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

811-08238

 

Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

522 Fifth Avenue New York, NY

 

10036

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip code)

 

Randy Takian

522 Fifth Avenue New York, New York 10036

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

1-800-221-6726

 

 

Date of fiscal year end:

12/31

 

 

Date of reporting period:

12/31/08

 

 

Form N-CSR is to be used by management investment companies to file reports with the Commission not later than 10 days after the transmission to stockholders of any report that is required to be transmitted to stockholders under Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30e-1). The Commission may use the information provided on Form N-CSR in its regulatory, disclosure review, inspection, and policymaking roles.

 

A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-CSR, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-CSR unless the Form displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) control number. Please direct comments concerning the accuracy of the information collection burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549-0609. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. Section 3507.

 



 

ITEM 1.  REPORTS TO STOCKHOLDERS.

 

The Fund’s annual report transmitted to shareholders pursuant to Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 is as follows:

 



 

 

2008 Annual Report

 

 

 

December 31, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Morgan Stanley

 

India Investment Fund, Inc.

 

(IIF)

 

 

 

 

 

Morgan Stanley

 

Investment Management Inc.

 

Investment Adviser

 

 



 

 

Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund, Inc.

 

 

 

Overview (unaudited)

 

Letter to Stockholders

 

Performance

 

For the year ended December 31, 2008, the Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) had total returns of -64.33%, based on net asset value, and -64.72% based on market value per share (including reinvestment of distributions), compared to its benchmark, the U.S. dollar adjusted Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) National Index (the “Index”), which returned -63.82%. On December 31, 2008, the closing price of the Fund’s shares on the New York Stock Exchange was $12.50, representing a 4.4% discount to the Fund’s net asset value per share. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

 

Factors Affecting Performance

 

·                  The year 2008 saw one of the sharpest ever declines in Indian equity markets. The Index ended the year down 64% (in U.S. dollar terms). Volatile markets coupled with the global liquidity crisis led to an increase in risk aversion. Growth rates that had accelerated from easy liquidity are showing signs of stress.

 

·                  A regime shift from hyper-growth to extreme risk aversion led the overweights in the consumer staples and telecommunications sectors to contribute positively to performance. As the Reserve Bank of India started easing interest rates, we moved to an overweight position in the financials sector, which too contributed to performance. In contrast, our overweight in the consumer discretionary sector and stock selection in energy and materials detracted from performance.

 

Management Strategies

 

·                  The liquidity-fueled growth mirage of 2003-2007 is clearly behind us now. We believe India should now settle to the trend growth rate of 5.5%-6.0% that we observed from 1980 to 2002. Although this is a sharp step down from the average of about 8.9% in the post-2002 period, we feel this is still attractive from a relative investment opportunity standpoint.

 

·                  The overall strategy going into next year is two-pronged. First, we seek to position the Portfolio for the unprecedented monetary easing by overweighting the interest rate sensitive sectors. Our preference for implementing this strategy is through exposure to banks.

 

·                  We are also looking for outright value opportunities that seem to be emerging after the steep correction, particularly as the growth rates normalize.

 

·                  Our long-standing investment philosophy of not compromising on management quality and corporate governance has left us relatively unscathed after the recent corporate fraud episode in Satyam Computers.

 

·                  We continue to underweight global cyclicals and remain extremely wary of companies that make elevated growth promises in the current environment.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Randy Takian

 

Director, President and Principal Executive Officer

January 2009

 

2



 

 

Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund, Inc.

 

 

 

December 31, 2008

 

Portfolio of Investments

 

 

 

Shares

 

 

Value
(000)

 

COMMON STOCKS (93.9%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Unless Otherwise Noted)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Auto Components (0.0%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apollo Tyres Ltd.

 

18,750

 

$

8

 

Automobiles (3.7%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hero Honda Motors Ltd.

 

326,385

 

 

5,449

 

Maruti Suzuki India Ltd.

 

370,200

 

 

4,009

 

Patheja Forgings & Auto Parts Manufacturers Ltd. (a)(b)(c)

 

450,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9,458

 

Chemicals (2.4%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

ICI India Ltd.

 

25,000

 

 

198

 

United Phosphorus Ltd.

 

2,586,132

 

 

5,873

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,071

 

Commercial Banks (24.3%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Axis Bank Ltd.

 

375,900

 

 

3,959

 

Bank of Baroda (b)

 

676,993

 

 

3,999

 

Bank of India

 

1,093,100

 

 

6,558

 

HDFC Bank Ltd.

 

1,070,469

 

 

22,241

 

ICICI Bank Ltd.

