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

 

FORM N-Q

 

QUARTERLY SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY

 

Investment Company Act file number:

811-08076

 

 

Exact name of registrant as specified in charter:

Aberdeen Emerging Markets Smaller Company Opportunities Fund, Inc.

 

 

 

 

Address of principal executive offices:

1735 Market Street, 32nd Floor

 

Philadelphia, PA 19103

 

 

Name and address of agent for service:

Ms. Andrea Melia

 

Aberdeen Asset Management Inc.

 

c/o 1735 Market Street, 32nd Floor

 

Philadelphia, PA 19103

 

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

800-522-5465

 

 

Date of fiscal year end:

October 31

 

 

Date of reporting period:

July 31, 2016

 



 

Item 1. Schedule of Investments

 

The schedule of investments for the three-month period ended July 31, 2016 is filed herewith.

 



 

Portfolio of Investments (unaudited)

 

As of July 31, 2016

 

Shares

 

Description

 

Value
(US$)

 

LONG-TERM EQUITY SECURITIES IN EMERGING MARKET COUNTRIES—96.7%

 

 

 

COMMON STOCKS—95.5%

 

 

 

BRAZIL—10.1%

 

 

 

COMMERCIAL SERVICES & SUPPLIES—0.6%

 

 

 

96,852

 

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

 

$

876,997

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS & SERVICES—1.3%

 

 

 

442,995

 

OdontoPrev SA

 

1,776,133

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT & DEVELOPMENT—2.7%

 

 

 

398,155

 

Iguatemi Empresa de Shopping Centers SA

 

3,750,202

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ROAD & RAIL—1.1%

 

 

 

127,450

 

Localiza Rent a Car SA

 

1,584,084

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SOFTWARE—1.2%

 

 

 

168,000

 

Totvs SA

 

1,704,663

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TEXTILES, APPAREL & LUXURY GOODS—1.6%

 

 

 

255,361

 

Arezzo Industria e Comercio SA

 

2,205,190

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE—1.6%

 

 

 

201,000

 

Wilson Sons Ltd., BDR

 

2,192,006

 

 

 

 

 

14,089,275

 

CHILE—4.6%

 

 

 

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES—1.0%

 

 

 

745,000

 

Sonda SA

 

1,365,615

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT & DEVELOPMENT—3.6%

 

 

 

2,298,700

 

Parque Arauco SA

 

5,091,446

 

 

 

 

 

6,457,061

 

CHINA—2.8%

 

 

 

CHEMICALS—0.7%

 

 

 

2,704,000

 

Yingde Gases Group Co. Ltd.(a)

 

964,052

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PHARMACEUTICALS—1.0%

 

 

 

835,000

 

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

 

1,317,747

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT & DEVELOPMENT—1.1%

 

 

 

1,791,900

 

Yanlord Land Group Ltd.(a)

 

1,580,002

 

 

 

 

 

3,861,801

 

EGYPT—1.5%

 

 

 

FOOD PRODUCTS—1.5%

 

 

 

133,914

 

Edita Food Industries SAE, GDR

 

816,875

 

1,922,692

 

Juhayna Food Industries(a)

 

1,304,684

 

 

 

 

 

2,121,559

 

 

 

 

 

2,121,559

 

HONG KONG—4.7%

 

 

 

BANKS—1.4%

 

 

 

1,000,000

 

Dah Sing Banking Group Ltd.(a)

 

1,875,607

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HOTELS, RESTAURANTS & LEISURE—1.0%

 

 

 

400,000

 

Cafe de Coral Holdings Ltd.(a)

 

1,345,925

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MARINE—1.1%

 

 

 

14,116,000

 

Pacific Basin Shipping Ltd.(a)(b)

 

1,567,656

 

 

See Notes to Portfolio of Investments.

 

Aberdeen Emerging Markets Smaller Company Fund, Inc.

