UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number | 811-06574 |
|
The Latin American Discovery Fund, Inc. |
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter) |
|
522 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York | | 10036 |
(Address of principal executive offices) | | (Zip code) |
|
John H. Gernon 522 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10036 |
(Name and address of agent for service) |
|
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: | 212-296-0289 | |
|
Date of fiscal year end: | December 31, | |
|
Date of reporting period: | December 31, 2016 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Item 1 - Report to Shareholders
The Latin American Discovery Fund, Inc.
Directors
Kathleen A. Dennis
Nancy C. Everett
Jakki L. Haussler
Joseph J. Kearns
Patricia Maleski
Michael E. Nugent,
Chair of the Board
W. Allen Reed
Fergus Reid
Officers
John H. Gernon
President and Principal
Executive Officer
Timothy J. Knierim
Chief Compliance Officer
Francis J. Smith
Treasurer and Principal
Financial Officer
Mary E. Mullin
Secretary
Adviser and Administrator
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc.
522 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10036
Custodian
State Street Bank and Trust Company
One Lincoln Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02111
Stockholder Servicing Agent
Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
211 Quality Circle, Suite 210
College Station, Texas 77845
Legal Counsel
Dechert LLP
1095 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
Counsel to the Independent Directors
Perkins Coie LLP
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, New York 10112
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Ernst & Young LLP
200 Clarendon Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02116
For additional Fund information, including the Fund's net asset value per share and information regarding the investments comprising the Fund's portfolio, please call toll free 1 (800) 231-2608 or visit our website at www.morganstanley.com/im. All investments involve risks, including the possible loss of principal.
© 2017 Morgan Stanley.
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
Morgan Stanley
Investment Management Inc.
Adviser
The Latin American Discovery Fund, Inc.
NYSE: LDF
Annual Report
December 31, 2016
CELDFANN
1700597 EXP 2.28.18
The Latin American Discovery Fund, Inc.
December 31, 2016
Letter to Stockholders | | | 3 | | |
Portfolio of Investments | | | 5 | | |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities | | | 7 | | |
Statement of Operations | | | 8 | | |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets | | | 9 | | |
Financial Highlights | | | 10 | | |
Notes to Financial Statements | | | 11 | | |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | | | 21 | | |
Portfolio Management | | | 22 | | |
Investment Policy | | | 23 | | |
Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan | | | 26 | | |
Privacy Notice | | | 27 | | |
Director and Officer Information | | | 31 | | |
2
The Latin American Discovery Fund, Inc.
December 31, 2016
Letter to Stockholders (unaudited)
Performance
For the year ended December 31, 2016, The Latin American Discovery Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") had total returns of 27.66%, based on net asset value, and 25.92% based on market value per share (including reinvestment of distributions), compared to its benchmark, the MSCI Emerging Markets Latin America Net Index (the "Index")*, which returned 31.04% (in U.S. dollar terms). On December 31, 2016, the closing price of the Fund's shares on the New York Stock Exchange was $9.29, representing a 12.9% discount to the Fund's net asset value per share. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Please keep in mind that high double-digit returns are highly unusual and cannot be sustained.
Factors Affecting Performance
• Latin American equities posted a very strong year of performance as political developments in Peru and Brazil as well as a recovery in commodity prices contributed to more positive sentiment in the region. Peru and Brazil were the best-performing markets in the region, up +55.6% and +66.2% in U.S. dollar terms, respectively.i Mexico lagged, down -9.2%, as the currency came under pressure and volatility picked up in light of Trump's victory in the U.S. presidential election.
• The Fund's underweight allocation to Mexico added to returns, given the weak relative performance of the market.
• The combined effect of the Fund's underweight position in Chile and stock selection there was an additional contributor.
• The Fund's underweight allocation to Brazil detracted from returns given the market's strong performance.
• Stock selection in Brazil also detracted driven by the Fund's positions in an energy company, a steel company and a food producer.
Management Strategies
• At the end of the period, the Fund was underweight Brazil, Chile and Mexico, neutral weight in Colombia, and overweight Peru, as well as overweight in off-benchmark market Argentina.
• Mexico's growth outlook is under pressure, and market volatility has risen in the wake of President Trump's victory. Gross domestic product (GDP) growth has been stuck around 2% as lower oil revenues have been a drag, even as consumption has remained strong. Additional pressure on growth will come from fiscal tightening, which is underway in response to lower oil revenues, as the government works to stabilize debt and avoid a credit downgrade. Inflation has been well behaved but is expected to move up to 4 to 4.5% in 2017, and the central bank has been tightening accordingly.ii Politically, President Pena Nieto is considered a lame duck and later in the year attention will likely turn to Mexican elections in 2018.
• Political and economic momentum in Brazil is improving. President Temer's government has pushed forward with fiscal spending and pension reform, which could improve the country's debt sustainability. Consumer and business confidence has
3
The Latin American Discovery Fund, Inc.
December 31, 2016
Letter to Stockholders (unaudited) (cont'd)
improved sharply, as the deep recession of the last three years is finally fading and growth expectations improve. Inflation expectations are falling sharply, paving the way for the central bank to cut interest rates, which could be another support for growth to improve.
• The Andean markets have mostly adjusted to lower commodity prices. The importance of oil for Colombia has peaked in our view and should fade over time, while infrastructure spending becomes a more important driver. Passing the peace plan with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, as well as the tax reform are additional positives in the near term. Economic growth in Peru has proven resilient as copper production from large mining projects started to kick in last year and will continue to do so. President Kuzcynski's new government has been well received amid high expectations for infrastructure spending, which will be key for growth. We remain underweight Chile where we struggle to identify new growth drivers for that economy.
• While the downward growth adjustment in Argentina in response to President Macri's reforms has been sharp, we continue to expect an improving growth and inflation backdrop in 2017 as the macroeconomic environment normalizes. As years of underinvestment from lack of access to credit unwind, investment could pick up and drive growth going forward. The banking sector in particular is well capitalized and ready to start lending, supporting a compelling outlook for earnings growth in the medium term.
Sincerely,
John H. Gernon
President and Principal Executive Officer January 2017
*The MSCI Emerging Markets Latin America Net Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure equity market performance of emerging markets within Latin America. The MSCI Emerging Markets Latin America Net Index consists of the following 5 emerging market country indices: Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru. The performance of the Index is listed in U.S. dollars and assumes reinvestment of net dividends. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.
i Source: MSCI and FactSet
ii Source: Morgan Stanley Investment Management
4
The Latin American Discovery Fund, Inc.
December 31, 2016
| | Shares | | Value (000) | |
COMMON STOCKS (98.6%) | |
Argentina (2.1%) | |
Banks | |
BBVA Banco Frances SA ADR | | | 45,858 | | | $ | 800 | | |
Electric Utilities | |
Pampa Energia SA ADR (a) | | | 21,525 | | | | 749 | | |
| | | | | 1,549 | | |
Brazil (54.9%) | |
Banks | |
Banco Bradesco SA (Preference) | | | 317,275 | | | | 2,827 | | |
Banco Bradesco SA ADR | | | 324,406 | | | | 2,826 | | |
Itau Unibanco Holding SA (Preference) | | | 600,983 | | | | 6,250 | | |
Itau Unibanco Holding SA (Preference) ADR | | | 193,793 | | | | 1,992 | | |
| | | | | 13,895 | | |
Beverages | |
Ambev SA | | | 64,911 | | | | 327 | | |
Ambev SA ADR | | | 486,378 | | | | 2,388 | | |
| | | | | 2,715 | | |
Capital Markets | |
BTG Pactual Group (Units) (b) | | | 103,991 | | | | 465 | | |
Food & Staples Retailing | |
Raia Drogasil SA | | | 172,160 | | | | 3,237 | | |
Food Products | |
BRF SA | | | 230,986 | | | | 3,424 | | |
Health Care Providers & Services | |
Qualicorp SA | | | 195,052 | | | | 1,154 | | |
Internet Software & Services | |
MercadoLibre, Inc. | | | 9,207 | | | | 1,437 | | |
Machinery | |
Iochpe-Maxion SA | | | 118,858 | | | | 426 | | |
Metals & Mining | |
Vale SA | | | 19,206 | | | | 152 | | |
Vale SA (Preference) | | | 45,850 | | | | 329 | | |
Vale SA (Preference) ADR | | | 50,341 | | | | 347 | | |
Vale SA ADR | | | 47,049 | | | | 358 | | |
| | | | | 1,186 | | |
Multi-line Retail | |
Lojas Americanas SA (Preference) | | | 202,730 | | | | 1,059 | | |
Lojas Renner SA | | | 300,686 | | | | 2,140 | | |
| | | | | 3,199 | | |
| | Shares | | Value (000) | |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels | |
Petroleo Brasileiro SA (a) | | | 408,006 | | | $ | 2,124 | | |
Petroleo Brasileiro SA (Preference) (a) | | | 801,073 | | | | 3,660 | | |
Petroleo Brasileiro SA ADR (a) | | | 26,718 | | | | 270 | | |
Ultrapar Participacoes SA | | | 74,801 | | | | 1,573 | | |
| | | | | 7,627 | | |
Real Estate Management & Development | |
Multiplan Empreendimentos Imobiliarios SA | | | 55,130 | | | | 1,006 | | |
| | | | | 39,771 | | |
Chile (6.9%) | |
Electric Utilities | |
Enersis Americas SA | | | 4,701,268 | | | | 737 | | |
Enersis Americas SA ADR | | | 14,050 | | | | 115 | | |
| | | | | 852 | | |
Multi-line Retail | |
SACI Falabella | | | 339,850 | | | | 2,699 | | |
Real Estate Management & Development | |
Parque Arauco SA | | | 647,817 | | | | 1,451 | | |
| | | | | 5,002 | | |
Colombia (3.6%) | |
Construction Materials | |
Cementos Argos SA | | | 162,162 | | | | 641 | | |
Cemex Latam Holdings SA (a) | | | 143,811 | | | | 541 | | |
| | | | | 1,182 | | |
Diversified Financial Services | |
Grupo de Inversiones Suramericana SA | | | 14,800 | | | | 189 | | |
Grupo de Inversiones Suramericana SA (Preference) | | | 96,814 | | | | 1,193 | | |
| | | | | 1,382 | | |
| | | | | 2,564 | | |
Mexico (23.8%) | |
Banks | |
Grupo Financiero Banorte SAB de CV Series O | | | 620,226 | | | | 3,055 | | |
Beverages | |
Fomento Economico Mexicano SAB de CV ADR | | | 45,951 | | | | 3,502 | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
5
The Latin American Discovery Fund, Inc.
December 31, 2016
Portfolio of Investments (cont'd)
| | Shares | | Value (000) | |
Mexico (cont'd) | |
Chemicals | |
Mexichem SAB de CV | | | 643,657 | | | $ | 1,460 | | |
Construction Materials | |
Cemex SAB de CV ADR (a) | | | 520,319 | | | | 4,178 | | |
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) | |
Concentradora Fibra Hotelera Mexicana SA de CV REIT | | | 635,352 | | | | 430 | | |
Gas Utilities | |
Infraestructura Energetica Nova SAB de CV | | | 179,514 | | | | 782 | | |
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure | |
Alsea SAB de CV | | | 379,636 | | | | 1,084 | | |
Industrial Conglomerates | |
Alfa SAB de CV | | | 1,480,129 | | | | 1,832 | | |
Transportation Infrastructure | |
Promotora y Operadora de Infraestructura SAB de CV | | | 105,515 | | | | 881 | | |
| | | | | 17,204 | | |
Panama (2.1%) | |
Airlines | |
Copa Holdings SA, Class A | | | 16,738 | | | | 1,520 | | |
Peru (5.2%) | |
Banks | |
Credicorp Ltd. | | | 23,855 | | | | 3,766 | | |
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $67,534) | | | | | 71,376 | | |
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENT (1.6%) | |
Investment Company (1.6%) | |
Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds — Government Portfolio — Institutional Class (See Note E) (Cost $1,181) | | | 1,181,143 | | | | 1,181 | | |
TOTAL INVESTMENTS (100.2%) (Cost $68,715) (c) | | | | | 72,557 | | |
LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF OTHER ASSETS (-0.2%) | | | | | (143 | ) | |
NET ASSETS (100.0%) | | | | $ | 72,414 | | |
Country assignments and aggregations are based generally on third party vendor classifications and information, and may be different from the assignments and aggregations under the policies set forth in the Fund's prospectus and/or statement of additional information relating to geographic classifications.
(a) Non-income producing security.
(b) Consists of one or more classes of securities traded together as a unit; stocks with attached warrants.
(c) At December 31, 2016, the aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes is approximately $68,882,000. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is approximately $13,518,000 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is approximately $9,843,000, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of approximately $3,675,000.
ADR American Depositary Receipt.
REIT Real Estate Investment Trust.
Portfolio Composition
Classification | | Percentage of Total Investments | |
Other* | | | 35.7 | % | |
Banks | | | 29.7 | | |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels | | | 10.5 | | |
Beverages | | | 8.6 | | |
Multi-line Retail | | | 8.1 | | |
Construction Materials | | | 7.4 | | |
Total Investments | | | 100.0 | % | |
* Industries and/or investment types representing less than 5% of total investments.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
6
The Latin American Discovery Fund, Inc.
December 31, 2016
Statement of Assets and Liabilities | | December 31, 2016 (000) | |
Assets: | |
Investments in Securities of Unaffiliated Issuers, at Value (Cost $67,534) | | $ | 71,376 | | |
Investment in Security of Affiliated Issuer, at Value (Cost $1,181) | | | 1,181 | | |
Total Investments in Securities, at Value (Cost $68,715) | | | 72,557 | | |
Foreign Currency, at Value (Cost $83) | | | 81 | | |
Dividends Receivable | | | 389 | | |
Receivable from Affiliate | | | — | @ | |
Other Assets | | | 14 | | |
Total Assets | | | 73,041 | | |
Liabilities: | |
Dividends Declared | | | 453 | | |
Payable for Advisory Fees | | | 63 | | |
Payable for Professional Fees | | | 49 | | |
Payable for Custodian Fees | | | 21 | | |
Deferred Capital Gain Country Tax | | | 20 | | |
Payable for Administration Fees | | | 4 | | |
Payable for Investments Purchased | | | 3 | | |
Payable for Stockholder Servicing Agent Fees | | | 1 | | |
Other Liabilities | | | 13 | | |
Total Liabilities | | | 627 | | |
Net Assets | |
Applicable to 6,794,073 Issued and Outstanding $0.01 Par Value Shares (100,000,000 Shares Authorized) | | $ | 72,414 | | |
Net Asset Value Per Share | | $ | 10.66 | | |
Net Assets Consist of: | |
Common Stock | | $ | 68 | | |
Paid-in-Capital | | | 82,755 | | |
Accumulated Undistributed Net Investment Income | | | 174 | | |
Accumulated Net Realized Loss | | | (14,406 | ) | |
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on: | |
Investments (Net of $20 of Deferred Capital Gain Country Tax) | | | 3,822 | | |
Foreign Currency Translations | | | 1 | | |
Net Assets | | $ | 72,414 | | |
@ Amount is less than $500.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
7
The Latin American Discovery Fund, Inc.