 

970,300

 

 

9,064

 

State Bank of India Ltd. (b)

 

604,364

 

 

16,363

 

 

 

 

 

 

62,184

 

Construction & Engineering (3.9%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Larsen & Toubro Ltd.

 

527,900

 

 

8,442

 

Madhucon Projects Ltd.

 

804,045

 

 

1,463

 

 

 

 

 

 

9,905

 

Construction Materials (1.5%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ambuja Cements, Ltd.

 

965,500

 

 

1,397

 

India Cements Ltd.

 

1,237,184

 

 

2,496

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,893

 

Electrical Equipment (8.4%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd.

 

643,828

 

 

18,240

 

Jyoti Structures Ltd.

 

2,070,488

 

 

3,284

 

 

 

 

 

 

21,524

 

Energy Equipment & Services (0.5%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aban Offshore Ltd.

 

89,780

 

 

1,259

 

Food Products (5.2%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bajaj Hindusthan Ltd.

 

830,900

 

 

1,254

 

Balrampur Chini Mills (c)

 

2,655,100

 

 

2,743

 

Nestle India Ltd.

 

313,784

 

 

9,418

 

 

 

 

 

 

13,415

 

Household Products (6.7%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hindustan Unilever Ltd.

 

3,314,600

 

 

17,112

 

Information Technology Services (9.0%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Infosys Technologies Ltd.

 

998,500

 

 

23,123

 

Machinery (0.4%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Praj Industries Ltd.

 

801,700

 

 

1,064

 

Media (2.6%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deccan Chronicle Holdings Ltd.

 

3,888,224

 

 

3,495

 

New Delhi Television Ltd.

 

464,937

 

 

1,244

 

Television Eighteen India Ltd. (b)

 

946,936

 

 

1,825

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,564

 

Metals & Mining (2.3%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ess Dee Aluminum Ltd.

 

895,519

 

 

2,389

 

Welspun-Gujarat Stahl Ltd.

 

1,577,000

 

 

3,604

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,993

 

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (6.5%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reliance Industries Ltd.

 

657,600

 

 

16,753

 

Pharmaceuticals (1.8%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (c)

 

739,173

 

 

4,549

 

Real Estate Management & Development (0.7%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Phoenix Mills Ltd.

 

1,112,831

 

 

1,786

 

Software (1.8%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Geodesic Ltd.

 

3,236,932

 

 

4,665

 

Thrifts & Mortgage Finance (2.8%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Housing Development Finance Corp.

 

232,000

 

 

7,234

 

Tobacco (1.7%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

ITC Ltd.

 

1,190,000

 

 

4,228

 

Wireless Telecommunication Services (7.7%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bharti Airtel Ltd. (c)

 

1,336,200

 

 

19,739

 

TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $343,618)

 

 

 

 

240,527

 

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENT (14.0%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment Company (14.0%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Money Market Portfolio — Institutional Class
(Cost $35,812) (d)

 

35,812,201

 

 

35,812

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS (107.9%) (Cost $379,430) (e)

 

 

 

 

276,339

 

LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF OTHER ASSETS (-7.9%)

 

 

 

 

(20,318

)

NET ASSETS (100%)

 

 

 

$

256,021

 

(a)              Security has been deemed illiquid at December 31, 2008

 

(b)              At December 31, 2008, the Fund held approximately $22,187,000 of fair valued securities, representing 8.7% of net assets. These securities have been fair valued as determined in good faith under procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Fund’s Directors.

 

(c)               Non-income producing security.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

3



 

 

Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund, Inc.

 

 

 

December 31, 2008

 

Portfolio of Investments (cont’d)

 

(d)             See Note G within the Notes to Financial Statements regarding investment in Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Money Market Portfolio — Institutional Class.

 

(e)              The approximate market value and percentage of total investments, $240,527,000 and 87.0%, respectively, represent the securities that have been fair valued under the fair valuation policy for international investments as described in Note A within the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Portfolio Composition

 

Classification

 

Percentage of
Total Investments

Commercial Banks

 

22.5

%

Information Technology Services

 

8.4

 

Electrical Equipment

 

7.8

 

Wireless Telecommunication Services

 

7.1

 

Household Products

 

6.2

 

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels

 

6.1

 

Other*

 

28.9

 

Short-Term Investments

 

 

13.0

 

Total Investments

 

 

100.0

%

 

*            Industries which do not appear in the above table, as well as those which represent less than 5% of total investments, if applicable, are included in the category labeled “Other”.

 

4

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 



 

 

Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund, Inc.

