 2. | Transact such other business as may be properly presented at the |
| Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof. |
The close of business on March 4, 2011, has been fixed as the record date for the determination of Stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting. The enclosed proxy is being solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Fund.
By order of the Board of Directors,
Joshua B. Rovine
Secretary
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TO AVOID THE UNNECESSARY EXPENSE OF FURTHER SOLICITATION, WE URGE YOU to indicate voting instructions on the enclosed proxy card, date and sign it and return it promptly in the envelope provided, or to vote promptly by telephone or over the Internet according to the instructions on the enclosed proxy card, no matter how large or small your holdings may be.
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INSTRUCTIONS FOR SIGNING PROXY CARDS
The following general rules for signing proxy cards may be of assistance to you and avoid the time and expense to the Fund involved in validating your vote if you fail to sign your proxy card properly.
| 1. | Individual Accounts. Sign your name exactly as it appears
in the registration on the proxy card. |
| --- | --- |
| 2. | Joint Accounts. Either party may sign, but the name of
the party signing should conform exactly to a name shown in the
registration. |
| 3. | Other Accounts. The capacity of the individual signing
the proxy card should be indicated unless it is reflected in the
form of registration. For example: |
REGISTRATION
| Corporate Accounts | Valid Signature |
|---|---|
| ABC Corp. | ABC Corp. (by John Doe, Treasurer) |
| ABC Corp. | John Doe, Treasurer |
| ABC Corp. c/o John Doe, Treasurer | John Doe |
| ABC Corp. Profit Sharing Plan | John Doe, Trustee |
| Trust Accounts | |
| ABC Trust | Jane B. Doe, Trustee |
| Jane B. Doe, Trustee u/t/d 12/28/78 | Jane B. Doe |
| Custodial or Estate Accounts | |
| John B. Smith, Cust. f/b/o John B. Smith, Jr. UGMA | John B. Smith |
| John B. Smith | John B. Smith, Jr., Executor |
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The India Fund, Inc.
345 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10154
PROXY STATEMENT
This proxy statement is furnished in connection with a solicitation by the Board of Directors of The India Fund, Inc. (the Fund) of proxies to be used at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Fund to be held at the offices of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, 425 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York, on the 30th Floor, on Thursday, April 21, 2011, at 11:00 a.m., New York time, and at any adjournments or postponements thereof (the Meeting), for the purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
This proxy statement and the accompanying form of proxy are first being mailed to Stockholders on or about March 17, 2011.
At the Meeting, Stockholders will vote on a proposal to elect three Class II Directors to the Board of Directors.
This Proxy Statement sets forth concisely the information Stockholders of the Fund should know before voting on the proposal. Please read it carefully and retain it for future reference . The Funds Annual Report, containing financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, as filed on Form N-CSR, is available free of charge by contacting Blackstone Asia Advisors L.L.C., 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10154, by calling 1-866-800-8933 toll-free or on the Internet at www.blackstone.com. Information about the Fund is included in this proxy statement. Reports and other information filed by the Fund can be inspected in person at the Public Reference Room maintained by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) at the address below, and copies of such materials can be obtained from the Public Reference Branch at the address below. In addition, shares of common stock of the Fund are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the NYSE) under the ticker symbol IFN. Reports and other information concerning the Fund can be inspected by contacting the NYSE at New York Stock Exchange, Inc., 11 Wall Street, New York, New York 10005. The Fund is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), and in accordance therewith, file reports and other information, including proxy materials and charter documents, with the SEC.
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You also may view or obtain these documents from the SEC:
| In Person: | At the SECs Public Reference Room at
100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549 |
| --- | --- |
| By Phone: | 1-800-SEC-0330 |
| By Mail: | Public Reference Branch Office of Consumer Affairs and Information Services Securities and Exchange Commission 100 F Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20549 (duplicating fee required) |
| By Email: | [email protected] (duplicating fee required) |
| By Internet: | www.sec.gov |
Stockholders who execute proxies retain the right to revoke them in person at the Meeting, by written notice received by the Secretary of the Fund at any time before they are voted or by delivering a duly executed proxy bearing a later date. Proxies that are not revoked will be voted in accordance with the specifications thereon and, unless specified to the contrary, will be voted FOR each of the nominees for Director.
The close of business on March 4, 2011, has been fixed as the record date for the determination of Stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting. Each Stockholder is entitled to one vote for each full share and an appropriate fraction of a vote for each fractional share held.
On the record date there were 44,284,988 shares of the Funds common stock outstanding.
In the event that a quorum is not present at the Meeting, the persons named as proxies may propose, without notice other than by announcement at the Meeting, one or more adjournments or postponements of the Meeting to a date not more than 120 days after the original record date to permit further solicitation of proxies or until a quorum shall attend. Any such adjournment will require the affirmative vote of a majority of those shares represented at the Meeting in person or by proxy. The persons named as proxies will vote those proxies that they are entitled to vote FOR or AGAINST any such proposal at their discretion. Under the By-Laws of the Fund, a quorum is constituted by the presence in person or by proxy of the holders of record of a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Fund entitled to vote at the Meeting.
Votes cast by proxy or in person at the Meeting will be tabulated by the inspector of election appointed for the Meeting. The inspector of election will determine whether or not a quorum is present at the Meeting. The inspector of election will treat abstentions and broker non-votes (i.e., shares held by brokers or nominees, typically in street name, as to which proxies have been returned but (i) instructions have not been received from the beneficial owners or persons entitled to vote and (ii) the broker or nominee does not have discretionary voting power on a particular matter) as present for purposes of determining a quorum.
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For purposes of the election of Directors, abstentions and broker non-votes will not be considered votes cast and will not affect the plurality vote required for Directors. The persons named as proxies will have discretionary authority to vote all shares for which they serve as proxies, including abstentions and broker non-votes, on the adjournment of the Meeting, whether or not a quorum is present, to a date not more than 120 days after the original record date to permit further solicitation of proxies.
Stockholders who plan on attending the Meeting will be required to provide valid identification in order to gain admission.
The Board of Directors of the Fund knows of no business other than that discussed above that will be presented for consideration at the Meeting. If any other matter is properly presented, it is the intention of the persons named in the enclosed proxy to vote in accordance with their best judgment.
The Fund is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company registered under the 1940 Act. The principal business address of the Fund is 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10154.
The date of this Proxy Statement is March 17, 2011.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Shareholder Meeting to be Held on April 21, 2011
The proxy statement and related materials are available at http://www.edocumentview.com/IFN.
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PROPOSAL 1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Background
In accordance with the Funds Charter, the Funds Board of Directors is divided into three classes: Class I, Class II and Class III. At the Meeting, Stockholders will be asked to elect three Class II Directors, each to hold office until the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, or thereafter until his successor is elected and qualified. The terms of office of the Class I Directors expire at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2012, or thereafter until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified. The terms of office of the Class III Directors expire at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2013, or thereafter until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified. These staggered terms have the effect of limiting the ability of other entities or persons to acquire control of the Fund by delaying the replacement of a majority of the Board of Directors and could have the effect of depriving Stockholders of an opportunity 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 persons named in the accompanying form of proxy intend to vote at the Meeting (unless directed not to vote) FOR the election of the nominees listed below. Messrs. Gelb, Henry and Rubio are currently members of the Funds Board of Directors. The nominees have consented to their being named in this proxy statement and have indicated that they will serve if elected. If a nominee should be unable to serve, the proxy will be voted for any other person determined by the persons named as proxies in their discretion.