December 31, 2016
Financial Statements (cont'd)
Statement of Operations | | Year Ended December 31, 2016 (000) | |
Investment Income: | |
Dividends from Securities of Unaffiliated Issuers (Net of $136 of Foreign Taxes Withheld) | | $ | 1,553 | | |
Dividends from Security of Affiliated Issuer (Note E) | | | 5 | | |
Total Investment Income | | | 1,558 | | |
Expenses: | |
Advisory Fees (Note B) | | | 795 | | |
Professional Fees | | | 111 | | |
Administration Fees (Note C) | | | 55 | | |
Custodian Fees (Note D) | | | 47 | | |
Stockholder Reporting Expenses | | | 28 | | |
Stockholder Servicing Agent Fees | | | 8 | | |
Directors' Fees and Expenses | | | 4 | | |
Other Expenses | | | 40 | | |
Total Expenses | | | 1,088 | | |
Waiver of Advisory Fees (Note B) | | | (69 | ) | |
Waiver of Administration Fees (Note C) | | | (14 | ) | |
Rebate from Morgan Stanley Affiliate (Note E) | | | (2 | ) | |
Reimbursement of Custodian Fees (Note D) | | | (54 | ) | |
Net Expenses | | | 949 | | |
Net Investment Income | | | 609 | | |
Realized Gain (Loss): | |
Investments Sold | | | (1,645 | ) | |
Foreign Currency Transactions | | | 17 | | |
Net Realized Loss | | | (1,628 | ) | |
Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation): | |
Investments (Net of Increase in Deferred Capital Gain Country Tax of $15) | | | 16,787 | | |
Foreign Currency Translations | | | 6 | | |
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | | | 16,793 | | |
Net Realized Loss and Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | | | 15,165 | | |
Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | | $ | 15,774 | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
8
The Latin American Discovery Fund, Inc.
December 31, 2016
Financial Statements (cont'd)
Statements of Changes in Net Assets | | Year Ended December 31, 2016 (000) | | Year Ended December 31, 2015 (000) | |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets: | |
Operations: | |
Net Investment Income | | $ | 609 | | | $ | 356 | | |
Net Realized Loss | | | (1,628 | ) | | | (10,691 | ) | |
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | | | 16,793 | | | | (15,738 | ) | |
Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | | | 15,774 | | | | (26,073 | ) | |
Distributions from and/or in Excess of: | |
Net Investment Income | | | (474 | ) | | | (221 | ) | |
Capital Share Transactions: | |
Repurchase of Shares (22,500 and 11,121 shares) | | | (213 | ) | | | (98 | ) | |
Total Increase (Decrease) | | | 15,087 | | | | (26,392 | ) | |
Net Assets: | |
Beginning of Period | | | 57,327 | | | | 83,719 | | |
End of Period (Including Accumulated Undistributed Net Investment Income of $174 and $20) | | $ | 72,414 | | | $ | 57,327 | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
9
The Latin American Discovery Fund, Inc.
December 31, 2016
Financial Highlights
Selected Per Share Data and Ratios
| | Year Ended December 31, | |
| | 2016(1) | | 2015 | | 2014 | | 2013 | | 2012 | |
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | | $ | 8.41 | | | $ | 12.26 | | | $ | 14.53 | | | $ | 17.23 | | | $ | 15.54 | | |
Net Investment Income(2) | | | 0.09 | | | | 0.05 | | | | 0.09 | | | | 0.12 | | | | 0.14 | | |
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | | | 2.23 | | | | (3.87 | ) | | | (2.20 | ) | | | (2.31 | ) | | | 1.95 | | |
Total from Investment Operations | | | 2.32 | | | | (3.82 | ) | | | (2.11 | ) | | | (2.19 | ) | | | 2.09 | | |
Distributions from and/or in excess of: | |
Net Investment Income | | | (0.07 | ) | | | (0.03 | ) | | | (0.14 | ) | | | (0.10 | ) | | | (0.16 | ) | |
Net Realized Gain | | | — | | | | — | | | | (0.02 | ) | | | (0.41 | ) | | | (0.28 | ) | |
Total Distributions | | | (0.07 | ) | | | (0.03 | ) | | | (0.16 | ) | | | (0.51 | ) | | | (0.44 | ) | |
Anti-Dilutive Effect of Share Repurchase Program | | | 0.00 | (3) | | | 0.00 | (3) | | | — | | | | 0.00 | (3) | | | 0.00 | (3) | |
Anti-Dilutive Effect of Tender Offer | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 0.04 | | |
Net Asset Value, End of Period | | $ | 10.66 | | | $ | 8.41 | | | $ | 12.26 | | | $ | 14.53 | | | $ | 17.23 | | |
Per Share Market Value, End of Period | | $ | 9.29 | | | $ | 7.43 | | | $ | 11.15 | | | $ | 13.06 | | | $ | 15.59 | | |
TOTAL INVESTMENT RETURN:(4) | |
Market Value | | | 25.92 | % | | | (33.04 | )% | | | (13.45 | )% | | | (12.92 | )% | | | 13.64 | % | |
Net Asset Value | | | 27.66 | % | | | (31.07 | )% | | | (14.46 | )% | | | (12.34 | )% | | | 13.96 | % | |
RATIOS, SUPPLEMENTAL DATA: | |
Net Assets, End of Period (Thousands) | | $ | 72,414 | | | $ | 57,327 | | | $ | 83,719 | | | $ | 99,200 | | | $ | 118,037 | | |
Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets(7) | | | 1.37 | %(5) | | | 1.53 | %(5) | | | 1.40 | %(5) | | | 1.39 | %(5) | | | 1.53 | %(5) | |
Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets(7) | | | 0.88 | %(5) | | | 0.49 | %(5) | | | 0.63 | %(5) | | | 0.72 | %(5) | | | 0.84 | %(5) | |
Ratio of Rebate from Morgan Stanley Affiliates to Average Net Assets | | | 0.00 | %(6) | | | 0.00 | %(6) | | | 0.00 | %(6) | | | 0.00 | %(6) | | | 0.00 | %(6) | |
Portfolio Turnover Rate | | | 13 | % | | | 17 | % | | | 21 | % | | | 22 | % | | | 32 | % | |
(7) Supplemental Information on the Ratios to Average Net Assets: | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios Before Expenses Waived by Administrator: | |
Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets | | | 1.57 | % | | | 1.66 | % | | | 1.53 | % | | | 1.47 | % | | | 1.57 | % | |
Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets | | | 0.68 | % | | | 0.36 | % | | | 0.50 | % | | | 0.64 | % | | | 0.80 | % | |
(1) Refer to Note D in the Notes to Financial Statements for discussion of prior period custodian out-of-pocket expenses that were reimbursed in the current period. The amount of the reimbursement was immaterial on a per share basis and did not impact the total return of the Fund. The Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets and the Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets would be unchanged as the reimbursement of custodian fees was offset against current period expense waivers/reimbursements with no impact to net expenses or net investment income.
(2) Per share amount is based on average shares outstanding.
(3) Amount is less than $0.005 per share.
(4) Total investment return based on net asset value per share reflects the effects of changes in net asset value on the performance of the Fund during each period, and assumes dividends and distributions, if any, were reinvested. This percentage is not an indication of the performance of a stockholder's investment in the Fund based on market value due to differences between the market price of the stock and the net asset value per share of the Fund. Total returns are based upon the market value and net asset value on the last business day of each period.
(5) The Ratios of Expenses and Net Investment Income reflect the rebate of certain Fund expenses in connection with the investments in Morgan Stanley affiliates during the period. The effect of the rebate on the ratios is disclosed in the above table as "Ratio of Rebate from Morgan Stanley Affiliates to Average Net Assets."
(6) Amount is less than 0.005%.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
10
The Latin American Discovery Fund, Inc.
December 31, 2016
Notes to Financial Statements
The Latin American Discovery Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") was incorporated on November 12, 1991 and is registered as a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Act"). The Fund applies investment company accounting and reporting guidance. The Fund's investment objective is long-term capital appreciation through investments primarily in equity securities of Latin American issuers and by investing, from time to time, in debt securities issued or guaranteed by a Latin American government or governmental entity. To the extent that the Fund invests in derivative instruments that the adviser, Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc. (the "Adviser"), believes have economic characteristics similar to equity securities of Latin American issuers or debt securities issued or guaranteed by a Latin American government or governmental entity, such investments will be counted for purposes of meeting the Fund's investment objective. To the extent the Fund makes such investments, the Fund will be subject to the risks of such derivative instruments as described herein.
Effective June 30, 2016, Morgan Stanley Investment Management Limited is no longer a Sub-Adviser to the fund.
A. Significant Accounting Policies: The following significant accounting policies are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). Such policies are consistently followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements. GAAP may require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results may differ from those estimates.
1. Security Valuation: (1) An equity portfolio security listed or traded on an exchange is valued at its latest reported sales price (or at the exchange official closing price if such exchange reports an official closing price), and if there were no sales on a given day and if there is no official exchange closing price for that day, the security is valued at
the mean between the last reported bid and asked prices if such bid and asked prices are available on the relevant exchanges; (2) all other equity portfolio securities for which over-the-counter ("OTC") market quotations are readily available are valued at the latest reported sales price (or at the market official closing price if such market reports an official closing price), and if there was no trading in the security on a given day and if there is no official closing price from relevant markets for that day, the security is valued at the mean between the last reported bid and asked prices if such bid and asked prices are available on the relevant markets. Listed equity securities not traded on the valuation date with no reported bid and asked prices available on the exchange are valued at the mean between the current bid and asked prices obtained from one or more reputable brokers or dealers. An unlisted equity security that does not trade on the valuation date and for which bid and asked prices from the relevant markets are unavailable is valued at the mean between the current bid and asked prices obtained from one or more reputable brokers or dealers. In cases where a security is traded on more than one exchange, the security is valued on the exchange designated as the primary market; (3) certain portfolio securities may be valued by an outside pricing service/vendor approved by the Fund's Board of Directors (the "Directors"). The pricing service/vendor may employ a pricing model that takes into account, among other things, bids, yield spreads, and/or other market data and specific security characteristics. Alternatively, if a valuation is not available from an outside pricing service/vendor, and the security trades on an exchange, the security may be valued at its latest reported sale price (or at the exchange official closing price if such exchange reports an official closing price), prior to the time when assets are valued. If there are no sales on a given day and if there is no official exchange closing price for that day, the security is valued at the mean between the last reported bid and asked prices if such bid
11
The Latin American Discovery Fund, Inc.
December 31, 2016
Notes to Financial Statements (cont'd)
and asked prices are available in the relevant exchanges; (4) when market quotations are not readily available, including circumstances under which the Adviser or Sub-Adviser determines that the closing price, last sale price or the mean between the last reported bid and asked prices are not reflective of a security's market value, portfolio securities are valued at their fair value as determined in good faith under procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Directors. Occasionally, developments affecting the closing prices of securities and other assets may occur between the times at which valuations of such securities are determined (that is, close of the foreign market on which the securities trade) and the close of business of the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE"). If developments occur during such periods that are expected to materially affect the value of such securities, such valuations may be adjusted to reflect the estimated fair value of such securities as of the close of the NYSE, as determined in good faith by the Directors or by the Adviser using a pricing service and/or procedures approved by the Directors; (5) quotations of foreign portfolio securities, other assets and liabilities and forward contracts stated in foreign currency are translated into U.S. dollar equivalents at the prevailing market rates prior to the close of the NYSE; and (6) investments in mutual funds, including the Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds, are valued at the net asset value ("NAV") as of the close of each business day.
The Directors have responsibility for determining in good faith the fair value of the investments, and the Directors may appoint others, such as the Fund's Adviser or a valuation committee, to assist the Directors in determining fair value and to make the actual calculations pursuant to the fair valuation methodologies previously approved by the Directors. Under procedures approved by the Directors, the Fund's Adviser has formed a Valuation Committee
whose members are approved by the Directors. The Valuation Committee provides administration and oversight of the Fund's valuation policies and procedures, which are reviewed at least annually by the Directors. These procedures allow the Fund to utilize independent pricing services, quotations from securities and financial instrument dealers, and other market sources to determine fair value.
The Fund has procedures to determine the fair value of securities and other financial instruments for which market prices are not readily available. Under these procedures, the Valuation Committee convenes on a regular and ad hoc basis to review such securities and considers a number of factors, including valuation methodologies and significant unobservable valuation inputs, when arriving at fair value. The Valuation Committee may employ a market-based approach which may use related or comparable assets or liabilities, recent transactions, market multiples, book values, and other relevant information for the investment to determine the fair value of the investment. An income-based valuation approach may also be used in which the anticipated future cash flows of the investment are discounted to calculate fair value. Discounts may also be applied due to the nature or duration of any restrictions on the disposition of the investments. Due to the inherent uncertainty of valuations of such investments, the fair values may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had an active market existed. The Valuation Committee employs various methods for calibrating these valuation approaches including a regular review of valuation methodologies, key inputs and assumptions, transactional back-testing or disposition analysis, and reviews of any related market activity.
2. Fair Value Measurement: Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards CodificationTM ("ASC") 820, "Fair Value Measurement"
12
The Latin American Discovery Fund, Inc.
December 31, 2016
Notes to Financial Statements (cont'd)
("ASC 820"), defines fair value as the value that the Fund would receive to sell an investment or pay to transfer a liability in a timely transaction with an independent buyer in the principal market, or in the absence of a principal market, the most advantageous market for the investment or liability. ASC 820 establishes a three-tier hierarchy to distinguish between (1) inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in valuing an asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity (observable inputs) and (2) inputs that reflect the reporting entity's own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in valuing an asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances (unobservable inputs) and to establish classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund's investments. The inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below.
• Level 1 – unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments
• Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)
• Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs including the Fund's own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments. Factors considered in making this determination may include, but are not limited to, information obtained by contacting the issuer, analysts, or the appropriate stock exchange (for exchange-traded securities), analysis of the issuer's financial statements or other available documents and, if necessary, available information concerning other securities in similar circumstances
The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities and the determination of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment and considers factors specific to each security.
The following is a summary of the inputs used to value the Fund's investments as of December 31, 2016.
Investment Type | | Level 1 Unadjusted quoted prices (000) | | Level 2 Other significant observable inputs (000) | | Level 3 Significant unobservable inputs (000) | | Total (000) | |
Assets: | |
Common Stocks | |
Airlines | | $ | 1,520 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 1,520 | | |
Banks | | | 21,516 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 21,516 | | |
Beverages | | | 6,217 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 6,217 | | |
Capital Markets | | | 465 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 465 | | |
Chemicals | | | 1,460 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 1,460 | | |
Construction Materials | | | 5,360 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 5,360 | | |
Diversified Financial Services | | | 1,382 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 1,382 | | |
Electric Utilities | | | 1,601 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 1,601 | | |
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) | | | 430 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 430 | | |
Food & Staples Retailing | | | 3,237 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 3,237 | | |
Food Products | | | 3,424 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 3,424 | | |
Gas Utilities | | | 782 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 782 | | |
Health Care Providers & Services | | | 1,154 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 1,154 | | |
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure | | | 1,084 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 1,084 | | |
Industrial Conglomerates | | | 1,832 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 1,832 | | |
13
The Latin American Discovery Fund, Inc.
December 31, 2016
Notes to Financial Statements (cont'd)
Investment Type | | Level 1 Unadjusted quoted prices (000) | | Level 2 Other significant observable inputs (000) | | Level 3 Significant unobservable inputs (000) | | Total (000) | |
Assets: (cont'd) | |
Common Stocks (cont'd) | |
Internet Software & Services | | $ | 1,437 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 1,437 | | |
Machinery | | | 426 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 426 | | |
Metals & Mining | | | 1,186 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 1,186 | | |
Multi-line Retail | | | 5,898 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 5,898 | | |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels | | | 7,627 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 7,627 | | |
Real Estate Management & Development | | | 2,457 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 2,457 | | |
Transportation Infrastructure | | | 881 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 881 | | |
Total Common Stocks | | | 71,376 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 71,376 | | |
Short-Term Investment | |
Investment Company | | | 1,181 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 1,181 | | |
Total Assets | | $ | 72,557 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 72,557 | | |
Transfers between investment levels may occur as the markets fluctuate and/or the availability of data used in an investment's valuation changes. The Fund recognizes transfers between the levels as of the end of the period. As of December 31, 2016, securities with a total value of approximately $37,602,000 transferred from Level 2 to Level 1. Securities that were valued using other significant observable inputs at December 31, 2015 were valued using unadjusted quoted prices at December 31, 2016. At December 31, 2015, the fair value of certain securities were adjusted due to developments which occurred between the time of the close of the foreign markets on which they trade and the close of business on the NYSE which resulted in their Level 2 classification.