 

 

 

Financial Statements

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

December 31, 2008
(000)

 

Assets:

 

 

 

Investments in Securities of Unaffiliated Issuers, at Value (Cost $343,618)

 

$

240,527

 

Investment in Security of Affiliated Issuer, at Value (Cost $35,812)

 

35,812

 

Total Investments in Securities, at Value (Cost $379,430)

 

276,339

 

Foreign Currency, at Value (Cost $14,304)

 

14,544

 

Tax Reclaim Receivable

 

235

 

Dividends Receivable

 

176

 

Receivable for Investments Sold

 

140

 

Receivable from Affiliate

 

1

 

Other Assets

 

10

 

Total Assets

 

291,445

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

Payable For:

 

 

 

Dividends Declared

 

34,742

 

Custodian Fees

 

252

 

Investment Advisory Fees

 

224

 

Directors’ Fees and Expenses

 

96

 

Administration Fees

 

8

 

Other Liabilities

 

102

 

Total Liabilities

 

35,424

 

Net Assets

 

 

 

Applicable to 19,566,112 Issued and Outstanding $0.01 Par Value Shares (100,000,000 Shares Authorized)

 

$

256,021

 

Net Asset Value Per Share

 

$

13.08

 

Net Assets Consist of:

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

$

196

 

Paid-in Capital

 

403,788

 

Distributions in Excess of Net Investment Income

 

(166

)

Accumulated Net Realized Loss

 

(44,511

)

Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on Investments and Foreign Currency Translations

 

(103,286

)

Net Assets

 

$

256,021

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

5



 

 

Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund, Inc.

 

 

 

Financial Statements

 

Statement of Operations

 

Year Ended
December 31, 2008
(000)

 

Investment Income:

 

 

 

Dividends from Securities of Unaffiliated Issuers

 

$

5,529

 

Dividends from Security of Affiliated Issuer

 

300

 

Total Investment Income

 

5,829

 

Expenses:

 

 

 

Investment Advisory Fees (Note B)

 

6,746

 

Custodian Fees (Note D)

 

1,162

 

Administration Fees (Note C)

 

515

 

Professional Fees

 

229

 

Stockholder Reporting Expenses

 

80

 

Stockholder Servicing Agent Fees

 

10

 

Other Expenses

 

535

 

Total Expenses

 

9,277

 

Waiver of Administration Fees (Note C)

 

(317

)

Rebate from Morgan Stanley Affiliated Cash Sweep (Note G)

 

(11

)

Expense Offset (Note D)

 

(22

)

Net Expenses

 

8,927

 

Net Investment Loss

 

(3,098

)

Net Realized Gain (Loss) on:

 

 

 

Investments

 

(6,353

)

Foreign Currency Transactions

 

(4,669

)

Net Realized Loss

 

(11,022

)

Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on:

 

 

 

Investments

 

(636,752

)

Foreign Currency Translations

 

36

 

Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

 

(636,716

)

Net Realized Gain (Loss) and Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

 

(647,738

)

Net Decrease in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

 

$

(650,836

)

 

6

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 



 

 

Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund, Inc.

 

 

 

Financial Statements

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

Year Ended
December 31, 2008
(000)

 

Year Ended
December 31, 2007
(000)

 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Operations:

 

 

 

 

 

Net Investment Loss

 

$

(3,098

)

$

(3,504

)

Net Realized Gain (Loss)

 

(11,022

)

398,870

 

Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

 

(636,716

)

139,859

 

Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

 

(650,836

)

535,225

 

Distributions from and/or in Excess of:

 

 

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

 

(3,988

)

(3,206

)

Net Realized Gain

 

(198,905

)

(326,633

)

Total Distributions

 

(202,893

)

(329,839

)

Capital Share Transactions:

 

 

 

 

 

Reinvestment of Distributions (56,548 and 104,859 shares, respectively)

 

1,420

 

4,942

 

Repurchase of Shares (2,000 and 489,201 shares, respectively)

 

(89

)

(22,835

)

Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Capital Share Transactions

 

1,331

 

(17,893

)

Total Increase (Decrease)

 

(852,398

)

187,493

 

Net Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning of Period

 

1,108,419

 

920,926

 

End of Period (Including Distributions in Excess of Net Investment Income of $(166) and $(1,661), respectively)

 

$

256,021

 

$

1,108,419

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

7



 

 

Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund, Inc.