The following table provides information concerning the nominees for election as Class II Directors:
| Number of | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds in | Other | ||||
| Fund | Board | ||||
| Complex | Memberships | ||||
| Length | Overseen by | Held by | |||
| Position(s) | of | Principal | Nominee | Nominee | |
| Held with | Time | Occupation(s) | (including the | During Past | |
| Name, Address and Age | Fund | Served | during Past 5 Years | Fund) | Five Years |
| Nominees to serve as Class II Directors until the 2014 | |||||
| Annual Meeting of Stockholders | |||||
| Independent Directors/Nominees | |||||
| Leslie H. Gelb c/o Blackstone Asia Advisors L.L.C. 345 Park Avenue New York, New York 10154 Birth Year: 1937 | Director and Member of the Audit and Nominating Committees | Since 1994 | President Emeritus, The Council on Foreign Relations | ||
| (2003Present); President, The Council on Foreign Relations | |||||
| (19932003); formerly Columnist, Deputy Editorial Page | |||||
| Editor and Editor, Op-Ed Page, The New York Times. | 2 | Director of 24 registered investment companies advised by Legg | |||
| Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC and its affiliates | |||||
| (LMPFA). |
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| Number of | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds in | Other | ||||
| Fund | Board | ||||
| Complex | Memberships | ||||
| Length | Overseen by | Held by | |||
| Position(s) | of | Principal | Nominee | Nominee | |
| Held with | Time | Occupation(s) | (including the | During Past | |
| Name, Address and Age | Fund | Served | during Past 5 Years | Fund) | Five Years |
| Stephane R. F. Henry c/o Investment Professionals Limited 6th Floor Harbour Front John F. Kennedy Street Port Louis, Mauritius Birth Year: 1967 | Director and Member of the Audit and Nominating Committees | Since 2004 | Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Investment | ||
| Professionals Ltd., (2005Present) | 1 | Director of Boyer Allan Pacific India Fund, Arisaig (Partners) | |||
| Ltd., India Infrastructure Opportunities Fund Ltd. and Foreign | |||||
| Colonial India Ltd. | |||||
| Luis F. Rubio c/o Blackstone Asia Advisors L.L.C. 345 Park Avenue New York, New York 10154 Birth Year: 1955 | Director and Member of the Audit and Nominating Committees | Since 1999 | President, Centro de Investigacion para el Desarrollo, A.C. | ||
| (Center of Research for Development) (2000Present); | |||||
| frequent contributor of op-ed pieces to The Wall Street | |||||
| Journal . | 2 | Member of Board of Trustees or Board of Managers of four | |||
| registered investment companies advised by Advantage Advisers | |||||
| L.L.C. or its affiliates |
The following table provides information concerning the Class I and Class III Directors currently serving until the year 2012 and 2013 Annual Meetings of Stockholders, respectively:
| Number of | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds in | Other | ||||
| Fund | Board | ||||
| Complex | Memberships | ||||
| Length | Overseen by | Held by | |||
| Position(s) | of | Principal | Nominee | Nominee | |
| Held with | Time | Occupation(s) | (including | During Past | |
| Name, Address and Age | Fund | Served | during Past 5 Years | the Fund) | Five Years |
| Class I Directors serving until the 2012 Annual Meeting of | |||||
| Stockholders | |||||
| Interested Director | |||||
| Robert L. | |||||
| Friedman 1 The Blackstone Group L.P. 345 Park Avenue New York, N.Y. 10154 Birth Year: 1943 | Director, Chief Legal Officer and Vice President | Since 2005 | Senior Managing Director, The Blackstone Group L.P. | ||
| (1999Present); Chief Legal Officer, The Blackstone Group | |||||
| L.P. (20032010) | 2 | TRW Automotive Holdings Corp., Axis Capital Holdings Ltd. and | |||
| FGIC Corporation |
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1 Mr. Friedman is an interested person, as defined in the 1940 Act, because he serves as Chief Legal Officer of The Blackstone Group L.P., the parent of Blackstone Advisors, the Funds investment manager and administrator.
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| Number of | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds in | Other | ||||
| Fund | Board | ||||
| Complex | Memberships | ||||
| Length | Overseen by | Held by | |||
| Position(s) | of | Principal | Nominee | Nominee | |
| Held with | Time | Occupation(s) | (including | During Past | |
| Name, Address and Age | Fund | Served | during Past 5 Years | the Fund) | Five Years |
| Independent Directors | |||||
| Lawrence K. Becker c/o Blackstone Asia Advisors L.L.C. 345 Park Avenue New York, N.Y. 10154 Birth Year: 1955 | Director and Member of the Audit and Nominating Committees | Since 2003 | Private Investor, Real Estate Investment Management (July | ||
| 2003Present); Treasurer, France Growth Fund | |||||
| (20042008); Vice President, Controller/Treasurer, National | |||||
| Financial Partners (20002003); Managing Director, | |||||
| Controller/Treasurer, Oppenheimer CapitalPIMCO | |||||
| (19812000) | 2 | Member of Board of Trustees or Board of Managers of four | |||
| registered investment companies advised by Advantage Advisers | |||||
| L.L.C. or its affiliates | |||||
| Jeswald W. Salacuse c/o Blackstone Asia Advisors L.L.C. 345 Park Avenue New York, New York 10154 Birth Year: 1938 | Director, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Member of the | ||||
| Audit and Nominating Committees | Since 1993 | Henry J. Braker Professor of Commercial Law, The Fletcher School | |||
| of Law & Diplomacy, Tufts University (1986Present); | |||||
| International Arbitrator, Arbitration Tribunal, ICSID, World | |||||
| Bank (2004Present). | 2 | Director of 24 registered investment companies advised by LMPFA | |||
| Class III Directors serving until the 2013 Annual | |||||
| Meeting of Stockholders | |||||
| Interested Director | |||||
| Prakash A. | |||||
| Melwani 2 The Blackstone Group L.P. 345 Park Avenue New York, N.Y. 10154 Birth Year: 1958 | Director and President | Since 2005 | Senior Managing Director, Private Equity Group, The Blackstone | ||
| Group L.P. (May 2003Present); Director and President, The | |||||
| Asia Tigers Fund, Inc. (December 2005Present). | 2 | Pinnacle Foods Group L.L.C., Performance Foods Group LLC, RGIS | |||
| Holdings L.L.C., Kosmos Energy L.L.C. and Ariel Holdings. |
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| Number of | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds in | Other | ||||
| Fund | Board | ||||
| Complex | Memberships | ||||
| Length | Overseen by | Held by | |||
| Position(s) | of | Principal | Nominee | Nominee | |
| Held with | Time | Occupation(s) | (including | During Past | |
| Name, Address and Age | Fund | Served | during Past 5 Years | the Fund) | Five Years |
| Independent Director | |||||
| J. Marc Hardy c/o Multiconsult Limited 5 President John Kennedy Street Port Louis, Mauritius Birth Year: 1954 | Director and Member of the Audit and Nominating Committees | Since 2002 | Treasurer and Investment Manager of NMHGSF, New Mauritius Hotels | ||
| Ltd. (October 2010 Present); Independent Financial | |||||
| Adviser, ACMS Fund Management Ltd. (November 20032010). | 1 | Hanover Reinsurance Ltd. (Mauritius) Ltd. |
2 Mr. Melwani is an interested person, as defined in the 1940 Act, because he serves as President of the Fund and as a Senior Managing Director at The Blackstone Group L.P., the parent of Blackstone Asia Advisors L.L.C. (Blackstone Advisors), the Funds investment manager and administrator.