3. Foreign Currency Translation and Foreign Investments: The books and records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars as follows:
— investments, other assets and liabilities at the prevailing rate of exchange on the valuation date;
— investment transactions and investment income at the prevailing rates of exchange on the dates of such transactions.
Although the net assets of the Fund are presented at the foreign exchange rates and market values at the close of the period, the Fund does not isolate that portion of the results of operations arising as a result of changes in the foreign exchange rates from the fluctuations arising from changes in the market prices of securities held at period end. Similarly, the Fund does not isolate the effect of changes in foreign exchange rates from the fluctuations arising from changes in the market prices of securities sold during the period. Accordingly, realized and unrealized foreign currency gains (losses) on investments in securities are included in the reported net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investment transactions and balances.
Net realized gains (losses) on foreign currency transactions represent net foreign exchange gains (losses) from sales and maturities of foreign currency forward exchange contracts, disposition of foreign currencies, currency gains (losses) realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amount of investment income and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Fund's books and the U.S. dollar equivalent amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized currency gains (losses) from valuing foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities at period end exchange rates are reflected as a component of unrealized appreciation (depreciation) in investments and foreign
14
The Latin American Discovery Fund, Inc.
December 31, 2016
Notes to Financial Statements (cont'd)
currency translations in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The change in unrealized currency gains (losses) on foreign currency translations for the period is reflected in the Statement of Operations.
A significant portion of the Fund's net assets consist of securities denominated in Latin American currencies. Changes in currency exchange rates will affect the value of securities and investment income from such securities. Latin American securities are often subject to greater price volatility, limited capitalization and liquidity, and higher rates of inflation than securities of companies based in the United States. In addition, Latin American securities may be subject to substantial governmental involvement in the economy and greater social, economic and political uncer-tainty. Such securities may be concentrated in a limited number of countries and regions and may vary throughout the year.
Governmental approval for foreign investments may be required in advance of making an investment under certain circumstances in some countries, and the extent of foreign investments in domestic companies may be subject to limitation in other countries. Foreign ownership limitations also may be imposed by the charters of individual companies to prevent, among other concerns, violations of foreign investment limitations. As a result, an additional class of shares (identified as "Foreign" in the Portfolio of Investments) may be created and offered for investment. The "local" and "foreign shares" market values may differ. In the absence of trading of the foreign shares in such markets, the Fund values the foreign shares at the closing exchange price of the local shares.
4. Indemnifications: The Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The Fund's maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Fund has not had prior claims or losses
pursuant to these contracts and expects the risk of loss to be remote.
5. Dividends and Distributions to Stockholders: Dividend income and distributions to stockholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Dividends from net investment income, if any, are declared and paid annually. Net realized capital gains, if any, are distributed at least annually.
6. Other: Security transactions are accounted for on the date the securities are purchased or sold. Realized gains (losses) on the sale of investment securities are determined on the specific identified cost basis. Interest income is recognized on the accrual basis. Dividend income and distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date (except certain dividends which may be recorded as soon as the Fund is informed of such dividends) net of applicable withholding taxes.
The Fund owns shares of real estate investment trusts ("REITs") which report information on the source of their distributions annually in the following calendar year. A portion of distributions received from REITs during the year is estimated to be a return of capital and is recorded as a reduction of their cost.
B. Advisory Fees: The Adviser, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, provides the Fund with advisory services under the terms of an Investment Advisory Agreement, calculated weekly and payable monthly, at an annual rate of 1.15% of the Fund's average weekly net assets. The Adviser agreed to waive 0.10% of its advisory fee. The fee waiver will continue for at least one year or until such time as the Directors act to discontinue all or a portion of such waiver when they deem that such action is appropriate. For the year ended December 31, 2016, approximately $69,000 of advisory fees were waived pursuant to this arrangement.
15
The Latin American Discovery Fund, Inc.
December 31, 2016
Notes to Financial Statements (cont'd)
C. Administration Fees: The Adviser also serves as Administrator to the Fund and provides administrative services pursuant to an administrative agreement for an annual fee, accrued daily and paid monthly, of 0.08% of the Fund's average weekly net assets. The Adviser has agreed to limit the administration fee through a waiver so that it will be no greater than the previous administration fee of 0.02435% of the Fund's average weekly net assets plus $24,000 per annum. This waiver may be terminated at any time. For the year ended December 31, 2016, approximately $14,000 of administration fees were waived pursuant to this arrangement.
Under a Sub-Administration Agreement between the Administrator and State Street Bank and Trust Company ("State Street"), State Street provides certain administrative services to the Fund. For such services, the Administrator pays State Street a portion of the fee the Administrator receives from the Fund.
D. Custodian Fees: State Street (the "Custodian") serves as Custodian for the Fund in accordance with a Custodian Agreement. The Custodian holds cash, securities, and other assets of the Fund as required by the Act. Custody fees are payable monthly based on assets held in custody, investment purchases and sales activity and account maintenance fees, plus reimbursement for certain out-of-pocket expenses.
In December 2015, the Fund's Custodian announced that it had identified inconsistencies in the way in which clients were invoiced for out-of-pocket expenses from 1998 until November 2015. The dollar amount difference between what was charged and what should have been charged, plus interest, was paid back to the Fund in September 2016 as a reimbursement. The Custodian reimbursed the Fund directly, which was recognized as a change in accounting estimate and was reflected as "Reimbursement of Custodian Fees" in the Statement of Operations. Pursuant to the expense limitations described in Note B, the Fund has experienced waiver of
advisory fees during the current period. Accordingly, the reimbursement of out-of-pocket custodian expenses in the current period resulted in the reduction in the current period waiver of advisory fees.
E. Security Transactions and Transactions with Affiliates: For the year ended December 31, 2016, purchases and sales of investment securities for the Fund, other than long-term U.S. Government securities and short-term investments, were approximately $9,215,000 and $8,998,000, respectively. There were no purchases and sales of long-term U.S. Government securities for the year ended December 31, 2016.
The Fund invests in the Institutional Class of the Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds (the "Liquidity Funds"), an open-end management investment company managed by the Adviser. Advisory fees paid by the Fund are reduced by an amount equal to its pro-rata share of the advisory and administration fees paid by the Fund due to its investment in the Liquidity Funds. For the year ended December 31, 2016, advisory fees paid were reduced by approximately $2,000 relating to the Fund's investment in the Liquidity Funds.
A summary of the Fund's transactions in shares of the Liquidity Funds during the year ended December 31, 2016 is as follows:
Value December 31, 2015 (000) | | Purchases at Cost (000) | | Sales (000) | | Dividend Income (000) | | Value December 31, 2016 (000) | |
$ | 1,327 | | | $ | 7,368 | | | $ | 7,514 | | | $ | 5 | | | $ | 1,181 | | |
During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Fund incurred less than $500 in brokerage commissions with Morgan Stanley & Co., LLC, an affiliate of the Adviser/Administrator, for portfolio transactions executed on behalf of the Fund.
The Fund is permitted to purchase and sell securities ("cross-trade") from and to other Morgan Stanley Funds as well as other funds and client accounts for which the Adviser or an affiliate of the Adviser serves as investment adviser, pursuant to
16
The Latin American Discovery Fund, Inc.
December 31, 2016
Notes to Financial Statements (cont'd)
procedures approved by the Directors in compliance with Rule 17a-7 under the Act (the "Rule"). Each cross-trade is executed at the current market price in compliance with provisions of the Rule. For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Fund did not engage in any cross-trade transactions.
The Fund has an unfunded Deferred Compensation Plan (the "Compensation Plan"), which allows each independent Director to defer payment of all, or a portion, of the fees he or she receives for serving on the Board of Directors. Each eligible Director generally may elect to have the deferred amounts credited with a return equal to the total return on one or more of the Morgan Stanley funds that are offered as investment options under the Compensation Plan. Appreciation/depreciation and distributions received from these investments are recorded with an offsetting increase/decrease in the deferred compensation obligation and do not affect the NAV of the Fund.
F. Federal Income Taxes: It is the Fund's intention to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company and distribute all of its taxable income. Accordingly, no provision for federal income taxes is required in the financial statements.
The Fund may be subject to taxes imposed by countries in which it invests. Such taxes are generally based on income and/or capital gains earned or repatriated. Taxes are accrued based on net investment income, net realized gains and net unrealized appreciation as such income and/or gains are earned. Taxes may also be based on transactions in foreign currency and are accrued based on the value of investments denominated in such currency.
FASB ASC 740-10, "Income Taxes — Overall", sets forth a minimum threshold for financial statement recognition of the benefit of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. Management has concluded there are no significant uncertain tax positions that would require recognition in the financial statements. If applicable, the Fund recognizes interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits in "Interest
Expense" and penalties in "Other Expenses" in the Statement of Operations. The Fund files tax returns with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, New York and various states. Each of the tax years in the four-year period ended December 31, 2016, remains subject to examination by taxing authorities.
The tax character of distributions paid may differ from the character of distributions shown in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets due to short-term capital gains being treated as ordinary income for tax purposes. The tax character of distributions paid during fiscal years 2016 and 2015 was as follows:
2016 Distributions Paid From: | | 2015 Distributions Paid From: | |
Ordinary Income (000) | | Long-Term Capital Gain (000) | | Ordinary Income (000) | | Long-Term Capital Gain (000) | |
$ | 474 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 221 | | | $ | — | | |
The amount and character of income and gains to be distributed are determined in accordance with income tax regulations which may differ from GAAP. These book/tax differences are either considered temporary or permanent in nature.
Temporary differences are attributable to differing book and tax treatments for the timing of the recognition of gains (losses) on certain investment transactions and the timing of the deductibility of certain expenses.
Permanent differences, primarily due to differing treatments of gains (losses) related to foreign currency transactions and a nondeductible expense, resulted in the following reclassifications among the components of net assets at December 31, 2016:
Accumulated Undistributed Net Investment Income (000) | | Accumulated Net Realized Loss (000) | | Paid-in- Capital (000) | |
$ | 19 | | | $ | (16 | ) | | $ | (3 | ) | |
17
The Latin American Discovery Fund, Inc.
December 31, 2016
Notes to Financial Statements (cont'd)
At December 31, 2016, the components of distributable earnings for the Fund on a tax basis were as follows:
Undistributed Ordinary Income (000) | | Undistributed Long-Term Capital Gain (000) | |
$ | 176 | | | $ | — | | |
At December 31, 2016, the Fund had available for federal income tax purposes unused short term and long term capital losses of approximately $1,006,000 and $13,230,000 respectively, that do not have an expiration date.
To the extent that capital loss carryforwards are used to offset any future capital gains realized during the carryover period as provided by U.S. federal income tax regulations, no capital gains tax liability will be incurred by the Fund for gains realized and not distributed. To the extent that capital gains are offset, such gains will not be distributed to the stockholders.
G. Other: As permitted by the Fund's offering prospectus, on September 15, 1998, the Fund commenced a share repurchase program for purposes of enhancing stockholder value and reducing the discount at which the Fund's shares trade from their NAV. During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Fund repurchased 22,500 of its shares at an average discount of 11.62% from NAV. Since the inception of the program, the Fund has repurchased 2,239,830 of its shares at an average discount of 18.50% from NAV. The Directors regularly monitor the Fund's share repurchase program as part of their review and consideration of the Fund's premium/discount history. The Fund expects to continue to repurchase its outstanding shares at such time and in such amounts as it believes will further the accomplishment of the foregoing objectives, subject to review by the Directors. You can access information about the monthly share repurchase results through Morgan Stanley Investment Management's website: www.morganstanley.com/im.
At December 31, 2016, the Fund had record owners of 10% or greater. Investment activities of these shareholders could have a material impact on the Fund. The aggregate percentage of such owners was 56.8%.
H. Results of Annual Meeting of Stockholders (unaudited): On July 26, 2016, Class III Directors Frank L. Bowman, James F. Higgins and Manuel H. Johnson resigned from the Board of Directors of the Fund, as the Fund did not expect that they would receive the required vote to be re-elected by stockholders of the Fund at the adjourned Meeting. In addition, Michael E. Nugent and Fergus Reid resigned as Class I Directors of the Fund, effective July 26, 2016, in order to realign the class structure of the Fund, and were appointed by the Board as Class III Directors of the Fund, effective July 27, 2016. On July 27, 2016, and annual meeting of the Fund's stockholders was held for the purpose of voting on the following matter, the results of which were as follows:
Election of Directors by all stockholders:
| | For | | Against | |
Jakki L. Haussler | | | 3,686,679 | | | | 2,604,371 | | |
I. Accounting Pronouncements: In December 2016, FASB issued Accounting Standards update 2016-19 — Technical Corrections and Improvements ("ASU 2016-19"), which is effective for interim periods for all entities beginning after December 15, 2016. ASU 2016-19 includes an amendment to Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement, which clarifies the difference between a valuation approach and a valuation technique when applying the guidance in that Topic. That amendment also requires an entity to disclose when there has been a change in either or both a valuation approach and/or a valuation technique. The transition guidance for the amendment must be applied prospectively because it could
18
The Latin American Discovery Fund, Inc.
December 31, 2016
Notes to Financial Statements (cont'd)
potentially involve the use of hindsight that includes fair value measurements. Although still evaluating the potential impacts of ASU 2016-19 to the Fund, management expects that the impact of the Fund's adoption will be limited to additional financial statement disclosures.
In October 2016, the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") issued a new rule, Investment Company Reporting Modernization, which, among other provisions, amends Regulation S-X to require standardized, enhanced disclosures, particularly related to derivatives, in investment company financial statements. Compliance with the guidance is effective for financial statements filed with the SEC on or after August 1, 2017; adoption will have no effect on the Fund's net assets or results of operations. Although still evaluating the potential impacts of the Investment Company Reporting Modernization to the Fund, management expects that the impact of the fund's adoption will be limited to additional financial statement disclosures.
Federal Tax Notice (unaudited)
For federal income tax purposes, the following information is furnished with respect to the distributions paid by the Fund during its taxable year ended December 31, 2016. For corporate shareholders 0.55% of the dividends qualified for the dividends received deduction.
For federal income tax purposes, the following information is furnished with respect to the Fund's earnings for its taxable year ended December 31, 2016. When distributed, certain earnings may be subject to a maximum tax rate of 15% as provided for by the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003. The Fund designated up to a maximum of approximately $590,000 as taxable at this lower rate.
The Fund intends to pass through foreign tax credits of approximately $115,000 and has derived net income from sources within foreign countries amounting to approximately $1,474,000.
In January, the Fund provides tax information to stockholders for the preceding calendar year.
19
The Latin American Discovery Fund, Inc.
December 31, 2016
Notes to Financial Statements (cont'd)
For More Information About Portfolio Holdings (unaudited)
The Fund provides a complete schedule of portfolio holdings in its semi-annual and annual reports within 60 days of the end of the Fund's second and fourth fiscal quarters. The semi-annual reports and the annual reports are filed electronically with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Form N-CSRS and Form N-CSR, respectively. Morgan Stanley also delivers the semi-annual and annual reports to Fund stockholders and makes these reports available on its public website, www.morganstanley.com/im. Each Morgan Stanley fund also files a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the Fund's first and third fiscal quarters on Form N-Q. Morgan Stanley does not deliver the reports for the first and third fiscal quarters to stockholders, nor are the reports posted to the Morgan Stanley public website. You may, however, obtain the Form N-Q filings (as well as the Form N-CSR and N-CSRS filings) by accessing the SEC's website, www.sec.gov. You may also review and copy them at the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information on the operation of the SEC's Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC toll free at 1(800) SEC-0330. You can also request copies of these materials, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the SEC's e-mail address (publicinfo@sec.gov) or by writing the public reference room of the SEC, 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549-0102.
In addition to filing a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC each fiscal quarter, the Fund makes portfolio holdings information available by providing the information on its public website, www.morganstanley.com/im. The Fund provides a complete schedule of portfolio holdings on the public website on a monthly basis at least 15 calendar days after month-end and under other conditions as described in the Fund's policy on portfolio holdings disclosure. You may obtain copies of the Fund's monthly website postings by calling toll free 1(800) 231-2608.
Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures and Proxy Voting Record (unaudited)
A copy of (1) the Fund's policies and procedures with respect to the voting of proxies relating to the Fund's portfolio securities; and (2) how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30, is available without charge, upon request, by calling toll free 1(800) 231-2608 or by visiting our website at www.morganstanley.com/im. This information is also available on the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov.
20
The Latin American Discovery Fund, Inc.
December 31, 2016
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and Board of Directors of
The Latin American Discovery Fund, Inc.
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of The Latin American Discovery Fund, Inc. (the "Fund"), including the portfolio of investments, as of December 31, 2016, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Fund's internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2016 by correspondence with the custodian and others or by other appropriate auditing procedures where replies from others were not received. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of The Latin American Discovery Fund, Inc. at December 31, 2016, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Boston, Massachusetts
February 28, 2017
21
The Latin American Discovery Fund, Inc.
December 31, 2016
Portfolio Management (unaudited)
The Fund is managed within the Latin American Equity team. The team consists of portfolio managers and analysts. The current member primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund's portfolio is Gaite Ali, a Managing Director of the Adviser.
Ms. Ali has been associated with the Adviser in an investment management capacity since 2007 and began managing the Fund in February 2011. Prior to September 2007, Ms. Ali was with Alliance Bernstein from March 1997 until February 2006.
22
The Latin American Discovery Fund, Inc.
December 31, 2016
Investment Policy (unaudited)
Derivatives
The Fund may, but it is not required to, use derivative instruments for a variety of purposes, including hedging, risk management, portfolio management or to earn income. Derivatives are financial instruments whose value is based, in part, on the value of an underlying asset, interest rate, index or financial instrument. Prevailing interest rates and volatility levels, among other things, also affect the value of derivative instruments. A derivative instrument often has risks similar to its underlying asset and may have additional risks, including imperfect correlation between the value of the derivative and the underlying asset, risks of default by the counterparty to certain transactions, magnification of losses incurred due to changes in the market value of the securities, instruments, indices or interest rates to which the derivative instrument relates, risks that the transactions may not be liquid and risks arising from margin requirements. The use of derivatives involves risks that are different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with other portfolio investments. Derivatives may involve the use of highly specialized instruments that require investment techniques and risk analyses different from those associated with other portfolio investments. In addition, proposed regulatory changes by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") relating to a mutual fund's use of derivatives could potentially limit or impact the Fund's ability to invest in derivatives and adversely affect the value or performance of the Fund or its derivative investments.
Certain derivative transactions may give rise to a form of leverage. Leverage magnifies the potential for gain and the risk of loss. Leverage associated with derivative transactions may cause the Fund to liquidate portfolio positions when it may not be advantageous to do so to satisfy its obligations or to meet earmarking or segregation requirements, pursuant to applicable SEC rules and regulations, or may cause the Fund to be more volatile than if the Fund had not been leveraged. Although the Adviser seeks to use derivatives to further the Fund's investment objective, there is no assurance that the use of derivatives will achieve this result.
Following is a description of the derivative instruments and techniques that the Fund may use and their associated risks:
Foreign Currency Forward Exchange Contracts. In connection with its investments in foreign securities, the Fund also may enter into contracts with banks, brokers or dealers to purchase or sell securities or foreign currencies at a future date. A foreign currency forward exchange contract ("currency contract") is a negotiated agreement between the contracting parties to exchange a specified amount of currency at a specified future time at a specified rate. The rate can be higher or lower than the spot rate between the currencies that are the subject of the contract. The Fund may also invest in non-deliverable foreign currency forward exchange contracts ("NDFs"). NDFs are similar to other foreign currency forward exchange contracts, but do not require or permit physical delivery of currency upon settlement. Instead, settlement is made in cash based on the difference between the contracted exchange rate and the spot foreign exchange rate at settlement. Currency contracts may be used to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign currency exchange rates or to gain or modify exposure to a particular currency. In addition, the Fund may use cross currency hedging or proxy hedging with respect to currencies in which the Fund has or expects to have portfolio or currency exposure. Cross currency hedges involve the sale of one currency against the positive exposure to a different currency and may be used for hedging purposes or to establish an active exposure to the exchange rate between any two currencies. To the extent hedged by the use of currency contracts, the precise matching of the currency contract amounts and the value of the securities involved will not generally be possible because the future value of such securities in foreign currencies will change as a consequence of market movements in the value of those
23
The Latin American Discovery Fund, Inc.
December 31, 2016
Investment Policy (unaudited) (cont'd)
securities between the date on which the contract is entered into and the date it matures. Furthermore, such transactions may reduce or preclude the opportunity for gain if the value of the currency should move in the direction opposite to the position taken. There is additional risk that such transactions may reduce or preclude the opportunity for gain if the value of the currency should move in the direction opposite to the position taken and that currency contracts create exposure to currencies in which the Fund's securities are not denominated. The use of currency contracts involves the risk of loss from the insolvency or bankruptcy of the counterparty to the contract or the failure of the counterparty to make payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the contract.
Futures. A futures contract is a standardized, exchange-traded agreement to buy or sell a specific quantity of an underlying asset, reference rate or index at a specific price at a specific future time. The value of a futures contract tends to increase and decrease in tandem with the value of the underlying instrument. Depending on the terms of the particular contract, futures contracts are settled through either physical delivery of the underlying instrument on the settlement date or by payment of a cash settlement amount on the settlement date. A decision as to whether, when and how to use futures contracts involves the exercise of skill and judgment and even a well-conceived futures transaction may be unsuccessful because of market behavior or unexpected events. In addition to the derivatives risks discussed above, the prices of futures contracts can be highly volatile, using futures contracts can lower total return, and the potential loss from futures contracts can exceed the Fund's initial investment in such contracts. No assurance can be given that a liquid market will exist for any particular futures contract at any particular time. There is also the risk of loss by the Fund of margin deposits in the event of bankruptcy of a broker with which the Fund has open positions in the futures contract.
Special Risks Related to Cyber Security
The Fund and its service providers are susceptible to cyber security risks that include, among other things, theft, unauthorized monitoring, release, misuse, loss, destruction or corruption of confidential and highly restricted data; denial of service attacks; unauthorized access to relevant systems; compromises to networks or devices that the Fund and its service providers use to service the Fund's operations; or operational disruption or failures in the physical infrastructure or operating systems that support the Fund and its service providers. Cyber attacks against or security breakdowns of the Fund or its service providers may adversely impact the Fund and its stockholders, potentially resulting in, among other things, financial losses; the inability of Fund stockholders to transact business and the Fund to process transactions; inability to calculate the Fund's NAV; violations of applicable privacy and other laws; regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs; and/or additional compliance costs. The Fund may incur additional costs for cyber security risk management and remediation purposes. In addition, cyber security risks may also impact issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, which may cause the Fund's investment in such issuers to lose value. There can be no assurance that the Fund or its service providers will not suffer losses relating to cyber attacks or other information security breaches in the future.
Foreign and Emerging Market Securities
Investing in the securities of foreign issuers, particularly those located in emerging market or developing countries, entails the risk that news and events unique to a country or region will affect those markets and their issuers. The value of the Fund's shares may vary widely in response to political and economic factors affecting companies in foreign countries. These same events will not necessarily have an effect on the U.S. economy or similar issuers located in the United States. In addition, investments in certain foreign markets
24
The Latin American Discovery Fund, Inc.
December 31, 2016
Investment Policy (unaudited) (cont'd)
that have historically been considered stable may become more volatile and subject to increased risk due to ongoing developments and changing conditions in such markets. Moreover, the growing interconnectivity of global economies and financial markets has increased the probability that adverse developments and conditions in one country or region will affect the stability of economies and financial markets in other countries or regions.
Investments in foreign markets entail special risks such as currency, political, economic and market risks. There also may be greater market volatility, less reliable financial information, higher transaction and custody costs, decreased market liquidity and less government and exchange regulation associated with investments in foreign markets. Certain foreign markets may rely heavily on particular industries or foreign capital and are more vulnerable to diplomatic developments, the imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals, changes in international trading patterns, trade barriers, and other protectionist or retaliatory measures. Economic sanctions could, among other things, effectively restrict or eliminate the Fund's ability to purchase or sell securities or groups of securities for a substantial period of time, and may make the Fund's investments in such securities harder to value. Investments in foreign markets may also be adversely affected by governmental actions such as the imposition of capital controls, nationalization of companies or industries, expropriation of assets or the imposition of punitive taxes. The governments of certain countries may prohibit or impose substantial restrictions on foreign investing in their capital markets or in certain sectors or industries. In addition, a foreign government may limit or cause delay in the convertibility or repatriation of its currency which would adversely affect the U.S. dollar value and/or liquidity of investments denominated in that currency. Certain foreign investments may become less liquid in response to market developments or adverse investor perceptions, or become illiquid after purchase by the Fund, particularly during periods of market turmoil. When the Fund holds illiquid investments, its portfolio may be harder to value. The risks of investing in emerging market countries are greater than risks associated with investments in foreign developed countries. In addition, the Fund's investments in foreign issuers may be denominated in foreign currencies and therefore, to the extent unhedged, the value of the investment will fluctuate with the U.S. dollar exchange rates.
Determination of NAV
The Fund determines the NAV per share as of the close of the NYSE (normally 4:00p.m. Eastern time) on each day that the NYSE is open for business. Shares generally will not be priced on days that the NYSE is closed. If the NYSE is closed due to inclement weather, technology problems or any other reason on a day it would normally be open for business, or the NYSE has an unscheduled early closing on a day it has opened for business, the Fund reserves the right to treat such day as a business day and calculate its NAV as of the normally scheduled close of regular trading on the NYSE for that day, so long as the Adviser believes there generally remains an adequate market to obtain reliable and accurate market quotations. The Fund may elect to price its shares on days when the NYSE is closed but the primary securities markets on which the Fund's securities trade remain open.
25
The Latin American Discovery Fund, Inc.
December 31, 2016
Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan (unaudited)
Pursuant to the Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan (the Plan), each stockholder will be deemed to have elected, unless Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (the Plan Agent) is otherwise instructed by the stockholder in writing, to have all distributions automatically reinvested in Fund shares. Participants in the Plan have the option of making additional voluntary cash payments to the Plan Agent, annually, in any amount from $100 to $3,000, for investment in Fund shares.
Dividend and capital gain distributions (Distributions) will be reinvested on the reinvestment date in full and fractional shares. If the market price per share equals or exceeds net asset value per share on the reinvestment date, the Fund will issue shares to participants at net asset value or, if net asset value is less than 95% of the market price on the reinvestment date, shares will be issued at 95% of the market price. If net asset value exceeds the market price on the reinvestment date, participants will receive shares valued at market price. The Fund may purchase shares of its Common Stock in the open market in connection with dividend reinvestment requirements at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Should the Fund declare a Distribution payable only in cash, the Plan Agent will purchase Fund shares for participants in the open market as agent for the participants.
The Plan Agent's fees for the reinvestment of a Distribution will be paid by the Fund. However, each participant's account will be charged a pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred on any open market purchases effected on such participant's behalf. A participant will also pay brokerage commissions incurred on purchases made by voluntary cash payments. Although stockholders in the Plan may receive no cash distributions, participation in the Plan will not relieve participants of any income tax which may be payable on such dividends or distributions.
In the case of stockholders, such as banks, brokers or nominees, that hold shares for others who are the beneficial owners, the Plan Agent will administer the Plan on the basis of the number of shares certified from time to time by the stockholder as representing the total amount registered in the stockholder's name and held for the account of beneficial owners who are participating in the Plan.
Stockholders who do not wish to have distributions automatically reinvested should notify the Plan Agent in writing. There is no penalty for non-participation or withdrawal from the Plan, and stockholders who have previously withdrawn from the Plan may rejoin at any time. Requests for additional information or any correspondence concerning the Plan should be directed to the Plan Agent at:
The Latin American Discovery Fund, Inc.
Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
P.O. Box 30170
College Station, Texas 77842
1(800) 231-2608
26
The Latin American Discovery Fund, Inc.
December 31, 2016
Privacy Notice (unaudited)
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc.
An Important Notice Concerning Our U.S. Privacy Policy
We are required by federal law to provide you with a copy of our privacy policy annually. This policy applies to current and former individual investors in funds managed or sponsored by Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc. ("MSIM") as well as current and former individual clients of MSIM. This policy is not applicable to partnerships, corporations, trusts or other non-individual clients or investors. Please note that we may amend this policy at any time, and will inform you of any changes as required by law.
We Respect Your Privacy
We appreciate that you have provided us with your personal financial information. We strive to maintain the privacy of such information while we help you achieve your financial objectives. This Notice describes what non-public personal information we collect about you, why we collect it, when we may share it with others and how certain others may use it. It discusses the steps you may take to limit our sharing of certain information about you to affiliated companies in the Morgan Stanley family of companies ("other Morgan Stanley companies"). It also discloses how you may limit use of certain shared information for marketing purposes by other Morgan Stanley branded companies. Throughout this policy, we refer to the non-public information that personally identifies you or your accounts as "personal information.''
1. What Personal Information Do We Collect About You?
We obtain personal information from applications and other forms you submit to us, from your dealings with us, from consumer reporting agencies, from our Web sites and from third parties and other sources.
For example:
• We may collect information such as your name, address, e-mail address, telephone/fax numbers, assets, income and investment objectives through subscription documents, applications and other forms you submit to us.
• We may obtain information about account balances, your use of account(s) and the types of products and services you prefer to receive from us through your dealings and transactions with us and other sources.
• We may obtain information about your creditworthiness and credit history from consumer reporting agencies.
• We may collect background information from and through third-party vendors to verify representations you have made and to comply with various regulatory requirements.
• If you interact with us through our public and private Web sites, we may collect information that you provide directly through online communications (such as an e-mail address). We may also collect information about your Internet service provider, your domain name, your computer's operating system and Web browser, your use of our Web sites and your product and service preferences, through the use of "cookies." Please consult the Terms of Use of these sites for more details.
27
The Latin American Discovery Fund, Inc.
December 31, 2016
Privacy Notice (unaudited) (cont'd)
2. When Do We Disclose Personal Information We Collect About You?
We may disclose personal information we collect about you to other Morgan Stanley companies and to non-affiliated third parties.
a. Information We Disclose to Other Morgan Stanley Companies. We may disclose personal information to other Morgan Stanley companies for a variety of reasons, including to manage your account(s) effectively, to service and process your transactions, to let you know about products and services offered by us and other Morgan Stanley companies, to manage our business, and as otherwise required or permitted by law. Offers for products and services from other Morgan Stanley companies are developed under conditions designed to safeguard your personal information.
b. Information We Disclose to Non-affiliated Third Parties. We do not disclose personal information that we collect about you to non-affiliated third parties except to those who provide marketing services on our behalf, to financial institutions with whom we have joint marketing agreements, and as otherwise required or permitted by law. For example, we may disclose personal information to nonaffiliated third parties for servicing and processing transactions, to offer our own products and services, to protect against fraud, for institutional risk control, to respond to judicial process or to perform services on our behalf. When we share personal information with a non-affiliated third party, they are required to limit their use of personal information to the particular purpose for which it was shared and they are not allowed to share personal information with others except to fulfill that limited purpose or as may be permitted or required by law.
3. How Do We Protect the Security and Confidentiality of Personal Information We Collect About You?
We maintain physical, electronic and procedural security measures to help safeguard the personal information we collect about you. We have internal policies governing the proper handling of client information. Third parties that provide support or marketing services on our behalf may also receive personal information, and we require them to adhere to confidentiality standards with respect to such information.
4. How Can You Limit the Sharing of Certain Types of Personal Information With Other Morgan Stanley Companies?
We offer you choices as to whether we share with other Morgan Stanley companies the personal information that was collected to determine your eligibility for products and services you request ("eligibility information"). Eligibility information does not include your identification information or personal information pertaining to our transactions or experiences with you. Please note that, even if you direct us not to share eligibility information with other Morgan Stanley companies ("opt-out"), we may still share personal information, including eligibility information, with those companies in circumstances excluded from the opt-out under applicable law, such as to process transactions or to service your account.