 

 

 

Financial Highlights

 

Selected Per Share Data and Ratios

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

 

$

56.81

 

$       46.29

 

$

37.33

 

$

29.09

 

$

22.95

 

Net Investment Income (Loss)†

 

(0.16

)

(0.18

)

(0.06

)

0.06

 

0.11

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments

 

(33.18

)

27.38

 

14.32

 

12.18

 

6.12

 

Total from Investment Operations

 

(33.34

)

27.20

 

14.26

 

12.24

 

6.23

 

Distributions from and/or in Excess of:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

 

(0.20

)

(0.16

)

 

(0.28

)

(0.09

)

Net Realized Gain

 

(10.19

)

(16.64

)

(5.30

)

(3.60

)

 

Total Distributions

 

(10.39

)

(16.80

)

(5.30

)

(3.88

)

(0.09

)

Dilutive Effect of Shares Issued through Rights Offering and Offering Costs

 

 

 

 

(0.12

)

 

Anti-Dilutive Effect of Share Repurchase Program

 

0.00

0.12

 

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

 

$

13.08

 

$       56.81

 

$

46.29

 

$

37.33

 

$

29.09

 

Per Share Market Value, End of Period

 

$

12.50

 

$       54.89

 

$

50.82

 

$

37.35

 

$

30.96

 

TOTAL INVESTMENT RETURN:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Market Value

 

(64.72

)%

45.29

%

51.73

%

32.57

%

17.03

%

Net Asset Value(1)

 

(64.33

)%

65.09

%

38.28

%

41.02

%

27.21

%

RATIOS, SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Assets, End of Period (Thousands)

 

$

256,021

 

$1,108,419

 

$

920,926

 

$

740,050

 

$

465,448

 

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets(2)

 

1.46

%+

1.33

%+

1.35

%

1.38

%

1.40

%

Ratio of Net Investment Income (Loss) to Average Net Assets(2)

 

(0.51

)%+

(0.33

)%+

(0.13

)%

0.17

%

0.57

%

Portfolio Turnover Rate

 

60

%

60

%

34

%

32

%

52

%

(2) Supplemental Information on the Ratios to Average Net Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratios Before Expenses Waived by Administrator:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

 

1.51

%+

1.39

%+

1.40

%

1.43

%

1.41

%

Ratio of Net Investment Income (Loss) to Average Net Assets

 

(0.56

)%+

(0.39

)%+

(0.18

)%

0.12

%

0.56

%

 

(1)                    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.

 

                            Per share amount is based on average shares outstanding.

 

                            Amount is less than $0.005 per share.

 

+                           Reflects rebate of certain Fund expenses in connection with the investments in Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Money Market Portfolio — Institutional Class during the period. As a result of such rebate, the expenses as a percentage of its net assets were effected by less than 0.005%.

 

8

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 



 

 

Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund, Inc.

 

 

 

December 31, 2008

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

The Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) was incorporated in Maryland on December 22, 1993, and is registered as a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The Fund’s investment objective is long-term capital appreciation through investments primarily in equity securities of Indian Issuers. To the extent that the Fund invests in derivative instruments that the Adviser believes have economic characteristics similar to equity securities of Indian Issuers, such investments will be counted for purposes of the Fund’s policy in the previous sentence. To the extent the Fund makes such investments, the Fund will be subject to the risks of such derivative instruments as described herein.

 

A.    Accounting Policies:  The following significant accounting policies are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Such policies are consistently followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements. U.S. generally accepted accounting principles 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: Securities listed on a foreign exchange are valued at their closing price except as noted below. Unlisted securities and listed securities not traded on the valuation date for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the mean between the current bid and asked prices obtained from reputable brokers. Equity securities listed on a U.S. exchange are valued at the latest quoted sales price on the valuation date. Equity securities listed or traded on NASDAQ, for which market quotations are available, are valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price. Debt securities purchased with remaining maturities of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, if it approximates market value.

 

All other securities and investments for which market values are not readily available, including restricted securities, and those securities for which it is inappropriate to determine prices in accordance with the aforementioned procedures, are valued at fair value as determined in good faith under procedures adopted by the Board of Directors (the “Directors”), although the actual calculations may be done by others. 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.

 

Most foreign markets close before the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Occasionally, developments that could affect 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 on the NYSE. If these developments are expected to materially affect the value of the securities, the valuations may be adjusted to reflect the estimated fair value as of the close of the NYSE, as determined in good faith under procedures established by the Directors.

 

2.              Foreign Currency Translation:  The books and records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Amounts denominated in Indian rupees are translated into U.S. dollars at the mean of the bid and asked prices of such currency against U.S. dollars last quoted by a major bank 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 rate of exchange on the dates of such transactions.