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Each Director was selected to join the Board based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to the Directors ability to carry out his or her duties as a director, the Directors background, business and professional experience, qualifications and skills. Furthermore, each Director possesses the following specific characteristics: Mr. Becker is a private investor with financial and accounting experience as treasurer and controller of other companies, experience as a member of the Board of other investment companies who, the Board has determined, is an audit committee financial expert as explained further below; Mr. Friedman has business and legal expertise and experience as a senior executive of The Blackstone Group L.P. and as a senior partner of a law firm and has served on boards of several operating companies; Mr. Gelb has academic and foreign affairs experience and has served as a board member of other investment companies; Mr. Hardy has financial and international experience and other experience as a board member of various organizations; Mr. Henry has international business and investment experience and has served on boards of other investment companies; Mr. Melwani has business and financial experience as a senior executive of The Blackstone Group L.P. and as a board member of various organizations; Mr. Rubio has business and academic experience as president of a not-for-profit think tank focused on Mexicos economic and democratic development and has served as a board member of other investment companies; and Mr. Salacuse has academic and foreign affairs experience and has served as a board member of other investment companies.
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 Funds prior fiscal year. The following table provides information concerning the approximate compensation paid during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 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, 2010. The Fund does not provide any pension or retirement benefits to 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.
| Total — Compensation | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| from | Compensation | ||
| Aggregate | Other Funds | from | |
| Compensation | Advised by | Fund and | |
| Name of Director | from Fund | Adviser | Fund Complex |
| Lawrence K. Becker | $ 54,000 | $ 10,500 | $ 64,500 |
| Robert L. Friedman | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Leslie H. Gelb | 43,000 | 9,500 | 52,500 |
| J. Marc Hardy | 43,000 | 0 | 43,000 |
| Stephane R. F. Henry | 43,000 | 0 | 43,000 |
| Prakash A. Melwani | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Luis F. Rubio | 43,000 | 9,500 | 52,500 |
| Jeswald W. Salacuse | 60,000 | 13,000 | 73,000 |
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Beneficial Share Ownership
At March 4, 2011, to the knowledge of the Fund, the following persons owned of record or beneficially 5% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund:
| Shares | Percentage | Name | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3,669,283 | 8.29% | Platinum Partners Liquid Opportunity Master | |
| Fund L.P./Platinum Partners Value Arbitrage | |||
| Fund L.P. | 152 West 57th Street, 4th Floor New York, NY 10019 |
Cede & Co., a nominee for participants in The Depository Trust Company, held of record 44,052,653 shares, equal to approximately 99.48% of the outstanding shares of the Fund.
Security Ownership of Management
The following table provides information concerning the number and dollar range of equity securities owned beneficially by each Director as of March 4, 2011:
| Aggregate Dollar Range of | ||
|---|---|---|
| Equity Securities in All Funds | ||
| Dollar Range of | Overseen or to Be Overseen | |
| Name of Director | Equity Securities | by Director or Nominee in |
| or Nominee | in the Fund | Family of Investment Companies |
| Directors | ||
| Lawrence K. Becker | None | None |
| Robert L. Friedman | None | None |
| Leslie H. Gelb | None | None |
| J. Marc Hardy | None | None |
| Stephane R. F. Henry | None | None |
| Prakash A. Melwani | None | None |
| Luis F. Rubio | None | None |
| Jeswald W. Salacuse | $10,001-$50,000 | $10,001-$50,000 |
| All Directors and Executive Officers (as a group) | $10,001-$50,000 | $10,001-$50,000 |
As of March 4, 2011, 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 Funds common stock. At March 4, 2011, no Director or nominee for election as Director who is not an interested person of the Fund as defined in the 1940 Act, nor any immediate family member of such persons, owned beneficially or of record any shares of Blackstone Advisors, the Funds investment manager and administrator, Blackstone Fund Services India Private Limited (Blackstone India), the Funds country advisor, or any person or entity (other than the Fund) directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with Blackstone Advisors and Blackstone India.
Responsibilities of the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors is responsible under applicable state law for overseeing generally the operation of the Fund. The Directors oversee the Funds operations by, among other things, meeting at regularly scheduled meetings and as otherwise needed with the Funds management and evaluating the performance of the Funds service providers including Blackstone Advisors, Blackstone India and the Funds custodian and the transfer agent. As part of this process, the Directors consult with the Funds
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independent registered public accounting firm and the independent Directors consult with their own separate independent counsel.
The Directors regularly review the Funds 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 Funds 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 Funds 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 and Blackstone India with the objective that the Fund will be managed in a manner that is in the best interest of the Funds Stockholders.
The Board of Directors has four regularly scheduled meetings each year and additional meetings are scheduled as needed. Furthermore, the Board of Directors has a standing Audit Committee and a Nominating Committee, each 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 (Independent Directors).
The Board of Directors is currently comprised of eight Directors, six of whom are Independent Directors. Mr. Salacuse serves as chairman of the Board and is an Independent Director. The Independent Directors have separate legal counsel and regularly meet apart from management. In fulfilling their general oversight responsibility, the Directors regularly receive reports from Blackstone Advisors, Blackstone India, the Funds Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) and counsel to the Fund and to the Independent Directors. The Boards role in risk oversight of the Fund reflects its responsibility under applicable state law to oversee generally, rather than to manage, the operations of the Fund. In line with this general oversight responsibility, the Board receives reports and makes regular inquiry at its quarterly meetings and as needed regarding the nature and extent of significant Fund risks (including investment, compliance and valuation risks) that potentially could have a materially adverse impact on the business operations, investment performance or reputation of the Fund, but relies upon the Funds management (including its portfolio managers and Chief Compliance Officer, who reports directly to the Board), Blackstone Advisors and Blackstone India to assist it in identifying and understanding the nature and extent of such risks and determining that such risks are being effectively managed by the implementation of appropriate policies, procedures and controls.
In addition to reports and other information received from Fund management, Blackstone Advisors and Blackstone India regarding the Funds investment program and activities, the Board as part of its risk oversight efforts meets at its quarterly meetings and as needed with the Funds Chief Compliance Officer to discuss, among other things, any issues regarding the policies, procedures and controls of the Fund. The Board may be assisted in performing aspects of its role in risk oversight by the Audit Committee and such other standing or special committees as may be established from time to time by the Board. Because the Chairman of the Board and the Chair of each of the Boards Audit and Nominating Committees is an Independent Director, the manner in which the Board administers its risk oversight efforts is not expected to have any significant impact on the Boards leadership structure. Based on a review of the Board and its functions, the Board has determined that the leadership
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structure of the Board of Directors, including its role in risk oversight, is appropriate given the characteristics and circumstances of the Fund.
The Board recognizes that not all risks that may affect the Fund can be identified, that it may not be practical or cost-effective to eliminate or mitigate certain risks, that it may be necessary to bear certain risks (such as investment-related risks) to achieve the Funds goals, and that the processes, procedures and controls employed to address certain risks may be limited in their effectiveness. Moreover, despite the periodic reports the Board receives, it may not be made aware of all of the relevant information of a particular risk. Most of the Funds investment management and business affairs are carried out by or through the Funds management, Blackstone Advisors and Blackstone India and other service providers each of which has an independent interest in risk management but whose policies and the methods by which one or more risk management functions are carried out may differ from the Funds and each others in the setting of priorities, the resources available or the effectiveness of relevant controls. As a result of the foregoing and other factors, the Boards risk management oversight is subject to substantial limitations.