 



 

TEXTILES, APPAREL & LUXURY GOODS—0.6%

 

 

 

1,090,000

 

Texwinca Holdings Ltd.(a)

 

$

858,145

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE—0.6%

 

 

 

136,000

 

Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Co. Ltd.(a)

 

886,957

 

 

 

 

 

6,534,290

 

INDIA—14.4%

 

 

 

CHEMICALS—3.1%

 

 

 

235,000

 

Castrol (India) Ltd.(a)

 

1,557,292

 

540,000

 

Kansai Nerolac Paints Ltd.(a)

 

2,782,714

 

 

 

 

 

4,340,006

 

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS—2.4%

 

 

 

420,000

 

Ramco Cements Ltd. (The)(a)

 

3,436,415

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES—1.3%

 

 

 

220,074

 

Mphasis Ltd.(a)

 

1,770,578

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PERSONAL PRODUCTS—3.5%

 

 

 

204,372

 

Godrej Consumer Products Ltd.(a)

 

4,852,978

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PHARMACEUTICALS—1.8%

 

 

 

104,500

 

Piramal Enterprises Ltd.

 

2,511,526

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ROAD & RAIL—2.3%

 

 

 

144,000

 

Container Corp. of India Ltd.(a)

 

3,239,772

 

 

 

 

 

20,151,275

 

INDONESIA—9.5%

 

 

 

BANKS—0.8%

 

 

 

20,311,837

 

Bank Permata Tbk PT(a)(b)

 

1,065,228

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS—1.0%

 

 

 

17,142,800

 

Holcim Indonesia Tbk PT(a)

 

1,448,233

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOOD PRODUCTS—2.4%

 

 

 

1,800,000

 

Delfi Ltd.

 

3,316,178

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SPECIALTY RETAIL—1.9%

 

 

 

36,278,000

 

Ace Hardware Indonesia Tbk PT(a)

 

2,690,020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TRADING COMPANIES & DISTRIBUTORS—3.4%

 

 

 

9,086,300

 

AKR Corporindo Tbk PT(a)

 

4,694,138

 

 

 

 

 

13,213,797

 

JORDAN—1.5%

 

 

 

PHARMACEUTICALS—1.5%

 

 

 

59,806

 

Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC(a)

 

2,082,484

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KENYA—1.6%

 

 

 

BEVERAGES—1.6%

 

 

 

753,800

 

East African Breweries Ltd.

 

2,155,838

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MALAYSIA—6.1%

 

 

 

AUTOMOBILES—0.9%

 

 

 

790,200

 

Oriental Holdings Bhd

 

1,281,248

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BEVERAGES—1.0%

 

 

 

300,000

 

Heineken Malaysia Bhd(a)

 

1,326,965

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOOD PRODUCTS—1.1%

 

 

 

240,000

 

United Plantations Bhd

 

1,564,820

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MULTILINE RETAIL—2.1%

 

 

 

4,391,600

 

Aeon Co. (M) Bhd(a)

 

2,925,975

 

 

See Notes to Portfolio of Investments.

 



 

REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT & DEVELOPMENT—1.0%

 

 

 

1,790,413

 

SP Setia Bhd

 

$

1,350,342

 

 

 

 

 

8,449,350

 

MEXICO—3.9%

 

 

 

TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE—3.9%

 

 

 

110,676

 

Grupo Aeroportuario del Centro Norte SAB de CV, ADR

 

5,490,636

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NETHERLANDS—1.5%

 

 

 

SEMICONDUCTORS & SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT—1.5%

 

 

 

52,000

 

ASM International NV(a)

 

2,026,756

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NIGERIA—1.2%

 

 

 

BANKS—0.7%

 

 

 

19,437,011

 

Zenith Bank PLC

 

1,026,665

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BEVERAGES—0.5%

 

 

 

2,125,000

 

Guinness Nigeria PLC

 

630,990

 

 

 

 

 

1,657,655

 

PERU—1.1%

 

 

 

CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING—1.1%

 

 

 

195,354

 

Grana y Montero SA, ADR

 

1,592,135

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PHILIPPINES—2.7%

 

 

 

HOTELS, RESTAURANTS & LEISURE—2.7%

 

 

 

705,660

 

Jollibee Foods Corp.(a)

 

3,821,681

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

POLAND—1.9%

 

 

 

FOOD & STAPLES RETAILING—1.9%

 

 

 

196,615

 

Eurocash SA(a)

 

2,641,856

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH KOREA—2.2%

 

 

 

BANKS—1.5%

 

 

 

261,171

 

BNK Financial Group, Inc.(a)

 

2,055,360

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MULTILINE RETAIL—0.7%

 