 

Although the net assets of the Fund are presented at the foreign exchange rate 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 rate from the fluctuations arising from changes in the market prices of the securities held at period end. Similarly, the Fund does not isolate the effect of changes in the foreign exchange rate 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 exchange contracts, disposition of foreign currency, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities

 

9



 

 

Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund, Inc.

 

 

 

December 31, 2008

 

Notes to Financial Statements (cont’d)

 

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) on investments and foreign 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 Indian securities which involve certain considerations and risks not typically associated with investments in the United States. In addition to its smaller size, less liquidity and greater volatility, the Indian securities market is less developed than the U.S. securities market and there is often substantially less publicly available information about Indian issuers than there is about U.S. issuers. Settlement mechanisms are also less developed and are accomplished, in certain cases, only through physical delivery, which may cause the Fund to experience delays or other difficulties in effecting transactions.

 

3.              Derivatives: The Fund may use derivatives to achieve its investment objectives. The Fund may engage in transactions in futures contracts on foreign currencies, stock indices, as well as in options, swaps and structured products. Consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies, the Fund may use derivatives for non-hedging as well as hedging purposes.

 

Following is a description of derivative instruments that the Fund has utilized and their associated risks:

 

Currency Transactions: The Fund will invest in currency spot, forward and non-deliverable forward transactions. A currency spot transaction is a cash-settled contract to buy or sell immediately a specified quantity of currency for physical settlement in no more than two days. A currency forward transaction is a contract to buy or sell a specified quantity of currency at a specified date in the future at a specified price. Currency forwards generally may be used to increase or reduce exposure to currency price movements. A non-deliverable currency forward transaction is a synthetic short-term forward contract on a thinly traded or non-convertible foreign currency, where the profit or loss is the difference between a specified exchange rate and the spot rate at the time of settlement. Non-deliverable forwards (“NDFs”) allow investors to hedge or gain exposure to local currency movements of markets without actually dealing in the underlying markets. The demand for NDFs arises principally out of regulatory and liquidity issues in the underlying currency. NDFs, in particular, are used to gain exposure to foreign currencies which are not internationally traded and do not have a forward market for foreign investors. All currency transactions will be cash-settled in U.S. dollars. In certain less developed countries, NDFs may be relatively illiquid. The Fund will utilize NDFs only to the extent consistent with its overall restrictions on investments in illiquid securities in excess of 15% of the Fund’s net assets.

 

Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts:  The Fund may enter into foreign currency exchange contracts generally to attempt to protect securities and related receivables and payables against changes in future foreign exchange rates and, in certain situations, to gain exposure to a foreign currency. A foreign currency exchange contract is an agreement between two parties to buy or sell currency at a set price on a future date. The market value of the contract will fluctuate with changes in currency exchange rates. The contract is marked-to-market daily and the change in market value is recorded by the Fund as unrealized gain or loss. The Fund records realized gains or losses when the contract is closed equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed. Risk may arise upon entering into these contracts from the potential inability of counter-parties to meet the terms of their contracts and is generally limited to the amount of unrealized gain on the contracts, if any, at the date of default. Risks may also arise from unanticipated movements in the value of a foreign currency relative to the U.S. dollar. At December 31, 2008, the Fund did not have any outstanding foreign currency exchange contracts.

 

Futures: The Fund may purchase and sell futures contracts. Futures contracts provide for the sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified amount of a specified security, index, instrument or basket of instruments. Futures contracts (secured by cash, government or other liquid securities deposited with brokers or custodians as “initial margin”) are valued based upon their quoted daily settlement prices; changes in initial settlement value (represented by cash paid to or received from brokers

 

10



 

 

Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund, Inc.

 

 

 

December 31, 2008

 

Notes to Financial Statements (cont’d)

 

as “variation margin”) are accounted for as unrealized appreciation (depreciation). When futures contracts are closed, the difference between the opening value at the date of purchase and the value at closing is recorded as realized gains or losses in the Statement of Operations.

 

The Fund may use futures contracts in order to manage its exposure to the stock and bond markets, to hedge against unfavorable changes in the value of securities or to remain fully invested and to reduce transaction costs. Futures contracts involve market risk in excess of the amounts recognized in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Risks arise from the possible movements in security values underlying these instruments. The change in value of futures contracts primarily corresponds with the value of their underlying instruments, which may not correlate with the change in value of the hedged investments. In addition, there is the risk that the Fund may not be able to enter into a closing transaction because of an illiquid secondary market. At December 31, 2008, the Fund did not have any outstanding futures contracts.

