NEW YORK, Feb. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --
Discount Management Policy
The Taiwan Fund, Inc. (NYSE: TWN), a closed-end management
investment company seeking long-term capital appreciation through
investment primarily in Taiwan
equity securities (the "Fund"), announced today that the Fund's
Board of Directors has voted to approve a Discount Management
Policy. The Fund will repurchase, commencing on the first day
of the month after stockholders have approved the proposed
arrangements (the "Proposed Arrangements") for the Fund to be
managed by Martin Currie, Inc.
("MCI") and APS Asset Management Pte. Ltd. ("APS"), its common
shares in the open market on any day that the Fund's shares are
trading at a discount of 9% or more from net asset value the prior
day and there is a daily average discount of 9% or more from net
asset value over the five-day period ending the prior day. On
each day that shares are repurchased, the Fund will repurchase its
shares to the maximum extent permitted by law unless the Fund's
investment management determines that such a repurchase would be
detrimental to the Fund and its shareholders. Under the
program, the Fund is authorized to repurchase in each twelve month
period ended August 31 up to 10% of
its common shares outstanding as of August
31 the prior year. For example, for the year
August 1, 2012 to October 31, 2013, the Fund may repurchase up to
10% of its common shares outstanding as of October 31, 2012. For the first period of
operation of the program through October 31,
2012, the Fund is authorized to purchase a portion of 10% of
its common shares outstanding at October 31,
2011, pro-rated based on the number of months in that
period.
The discount management program will replace the Fund's existing
share repurchase program under which the Fund is required to
consider repurchase of its common shares in the open market if the
discount exceeds 15%. During the current fiscal year and last
fiscal year of the Fund, the Fund did not repurchase shares under
this program.
The discount management program is intended to enhance
shareholder value, as repurchases made at a discount have the
effect of increasing the net value per share of the Fund's
remaining shares.
There is no assurance that the market price of the Fund's
shares, either absolutely or relative to net asset value, will
increase as a result of any share repurchases. These
repurchases may be suspended at any time or from time to time
without prior notice. The Fund's repurchase activity will be
disclosed in its stockholder reports for the relevant fiscal
periods.
Approval in Principle of One-Time
Tender Offer
The Fund also announced today that the Board of Directors has
voted to approve in principle a one-time tender offer (the "Tender
Offer") to repurchase up to 50% of its outstanding shares at 99% of
net asset value, subject to regulatory and other confirmations, to
commence at a time following stockholder approval of the Proposed
Arrangements with MCI and APS. The Tender Offer, if made,
will be made on the terms and subject to the conditions to be
determined by the Board of Directors and set forth in an Offer
Notice and related Letter of Transmittal.
This announcement is not a recommendation, an offer to purchase
or a solicitation to sell any securities of the Fund. The
Tender Offer, if made, will be made only by an Offer Notice, a
related Letter of Transmittal and other documents which will be
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibits to a
tender offer statement on Schedule TO. Stockholders of the
Fund should read the Offer Notice and tender offer statement on
Schedule TO and related exhibits, as they will contain important
information about the Tender Offer.
SOURCE The Taiwan Fund, Inc.