 

 

6,000

 

Shinsegae, Inc.(a)

 

976,279

 

 

 

 

 

3,031,639

 

ROMANIA—1.8%

 

 

 

BANKS—1.8%

 

 

 

1,045,000

 

BRD-Groupe Societe Generale SA(a)

 

2,567,677

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RUSSIA—0.8%

 

 

 

BEVERAGES—0.6%

 

 

 

133,150

 

Synergy PJSC(b)

 

782,879

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOOD & STAPLES RETAILING—0.2%

 

 

 

179,171

 

O’Key Group SA, GDR

 

359,238

 

 

 

 

 

1,142,117

 

SOUTH AFRICA—9.0%

 

 

 

CHEMICALS—1.4%

 

 

 

1,303,000

 

African Oxygen Ltd.

 

1,877,353

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DIVERSIFIED FINANCIAL SERVICES—1.7%

 

 

 

192,343

 

JSE Ltd.(a)

 

2,356,330

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOOD & STAPLES RETAILING—4.3%

 

 

 

351,900

 

Clicks Group Ltd.

 

3,150,083

 

193,735

 

The SPAR Group Ltd.

 

2,890,132

 

 

 

 

 

6,040,215

 

 

See Notes to Portfolio of Investments.

 



 

HOTELS, RESTAURANTS & LEISURE—1.6%

 

 

 

196,384

 

City Lodge Hotels Ltd.

 

$

2,235,294

 

 

 

 

 

12,509,192

 

SRI LANKA—1.8%

 

 

 

INDUSTRIAL CONGLOMERATES—1.8%

 

 

 

2,583,318

 

John Keells Holdings PLC(a)

 

2,491,236

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TAIWAN—0.1%

 

 

 

MULTILINE RETAIL—0.1%

 

 

 

16,000

 

Poya International Co. Ltd.(a)

 

197,476

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THAILAND—4.8%

 

 

 

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS—1.3%

 

 

 

184,000

 

Siam City Cement PCL, Foreign Shares(a)

 

1,761,914

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT INSTRUMENTS & COMPONENTS—1.0%

 

 

 

1,679,000

 

Hana Microelectronics PCL, Foreign Shares(a)

 

1,400,566

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS & SERVICES—0.7%

 

 

 

190,000

 

Bumrungrad Hospital PCL, Foreign Shares(a)

 

1,005,682

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MEDIA—0.6%

 

 

 

1,200,100

 

BEC World PCL, Foreign Shares(a)

 

853,239

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT & DEVELOPMENT—1.2%

 

 

 

1,020,000

 

Central Pattana PCL, Foreign Shares(a)

 

1,685,181

 

 

 

 

 

6,706,582

 

TURKEY—5.9%

 

 

 

BEVERAGES—2.1%

 

 

 

231,230

 

Coca-Cola Icecek AS(a)

 

2,870,806

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS—2.1%

 

 

 

584,702

 

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

 

2,938,581

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INSURANCE—1.7%

 

 

 

1,982,000

 

Aksigorta AS(a)(b)

 

1,327,781

 

176,154

 

AvivaSA Emeklilik ve Hayat AS

 

1,111,484

 

 

 

 

 

2,439,265

 

 

 

 

 

8,248,652

 

 

 

 

 

133,242,020

 

PRIVATE EQUITY —1.2%

 

 

 

GLOBAL—0.8%

 

 

 

7,248,829

(c)

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

 

156,647

 

2,400,000

(c)

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

 

944,544

 

 

 

 

 

1,101,191

 

ISRAEL—0.4%

 

 

 

1,674,587

(c)

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

 

199,778

 

72,640

 

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

 

 

62,304

 

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

 

 

15,716

 

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

 

 

52

 

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

 

 

46,856

 

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

 

33,590

 

12

 

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

 

 

23,264

 

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

 

 

13,526

 

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

 

 

9,952

 

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

 

 

22

 

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

 

 

2,750,000

(c)

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

 

100,073

 

 

See Notes to Portfolio of Investments.