 

Purchased & Written Options: The Fund may write covered call and put options on portfolio securities and other financial instruments. Premiums are received and are recorded as liabilities. The liabilities are subsequently adjusted to reflect the current value of the options written. Premiums received from writing options which expire are treated as realized gains. Premiums received from writing options which are exercised or are closed are added to or offset against the proceeds or amount paid on the transaction to determine the net realized gain or loss. By writing a covered call option, the Fund, in exchange for the premium, foregoes the opportunity for capital appreciation above the exercise price should the market price of the underlying security increase. By writing a put option, the Fund, in exchange for the premium, accepts the risk of having to purchase a security at an exercise price that is above the current market price.

 

The Fund may purchase call and put options on its securities or other financial instruments. The Fund may purchase call options to protect against an increase in the price of the security or financial instrument it anticipates purchasing. The Fund may purchase put options on securities which it holds or other financial instruments to protect against a decline in the value of the security or financial instrument or to close out covered written put positions. Risks may arise from an imperfect correlation between the change in market value of the securities purchased or sold by the Fund and from the possible lack of a liquid secondary market for an option. The maximum exposure to loss for any purchased option is limited to the premium initially paid for the option.

 

At December 31, 2008, the Fund did not have any outstanding purchased or written options.

 

Structured Notes: Structured notes are derivatives on which the amount of principal repayment and/or interest payments is based upon the movement of one or more factors. These factors include, but are not limited to, currency exchange rates, interest rates (such as the prime lending rate and LIBOR) and stock indices such as the S&P 500 Index. In some cases, the impact of the movements of these factors may increase or decrease through the use of multipliers or deflators. The use of structured notes allows a Fund to tailor its investments to the specific risks and returns the Adviser wishes to accept while avoiding or reducing certain other risks.

 

Over-the-Counter Trading:  Securities and other derivative instruments that may be purchased or sold by the Fund are expected to regularly consist of instruments not traded on an exchange. The risk of non-performance by the obligor on such an instrument may be greater, and the ease with which the Fund can dispose of or enter into closing transactions with respect to such an instrument may be less than in the case of an exchange-traded instrument. In addition, significant disparities may exist between bid and ask prices for derivative instruments that are not traded on an exchange. Derivative instruments not traded on exchanges are also not subject to the same type of government regulation as exchange traded instruments, and many of the protections afforded to participants in a regulated environment may not be available in connection with such transactions.

 

4.              Restricted Securities: The Fund may invest in unregistered or otherwise restricted securities. The term restricted securities refers to securities that are unregistered or are held by control persons of the issuer and securities that are subject to contractual restrictions on their resale. As a result, restricted securities may be more difficult to value and the Fund may have difficulty disposing of such assets either in a timely manner or for a reasonable price. In order to dispose of an unregistered security, the Fund, where it has contractual rights to do so, may have to cause such security

 

11



 

 

Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund, Inc.

 

 

 

December 31, 2008

 

Notes to Financial Statements (cont’d)

 

to be registered. A considerable period may elapse between the time the decision is made to sell the security and the time the security is registered so that the Fund could sell it. Contractual restrictions on the resale of securities vary in length and scope and are generally the result of a negotiation between the issuer and acquiror of the securities. The Fund would, in either case, bear market risks during that period.

 

5.              New Accounting Pronouncement: On March 19, 2008, Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) released Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” (“SFAS 161”). SFAS 161 requires qualitative disclosures about objectives and strategies for using derivatives, quantitative disclosures about fair value amounts of and gains and losses on derivative instruments, and disclosures about credit-risk-related contingent features in derivative agreements. The application of SFAS 161 is required for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008. At this time, management is evaluating the implications of SFAS 161 and its impact on the financial statements has not yet been determined.

 

6.              Fair Value Measurement: The Fund adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS 157”), effective January 1, 2008. In accordance with SFAS 157, fair value is defined as the price 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. SFAS 157 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 – quoted prices in active markets for identical securities

 

Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, pre- payment speeds, credit risk, etc.)

 

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

 

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

 

The following is a summary of the inputs used as of December 31, 2008 in valuing the Fund’s investments carried at value:

 

Valuation Inputs

 

Investments
 in Securities
(000)

 

Level 1 - Quoted Prices

 

$

35,812

 

Level 2 - Other Significant Observable Inputs

 

240,527

 

Level 3 - Significant Unobservable Inputs

 

*

Total

 

$

276,339

 

 

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

 

 

 

Investments
in Securities
(000)

 

Balance as of 12/31/07

 

$—

*

Accrued discounts/premiums

 

 

Realized gain (loss)

 

 

Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

 

 

Net purchases (sales)

 

 

Net transfers in and/or out of Level 3

 

 

Balance as of 12/31/08

 

$—

*

The amount of total gains (losses) for the period included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets and liabilities still held at 12/31/08.