Officers of the Fund
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:
| Term of Office | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| and Length | |||
| Position(s) Held | of Time | Principal Occupation | |
| Name, Address and Age | with Fund | Served | During Past 5 Years |
| Prakash A. Melwani The Blackstone Group L.P. 345 Park Avenue New York, N.Y. 10154 Birth Year: 1958 | President and Director | Since 2005 | Senior Managing Director, Private Equity Group, The Blackstone |
| Group L.P. (May 2003Present); Director and President, The | |||
| Asia Tigers Fund, Inc. (December 2005Present) | |||
| Robert L. Friedman The Blackstone Group L.P. 345 Park Avenue New York, N.Y. 10154 Birth Year: 1943 | Chief Legal Officer, Vice President and Director | Since 2005 | Senior Managing Director, The Blackstone Group L.P. (1999 |
| Present); Chief Legal Officer, The Blackstone Group L.P. | |||
| (20032010) | |||
| Joshua B. Rovine The Blackstone Group L.P. 345 Park Avenue New York, N.Y. 10154 Birth Year: 1965 | Secretary | Since 2005 | Managing Director, General Counsel, Advisory Services, The |
| Blackstone Group L.P. (2003Present); Secretary, The Asia | |||
| Tigers Fund, Inc. (2005Present) | |||
| Joseph M. Malangoni Blackstone Asia Advisors L.L.C. 53 State Street Boston, MA 02109 Birth Year: 1976 | Treasurer and Vice President | Since 2007 | Chief Financial Officer and Vice President, Blackstone Asia |
| Advisors L.L.C. (2007Present); Controller and Chief | |||
| Compliance Officer, Steadfast Financial L.L.C. (20022007) |
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| Term of Office | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| and Length | |||
| Position(s) Held | of Time | Principal Occupation | |
| Name, Address and Age | with Fund | Served | During Past 5 Years |
| Barbara F. Pires Blackstone Asia Advisors L.L.C. 345 Park Avenue New York, N.Y. 10154 Birth Year: 1952 | Chief Compliance Officer, Vice President and Assistant Secretary | Since 2005 | Chief Compliance Officer and Principal, Blackstone Asia Advisors |
| L.L.C. (2006Present); Managing Member, BFP Consulting, | |||
| L.L.C. (20052006); Chief Compliance Officer Vice President | |||
| and Assistant Secretary, The Asia Tigers Fund, Inc. | |||
| (2005Present) | |||
| Punita Kumar-Sinha Blackstone Asia Advisors L.L.C. 53 State Street Boston, MA 02109 Birth Year: 1962 | Portfolio Manager and Chief Investment Officer | Since 1997 | Senior Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer, The |
| Blackstone Group L.P. (2005Present); Chief Investment | |||
| Officer, Blackstone Asia Advisors L.L.C. (2005present); | |||
| Portfolio Manager and Chief Investment Officer, The Asia Tigers | |||
| Fund, Inc. (1999Present); Senior Portfolio Manager and | |||
| Chief Investment Officer, The Asia Opportunities Fund L.L.C. | |||
| (2007Present) |
Audit Committee
The Funds 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 NYSE listing standards. Currently, Messrs. Becker, Gelb, Hardy, Henry, Rubio and Salacuse are members of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee convened four times during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010. The principal functions of the Audit Committee are to appoint and retain the Funds 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 in July 2010. The Funds amended and restated Audit Committee Charter is attached hereto as Appendix A.
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 Committees 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 Committees considerations and discussions referred to above do not provide assurance that the audit of the Funds financial statements has been
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carried out in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards or that the financial statements are presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
Pursuant to the Funds Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policy, the Audit Committee pre-approved all audit and non-audit services provided by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC), the Funds independent registered public accounting firm, to the Fund in 2010. As set forth in the Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies, the Audit Committee has authorized the Chairman of the Audit Committee to pre-approve certain services to be performed by PwC, as necessary, between audit committee meetings which would then be presented to the full Audit Committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting. A representative of PwC will be available at the Meeting to answer appropriate questions and will have an opportunity to make a statement if he or she chooses to do so.
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, 2010. 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 Appendix B to the Proxy Statement filed by the Fund on March 24, 2010.
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 Funds 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 does not have a formal diversity policy but may also consider diversity of professional experience, education and skills when evaluating potential nominees. 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.
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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 Funds shares for at least one year as of the date the recommendation was made.
Board Meetings
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, 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.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 30(h) of the 1940 Act in combination require the Funds Directors and officers, persons who own more than ten percent of the Funds common stock, and Blackstone Advisors and its directors and officers, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership of the Funds securities with the SEC and the NYSE. These persons and entities are required by SEC regulation to furnish the Fund with copies of all such forms they file.
Based solely on a review of those forms furnished to the Fund, the Fund believes that the Funds Directors and officers, and Blackstone Advisors and its directors and officers, have complied with applicable filing requirements during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010. However, based solely on a review of public filings, an owner of more than 10% of the Funds common stock did not comply with the applicable filing requirements as follows: an initial statement of beneficial ownership of securities on Form 3 was filed late by Platinum Partners Liquid Opportunity Master Fund L.P./Platinum Partners Value Arbitrage Fund, L.P. in connection with the acquisition of beneficial ownership of more than 10% of the Funds common stock through purchases of shares of the Funds common stock and the purchases of a call option and put options on the Funds shares, and (2) a Form 4 was filed late by Platinum Partners Liquid Opportunity Master Fund L.P./Platinum Partners Value Arbitrage Fund, L.P. to report the purchases and sales of shares of the Funds common stock over a period from December 22, 2010 to December 28, 2010 and the purchase, sale and exercise of either put or call options related to the Funds common stock over the same period.
Report of the Audit Committee
The Audit Committee reports that it has: (i) reviewed and discussed the Funds audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 with management; and (ii) discussed PwC the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 (SAS 61). SAS 61 requires the independent registered public accounting firm to communicate to the Audit Committee matters including, if applicable: (i) methods used to account for significant unusual transactions; (ii) the effect of significant accounting policies in controversial or emerging areas for which there is a lack of authoritative guidance or consensus; (iii) the process used by management in formulating particularly sensitive accounting estimates and the basis for the auditors conclusions regarding the reasonableness of those estimates; and (iv) disagreements with management over the application of accounting principles and certain other matters.
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The Audit Committee also reports that it previously received written confirmation from PwC that it is independent and written disclosures regarding such independence as required by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Rule 3526 and discussed with PwC the independent registered public accounting firms independence. In addition, the Audit Committee has reviewed the aggregate fees billed by PwC for professional services rendered to the Fund and for non-audit services provided to Blackstone Advisors, the Funds investment manager, Blackstone India, the Funds country adviser, and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with Blackstone Advisors or Blackstone India that provided services to the Fund. As part of this review, the Committee considered, in addition to other practices and requirements relating to selection of the Funds independent registered public accounting firm, whether the provision of such non-audit services was compatible with maintaining the independence of PwC.