28
The Latin American Discovery Fund, Inc.
December 31, 2016
Privacy Notice (unaudited) (cont'd)
5. How Can You Limit the Use of Certain Types Of Personal Information by Other Morgan Stanley Companies for Marketing?
By following the opt-out instructions in Section 6 below, you may limit other Morgan Stanley branded companies from marketing their products or services to you based on personal information we disclose to them. This information may include, for example, your income and account history with us. Please note that, even if you choose to limit Other Morgan Stanley Companies from using personal information about you that we may share with them for marketing their products and services to you, Other Morgan Stanley Companies may use your personal information that they obtain from us to market to you in circumstances permitted by law, such as if the Other Morgan Stanley Company has its own relationship with you.
6. How Can You Send Us an Opt-Out Instruction?
If you wish to limit our sharing of eligibility information about you with other Morgan Stanley companies or other Morgan Stanley companies' use of personal information for marketing purposes, as described in this notice, you may do so by:
• Calling us at (800) 231-2608
Monday–Friday between 8a.m. and 6p.m.(EST)
• Writing to us at the following address:
Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
c/o Privacy Coordinator
P.O. Box 30170
College Station, Texas 77842
Your written request should include your name, address, telephone number and account number(s) to which the opt-out applies and whether you are opting out with respect to sharing of eligibility information (Section 4 above), or if information used for Marketing (Section 5 above) or both. Written opt-out requests should not be sent with any other correspondence. In order to process your request, we require that the request be provided by you directly and not through a third party.
Your opt-out preference will remain in effect with respect to this policy (as it may be amended) until you notify us otherwise. If you have a joint account, your direction for us not to share this information with other Morgan Stanley companies and for those other Morgan Stanley companies not to use your personal information for marketing will be applied to all account holders on that account. Please understand that if you limit our sharing or our affiliated companies' use of personal information, you and any joint account holder(s) may not receive information about Morgan Stanley products and services, including products or services that could help you manage your financial resources and achieve your investment objectives.
7. What If an Affiliated Company Becomes a Non-affiliated Third Party?
If, at any time in the future, an affiliated company becomes a non-affiliated third party, further disclosures of personal information made to the former affiliated company will be limited to those described in Section 2(b) above relating to non-affiliated third parties.
29
The Latin American Discovery Fund, Inc.
December 31, 2016
Privacy Notice (unaudited) (cont'd)
If you elected under Section 6 to limit disclosures we make to affiliated companies, or use of personal information by affiliated companies, your election will not apply to use by any former affiliated company of your personal information in their possession once it becomes a non-affiliated third party.
SPECIAL NOTICE TO RESIDENTS OF VERMONT
The following section supplements our policy with respect to our individual clients who have a Vermont address and supersedes anything to the contrary in the above policy with respect to those clients only.
The state of Vermont requires financial institutions to obtain your consent prior to sharing personal information that they collect about you with affiliated companies and non-affiliated third parties other than in certain limited circumstances. Except as permitted by law, we will not share personal information we collect about you with non-affiliated third parties or other Morgan Stanley companies unless you provide us with your written consent to share such information ("opt-in").
If you wish to receive offers for investment products and services offered by or through other Morgan Stanley companies, please notify us in writing at the following address:
Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
c/o Privacy Coordinator
P.O. Box 30170
College Station, Texas 77842
Your authorization should include your name, address, telephone number and account number(s) to which the opt-in applies and should not be sent with any other correspondence. In order to process your authorization, we require that the authorization be provided by you directly and not through a third party.
SPECIAL NOTICE TO RESIDENTS OF CALIFORNIA
The following section supplements our policy with respect to our individual clients who have a California address and supersedes anything to the contrary in the above policy with respect to those clients only.
In response to a California law, if your account has a California home address, your personal information will not be disclosed to nonaffiliated third parties except as permitted by applicable California law, and we will limit sharing such information with our affiliates to comply with California privacy laws that apply to us.
30
The Latin American Discovery Fund, Inc.
December 31, 2016
Director and Officer Information (unaudited)
Independent Directors:
Name, Age and Address of Independent Director | | Position(s) Held with Registrant | | Length of Time Served* | | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years and Other Relevant Professional Experience | | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Independent Director** | | Other Directorships Held by Independent Director*** | |
Kathleen A. Dennis (63) c/o Perkins Coie LLP Counsel to the Independent Directors 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10112 | | Director | | Since August 2006 | | President, Cedarwood Associates (mutual fund and investment management consulting) (since July 2006); Chairperson of the Liquidity and Alternatives Sub-Committee of the Investment Committee (since October 2006) and Director or Trustee of various Morgan Stanley Funds (since August 2006); formerly, Senior Managing Director of Victory Capital Management (1993-2006). | | | 91 | | | Director of various non-profit organizations. | |
Nancy C. Everett (61) c/o Perkins Coie LLP Counsel to the Independent Directors 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10112 | | Director | | Since January 2015 | | Chief Executive Officer, Virginia Commonwealth University Investment Company (since November 2015); Owner, OBIR, LLC (institutional investment management consulting) (since June 2014); formerly, Managing Director, BlackRock Inc. (February 2011-December 2013); and Chief Executive Officer, General Motors Asset Management (a/k/a Promark Global Advisors, Inc.) (June 2005-May 2010). | | | 91 | | | Member of Virginia Commonwealth University School of Business Foundation; formerly, Member of Virginia Commonwealth University Board of Visitors (2013-2015); Member of Committee on Directors for Emerging Markets Growth Fund, Inc. (2007-2010); Chairperson of Performance Equity Management, LLC (2006-2010); and Chairperson, GMAM Absolute Return Strategies Fund, LLC (2006-2010). | |
Jakki L. Haussler (59) c/o Perkins Coie LLP Counsel to the Independent Directors 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10112 | | Director | | Since January 2015 | | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Opus Capital Group (since January 1996); formerly, Director, Capvest Venture Fund, LP (May 2000-December 2011); Partner, Adena Ventures, LP (July 1999-December 2010); Director, The Victory Funds (February 2005-July 2008). | | | 91 | | | Director of Cincinnati Bell Inc. and Member, Audit Committee and Compensation Committee; Director of Northern Kentucky University Foundation and Member, Investment Committee; Member of Chase College of Law Transactional Law Practice Center Board of Advisors; Director of Best Transport; Director of Chase College of Law Board of Visitors; formerly, Member, University of Cincinnati Foundation Investment Committee; Member, Miami University Board of Visitors (2008-2011); Trustee of Victory Funds (2005-2008) and Chairman, Investment Committee (2007-2008) and Member, Service Provider Committee (2005-2008). | |
31
The Latin American Discovery Fund, Inc.
December 31, 2016
Director and Officer Information (unaudited) (cont'd)
Independent Directors (cont'd):
Name, Age and Address of Independent Director | | Position(s) Held with Registrant | | Length of Time Served* | | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years and Other Relevant Professional Experience | | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Independent Director** | | Other Directorships Held by Independent Director*** | |
Joseph J. Kearns (74) c/o Kearns & Associates LLC 46 E Peninsula Center #385 Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274-3712 | | Director | | Since August 1994 | | President, Kearns & Associates LLC (investment consulting); Chairperson of the Audit Committee (since October 2006) and Director or Trustee of various Morgan Stanley Funds (since August 1994); formerly, Deputy Chairperson of the Audit Committee (July 2003-September 2006) and Chairperson of the Audit Committee of various Morgan Stanley Funds (since August 1994); CFO of the J. Paul Getty Trust. | | | 93 | | | Director of Electro Rent Corporation (equipment leasing). Prior to December 31, 2013, Director of The Ford Family Foundation. | |
Patricia Maleski (56) c/o Perkins Coie LLP Counsel to the Independent Directors 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10112 | | Director | | Since January 2017 | | Management Director, JPMorgan Asset Management (2013-2016); President, JPMorgan Funds (2010-2013), Chief Administrative Officer, JPMorgan Funds (2004-2010), Treasurer, JPMorgan Funds (2003-2004, 2008-2010), and Vice President and Board Liaison, JPMorgan Funds (2001-2004); Managing Director, J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. (2001-2013); Vice President of Finance, Pierpont Group (1996-2001); Vice President, Bank of New York (1995-1996); Senior Audit Manager, Price Waterhouse, LLP (1982-1995). | | | 91 | | | None. | |
Michael E. Nugent (80) 522 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10036 | | Chair of the Board and Director | | Chair of the Boards since July 2006 and Director since July 1991 | | Chair of the Boards of various Morgan Stanley Funds (since July 2006); Chairperson of the Closed-End Fund Committee (since June 2012) and Director or Trustee of various Morgan Stanley Funds (since July 1991); formerly, Chairperson of the Insurance Committee (until July 2006); General Partner, Triumph Capital, L.P. (private investment partnership) (1988-2013). | | | 92 | | | None. | |
W. Allen Reed (69) c/o Perkins Coie LLP Counsel to the Independent Directors 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10112 | | Director | | Since August 2006 | | Chairperson of the Equity Sub-Committee of the Investment Committee (since October 2006) and Director or Trustee of various Morgan Stanley Funds (since August 2006); formerly, President and CEO of General Motors Asset Management; Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the GM Trust Bank and Corporate Vice President of General Motors Corporation (August 1994-December 2005). | | | 91 | | | Director of Legg Mason, Inc.; formerly, Director of the Auburn University Foundation (2010-2015). | |
32
The Latin American Discovery Fund, Inc.
December 31, 2016
Director and Officer Information (unaudited) (cont'd)
Independent Directors (cont'd):
Name, Age and Address of Independent Director | | Position(s) Held with Registrant | | Length of Time Served* | | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years and Other Relevant Professional Experience | | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Independent Director** | | Other Directorships Held by Independent Director*** | |
Fergus Reid (84) c/o Joe Pietryka, Inc. 85 Charles Colman Blvd. Pawling, NY 12564 | | Director | | Since June 1992 | | Chairman, Joe Pietryka, Inc.; Chairperson of the Governance Committee and Director or Trustee of various Morgan Stanley Funds (since June 1992). | | | 92 | | | Formerly, Trustee and Director of certain investment companies in the JP Morgan Fund Complex managed by JP Morgan Investment Management Inc. (1987-2012). | |
* This is the earliest date the Director began serving the Morgan Stanley Funds. Each Director serves an indefinite term, until his or her successor is elected.
** The Fund Complex includes (as of December 31, 2016) all open-end and closed-end funds (including all of their portfolios) advised by Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc. (the "Adviser") and any funds that have an adviser that is an affiliated person of the Adviser (including, but not limited to, Morgan Stanley AIP GP LP).
*** This includes any directorships at public companies and registered investment companies held by the Director at any time during the past five years.
Executive Officers:
Name, Age and Address of Executive Officer | | Position(s) Held with Registrant | | Length of Time Served**** | | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | |
John H. Gernon (53) 522 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10036 | | President and Principal Executive Officer | | Since September 2013 | | President and Principal Executive Officer of the Equity and Fixed Income Funds and the Morgan Stanley AIP Funds (since September 2013) and the Liquidity Funds and various money market funds (since May 2014) in the Fund Complex; Managing Director of the Adviser; Head of Product (since 2006). | |
Timothy J. Knierim (58) 522 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10036 | | Chief Compliance Officer | | Since December 2016 | | Managing Director of the Adviser and various entities affiliated with the Adviser; Chief Compliance Officer of various Morgan Stanley Funds and the Adviser (since December 2016) and Chief Compliance Officer of Morgan Stanley AIP GP LP (since 2014). Formerly, Managing Director and Deputy Chief Compliance Officer of the Adviser (2014-2016); and formerly, Chief Compliance Officer of Prudential Investment Management, Inc. (2007-2014). | |
Francis J. Smith (51) 522 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10036 | | Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer | | Treasurer since July 2003 and Principal Financial Officer since September 2002 | | Managing Director of the Adviser and various entities affiliated with the Adviser; Treasurer (since July 2003) and Principal Financial Officer of various Morgan Stanley Funds (since September 2002). | |
33
The Latin American Discovery Fund, Inc.
December 31, 2016
Director and Officer Information (unaudited) (cont'd)
Executive Officers (cont'd):
Name, Age and Address of Executive Officer | | Position(s) Held with Registrant | | Length of Time Served**** | | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | |
Mary E. Mullin (49) 522 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10036 | | Secretary | | Since June 1999 | | Executive Director of the Adviser; Secretary of various Morgan Stanley Funds (since June 1999). | |
**** This is the earliest date the officer began serving the Morgan Stanley Funds. Each officer serves a one-year term, until his or her successor is elected and qualifies.
34
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Item 2. Code of Ethics.
(a) The Fund has adopted a code of ethics (the “Code of Ethics”) that applies to its principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the Fund or a third party.
(b) No information need be disclosed pursuant to this paragraph.
(c) Not applicable.
(d) Not applicable.
(e) Not applicable.
(f)
(1) The Fund’s Code of Ethics is attached hereto as Exhibit 12 A.
(2) Not applicable.
(3) Not applicable.
Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.
The Fund’s Board of Directors has determined that Joseph J. Kearns, an “independent” Director, is an “audit committee financial expert” serving on its audit committee. Under applicable securities laws, a person who is determined to be an audit committee financial expert will not be deemed an “expert” for any purpose, including without limitation for the purposes of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933, as a result of being designated or identified as an audit committee financial expert. The designation or identification of a person as an audit committee financial expert does not impose on such person any duties, obligations, or liabilities that are greater than the duties, obligations, and liabilities imposed on such person as a member of the audit committee and Board of Directors in the absence of such designation or identification.
Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
(a)(b)(c)(d) and (g). Based on fees billed for the periods shown:
2016
| | Registrant | | Covered Entities(1) | |
Audit Fees | | $ | 59,009 | | N/A | |
| | | | | |
Non-Audit Fees | | | | | |
Audit-Related Fees | | $ | | (2) | $ | — | (2) |
Tax Fees | | $ | 3,500 | (3) | $ | 8,817,179 | (4) |
All Other Fees | | $ | — | | $ | 227,300 | (5) |
Total Non-Audit Fees | | $ | 3,500 | | $ | 9,044,479 | |
| | | | | |
Total | | $ | 62,509 | | $ | 9,044,479 | |
2015
| | Registrant | | Covered Entities(1) | |
Audit Fees | | $ | 59,009 | | N/A | |
| | | | | |
Non-Audit Fees | | | | | |
Audit-Related Fees | | $ | — | (2) | $ | — | (2) |
Tax Fees | | $ | 3,500 | (3) | $ | 8,237,026 | (4) |
All Other Fees | | $ | — | | $ | 212,000 | (5) |
Total Non-Audit Fees | | $ | 3,500 | | $ | 8,449,026 | |
| | | | | |
Total | | $ | 62,509 | | $ | 8,449,026 | |
N/A- Not applicable, as not required by Item 4.
(1) Covered Entities include the Adviser (excluding sub-advisors) and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Adviser that provides ongoing services to the Registrant.
(2) Audit-Related Fees represent assurance and related services provided that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the financial statements of the Covered Entities’ and funds advised by the Adviser or its affiliates, specifically data verification and agreed-upon procedures related to asset securitizations and agreed-upon procedures engagements.
(3) Tax Fees represent tax compliance, tax planning and tax advice services provided in connection with the preparation and review of the Registrant’s tax returns.
(4) Tax Fees represent tax compliance, tax planning and tax advice services provided in connection with the review of Covered Entities’ tax returns.
(5) All other fees represent project management for future business applications and improving business and operational processes.