 

$—

 

 

*Includes a security which is valued at zero.

 

12



 

 

Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund, Inc.

 

 

 

December 31, 2008

 

Notes to Financial Statements (cont’d)

 

7.     Other: Security transactions are accounted for on the date the securities are purchased or sold. Investments in new Indian securities are made by making applications in the public offerings. The issue price, or a portion thereof, is paid at the time of application and reflected as share application money on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Upon allotment of the securities, this amount plus any remaining amount of issue price is recorded as cost of investments. Realized gains (losses) on the sale of investment securities are determined on the specific identified cost basis. Interest income is recognized on an 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, if any.

 

B.    Investment Advisory Fees: Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc. (the “Adviser” or “MS Investment Management”) provides investment advisory services to the Fund under the terms of an Investment Advisory and Management Agreement (the “Agreement”). Under the Agreement, the Adviser is paid a fee computed weekly and payable monthly at an annual rate of 1.10% of the Fund’s average weekly net assets.

 

C.    Administration Fees: MS Investment Management also serves as Administrator to the Fund pursuant to an Administration Agreement. Under the Administration Agreement, the administration fee is 0.08% of the Fund’s average weekly net assets. MS Investment Management 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 is voluntary and may be terminated at any time. For the year ended December 31, 2008, approximately $317,000 of administration fees were waived pursuant to this arrangement. Under a sub-administration agreement between the Administrator and JPMorgan Investor Services Co. (“JPMIS”), a corporate affiliate of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., JPMIS provides certain administrative services to the Fund. For such services, the Administrator pays JPMIS a portion of the fee the Administrator receives from the Fund. Administration costs (including out-of-pocket expenses) incurred in the ordinary course of providing services under the administration agreement, except pricing services and extraordinary expenses, are covered under the administration fee.

 

Multiconsult, Ltd., whose registered office is in Mauritius, provides sub-administrative services to the Fund, including maintaining certain Fund records and preparing certain periodic filings, under an agreement whereby Multiconsult is paid a fee of $22,000 per annum.

 

D.    Custodian Fees: JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (the “Custodian”) serves as Custodian for the Fund. The Custodian holds cash, securities, and other assets of the Fund as required by the 1940 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.

 

The Fund has entered into an arrangement with its Custodian whereby credits realized on uninvested cash balances were used to offset a portion of the Fund’s expenses. These custodian credits are shown as “Expense Offset” on the Statement of Operations.

 

E.     Directors’ Fees and Expenses: Prior to April 1, 2008, the Fund paid each of its Mauritian Independent Directors an annual fee of $10,000 and all other Independent Directors an annual fee of $7,500. Additionally, each Mauritian Independent Director was paid a fee of $750 for each Board Meeting attended. Effective April 1, 2008, the Directors of the Fund will receive an annual fee of $15,000. There will no longer be a per meeting fee.

 

E.     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. Dividend income and distributions to stockholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

 

Effective October 1, 2004 there is no capital gains tax in India for long-term investments and the rate of capital gains tax for short-term investments is 10.455% for transactions conducted through a recognized stock exchange (the capital gains rates were 10.455% for long-term investments and 31.365% for short-term investments for the financial year April 1, 2004 to March 31, 2005). The Fund invests in India through a registered branch office established in Mauritius and, as a result, obtains the benefits under the double taxation treaty between Mauritius and India (“Treaty”). To obtain benefits under the Treaty, the Fund must meet certain tests and conditions, including the establishment of Mauritius tax residence and related requirements. The Fund has obtained a tax residence certification from the Mauritian authorities and believes such certification is determinative of its resident status for Treaty purposes. A fund which is a tax resident in Mauritius under the Treaty but has no

 

13



 

 

Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund, Inc.

 

 

 

December 31, 2008

 

Notes to Financial Statements (cont’d)

 

branch or permanent establishment in India will not be subject to capital gains tax in India on the sale of securities, but is subject to a 15% (under Article 10 of the India-Mauritius tax treaty) withholding tax on dividends declared, distributed or paid by an Indian company prior to June 1, 1997 and for the period from April 1, 2002 through March 31, 2003. During the period June 1, 1997 through March 31, 2002 and after April 1, 2003, dividend income from Indian companies was exempt from Indian income tax. The Fund currently is subject to and accrues Indian withholding tax on interest earned on Indian securities at 20.91%. The Treaty benefits accorded to foreign investors were challenged by a non-governmental organization and the matter was litigated before India’s Supreme Court (the highest court in India). In October 2003, India’s Supreme Court upheld the validity of Treaty benefits accorded to foreign investors on the basis of a certificate of residence issued by Mauritian authorities (such as the one obtained by the Fund).