Based on the foregoing review and discussions, the Audit Committee presents this report to the Board of Directors and recommends that: (i) the Funds audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 be included in the Funds annual report to stockholders for such fiscal year and (ii) such annual report be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the New York Stock Exchange.
Submitted by the Audit Committee of the Funds Board of Directors
Lawrence K. Becker
Leslie H. Gelb
J. Marc Hardy
Stephane R.F. Henry
Luis F. Rubio
Jeswald W. Salacuse
February 15, 2011
Required Vote
Directors are elected by a plurality of all the votes cast by the holders of shares of common stock of the Fund present in person or represented by proxy at a meeting with a quorum present. A plurality of the votes cast means the candidate must receive more votes than any other candidate for the same position, but not necessarily a majority of the votes cast. For purposes of the election of Directors, abstentions and broker non-votes will not be considered votes cast, and do not affect the plurality vote required for Directors.
Please note that unless otherwise instructed, the proxies will vote FOR each nominee for Director.
The Directors, including the independent Directors, recommend that Stockholders vote FOR each nominee for Director.
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BEGIN PAGE WIDTH XBRL Pagebreak End link1 "ADDITIONAL INFORMATION"
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Service Providers
Blackstone Advisors currently serves as the Funds investment manager and as the Funds administrator. The address of Blackstone Advisors is 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10154. Blackstone Advisors is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Blackstone Group L.P.
Blackstone India currently serves as the Funds country adviser. The address of Blackstone India is Express Towers, 5th Floor, Nariman Point, Mumbai, 400 021, India.
Blackstone Advisors subcontracts certain of its responsibilities as administrator to BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. The address of BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. is 103 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware 19809.
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Funds Audit Committee has adopted written policies relating to the pre-approval of the audit and non-audit services performed by the Funds independent registered public accounting firm. Unless a type of service to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm has received general pre-approval, it requires specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee. Under the policies, on an annual basis, the Funds Audit Committee reviews and pre-approves the services to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm without having obtained specific pre-approval from the Audit Committee. In addition, the Audit Committee pre-approves any permitted non-audit services to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm to Blackstone Advisors or any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with Blackstone Advisors if such services relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund. As set forth in the Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies, the Audit Committee has authorized the Chairman of the Audit Committee to pre-approve certain services to be performed by PwC, as necessary, between audit committee meetings which would then be presented to the full Audit Committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting.
Audit Fees. The aggregate fees paid to PwC in connection with the annual audit of the Funds financial statements and for services normally provided by PwC in connection with the statutory and regulatory filings of the Fund for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2010 were $97,566 and $98,346, respectively, including out-of-pocket expenses.
Audit-Related Fees. The aggregate fees paid to PwC in connection with assurance and related services related to the annual audit of the Fund and for review of the Funds financial statements, other than the Audit Fees described above, for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2010 were $13,963 and $0, respectively.
Tax Fees. The aggregate fees paid for domestic and international tax-related services, including tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning, rendered by PwC to the Fund for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2010 were $145,480, and $97,195, respectively.
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All Other Fees. The aggregate fees billed for all other non-audit services rendered by PwC to the Fund for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2010 were $0 and $0, respectively.
The aggregate non-audit fees billed by PwC for services rendered to the Fund, Blackstone Advisors, Blackstone India and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Fund, Blackstone Advisors or Blackstone India that provides ongoing services to the Fund for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2010 were $0 and $0, respectively. The Audit Committee has determined that the provision of non-audit services is compatible with maintaining the independence of PwC.
None of the services described above, provided in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, were approved pursuant to the de minimis exception provided in Rule 2-01(c)(7)(i)(C) of Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC.
Other Business
The Funds Board of Directors does not know of any other matter that may come before the Meeting. If any other matter properly comes before the Meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the proxy to vote the proxies in accordance with their judgment on that matter.
Stockholder Proposals
All proposals by Stockholders of the Fund that are intended to be presented at the Funds next Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be held in 2012, must be received by the Fund (addressed to The India Fund, Inc., 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10154) for inclusion in the Funds proxy statement and proxy relating to that meeting no later than November 18, 2011. Any Stockholder who desires to bring a proposal for consideration at the Funds year 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders without including such proposal in the Funds proxy statement must deliver written notice thereof to the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Fund (addressed to The India Fund, Inc., 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10154) during the period from December 23, 2011 to January 22, 2012. However, if the Funds 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is held earlier than March 22, 2012 or later than June 20, 2012, such written notice must be delivered to the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Fund no earlier than 120 days before the date of the 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and no later than the later of 90 days before the date of the 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or 10 days following the public announcement of the date of the 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Stockholder Communications with the Board of Directors
The Fund has adopted procedures by which Fund Stockholders may send communications to the Board of Directors. Stockholders may mail written communications to the Board to the attention of the Board of Directors of The India Fund, Inc., do the Funds Chief Legal Officer, 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10154. Stockholder communications must (i) be in writing and be signed by the Stockholder and (ii) identify the number of shares held by the Stockholder. The Chief Legal Officer of the Fund is responsible for reviewing properly submitted Stockholder communications. The Chief Legal
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Officer shall either (i) provide a copy of each properly submitted Stockholder communication to the Board at its next regularly scheduled board meeting or (ii) if the Chief Legal Officer determines that the communication requires more immediate attention, forward the communication to the Directors promptly after receipt. The Chief Legal Officer may, in good faith, determine that a Stockholder communication should not be provided to the Board because it does not reasonably relate to the Fund or its operations, management, activities, policies, service providers, Board, officers, Stockholders or other matters relating to an investment in the Fund or is otherwise ministerial in nature. These procedures shall not apply to (i) any communication from an officer or Director of the Fund, (ii) any communication from an employee or agent of the Fund, unless such communication is made solely in such employees or agents capacity as a Stockholder of the Fund, or (iii) any Stockholder proposal submitted pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any communication made in connection with such a proposal.
The Fund does not have a formal policy regarding attendance by Directors at Annual Meetings of Stockholders.
Expenses of Proxy Solicitation
The costs of preparing, printing, assembling and mailing material in connection with this solicitation of proxies will be borne by the Fund, even if the proposals are not successful, as will all of the other costs in connection with the Meeting. Proxies may also be solicited personally by Directors and officers of the Fund and by regular employees of Blackstone Advisors, its respective affiliates or other representatives of the Fund, and may be accomplished by telephone in addition to the use of mails. Brokerage houses, banks and other fiduciaries may be requested to forward proxy solicitation material to their principals to obtain authorization for the execution of proxies, and they will be reimbursed by the Fund for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in this connection.
In addition, Georgeson Inc. (Georgeson), a proxy solicitation firm, has been retained to assist in the solicitation of the proxy vote. It is anticipated that Georgeson will be paid an amount estimated at $5,000 plus reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. Therefore, expenses of the Meeting will include costs of (i) preparing, assembling and mailing material in connection with the solicitation, (ii) soliciting proxies by officers or employees, personally or by telephone or telegraph, (iii) reimbursing brokerage houses, banks and other fiduciaries and (iv) compensating the proxy solicitor.