 



 

$

761,184

(c)

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

 

$

299,450

 

32,574

 

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

 

 

15,531

 

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

 

 

13,219

 

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

 

 

6,864

 

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

 

 

4,150

 

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

 

 

1,802

 

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

 

 

2,713

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

632,891

 

 

 

 

 

1,734,082

 

WARRANT—0.0%

 

 

 

SRI LANKA—0.0%

 

 

 

INDUSTRIAL CONGLOMERATES—0.0%

 

 

 

105,832

 

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

 

4,646

 

 

 

 

 

4,646

 

 

 

Total Long-Term Equity Securities in Emerging Market Countries—96.7% (cost $153,427,650)

 

134,980,748

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LONG-TERM EQUITY SECURITIES IN DEVELOPED MARKET COUNTRIES—2.5%

 

 

 

COMMON STOCK—2.5%

 

 

 

UNITED STATES—2.5%

 

 

 

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES—2.5%

 

 

 

49,962

 

EPAM Systems, Inc.(b)

 

3,509,331

 

 

 

 

 

3,509,331

 

PRIVATE EQUITY —0.0%

 

 

 

UNITED STATES—0.0%

 

 

 

1,952,000

(c)

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

 

1,679

 

 

 

 

 

1,679

 

 

 

Total Long-Term Equity Securities in Developed Market Countries—2.5% (cost $2,196,845)

 

3,511,010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENT—0.8%

 

 

 

UNITED STATES—0.8%

 

 

 

1,081,846

 

State Street Institutional U.S. Government Money Market Fund(k)

 

1,081,846

 

 

 

 

 

1,081,846

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investment—0.8% (cost $1,081,846)

 

1,081,846

 

 

 

Total Investments—100.0% (cost $156,706,341) (l)

 

139,573,604

 

 

 

Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities—0.0%

 

9,200

 

 

 

Net Assets—100.0%

 

$

139,582,804

 

 


(a)

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

(b)

Non-income producing security.

(c)

Represents contributed capital.

(d)

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

(e)

Illiquid security.

(f)

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

(g)

In liquidation.

(h)

Active investments.

(i)

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

 

See Notes to Portfolio of Investments.

 



 

(j)

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

(k)

Registered investment company advised by State Street Global Advisors.

(l)

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

 

 

ADR

American Depositary Receipt

BDR

Brazilian Depositary Receipt

GDR

Global Depositary Receipt

 

See Notes to Portfolio of Investments.

 



 

Notes to Portfolio of Investments (unaudited)

 

July 31, 2016

 

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

a. Security Valuation:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Short-term investments are comprised of cash and cash equivalents invested in short-term investment funds which are redeemable daily. The State Street Institutional U.S. Government Money Market Fund has an objective to maintain a $1.00 NAV, which is not guaranteed. Registered investment companies are valued at their net asset value as reported by such company. Generally, these investment types are categorized as Level 1 investments.

 

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

 

The Fund may also invest in private equity private placement securities, which represented 1.2% of the net assets of the Fund as of July 31, 2016. The private equity private placement securities are deemed to be restricted securities. In the absence of readily ascertainable market values, these securities are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by, or under the direction of the Board, pursuant to valuation policies and procedures approved by the Board. The Fund’s estimate of fair value assumes a willing buyer and a willing seller neither of whom are acting under the compulsion to buy or sell. Although these securities may be resold in privately negotiated transactions, the prices realized on such sales could differ from the prices originally paid by the Fund or the current carrying values, and the difference could be material. These securities are categorized as Level 3 investments. Level 3 investments have significant unobservable inputs, as they trade infrequently. In determining the fair value of these investments, management uses the market approach which includes as the primary input the capital balance reported; however, adjustments to the reported capital balance may be made based on various factors, including, but not limited to, the attributes of the interest held, including the rights and obligations, and any restrictions or illiquidity of such interests, and the fair value of these private equity investments.