(e)(1) The audit committee’s pre-approval policies and procedures are as follows:
APPENDIX A
AUDIT COMMITTEE
AUDIT AND NON-AUDIT SERVICES
PRE-APPROVAL POLICY AND PROCEDURES
OF THE
MORGAN STANLEY RETAIL AND INSTITUTIONAL FUNDS
AS ADOPTED AND AMENDED JULY 23, 2004,(1)
1. Statement of Principles
The Audit Committee of the Board is required to review and, in its sole discretion, pre-approve all Covered Services to be provided by the Independent Auditors to the Fund and Covered Entities in order to assure that services performed by the Independent Auditors do not impair the auditor’s independence from the Fund.
The SEC has issued rules specifying the types of services that an independent auditor may not provide to its audit client, as well as the audit committee’s administration of the engagement of the independent auditor. The SEC’s rules establish two different approaches to pre-approving services, which the SEC considers to be equally valid. Proposed services either: may be pre-approved without consideration of specific case-by-case services by the Audit Committee (“general pre-approval”); or require the specific pre-approval of the Audit Committee or its delegate (“specific pre-approval”). The Audit Committee believes that the combination of these two approaches in this Policy will result in an effective and efficient procedure to pre-approve services performed by the Independent Auditors. As set forth in this Policy, unless a type of service has received general pre-approval, it will require specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee (or by any member of the Audit Committee to which pre-approval authority has been delegated) if it is to be provided by the Independent Auditors. Any proposed services exceeding pre-approved cost levels or budgeted amounts will also require specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee.
The appendices to this Policy describe the Audit, Audit-related, Tax and All Other services that have the general pre-approval of the Audit Committee. The term of any general pre-approval is 12 months from the date of pre-approval, unless the Audit Committee considers and provides a different period and states otherwise. The Audit Committee will annually review and pre-approve the services that may be provided by the Independent Auditors without obtaining specific pre-approval from the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee will add to or subtract from the list of general pre-approved services from time to time, based on subsequent determinations.
(1) This Audit Committee Audit and Non-Audit Services Pre-Approval Policy and Procedures (the “Policy”), adopted as of the date above, supersedes and replaces all prior versions that may have been adopted from time to time.
The purpose of this Policy is to set forth the policy and procedures by which the Audit Committee intends to fulfill its responsibilities. It does not delegate the Audit Committee’s responsibilities to pre-approve services performed by the Independent Auditors to management.
The Fund’s Independent Auditors have reviewed this Policy and believes that implementation of the Policy will not adversely affect the Independent Auditors’ independence.
2. Delegation
As provided in the Act and the SEC’s rules, the Audit Committee may delegate either type of pre-approval authority to one or more of its members. The member to whom such authority is delegated must report, for informational purposes only, any pre-approval decisions to the Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting.
3. Audit Services
The annual Audit services engagement terms and fees are subject to the specific pre-approval of the Audit Committee. Audit services include the annual financial statement audit and other procedures required to be performed by the Independent Auditors to be able to form an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements. These other procedures include information systems and procedural reviews and testing performed in order to understand and place reliance on the systems of internal control, and consultations relating to the audit. The Audit Committee will approve, if necessary, any changes in terms, conditions and fees resulting from changes in audit scope, Fund structure or other items.
In addition to the annual Audit services engagement approved by the Audit Committee, the Audit Committee may grant general pre-approval to other Audit services, which are those services that only the Independent Auditors reasonably can provide. Other Audit services may include statutory audits and services associated with SEC registration statements (on Forms N-1A, N-2, N-3, N-4, etc.), periodic reports and other documents filed with the SEC or other documents issued in connection with securities offerings.
The Audit Committee has pre-approved the Audit services in Appendix B.1. All other Audit services not listed in Appendix B.1 must be specifically pre-approved by the Audit Committee (or by any member of the Audit Committee to which pre-approval has been delegated).
4. Audit-related Services
Audit-related services are assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Fund’s financial statements and, to the extent they are Covered Services, the Covered Entities or that are traditionally performed by the Independent Auditors. Because the Audit Committee believes that the provision of Audit-related services does not impair the independence of the auditor and is consistent with the SEC’s rules on auditor independence, the Audit Committee may grant general pre-approval to Audit-related services. Audit-related services include, among others, accounting consultations related to accounting, financial reporting or disclosure matters not classified as “Audit services”; assistance with understanding and implementing new accounting and financial reporting guidance from rulemaking authorities; agreed-upon or expanded audit procedures related to accounting and/or billing records required to respond to or comply with financial, accounting or regulatory
reporting matters; and assistance with internal control reporting requirements under Forms N-SAR and/or N-CSR.
The Audit Committee has pre-approved the Audit-related services in Appendix B.2. All other Audit-related services not listed in Appendix B.2 must be specifically pre-approved by the Audit Committee (or by any member of the Audit Committee to which pre-approval has been delegated).
5. Tax Services
The Audit Committee believes that the Independent Auditors can provide Tax services to the Fund and, to the extent they are Covered Services, the Covered Entities, such as tax compliance, tax planning and tax advice without impairing the auditor’s independence, and the SEC has stated that the Independent Auditors may provide such services.
Pursuant to the preceding paragraph, the Audit Committee has pre-approved the Tax Services in Appendix B.3. All Tax services in Appendix B.3 must be specifically pre-approved by the Audit Committee (or by any member of the Audit Committee to which pre-approval has been delegated).
6. All Other Services
The Audit Committee believes, based on the SEC’s rules prohibiting the Independent Auditors from providing specific non-audit services, that other types of non-audit services are permitted. Accordingly, the Audit Committee believes it may grant general pre-approval to those permissible non-audit services classified as All Other services that it believes are routine and recurring services, would not impair the independence of the auditor and are consistent with the SEC’s rules on auditor independence.
The Audit Committee has pre-approved the All Other services in Appendix B.4. Permissible All Other services not listed in Appendix B.4 must be specifically pre-approved by the Audit Committee (or by any member of the Audit Committee to which pre-approval has been delegated).
7. Pre-Approval Fee Levels or Budgeted Amounts
Pre-approval fee levels or budgeted amounts for all services to be provided by the Independent Auditors will be established annually by the Audit Committee. Any proposed services exceeding these levels or amounts will require specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee is mindful of the overall relationship of fees for audit and non-audit services in determining whether to pre-approve any such services.
8. Procedures
All requests or applications for services to be provided by the Independent Auditors that do not require specific approval by the Audit Committee will be submitted to the Fund’s Chief Financial Officer and must include a detailed description of the services to be rendered. The Fund’s Chief Financial Officer will determine whether such services are included within the list of services that have received the general pre-approval of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee will be informed on a timely basis of any such services rendered by the Independent Auditors. Requests or applications to provide services that require specific approval by the
1
Audit Committee will be submitted to the Audit Committee by both the Independent Auditors and the Fund’s Chief Financial Officer, and must include a joint statement as to whether, in their view, the request or application is consistent with the SEC’s rules on auditor independence.
The Audit Committee has designated the Fund’s Chief Financial Officer to monitor the performance of all services provided by the Independent Auditors and to determine whether such services are in compliance with this Policy. The Fund’s Chief Financial Officer will report to the Audit Committee on a periodic basis on the results of its monitoring. Both the Fund’s Chief Financial Officer and management will immediately report to the chairman of the Audit Committee any breach of this Policy that comes to the attention of the Fund’s Chief Financial Officer or any member of management.
9. Additional Requirements
The Audit Committee has determined to take additional measures on an annual basis to meet its responsibility to oversee the work of the Independent Auditors and to assure the auditor’s independence from the Fund, such as reviewing a formal written statement from the Independent Auditors delineating all relationships between the Independent Auditors and the Fund, consistent with Independence Standards Board No. 1, and discussing with the Independent Auditors its methods and procedures for ensuring independence.
10. Covered Entities
Covered Entities include the Fund’s investment adviser(s) and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Fund’s investment adviser(s) that provides ongoing services to the Fund(s). Beginning with non-audit service contracts entered into on or after May 6, 2003, the Fund’s audit committee must pre-approve non-audit services provided not only to the Fund but also to the Covered Entities if the engagements relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund. This list of Covered Entities would include:
Morgan Stanley Retail Funds
Morgan Stanley Investment Advisors Inc.
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
Morgan Stanley DW Inc.
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc.
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Limited
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Private Limited
Morgan Stanley Asset & Investment Trust Management Co., Limited
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Company
Morgan Stanley Services Company, Inc.
Morgan Stanley Distributors Inc.
Morgan Stanley Trust FSB
Morgan Stanley Institutional Funds
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc.
Morgan Stanley Investment Advisors Inc.
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Limited
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Private Limited
Morgan Stanley Asset & Investment Trust Management Co., Limited
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Company
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
Morgan Stanley Distribution, Inc.
Morgan Stanley AIP GP LP
Morgan Stanley Alternative Investment Partners LP
(e)(2) Beginning with non-audit service contracts entered into on or after May 6, 2003, the audit committee also is required to pre-approve services to Covered Entities to the extent that the services are determined to have a direct impact on the operations or financial reporting of the Registrant. 100% of such services were pre-approved by the audit committee pursuant to the Audit Committee’s pre-approval policies and procedures (attached hereto).
(f) Not applicable.
(g) See table above.
(h) The audit committee of the Board of Trustees/Directors has considered whether the provision of services other than audit services performed by the auditors to the Registrant and Covered Entities is compatible with maintaining the auditors’ independence in performing audit services.
Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.
(a) The Fund has a separately-designated standing audit committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act whose members are:
Joseph J. Kearns, Jakki L. Haussler, Michael F. Klein and Allen W. Reed.
(b) Not applicable.
Item 6. Schedule of Investments
(a) See Item 1.
(b) Not applicable.
Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
The Fund’s and its Investment Advisor’s Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures are as follows:
September 2016
MORGAN STANLEY INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
PROXY VOTING POLICY AND PROCEDURES
I. POLICY STATEMENT
Morgan Stanley Investment Management’s (“MSIM”) policy and procedures for voting proxies (“Policy”) with respect to securities held in the accounts of clients applies to those MSIM entities that provide discretionary investment management services and for which an MSIM entity has authority to vote proxies. This Policy is reviewed and updated as necessary to address new and evolving proxy voting issues and standards.
The MSIM entities covered by this Policy currently include the following: Morgan Stanley AIP GP LP, Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc., Morgan Stanley Investment Management Limited, Morgan Stanley Investment Management Company, Morgan Stanley Investment Management (Japan) Co., Limited and Morgan Stanley Investment Management Private Limited (each a “MSIM Affiliate” and collectively referred to as the “MSIM Affiliates” or as “we” below).
Each MSIM Affiliate will use its best efforts to vote proxies as part of its authority to manage, acquire and dispose of account assets. With respect to the registered management investment companies sponsored, managed or advised by any MSIM affiliate (the “MSIM Funds”), each MSIM Affiliate will vote proxies under this Policy pursuant to authority granted under its applicable investment advisory agreement or, in the absence of such authority, as authorized by the Board of Directors/Trustees of the MSIM Funds. A MSIM Affiliate will not vote proxies unless the investment management or investment advisory agreement explicitly authorizes the MSIM Affiliate to vote proxies.
MSIM Affiliates will vote proxies in a prudent and diligent manner and in the best interests of clients, including beneficiaries of and participants in a client’s benefit plan(s) for which the MSIM Affiliates manage assets, consistent with the objective of maximizing long-term investment returns (“Client Proxy Standard”). In addition to voting proxies at portfolio companies, MSIM routinely engages with the management or board of companies in which we invest on a range of governance issues. Governance is a window into or proxy for management and board quality. MSIM engages with companies where we have larger positions, voting issues are material or where we believe we can make a positive impact on the governance structure. MSIM’s engagement process, through private communication with companies, allows us to understand the governance structures at investee companies and better inform our voting decisions. In certain situations, a client or its fiduciary may provide an MSIM Affiliate with a proxy voting policy. In these situations, the MSIM Affiliate will comply with the client’s policy.
Retention and Oversight of Proxy Advisory Firms - ISS and Glass Lewis (together with other proxy research providers as we may retain from time to time, the “Research Providers”) are independent advisers that specialize in providing a variety of fiduciary-level proxy-related services to institutional investment managers, plan sponsors, custodians, consultants, and other
institutional investors. The services provided include in-depth research, global issuer analysis, and voting recommendations.
MSIM has retained Research Providers to analyze proxy issues and to make vote recommendations on those issues. While we may review and utilize the recommendations of one or more Research Providers in making proxy voting decisions, we are in no way obligated to follow such recommendations. MSIM votes all proxies based on its own proxy voting policies in the best interests of each client. In addition to research, ISS provides vote execution, reporting, and recordkeeping services to MSIM.
As part of MSIM’s ongoing oversight of the Research Providers, MSIM performs periodic due diligence on the Research Providers. Topics of the reviews include, but are not limited to, conflicts of interest, methodologies for developing their policies and vote recommendations, and resources.
Voting Proxies for Certain Non-U.S. Companies - Voting proxies of companies located in some jurisdictions may involve several problems that can restrict or prevent the ability to vote such proxies or entail significant costs. These problems include, but are not limited to: (i) proxy statements and ballots being written in a language other than English; (ii) untimely and/or inadequate notice of shareholder meetings; (iii) restrictions on the ability of holders outside the issuer’s jurisdiction of organization to exercise votes; (iv) requirements to vote proxies in person; (v) the imposition of restrictions on the sale of the securities for a period of time in proximity to the shareholder meeting; and (vi) requirements to provide local agents with power of attorney to facilitate our voting instructions. As a result, we vote clients’ non-U.S. proxies on a best efforts basis only, after weighing the costs and benefits of voting such proxies, consistent with the Client Proxy Standard. ISS has been retained to provide assistance in connection with voting non-U.S. proxies.
Securities Lending - MSIM Funds or any other investment vehicle sponsored, managed or advised by a MSIM affiliate may participate in a securities lending program through a third party provider. The voting rights for shares that are out on loan are transferred to the borrower and therefore, the lender (i.e., a MSIM Fund or another investment vehicle sponsored, managed or advised by a MSIM affiliate) is not entitled to vote the lent shares at the company meeting. In general, MSIM believes the revenue received from the lending program outweighs the ability to vote and we will not recall shares for the purpose of voting. However, in cases in which MSIM believes the right to vote outweighs the revenue received, we reserve the right to recall the shares on loan on a best efforts basis.
II. GENERAL PROXY VOTING GUIDELINES
To promote consistency in voting proxies on behalf of our clients, we follow this Policy (subject to any exception set forth herein). The Policy addresses a broad range of issues, and provides general voting parameters on proposals that arise most frequently. However, details of specific proposals vary, and those details affect particular voting decisions, as do factors specific to a given company. Pursuant to the procedures set forth herein, we may vote in a manner that is not
in accordance with the following general guidelines, provided the vote is approved by the Proxy Review Committee (see Section III for description) and is consistent with the Client Proxy Standard. Morgan Stanley AIP GP LP will follow the procedures as described in Appendix A.
We endeavor to integrate governance and proxy voting policy with investment goals, using the vote to encourage portfolio companies to enhance long-term shareholder value and to provide a high standard of transparency such that equity markets can value corporate assets appropriately.
We seek to follow the Client Proxy Standard for each client. At times, this may result in split votes, for example when different clients have varying economic interests in the outcome of a particular voting matter (such as a case in which varied ownership interests in two companies involved in a merger result in different stakes in the outcome). We also may split votes at times based on differing views of portfolio managers.
We may abstain on matters for which disclosure is inadequate.
A. Routine Matters.
We generally support routine management proposals. The following are examples of routine management proposals:
· Approval of financial statements and auditor reports if delivered with an unqualified auditor’s opinion.
· General updating/corrective amendments to the charter, articles of association or bylaws, unless we believe that such amendments would diminish shareholder rights.
· Most proposals related to the conduct of the annual meeting, with the following exceptions. We generally oppose proposals that relate to “the transaction of such other business which may come before the meeting,” and open-ended requests for adjournment. However, where management specifically states the reason for requesting an adjournment and the requested adjournment would facilitate passage of a proposal that would otherwise be supported under this Policy (i.e., an uncontested corporate transaction), the adjournment request will be supported. We do not support proposals that allow companies to call a special meeting with a short (generally two weeks or less) time frame for review.