Georgeson may call Stockholders to ask if they would be willing to have their votes recorded by telephone. The telephone voting procedure is designed to authenticate Stockholders identities, to allow Stockholders to authorize the voting of their shares in accordance with their instructions and to confirm that their instructions have been recorded properly. A Stockholder voting by telephone would be asked for his or her social security number or other identifying information and would be given an opportunity to authorize proxies to vote his or her shares in accordance with his or her instructions. To ensure that the Stockholders instructions have been recorded correctly, he or she will receive a confirmation of such instructions in the mail. The confirmation is a replica of the proxy card but with marks indicating how the Stockholder voted, along with a special toll-free number which will be available in the event the Stockholder wishes to change or revoke the vote. Although a Stockholders vote may be taken by telephone, each Stockholder will receive a copy of this proxy statement and may vote by mailing the
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enclosed proxy card. If you have any questions or need assistance in voting, please contact Georgeson at its toll-free number, 1-866-297-1264.
Please vote promptly by signing and dating the enclosed proxy card and returning it in the accompanying postage-paid return envelope or by following the instructions on the enclosed proxy card for voting by telephone or over the Internet.
March 17, 2011
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Appendix A
THE ASIA TIGERS FUND INC. THE INDIA FUND, INC. AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER December 18, 2003, as amended on November 8, 2005, October 27, 2009 and July 27, 2010
This charter sets forth the purpose, authority and responsibilities of each of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors (the Board) of the investment companies set forth above (each, a Fund).
Purposes
The Audit Committee of the Board (the Committee) has, as its primary purpose, oversight responsibility with respect to: (a) the adequacy of the Funds accounting and financial reporting processes, policies and practices; (b) the integrity of the Funds financial statements and the independent audit thereof; (c) the adequacy of the Funds overall system of internal controls and, as appropriate, the internal controls of certain service providers; (d) the Funds compliance with certain legal and regulatory requirements; (e) determining the qualification and independence of the Funds independent auditors; and (f) the Funds internal audit function, if any.
The function of the Committee is oversight; it is the responsibility of the Funds investment adviser (the Adviser) to maintain appropriate systems for accounting and internal control, and the independent auditors responsibility to plan and carry out a proper audit.
Authority
The Committee has been duly established by the Board and shall have the resources and authority appropriate to discharge its responsibilities, including the authority to retain counsel and other experts or consultants at the expense of the Fund and approve the fees payable to such advisors and any other terms of their retention. The Committee has the authority and responsibility to retain and terminate the Funds independent auditors. In connection therewith, the Committee must evaluate the independence of the Funds independent auditors and receive the auditors specific representations as to their independence.
Composition and Term of Committee Members
The Committee shall be comprised of the Directors who are Independent, which term shall mean each Director (i) who is not an interested person, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, of the Fund; and (ii) who has not accepted directly or indirectly any consulting, advisory, or other compensatory fee from the Fund (other than fees for serving as a Director or member of the Committee or any other committee of the Board). The members of the Committee shall designate one member to serve as Chairman of the Committee.
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No member of the Committee may serve on the audit committees of more than three public companies, unless the Board determines that such simultaneous service would not impair the ability of such member effectively to serve on the Committee. For the purposes of this determination, service on multiple audit committees within the same fund complex shall be counted as service on a single audit committee. The Fund shall disclose in its annual proxy statement any such determination.
Each member of the Committee shall be Independent, as defined in the New York Stock Exchange (the NYSE) Listed Company Manual § 303A, and shall be free of any relationship that, in the judgment of the Board, may interfere with the exercise of his or her independent judgment.
Each member of the Committee shall serve until a successor is appointed.
The Board shall determine whether: the Committee has at least one member who is an audit committee financial expert (ACFE), as such term is defined in the rules adopted under Section 407 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The designation of a person as an ACFE is not intended to impose any greater responsibility or liability on that person than the responsibility and liability imposed on such person as a member of the Committee, nor does it decrease the duties and obligations of other Committee members or the Board. In addition, with respect to those Funds listed on the NYSE, each member of the Committee must be financially literate and at least one member of the Audit Committee must have accounting or related financial management expertise, as the Board of Directors interprets such qualifications in its business judgment under the NYSE listing requirements.
Meetings
The Committee shall meet on a regular basis, no less frequently than semi-annually, and is empowered to hold special meetings as circumstances require. Periodically, the Committee shall meet to discuss with management the Funds annual audited financial statements and semi-annual financial statements. Periodically, the Committee should meet separately with management, the Funds administrator and independent auditors to discuss any matters that the Committee or any of these persons or firms believe should be discussed privately. The Committee may request any officer or employee of the Adviser or the Funds legal counsel (or counsel to the Independent Board members) or independent auditors to attend a meeting of the Committee or to meet with any members of, or consultants to, the Committee.
Minutes of each meeting will be taken and circulated to all members of the Committee in a timely manner.
Any action of the Committee requires the vote of a majority of the Committee members present, whether in person or otherwise, at the meeting at which such action is considered. At any meeting of the Committee, one member of the Committee shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of taking any action.
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Duties and Powers and of the Committee
The duties and powers of the Committee include, but are not limited to, the following:
| | bear direct responsibility for the appointment, compensation,
retention and oversight of the work of the Funds
independent auditors for the purpose of preparing or issuing an
audit report or performing other audit, review or attest
services for the Fund, and the independent auditors must report
directly to the Committee; |
| --- | --- |
| | prepare an audit committee report to be included in the
Funds annual proxy statement as required by
Item 407(d)(3)(i) of Regulation S-K; |
| | set the compensation of the independent auditors, such amount to
be paid by the Fund; |
| | evaluate the independence of the Funds independent
auditors, including whether the auditors provide any consulting
services to the Adviser or its affiliated companies, and receive
the auditors specific representations as to their
independence; |
| | to the extent required by applicable law, pre-approve:
(i) all audit and non-audit services that the Funds
independent auditors provide to the Fund, and (ii) all
non-audit services that the Funds independent auditors
provide to the Adviser and any entity controlling, controlled
by, or under common control with the Adviser that provides
ongoing services to the Fund, if the engagement relates directly
to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund; provided
that the Committee may implement policies and procedures by
which such services are approved other than by the full
Committee prior to their ratification by the Committee. |
| | meet with the Funds independent auditors, including
private meetings, as necessary to (i) review the
arrangements for and scope of the annual audit, including the
audit procedures to be utilized in the review of the Funds
financial statements, and any special audits; (ii) discuss
any matters of concern relating to the Funds financial
statements, including any adjustments to such statements
recommended by the auditors, or other results of the audit(s);
(iii) consider the auditors comments with respect to
the Funds financial policies, procedures and internal
accounting controls and managements responses thereto; and
(iv) review the form of opinion the auditors propose to
render to the Directors and the members of the Fund; |
| | review reports prepared by the Funds independent auditors
detailing the fees paid to the Funds independent auditors
for: (i) audit services (includes all services necessary to
perform an audit, services provided in connection with statutory