 



 

Notes to Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

 

July 31, 2016

 

In accordance with the authoritative guidance on fair value measurements and disclosures under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), the Fund discloses the fair value of its investments using a three-level hierarchy that classifies the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure the fair value. The hierarchy assigns Level 1 measurements to valuations based upon unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets, Level 2 measurements to valuations based upon other significant observable inputs, including adjusted quoted prices in active markets for similar assets, and Level 3 measurements to valuations based upon unobservable inputs that are significant to the valuation. Observable inputs are inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, which are based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The three-level hierarchy of inputs is summarized below:

 

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

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

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

 

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

 

Investments, at Value

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Total

 

Long-Term Investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Automobiles

 

$

1,281,248

 

$

 

$

 

$

1,281,248

 

Banks

 

1,026,665

 

7,563,872

 

 

8,590,537

 

Beverages

 

3,569,707

 

4,197,771

 

 

7,767,478

 

Chemicals

 

1,877,353

 

5,304,058

 

 

7,181,411

 

Commercial Services & Supplies

 

876,997

 

 

 

876,997

 

Construction & Engineering

 

1,592,135

 

 

 

1,592,135

 

Food & Staples Retailing

 

6,399,453

 

2,641,856

 

 

9,041,309

 

Food Products

 

5,697,873

 

1,304,684

 

 

7,002,557

 

Health Care Providers & Services

 

1,776,133

 

1,005,682

 

 

2,781,815

 

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure

 

2,235,294

 

5,167,606

 

 

7,402,900

 

Industrial Conglomerates

 

4,646

 

2,491,236

 

 

2,495,882

 

Information Technology Services

 

4,874,946

 

1,770,578

 

 

6,645,524

 

Insurance

 

1,111,484

 

1,327,781

 

 

2,439,265

 

Pharmaceuticals

 

2,511,526

 

3,400,231

 

 

5,911,757

 

Real Estate Management & Development

 

10,191,990

 

3,265,183

 

 

13,457,173

 

Road & Rail

 

1,584,084

 

3,239,772

 

 

4,823,856

 

Software

 

1,704,663

 

 

 

1,704,663

 

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods

 

2,205,190

 

858,145

 

 

3,063,335

 

Transportation Infrastructure

 

7,682,642

 

886,957

 

 

8,569,599

 

Other

 

 

34,126,556

 

 

34,126,556

 

Private Equity

 

 

 

1,735,761

 

1,735,761

 

Short-Term Investment

 

1,081,846

 

 

 

1,081,846

 

Total

 

$

59,285,875

 

$

78,551,968

 

$

1,735,761

 

$

139,573,604

 

 

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

 

For movements between the Levels within the fair value hierarchy, the Fund has adopted a policy of recognizing transfers at the end of each period. The utilization of valuation factors may result in transfers between Level 1 and Level 2. For the period ended July 31, 2016, the securities issued by Juhayna Food Industries and Mphasis Ltd. in the amounts of $1,304,684 and $1,770,578, respectively, transferred from Level 1 to Level 2 because there was a valuation factor applied at July 31, 2016. The securities issued by Clicks Group Ltd., East African Breweries Ltd., The SPAR Group Ltd., Synergy PJSC and Zenith Bank PLC in the amounts of $3,150,083, $2,155,838, $2,890,132, $782,879 and $1,026,665, respectively, transferred from Level 2 to Level 1 because there was not a valuation factor applied at July 31, 2016.

 



 

Notes to Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

 

July 31, 2016

 

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

 

 

 

Fair Value
at 7/31/16

 

Valuation Technique

 

Unobservable
Inputs

 

Range

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Private Equity

 

$

1,735,761

 

Partner Capital
Value/Net Asset Value

 

Distributions

 

$0 - 2,179

 

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

 

Investments, at value

 

Balance as of
10/31/15

 

Accrued
Discounts
(Premiums)

 

Realized Gain
(Loss)

 

Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)

 

Capital
Contributed

 

Distributions /
Sales

 

Net Transfers in
to Level 3

 

Net Transfers out
of Level 3

 

Balance as of
7/31/16

 

Private Equity

 

$

2,077,668

 

$

 

$

(960,834

)

$

616,748

 

$

 

$

2,179

 

$

 

$

 

$

1,735,761

 

Total

 

$

2,077,668

 

$

 

$

(960,834

)

$

616,748

 

$

 

$

2,179

 

$

 

$

 

$

1,735,761

 

 

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

 

Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation relating to investments still held at July 31, 2016 is $(252,961).

 

b. Private Equity Investments:

 

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

 

Security (1)

 

Acquisition Date(s)

 

Cost

 

Fair Value
At 7/31/16

 

Percent
of
Net
Assets

 

Cumulative
Distributions
Received

 

Open
Commitments
(3)

 

BPA Israel Ventures, LLC

 

10/05/00 — 12/09/05

 

$

929,799

 

$

199,778

 

0.14

 

$

327,976

 

$

625,413

 

Emerging Markets Ventures I, L.P.