We generally support shareholder proposals advocating confidential voting procedures and independent tabulation of voting results.
B. Board of Directors.
1. Election of directors: Votes on board nominees can involve balancing a variety of considerations. In vote decisions, we may take into consideration whether the company has a majority voting policy in place that we believe makes the director vote more meaningful. In the absence of a proxy contest, we generally support the board’s nominees for director except as follows:
a. We consider withholding support from or voting against a nominee if we believe a direct conflict exists between the interests of the nominee and the public shareholders, including failure to meet fiduciary standards of care and/or loyalty. We may oppose directors where we conclude that actions of directors are unlawful, unethical or negligent. We consider opposing individual board members or an entire slate if we believe the board is entrenched and/or dealing inadequately with performance problems; if we believe the board is acting with insufficient independence between the board and management; or if we believe the board has not been sufficiently forthcoming with information on key governance or other material matters.
b. We consider withholding support from or voting against interested directors if the company’s board does not meet market standards for director independence, or if otherwise we believe board independence is insufficient. We refer to prevalent market standards as promulgated by a stock exchange or other authority within a given market (e.g., New York Stock Exchange or Nasdaq rules for most U.S. companies, and The Combined Code on Corporate Governance in the United Kingdom). Thus, for an NYSE company with no controlling shareholder, we would expect that at a minimum a majority of directors should be independent as defined by NYSE. Where we view market standards as inadequate, we may withhold votes based on stronger independence standards. Market standards notwithstanding, we generally do not view long board tenure alone as a basis to classify a director as non-independent.
i. At a company with a shareholder or group that controls the company by virtue of a majority economic interest in the company, we have a reduced expectation for board independence, although we believe the presence of independent directors can be helpful, particularly in staffing the audit committee, and at times we may withhold support from or vote against a nominee on the view the board or its committees are not sufficiently independent. In markets where board independence is not the norm (e.g. Japan), however, we consider factors including whether a board of a controlled company includes independent members who can be expected to look out for interests of minority holders.
ii. We consider withholding support from or voting against a nominee if he or she is affiliated with a major shareholder that has representation on a board disproportionate to its economic interest.
c. Depending on market standards, we consider withholding support from or voting against a nominee who is interested and who is standing for election as a member of the company’s compensation/remuneration, nominating/governance or audit committee.
d. We consider withholding support from or voting against nominees if the term for which they are nominated is excessive. We consider this issue on a market-specific basis.
e. We consider withholding support from or voting against nominees if in our view there has been insufficient board renewal (turnover), particularly in the context of extended poor company performance.
f. We consider withholding support from or voting against a nominee standing for election if the board has not taken action to implement generally accepted governance practices for which there is a “bright line” test. For example, in the context of the U.S. market, failure to eliminate a dead hand or slow hand poison pill would be seen as a basis for opposing one or more incumbent nominees.
g. In markets that encourage designated audit committee financial experts, we consider voting against members of an audit committee if no members are designated as such. We also consider voting against the audit committee members if the company has faced financial reporting issues and/or does not put the auditor up for ratification by shareholders.
h. We believe investors should have the ability to vote on individual nominees, and may abstain or vote against a slate of nominees where we are not given the opportunity to vote on individual nominees.
i. We consider withholding support from or voting against a nominee who has failed to attend at least 75% of the nominee’s board and board committee meetings within a given year without a reasonable excuse. We also consider opposing nominees if the company does not meet market standards for disclosure on attendance.
j. We consider withholding support from or voting against a nominee who appears overcommitted, particularly through service on an excessive number of boards. Market expectations are incorporated into this analysis; for U.S. boards, we generally oppose election of a nominee who serves on more than six public company boards (excluding investment companies), although we also may reference National Association of Corporate Directors guidance suggesting that public company CEOs, for example, should serve on no more than two outside boards given level of time commitment required in their primary job.
k. We consider withholding support from or voting against a nominee where we believe executive remuneration practices are poor, particularly if the company does not offer shareholders a separate “say-on-pay” advisory vote on pay.
2. Discharge of directors’ duties: In markets where an annual discharge of directors’ responsibility is a routine agenda item, we generally support such discharge. However, we may vote against discharge or abstain from voting where there are serious findings of
fraud or other unethical behavior for which the individual bears responsibility. The annual discharge of responsibility represents shareholder approval of disclosed actions taken by the board during the year and may make future shareholder action against the board difficult to pursue.
3. Board independence: We generally support U.S. shareholder proposals requiring that a certain percentage (up to 662/3%) of the company’s board members be independent directors, and promoting all-independent audit, compensation and nominating/governance committees.
4. Board diversity: We consider on a case-by-case basis shareholder proposals urging diversity of board membership with respect to gender, race or other factors.
5. Majority voting: We generally support proposals requesting or requiring majority voting policies in election of directors, so long as there is a carve-out for plurality voting in the case of contested elections.
6. Proxy access: We consider proposals on procedures for inclusion of shareholder nominees and to have hose nominees included in the company’s proxy statement and on the company’s proxy ballot on a case-by-case basis. Considerations include ownership thresholds, holding periods, the number of directors that shareholders may nominate and any restrictions on forming a group.
7. Reimbursement for dissident nominees: We generally support well-crafted U.S. shareholder proposals that would provide for reimbursement of dissident nominees elected to a board, as the cost to shareholders in electing such nominees can be factored into the voting decision on those nominees.
8. Proposals to elect directors more frequently: In the U.S. public company context, we usually support shareholder and management proposals to elect all directors annually (to “declassify” the board), although we make an exception to this policy where we believe that long-term shareholder value may be harmed by this change given particular circumstances at the company at the time of the vote on such proposal. As indicated above, outside the United States we generally support greater accountability to shareholders that comes through more frequent director elections, but recognize that many markets embrace longer term lengths, sometimes for valid reasons given other aspects of the legal context in electing boards.
9. Cumulative voting: We generally support proposals to eliminate cumulative voting in the U.S. market context. (Cumulative voting provides that shareholders may concentrate their votes for one or a handful of candidates, a system that can enable a minority bloc to place representation on a board.) U.S. proposals to establish cumulative voting in the election of directors generally will not be supported.
10. Separation of Chairman and CEO positions: We vote on shareholder proposals to separate the Chairman and CEO positions and/or to appoint an independent Chairman
based in part on prevailing practice in particular markets, since the context for such a practice varies. In many non-U.S. markets, we view separation of the roles as a market standard practice, and support division of the roles in that context. In the United States, we consider such proposals on a case-by-case basis, considering, among other things, the existing board leadership structure, company performance, and any evidence of entrenchment or perceived risk that power is overly concentrated in a single individual.
11. Director retirement age and term limits: Proposals setting or recommending director retirement ages or director term limits are voted on a case-by-case basis that includes consideration of company performance, the rate of board renewal, evidence of effective individual director evaluation processes, and any indications of entrenchment.
12. Proposals to limit directors’ liability and/or broaden indemnification of officers and directors: Generally, we will support such proposals provided that an individual is eligible only if he or she has not acted in bad faith, with gross negligence or with reckless disregard of their duties.
C. Statutory auditor boards. The statutory auditor board, which is separate from the main board of directors, plays a role in corporate governance in several markets. These boards are elected by shareholders to provide assurance on compliance with legal and accounting standards and the company’s articles of association. We generally vote for statutory auditor nominees if they meet independence standards. In markets that require disclosure on attendance by internal statutory auditors, however, we consider voting against nominees for these positions who failed to attend at least 75% of meetings in the previous year. We also consider opposing nominees if the company does not meet market standards for disclosure on attendance.
D. Corporate transactions and proxy fights. We examine proposals relating to mergers, acquisitions and other special corporate transactions (i.e., takeovers, spin-offs, sales of assets, reorganizations, restructurings and recapitalizations) on a case-by-case basis in the interests of each fund or other account. Proposals for mergers or other significant transactions that are friendly and approved by the Research Providers usually are supported if there is no portfolio manager objection. We also analyze proxy contests on a case-by-case basis.
E. Changes in capital structure.
1. We generally support the following:
· Management and shareholder proposals aimed at eliminating unequal voting rights, assuming fair economic treatment of classes of shares we hold.
· U.S. management proposals to increase the authorization of existing classes of common stock (or securities convertible into common stock) if: (i) a clear business purpose is stated that we can support and the number of shares requested is reasonable in relation to the purpose for which authorization is requested; and/or (ii) the authorization does not exceed 100% of shares currently authorized
and at least 30% of the total new authorization will be outstanding. (We consider proposals that do not meet these criteria on a case-by-case basis.)
· U.S. management proposals to create a new class of preferred stock or for issuances of preferred stock up to 50% of issued capital, unless we have concerns about use of the authority for anti-takeover purposes.
· Proposals in non-U.S. markets that in our view appropriately limit potential dilution of existing shareholders. A major consideration is whether existing shareholders would have preemptive rights for any issuance under a proposal for standing share issuance authority. We generally consider market-specific guidance in making these decisions; for example, in the U.K. market we usually follow Association of British Insurers’ (“ABI”) guidance, although company-specific factors may be considered and for example, may sometimes lead us to voting against share authorization proposals even if they meet ABI guidance.
· Management proposals to authorize share repurchase plans, except in some cases in which we believe there are insufficient protections against use of an authorization for anti-takeover purposes.
· Management proposals to reduce the number of authorized shares of common or preferred stock, or to eliminate classes of preferred stock.
· Management proposals to effect stock splits.
· Management proposals to effect reverse stock splits if management proportionately reduces the authorized share amount set forth in the corporate charter. Reverse stock splits that do not adjust proportionately to the authorized share amount generally will be approved if the resulting increase in authorized shares coincides with the proxy guidelines set forth above for common stock increases.
· Management dividend payout proposals, except where we perceive company payouts to shareholders as inadequate.
2. We generally oppose the following (notwithstanding management support):
· Proposals to add classes of stock that would substantially dilute the voting interests of existing shareholders.
· Proposals to increase the authorized or issued number of shares of existing classes of stock that are unreasonably dilutive, particularly if there are no preemptive rights for existing shareholders. However, depending on market practices, we consider voting for proposals giving general authorization for issuance of shares not subject to pre-emptive rights if the authority is limited.
· Proposals that authorize share issuance at a discount to market rates, except where authority for such issuance is de minimis, or if there is a special situation that we believe justifies such authorization (as may be the case, for example, at a company under severe stress and risk of bankruptcy).
· Proposals relating to changes in capitalization by 100% or more.
We consider on a case-by-case basis shareholder proposals to increase dividend payout ratios, in light of market practice and perceived market weaknesses, as well as individual company payout history and current circumstances. For example, currently we perceive low payouts to shareholders as a concern at some Japanese companies, but may deem a low payout ratio as appropriate for a growth company making good use of its cash, notwithstanding the broader market concern.
F. Takeover Defenses and Shareholder Rights.
1. Shareholder rights plans: We generally support proposals to require shareholder approval or ratification of shareholder rights plans (poison pills). In voting on rights plans or similar takeover defenses, we consider on a case-by-case basis whether the company has demonstrated a need for the defense in the context of promoting long-term share value; whether provisions of the defense are in line with generally accepted governance principles in the market (and specifically the presence of an adequate qualified offer provision that would exempt offers meeting certain conditions from the pill); and the specific context if the proposal is made in the midst of a takeover bid or contest for control.
2. Supermajority voting requirements: We generally oppose requirements for supermajority votes to amend the charter or bylaws, unless the provisions protect minority shareholders where there is a large shareholder. In line with this view, in the absence of a large shareholder we support reasonable shareholder proposals to limit such supermajority voting requirements.
3. Shareholders right to call a special meeting: We consider proposals to enhance a shareholder’s rights to call meetings on a case-by-case basis. At large-cap U.S. companies, we generally support efforts to establish the right of holders of 10% or more of shares to call special meetings, unless the board or state law has set a policy or law establishing such rights at a threshold that we believe to be acceptable.
4. Written consent rights: In the U.S. context, we examine proposals for shareholder written consent rights on a case-by-case basis.
5. Reincorporation: We consider management and shareholder proposals to reincorporate to a different jurisdiction on a case-by-case basis. We oppose such proposals if we believe the main purpose is to take advantage of laws or judicial precedents that reduce shareholder rights.
6. Anti-greenmail provisions: Proposals relating to the adoption of anti-greenmail provisions will be supported, provided that the proposal: (i) defines greenmail; (ii) prohibits buyback offers to large block holders (holders of at least 1% of the outstanding shares and in certain cases, a greater amount) not made to all shareholders or not approved by disinterested shareholders; and (iii) contains no anti-takeover measures or other provisions restricting the rights of shareholders.
7. Bundled proposals: We may consider opposing or abstaining on proposals if disparate issues are “bundled” and presented for a single vote.
G. Auditors. We generally support management proposals for selection or ratification of independent auditors. However, we may consider opposing such proposals with reference to incumbent audit firms if the company has suffered from serious accounting irregularities and we believe rotation of the audit firm is appropriate, or if fees paid to the auditor for non-audit-related services are excessive. Generally, to determine if non-audit fees are excessive, a 50% test will be applied (i.e., non-audit-related fees should be less than 50% of the total fees paid to the auditor). We generally vote against proposals to indemnify auditors.
H. Executive and Director Remuneration.
1. We generally support the following:
· Proposals for employee equity compensation plans and other employee ownership plans, provided that our research does not indicate that approval of the plan would be against shareholder interest. Such approval may be against shareholder interest if it authorizes excessive dilution and shareholder cost, particularly in the context of high usage (“run rate”) of equity compensation in the recent past; or if there are objectionable plan design and provisions.
· Proposals relating to fees to outside directors, provided the amounts are not excessive relative to other companies in the country or industry, and provided that the structure is appropriate within the market context. While stock-based compensation to outside directors is positive if moderate and appropriately structured, we are wary of significant stock option awards or other performance-based awards for outside directors, as well as provisions that could result in significant forfeiture of value on a director’s decision to resign from a board (such forfeiture can undercut director independence).
· Proposals for employee stock purchase plans that permit discounts, but only for grants that are part of a broad-based employee plan, including all non-executive employees, and only if the discounts are limited to a reasonable market standard or less.
· Proposals for the establishment of employee retirement and severance plans, provided that our research does not indicate that approval of the plan would be against shareholder interest.
2. We generally oppose retirement plans and bonuses for non-executive directors and independent statutory auditors.
3. In the U.S. context, we generally vote against shareholder proposals requiring shareholder approval of all severance agreements, but we generally support proposals that require shareholder approval for agreements in excess of three times the annual compensation (salary and bonus) or proposals that require companies to adopt a provision requiring an executive to receive accelerated vesting of equity awards if there is a change of control and the executive is terminated. We generally oppose shareholder proposals that would establish arbitrary caps on pay. We consider on a case-by-case basis shareholder proposals that seek to limit Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans (SERPs), but support such shareholder proposals where we consider SERPs excessive.
4. Shareholder proposals advocating stronger and/or particular pay-for-performance models will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, with consideration of the merits of the individual proposal within the context of the particular company and its labor markets, and the company’s current and past practices. While we generally support emphasis on long-term components of senior executive pay and strong linkage of pay to performance, we consider factors including whether a proposal may be overly prescriptive, and the impact of the proposal, if implemented as written, on recruitment and retention.
5. We generally support proposals advocating reasonable senior executive and director stock ownership guidelines and holding requirements for shares gained in executive equity compensation programs.
6. We generally support shareholder proposals for reasonable “claw-back” provisions that provide for company recovery of senior executive bonuses to the extent they were based on achieving financial benchmarks that were not actually met in light of subsequent restatements.
7. Management proposals effectively to re-price stock options are considered on a case-by-case basis. Considerations include the company’s reasons and justifications for a re-pricing, the company’s competitive position, whether senior executives and outside directors are excluded, potential cost to shareholders, whether the re-pricing or share exchange is on a value-for-value basis, and whether vesting requirements are extended.