and regulatory filings or engagements and other services
generally provided by independent auditors, such as comfort
letters, statutory audits, attest services, consents and
assistance with, and review of, documents filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC));
(ii) audit-related services (covers assurance and due
diligence services, including, employee benefit plan audits, due
diligence related to mergers and acquisitions, consultations and
audits in connection with acquisitions, internal control reviews
and consultations concerning financial accounting and reporting
standards); (iii) tax services (services performed by a
professional staff in the accounting firms tax division,
except those services related to the audit, including tax
compliance, tax planning and tax advice) and (iv) other
services (includes financial information systems implementation
and design). |
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| | ensure that the Funds independent auditors prepare and
deliver annually to the Committee a written statement (the
Auditors Statement) describing: (i) the
auditors internal quality control procedures;
(ii) any material issues raised by the most recent internal
quality control review or peer review of the auditors, or by any
inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional
authorities within the preceding five years respecting one or
more independent audits carried out by the auditors, and any
steps taken to deal with any such issues; and (iii) all
relationships between the independent auditors and the Fund,
including each non-audit service provided to the Fund and the
matters set forth in PCAOB Rule 3526; |
| --- | --- |
| | receive and review a written report (or update, with respect to
a semi-annual filing), as of a date 90 days or less prior
to the filing of the Funds annual (or semi-annual) report
with the SEC, to the Committee from the Funds independent
auditors regarding any: (i) critical accounting policies to
be used; (ii) alternative accounting treatments that have
been discussed with the Funds management along with a
description of the ramifications of the use of such alternative
treatments and the treatment preferred by the independent
auditors; (iii) material written communications between the
auditor and management of the Fund; and (iv) all non-audit
services provided to any entity in the Funds investment
company complex that were not pre-approved by the Committee; |
| | review matters relating to the Funds internal controls and
annual and semi-annual financial reporting process, including
results of the annual audit. Review internal accounting controls
relating to the activities of the Funds custodian and
administrator and the Adviser through the periodic review of
reports, discussions with appropriate officers and consideration
of reviews provided by internal audit staff; |
| | meet with the Funds internal auditors (or other personnel
responsible for the internal audit function), if any, following
an internal audit of the Fund to discuss significant risks and
exposures, if any, to the Funds risk management processes
and system of internal controls, and the steps taken to monitor
and minimize such risks; |
| | review of any issues brought to the Committees attention
by independent auditors or the Funds management, including
those relating to any deficiencies in the design or operation of
internal controls which could adversely affect the Funds
ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data,
any material weaknesses in internal controls and any fraud,
whether or not material, that involves management or other
employees who have a significant role in the Funds
internal controls; |
| | review and evaluate the qualifications, performance and
independence of the lead partner of the Funds independent
auditors; |
| | require the Funds independent auditors to report any
instance of an audit partner of those auditors earning or
receiving compensation based on that partner procuring
engagements with the Fund to provide any services other than
audit, review or attest services; |
| | resolve any disagreements between the Funds management and
independent auditors concerning the Funds financial
reporting; |
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| | to the extent there are Directors who are not members of the
Committee, report its activities to the full Board on a regular
basis and make such recommendations with respect to the above
and other matters as the Committee may deem necessary or
appropriate; |
| --- | --- |
| | discuss with management and the independent auditors, prior to
the printing and distribution of the Funds annual report,
the Funds audited financial statements, including any
narrative discussion concerning the Funds financial
condition and investment performance and, if appropriate,
recommend the publication of the Funds annual audited
financial statements in the Funds annual report; |
| | discuss with management, prior to the printing and distribution
of the Funds semi-annual report, the Funds unaudited
financial statements, including any narrative discussion
concerning the Funds financial condition and investment
performance; |
| | discuss the Funds earnings press releases, financial
information and earnings guidance provided to analysts and
ratings agencies, if any; |
| | review policies with respect to risk assessment and risk
management; |
| | review hiring policies for employees or former employees of the
Funds independent auditors; |
| | establish and maintain the procedures set forth in
Exhibit A regarding: (i) the receipt, retention and
treatment of complaints received by the Funds or the Adviser
regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing
matters; and (ii) the confidential, anonymous submission by
employees of the Fund, the Adviser, any sub-adviser, administrator, principal underwriter or provider of
accounting-related services of concerns regarding questionable
accounting or auditing matters; and |
| | review such other matters as may be appropriately delegated to
the Committee by the Board. |
Annual Performance and Charter Evaluation
The Committee shall perform a review and evaluation, at least annually, of the performance of the Committee and its members, including reviewing the compliance of the Committee with this charter. The Committee shall also perform a review and evaluation of the adequacy of this Charter at least annually and recommend any proposed changes to the Charter to the Board for approval. The Committee shall conduct such evaluations and reviews in such manner as it deems appropriate in its judgment.
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WHISTLEBLOWER PROCEDURES
A. Responsibilities of Audit Committee of the Fund (the Audit Committee) With Respect to Specified Complaints
- The Audit Committee shall receive, retain, investigate and act on complaints and concerns of Covered Persons 3 (Reports) regarding:
(a) questionable accounting, internal accounting controls and auditing matters, including those regarding the circumvention or attempted circumvention of internal accounting controls or that would otherwise constitute a violation of the Funds accounting policies (each an Accounting Allegation);
(b) compliance with legal and regulatory requirements (Legal Allegation); and
(c) retaliation against Covered Persons who make Accounting Allegations or Legal Allegations (Retaliatory Act).
- In the discretion of the Audit Committee, responsibilities of the Audit Committee created by these procedures may be delegated to the Chairman of the Audit Committee.
B. Procedures for Receiving Reports
| 1. | Any Report that is made directly to management, whether openly,
confidentially or anonymously, shall be promptly reported to the
Audit Committee. |
| --- | --- |
| 2. | Each Report forwarded to the Audit Committee by management and
each Report that is made directly to the Audit Committee,
whether openly, confidentially or anonymously, shall be reviewed
by the Audit Committee, who may, in their discretion, consult
with any member of management who is not the subject of the
allegation and who may have appropriate expertise to assist the
Audit Committee. The Audit Committee shall determine whether the
Audit Committee or management should investigate the Report,
taking into account the considerations set forth in
Section C below. |
(a) If the Audit Committee determines that management should investigate the Report, the Audit Committee shall notify the Funds Chief Legal Officer in writing of that conclusion. Management shall thereafter promptly investigate the Report and shall report the results of its investigation, in writing, to the Audit Committee. Management shall be free in its discretion to engage outside auditors, counsel or other experts to assist in the investigation and in the analysis of results.
(b) If the Audit Committee determines that it should investigate the Report, the Audit Committee shall promptly determine what professional assistance, if any, it needs in order to conduct the investigation. The Audit Committee shall be free in its discretion to engage outside auditors, counsel or other experts to assist in the investigation and in the analysis of results.
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3 For purposes of these Procedures, Covered Person means any Fund Covered Person or Vendor Covered Person; Fund Covered Persons means officers of the Fund as well as those employees of the Funds investment adviser and sub-adviser that provide services on behalf of those entities to the Fund; and Vendor Covered Persons means those employees of the Funds custodian, administrator, transfer agent, auction agent and other third-party agents that, pursuant to agreements with the Fund, provide services to or on behalf of the Fund.