 

01/22/98 — 01/10/06

 

2,474,673

 

156,647

 

0.11

 

7,552,733

 

851,171

 

Exent Technologies Ltd. Preferred A1 Shares (4)

 

11/29/15

 

118,799

 

 

 

 

 

Exent Technologies Ltd. Preferred C Shares (4)

 

11/29/15

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exent Technologies Ltd. Warrants A1 (4)

 

11/29/15

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flash Networds Ltd. Warrants Ordinary (4)

 

11/29/15

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flash Networks Ltd. Ordinary Shares (4)

 

11/29/15

 

109,226

 

33,590

 

0.02

 

 

 

Flash Networks Ltd. Series C Preferred (4)

 

11/29/15

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

11/29/15

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flash Networks Ltd. Series D Preferred (4)

 

11/29/15

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flash Networks Ltd. Series E Preferred (4)

 

11/29/15

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flash Networks Ltd. Warrants C (4)

 

11/29/15

 

 

 

 

 

 

Giza GE Venture Fund III, L.P.

 

01/31/00 — 11/23/06

 

1,717,032

 

100,073

 

0.07

 

885,262

 

 

Neurone Ventures II, L.P.

 

11/24/00 — 12/21/10

 

121,786

 

299,450

 

0.22

 

533,564

 

 

Technology Crossover Ventures IV, L.P.

 

03/08/00 - 09/27/10

 

359,690

 

1,679

 

 

3,045,426

 

48,000

 

Telesoft Partners II QP, L.P.

 

07/14/00 - 03/01/10

 

1,112,731

 

944,544

 

0.68

 

1,282,411

 

 

Vidyo, Inc. Trust A (Preferred) (2)

 

10/24/12

 

29,796

 

 

 

 

 

Vidyo, Inc. Trust B (Preferred) (2)

 

10/24/12

 

14,207

 

 

 

 

 

Vidyo, Inc. Trust B1 (Preferred) (2)

 

10/24/12

 

12,092

 

 

 

 

 

Vidyo, Inc. Trust C (Preferred) (2)

 

10/24/12

 

6,279

 

 

 

 

 

Vidyo, Inc. Trust C1 (Preferred) (2)

 

10/24/12

 

3,796

 

 

 

 

 

Vidyo, Inc. Trust Common (2)

 

10/24/12

 

1,648

 

 

 

 

 

Vidyo, Inc. Trust D (Preferred) (2)

 

10/24/12

 

2,482

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

 

$

7,014,036

 

$

1,735,761

 

1.24

 

$

13,627,372

 

$

1,524,584

 

 



 

Notes to Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

 

July 31, 2016

 

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

 


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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

The Fund may incur certain costs in connection with the disposition of the above securities.

 

c. Rights Issues and Warrants:

 

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

 

d. Federal Income Taxes:

 

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

 



 

Notes to Portfolio of Investments (unaudited) (concluded)

 

July 31, 2016

 

Cost

 

Appreciation

 

Depreciation

 

Net
Unrealized
Depreciation

 

$

156,706,341

 

$

23,445,875

 

$

(40,578,612

)

$

(17,132,737

)

 



 

Item 2. Controls and Procedures

 

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

 

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

 

Item 3. Exhibits

 

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

 



 

SIGNATURES

 

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

 

Aberdeen Emerging Markets Smaller Company Opportunities Fund, Inc.

 

 

By:

/s/ Christian Pittard

 

 

Christian Pittard,

 

 

Principal Executive Officer of

 

 

Aberdeen Emerging Markets Smaller Company Opportunities Fund, Inc.

 

 

 

 

Date: September 28, 2016

 

 

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

 

By:

/s/ Christian Pittard

 

 

Christian Pittard,

 

 

Principal Executive Officer of

 

 

Aberdeen Emerging Markets Smaller Company Opportunities Fund, Inc.

 

 

 

Date: September 28, 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Andrea Melia

 

 

Andrea Melia,

 

 

Principal Financial Officer of

 

 

Aberdeen Emerging Markets Smaller Company Opportunities Fund, Inc.

 

 

 

 

Date: September 28, 2016