8. Say-on-Pay: We consider proposals relating to an advisory vote on remuneration on a case-by-case basis. Considerations include a review of the relationship between executive remuneration and performance based on operating trends and total shareholder return over multiple performance periods. In addition, we review remuneration structures and potential poor pay practices, including relative magnitude of pay, discretionary bonus awards, tax gross ups, change-in-control features, internal
pay equity and peer group construction. As long-term investors, we support remuneration policies that align with long-term shareholder returns.
I. Social, Political and Environmental Issues. Shareholders in the United States and certain other markets submit proposals encouraging changes in company disclosure and practices related to particular corporate social, political and environmental matters. We consider how to vote on the proposals on a case-by-case basis to determine likely impacts on shareholder value. We seek to balance concerns on reputational and other risks that lie behind a proposal against costs of implementation, while considering appropriate shareholder and management prerogatives. We may abstain from voting on proposals that do not have a readily determinable financial impact on shareholder value. We support proposals that if implemented would enhance useful disclosure, but we generally vote against proposals requesting reports that we believe are duplicative, related to matters not material to the business, or that would impose unnecessary or excessive costs. We believe that certain social and environmental shareholder proposals may intrude excessively on management prerogatives, which can lead us to oppose them.
J. Funds of Funds. Certain MSIM Funds advised by an MSIM Affiliate invest only in other MSIM Funds. If an underlying fund has a shareholder meeting, in order to avoid any potential conflict of interest, such proposals will be voted in the same proportion as the votes of the other shareholders of the underlying fund, unless otherwise determined by the Proxy Review Committee. Other MSIM Funds invest in unaffiliated funds. If an unaffiliated underlying fund has a shareholder meeting and the MSIM Fund owns more than 25% of the voting shares of the underlying fund, the MSIM Fund will vote its shares in the unaffiliated underlying fund in the same proportion as the votes of the other shareholders of the underlying fund to the extent possible.
III. ADMINISTRATION OF POLICY
The MSIM Proxy Review Committee (the “Committee”) has overall responsibility for the Policy. The Committee consists of investment professionals who represent the different investment disciplines and geographic locations of the firm, and is chaired by the director of the Corporate Governance Team (“CGT”). Because proxy voting is an investment responsibility and impacts shareholder value, and because of their knowledge of companies and markets, portfolio managers and other members of investment staff play a key role in proxy voting, although the Committee has final authority over proxy votes.
The CGT Director is responsible for identifying issues that require Committee deliberation or ratification. The CGT, working with advice of investment teams and the Committee, is responsible for voting on routine items and on matters that can be addressed in line with these Policy guidelines. The CGT has responsibility for voting case-by-case where guidelines and precedent provide adequate guidance.
The Committee will periodically review and have the authority to amend, as necessary, the Policy and establish and direct voting positions consistent with the Client Proxy Standard.
CGT and members of the Committee may take into account Research Providers’ recommendations and research as well as any other relevant information they may request or receive, including portfolio manager and/or analyst comments and research, as applicable. Generally, proxies related to securities held in accounts that are managed pursuant to quantitative, index or index-like strategies (“Index Strategies”) will be voted in the same manner as those held in actively managed accounts, unless economic interests of the accounts differ. Because accounts managed using Index Strategies are passively managed accounts, research from portfolio managers and/or analysts related to securities held in these accounts may not be available. If the affected securities are held only in accounts that are managed pursuant to Index Strategies, and the proxy relates to a matter that is not described in this Policy, the CGT will consider all available information from the Research Providers, and to the extent that the holdings are significant, from the portfolio managers and/or analysts.
A. Committee Procedures
The Committee meets at least quarterly, and reviews and considers changes to the Policy at least annually. Through meetings and/or written communications, the Committee is responsible for monitoring and ratifying “split votes” (i.e., allowing certain shares of the same issuer that are the subject of the same proxy solicitation and held by one or more MSIM portfolios to be voted differently than other shares) and/or “override voting” (i.e., voting all MSIM portfolio shares in a manner contrary to the Policy). The Committee will review developing issues and approve upcoming votes, as appropriate, for matters as requested by CGT.
The Committee reserves the right to review voting decisions at any time and to make voting decisions as necessary to ensure the independence and integrity of the votes.
B. Material Conflicts of Interest
In addition to the procedures discussed above, if the CGT Director determines that an issue raises a material conflict of interest, the CGT Director may request a special committee to review, and recommend a course of action with respect to, the conflict(s) in question (“Special Committee”).
A potential material conflict of interest could exist in the following situations, among others:
1. The issuer soliciting the vote is a client of MSIM or an affiliate of MSIM and the vote is on a matter that materially affects the issuer.
2. The proxy relates to Morgan Stanley common stock or any other security issued by Morgan Stanley or its affiliates except if echo voting is used, as with MSIM Funds, as described herein.
3. Morgan Stanley has a material pecuniary interest in the matter submitted for a vote (e.g., acting as a financial advisor to a party to a merger or acquisition for which Morgan Stanley will be paid a success fee if completed).
If the CGT Director determines that an issue raises a potential material conflict of interest, depending on the facts and circumstances, the issue will be addressed as follows:
1. If the matter relates to a topic that is discussed in this Policy, the proposal will be voted as per the Policy.
2. If the matter is not discussed in this Policy or the Policy indicates that the issue is to be decided case-by-case, the proposal will be voted in a manner consistent with the Research Providers, provided that all the Research Providers consulted have the same recommendation, no portfolio manager objects to that vote, and the vote is consistent with MSIM’s Client Proxy Standard.
3. If the Research Providers’ recommendations differ, the CGT Director will refer the matter to a Special Committee to vote on the proposal, as appropriate.
Any Special Committee shall be comprised of the CGT Director, and at least two portfolio managers (preferably members of the Committee), as approved by the Committee. The CGT Director may request non-voting participation by MSIM’s General Counsel or his/her designee and the Chief Compliance Officer or his/her designee. In addition to the research provided by Research Providers, the Special Committee may request analysis from MSIM Affiliate investment professionals and outside sources to the extent it deems appropriate.
C. Proxy Voting Reporting
The CGT will document in writing all Committee and Special Committee decisions and actions, which documentation will be maintained by the CGT for a period of at least six years. To the extent these decisions relate to a security held by an MSIM Fund, the CGT will report the decisions to each applicable Board of Trustees/Directors of those Funds at each Board’s next regularly scheduled Board meeting. The report will contain information concerning decisions made during the most recently ended calendar quarter immediately preceding the Board meeting.
MSIM will promptly provide a copy of this Policy to any client requesting it. MSIM will also, upon client request, promptly provide a report indicating how each proxy was voted with respect to securities held in that client’s account.
MSIM’s Legal Department is responsible for filing an annual Form N-PX on behalf of each MSIM Fund for which such filing is required, indicating how all proxies were voted with respect to such Fund’s holdings.
APPENDIX A
Appendix A applies to the following accounts managed by Morgan Stanley AIP GP LP: (i) closed-end funds registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; (ii) discretionary separate accounts; (iii) unregistered funds; and (iv) non-discretionary accounts offered in connection with AIP’s Customized Advisory Portfolio Solutions service. Generally, AIP will follow the guidelines set forth in Section II of MSIM’s Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures. To the extent that such guidelines do not provide specific direction, or AIP determines that consistent with the Client Proxy Standard, the guidelines should not be followed, the Proxy Review Committee has delegated the voting authority to vote securities held by accounts managed by AIP to the Fund of Hedge Funds investment team, the Private Equity Fund of Funds investment team the Private Equity Real Estate Fund of Funds investment team or the Portfolio Solutions team of AIP. A summary of decisions made by the applicable investment teams will be made available to the Proxy Review Committee for its information at the next scheduled meeting of the Proxy Review Committee.
In certain cases, AIP may determine to abstain from determining (or recommending) how a proxy should be voted (and therefore abstain from voting such proxy or recommending how such proxy should be voted), such as where the expected cost of giving due consideration to the proxy does not justify the potential benefits to the affected account(s) that might result from adopting or rejecting (as the case may be) the measure in question.
Waiver of Voting Rights
For regulatory reasons, AIP may either 1) invest in a class of securities of an underlying fund (the “Fund”) that does not provide for voting rights; or 2) waive 100% of its voting rights with respect to the following:
1. Any rights with respect to the removal or replacement of a director, general partner, managing member or other person acting in a similar capacity for or on behalf of the Fund (each individually a “Designated Person,” and collectively, the “Designated Persons”), which may include, but are not limited to, voting on the election or removal of a Designated Person in the event of such Designated Person’s death, disability, insolvency, bankruptcy, incapacity, or other event requiring a vote of interest holders of the Fund to remove or replace a Designated Person; and
2. Any rights in connection with a determination to renew, dissolve, liquidate, or otherwise terminate or continue the Fund, which may include, but are not limited to, voting on the renewal, dissolution, liquidation, termination or continuance of the Fund upon the occurrence of an event described in the Fund’s organizational documents; provided, however, that, if the Fund’s organizational documents require the consent of the Fund’s general partner or manager, as the case may be, for any such termination or continuation of the Fund to be effective, then AIP may exercise its voting rights with respect to such matter.
Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies
The Latin America Discovery Fund, Inc.
FUND MANAGEMENT
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT. As of the date of this report, the Fund is managed within the Latin American Equity team. The team consists of portfolio managers and analysts. Current members of the team jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio are Gaite Ali, a Managing Director of the Adviser. Ms. Ali has been associated with the Adviser in an investment management capacity since September 2007 and began managing the Fund in February 2011.
The composition of the team may change from time to time.
OTHER ACCOUNTS MANAGED BY THE PORTFOLIO MANAGERS
As of December 31, 2016:
Ms. Ali managed five other registered investment company with a total of approximately $1.9 billion in assets; six pooled investment vehicles other than registered investment companies with a total of approximately $5.1 billion in assets; and 20 other accounts with a total of approximately $6.1 billion in assets. Of these other accounts, five accounts with a total of approximately $3.2 billion in assets had performance-based fees.
Because the portfolio managers manages assets for other investment companies, pooled investment vehicles and/or other accounts (including institutional clients, pension plans and certain high net worth individuals), there may be an incentive to favor one client over another resulting in conflicts of interest. For instance, the Adviser may receive fees from certain accounts that are higher than the fee it receives from the Fund, or it may receive a performance-based fee on certain accounts. In those instances, the portfolio manager may have an incentive to favor the higher and/or performance-based fee accounts over the Fund. In addition, a conflict of interest could exist to the extent the Adviser has proprietary investments in certain accounts, where portfolio managers have personal investments in certain accounts or when certain accounts are investment options in the Adviser’s employee benefits and/or deferred compensation plans. The portfolio managers may have an incentive to favor these accounts over others. If the Adviser manages accounts that engage in short sales of securities of the type in which the Fund invests, the Adviser could be seen as harming the performance of the Fund for the benefit of the accounts engaging in short sales if the short sales cause the market value of the securities to fall. The Adviser has adopted trade allocation and other policies and procedures that it believes are reasonably designed to address these and other conflicts of interest.
Portfolio Manager Compensation Structure
Morgan Stanley’s compensation structure is based on a total reward system of base salary and incentive compensation, which is paid either in the form of cash bonus, or for employees meeting the specified deferred compensation eligibility threshold, partially as a cash bonus and partially as mandatory deferred compensation. Deferred compensation granted to Investment Management employees are generally granted as a mix of deferred cash awards under the
Investment Management Alignment Plan (IMAP and equity-based awards in the form of stock units. The portion of incentive compensation granted in the form of a deferred compensation award and the terms of such awards are determined annually by the Compensation, Management Development and Succession Committee of the Morgan Stanley Board of Directors.
Base salary compensation. Generally, portfolio managers receive base salary compensation based on the level of their position with the Adviser.
Incentive compensation. In addition to base compensation, portfolio managers may receive discretionary year-end compensation.
Incentive compensation may include:
· Cash Bonus.
· Deferred Compensation:
· A mandatory program that defers a portion of incentive compensation into restricted stock units or other awards based on Morgan Stanley common stock or other plans that are subject to vesting and other conditions.
· IMAP is a cash-based deferred compensation plan designed to increase the alignment of participants’ interests with the interests of the Advisor’s clients. For eligible employees, a portion of their deferred compensation is mandatorily deferred into IMAP on an annual basis. Awards granted under IMAP are notionally invested in referenced funds available pursuant to the plan, which are funds advised by Investment Management. Portfolio managers are required to notionally invest a minimum of 25% of their account balance in the designated funds that they manage and are included in the IMAP notional investment fund menu.
· Deferred compensation awards are typically subject to vesting over a multi-year period and are subject to cancellation through the payment date for competition, cause (i.e., any act or omission that constitutes a breach of obligation to the Company, including failure to comply with internal compliance, ethics or risk management standards, and failure or refusal to perform duties satisfactorily, including supervisory and management duties), disclosure of proprietary information, and solicitation of employees or clients. Awards are also subject to clawback through the payment date if an employee’s act or omission (including with respect to direct supervisory responsibilities) causes a restatement of the Firm’s consolidated financial results, constitutes a violation of the Firm’s global risk management principles, policies and standards, or causes a loss of revenue associated with a position on which the employee was paid and the employee operated outside of internal control policies.
Investment Management compensates employees based on principles of pay-for-performance, market competitiveness and risk management. Eligibility for, and the amount of any, discretionary compensation is subject to a multi-dimensional process. Specifically, consideration is given to one or more of the following factors, which can vary by portfolio management team and circumstances:
· Revenue and profitability of the business and/or each fund/accounts managed by the portfolio manager
· Revenue and profitability of the Firm
· Return on equity and risk factors of both the business units and Morgan Stanley
· Assets managed by the portfolio manager
· External market conditions
· New business development and business sustainability
· Contribution to client objectives
· Individual contribution and performance
Further, the Firm’s Global Incentive Compensation Discretion Policy requires compensation managers to consider only legitimate, business related factors when exercising discretion in determining variable incentive compensation, including adherence to Morgan Stanley’s core values, conduct, disciplinary actions in the current performance year, risk management and risk outcomes.
SECURITIES OWNERSHIP OF PORTFOLIO MANAGERS
As of December 31, 2016, the portfolio managers did not own any shares of the Fund.
Item 9. Closed-End Fund Repurchases
REGISTRANT PURCHASE OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Period | | (a) Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased | | (b) Average Price Paid per Share (or Unit) | | (c) Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs | | (d) Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares (or Units) that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs | |
January 2016 | | — | | | | N/A | | N/A | |
February 2016 | | 4,251 | | | | N/A | | N/A | |
March 2016 | | 3,194 | | | | N/A | | N/A | |
April 2016 | | 149 | | | | N/A | | N/A | |
May 2016 | | — | | | | N/A | | N/A | |
June 2016 | | — | | | | N/A | | N/A | |
July 2016 | | — | | | | N/A | | N/A | |
August 2016 | | — | | | | N/A | | N/A | |
September 2016 | | — | | | | N/A | | N/A | |
October 2016 | | 11,308 | | | | N/A | | N/A | |
November 2016 | | 3,598 | | | | N/A | | N/A | |
December 2016 | | — | | | | N/A | | N/A | |
Total | | 22,500 | | $ | 9.47 | | N/A | | N/A | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
Not applicable.
Item 11. Controls and Procedures
(a) The Fund’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the Fund’s disclosure controls and procedures are sufficient to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Fund in this Form N-CSR was recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, based upon such officers’ evaluation of these controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of the report.
(b) There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Item 12. Exhibits
(a) The Code of Ethics for Principal Executive and Senior Financial Officers is attached hereto.
(b) A separate certification for each principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the registrant are attached hereto as part of EX-99.CERT.
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.
The Latin American Discovery Fund, Inc.
/s/ John H. Gernon | |
John H. Gernon | |
Principal Executive Officer | |
February 16, 2017 | |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
/s/ John H. Gernon | |
John H. Gernon | |
Principal Executive Officer | |
February 16, 2017 | |
| |
/s/ Francis Smith | |
Francis Smith | |
Principal Financial Officer | |
February 16, 2017 | |