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C. Considerations Relative To Whether the Audit Committee or Management Should Investigate a Report
In determining whether management or the Audit Committee should investigate a Report, the Audit Committee shall consider, among any other factors that are appropriate under the circumstances, the following:
| 1. | Who is the alleged wrongdoer? If an executive officer, senior
financial officer or other high management official is alleged
to have engaged in wrongdoing, that factor alone may militate in
favor of the Audit Committee conducting the investigation. |
| --- | --- |
| 2. | How serious is the alleged wrongdoing? The more serious the
alleged wrongdoing, the more appropriate that the Audit
Committee should undertake the investigation. If the alleged
wrongdoing would constitute a crime involving the integrity of
the financial statements of the Fund, that factor alone may
militate in favor of the Audit Committee conducting the
investigation. |
| 3. | How credible is the allegation of wrongdoing? The more credible
the allegation, the more appropriate that the Audit Committee
should undertake the investigation. In assessing credibility,
the Audit Committee should consider all facts surrounding the
allegation, including but not limited to whether similar
allegations have been made in the press or by analysts. |
D. Protection of Whistleblowers
Consistent with the policies of the Fund, the Audit Committee shall not retaliate, and shall not tolerate any retaliation by management or any other person or group, directly or indirectly, against anyone who, in good faith, makes an Accounting Allegation or Legal Allegation, reports a Retaliatory Act or provides assistance to the Audit Committee, management or any other person or group, including any governmental, regulatory or law enforcement body, investigating a Report. The Audit Committee shall not, unless compelled by judicial or other legal process, reveal the identity of any person who makes an Accounting Allegation or Legal Allegation or reports a Retaliatory Act and who asks that his or her identity as the person who made such Report remain confidential and shall not make any effort, or tolerate any effort made by any other person or group, to ascertain the identity of any person who makes a Report anonymously.
E. Records
The Audit Committee shall retain for a period of seven years all records relating to any Accounting Allegation or Legal Allegation or report of a Retaliatory Act and to the investigation of any such Report.
F. Procedures for Making Complaints
In addition to any other avenue available to a Covered Person, any Covered Person may report to the Audit Committee openly, confidentially or anonymously any Accounting Allegation or Legal Allegation or report of a Retaliatory Act. Accounting Allegations, Legal Allegations and reports of a Retaliatory Act can be made orally or in writing to the Chairman of the Audit Committee. Such Reports can also be made directly to management openly, confidentially or anonymously by contacting the Funds Chief Legal Officer in writing or in person.
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The India Fund, Inc. MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM C123456789 IMPORTANT ANNUAL MEETING INFORMATION 000004 000000000.000000 ext 000000000.000000 ext ENDORSEMENT_LINE_ _ SACKPACK_______ 000000000.000000 ext 000000000.000000 ext MMMMMMMMM 000000000.000000 ext 000000000.000000 ext MR A SAMPLE Electronic Voting Instructions DESIGNATION (IF ANY) You can vote by Internet or telephone! ADD 1 Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! ADD 2 ADD 3 Instead of mailing your proxy, you may choose one of the two voting methods outlined below to vote your proxy. ADD 4 ADD 5 VALIDATION DETAILS ARE LOCATED BELOW IN THE TITLE BAR. ADD 6 Proxies submitted by the Internet or telephone must be received by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on April 20, 2011. Vote by Internet Log on to the Internet and go to http://proxy.georgeson.com/ Follow the steps outlined on the secured website. Vote by telephone Call 877-456-7915 within the USA, US territories & Canada any time on a touch tone telephone. There is NO CHARGE to you for the call. Using a black ink pen, mark your votes with an X as shown in X Follow the instructions provided by the recorded message. this example. Please do not write outside the designated areas. Annual Meeting Proxy Card 1234 5678 9012 345 3 IF YOU HAVE NOT VOTED VIA THE INTERNET OR TELEPHONE, FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. 3 A Proposals The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR each nominee listed for director in Proposal 1. 1. To elect three Class II Directors to the Board of Directors to serve until the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. For Withhold For Withhold For Withhold + 01 Leslie H. Gelb 02 Stephane R. F. Henry 03 Luis F. Rubio 2. The persons named as proxies are authorized to vote in their discretion on any other business as may properly come before the Meeting. B Non-Voting Items Change of Address Please print your new address below. Comments Please print your comments below. Meeting Attendance Mark the box to the right if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting. C Authorized Signatures This section must be completed for your vote to be counted. Date and Sign Below NOTE: Please sign exactly as your name appears on this Proxy. If joint owners, EITHER may sign this Proxy. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee, guardian or corporate officer, please give your full title. Date (mm/dd/yyyy) Please print date below. Signature 1 Please keep signature within the box. Signature 2 Please keep signature within the box. C 1234567890 J N T MR A SAMPLE (THIS AREA IS SET UP TO ACCOMMODATE 140 CHARACTERS) MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND MMMMMMM1 U P X 1 1 1 3 1 4 1 MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND +
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IF YOU HAVE NOT VOTED VIA THE INTERNET OR TELEPHONE, FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. Proxy The India Fund, Inc. ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS April 21, 2011 THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE DIRECTORS The undersigned hereby appoints Joshua B. Rovine and Barbara F. Pires, and each of them, attorneys and proxies for the undersigned, with full power of substitution and revocation, to represent the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Fund to be held at the offices of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, 425 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10017, on the 30th Floor on Thursday, April 21 2011, at 11:00 a.m., and at any adjournments or postponements thereof, upon the matters set forth in the Notice of Meeting and Proxy Statement dated March 17, 2011 and upon all other matters properly coming before said Meeting. Please indicate your vote by an X in the appropriate box on the reverse side. This Proxy, if properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed by the Stockholder. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR EACH NOMINEE FOR DIRECTOR IN PROPOSAL 1 AND IN THE DISCRETION OF THE PERSONS NAMED AS PROXIES ON ALL OTHER BUSINESS THAT MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING. Please refer to the Proxy Statement for a discussion of the Proposals. SEE REVERSE SIDE Continued and to be signed and dated, see the reverse side. SEE REVERSE SIDE
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. MMMMMMMMMMMM The India Fund, Inc. IMPORTANT ANNUAL MEETING INFORMATION MMMMMMMMM Using a black ink pen, mark your votes with an X as shown in X this example. Please do not write outside the designated areas. Annual Meeting Proxy Card 3 PLEASE FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. 3 A Proposals The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR each nominee listed for director in Proposal 1. 1. To elect three Class II Directors to the Board of Directors to serve until the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. For Withhold For Withhold For Withhold + 01 Leslie H. Gelb 02 Stephane R. F. Henry 03 Luis F. Rubio 2. The persons named as proxies are authorized to vote in their discretion on any other business as may properly come before the Meeting. B Authorized Signatures This section must be completed for your vote to be counted. Date and Sign Below NOTE: Please sign exactly as your name appears on this Proxy. If joint owners, EITHER may sign this Proxy. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee, guardian or corporate officer, please give your full title. Date (mm/dd/yyyy) Please print date below. Signature 1 Please keep signature within the box. Signature 2 Please keep signature within the box. 1 U P X 1 1 1 3 1 4 2 +
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3 PLEASE FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. 3 Proxy The India Fund, Inc. ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS April 21, 2011 THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE DIRECTORS The undersigned hereby appoints Joshua B. Rovine and Barbara F. Pires, and each of them, attorneys and proxies for the undersigned, with full power of substitution and revocation, to represent the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Fund to be held at the offices of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, 425 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10017, on the 30th Floor on Thursday, April 21 2011, at 11:00 a.m., and at any adjournments or postponements thereof, upon the matters set forth in the Notice of Meeting and Proxy Statement dated March 17, 2011 and upon all other matters properly coming before said Meeting. Please indicate your vote by an X in the appropriate box on the reverse side. This Proxy, if properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed by the Stockholder. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR EACH NOMINEE FOR DIRECTOR IN PROPOSAL 1 AND IN THE DISCRETION OF THE PERSONS NAMED AS PROXIES ON ALL OTHER BUSINESS THAT MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING. Please refer to the Proxy Statement for a discussion of the Proposals. SEE REVERSE SIDE Continued and to be signed and dated, see the reverse side. SEE REVERSE SIDE
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