 

Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 48 Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (FIN 48) 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 on the Statement of Operations. The Fund files tax returns with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, New York and various states. Generally, each of the tax years in the four year period ended December 31, 2008, remains subject to examination by taxing authorities.

 

The tax character of distributions paid may differ from the character of distributions shown on 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 2008 and 2007 was as follows:

 

2008 Distributions
Paid From:
(000)

 

2007 Distributions
Paid From:
(000)

 

Ordinary
Income

 

Long-term
Capital
Gain

 

Ordinary
Income

 

Long-term
Capital
Gain

 

$21,864

 

$181,029

 

$12,411

 

$317,428

 

 

The amount and character of income and capital gain distributions to be paid by the Fund are determined in accordance with Federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The book/tax differences are considered either temporary or permanent in nature.

 

Temporary differences are generally due 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, net operating loss, basis adjustments on certain equity securities designated as issued by passive foreign investment companies and distribution redesignations, resulted in the following reclassifications among the components of net assets at December 31, 2008:

 

Increase (Decrease)

 

Undistributed
(Distributions in
Excess of) Net
Investment
Income (Loss)
(000)

 

Accumulated
Net Realized
Gain (Loss)
(000)

 

Paid-in
Capital
(000)

 

$8,581

 

$1,605

 

$(10,186

)

 

At December 31, 2008, the Fund had no distributable earnings on a tax basis.

 

At December 31, 2008, the U.S. Federal income tax cost basis of investments was approximately $390,473,000 and, accordingly, net unrealized depreciation for U.S. Federal income tax purposes was $114,134,000 of which $19,516,000 related to appreciated securities and $133,650,000 related to depreciated securities.

 

Net capital, currency and passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”) losses incurred after October 31, and within the taxable year are deemed to arise on the first day of the Fund’s next taxable year. For the year ended December 31, 2008, the Fund deferred to January 2, 2009, for U.S. Federal income tax purposes, capital and currency losses of approximately $33,468,000 and $77,000, respectively.

 

F.     Contractual Obligations: The Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the

 

14



 

 

Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund, Inc.

 

 

 

December 31, 2008

 

Notes to Financial Statements (cont’d)

 

Fund has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these contracts and expects the risk of loss to be remote.

 

G.    Security Transactions and Transactions with Affiliates: The Fund invests in the Institutional Class of the Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Money Market Portfolio, an open-end management investment company managed by the Adviser. Investment Advisory fees paid by the Fund are reduced by an amount equal to its pro-rata share of advisory and administration fees paid by the Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Money Market Portfolio. For the year ended December 31, 2008, advisory fees paid were reduced by approximately $11,000 relating to the Fund’s investment in the Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Money Market Portfolio.

 

A summary of the Fund’s transactions in shares of the affiliated issuer during the year ended December 31, 2008 is as follows:

 

Market Value
December 31,
2007
(000)

 

Purchases
at Cost
(000)

 

Sales
Proceeds
(000)

 

Dividend
Income
(000)

 

Market Value
December 31,
2008
(000)

 

$179,495

 

$275,923

 

$419,606

 

$300

 

$35,812

 

 

During the year ended December 31, 2008, the Fund made purchases and sales totaling approximately $363,978,000 and $584,297,000, respectively, of investment securities other than long-term U.S. Government securities and short-term investments. There were no purchases or sales of long-term U.S. Government securities.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2008, the Fund incurred approximately $83,000 of brokerage commissions with Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, an affiliated broker/dealer.

 

H.    Other:  Future economic and political developments in India could adversely affect the liquidity or value, or both, of securities in which the Fund is invested. In addition, the Fund’s ability to hedge its currency risk is limited and accordingly, the Fund may be exposed to currency devaluation and other exchange rate fluctuations.

 

On August 10, 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 net asset value. During the year ended December 31, 2008, the Fund repurchased 2,000 of its shares at an average discount of 2.31% from net asset value per share. Since the inception of the program, the Fund has repurchased 8,941,882 of its shares at an average discount of 26.84% from net asset value per share. 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.

 

On December 12, 2008, the Officers of the Fund, pursuant to authority granted by the Directors, declared a distribution of $1.7756 per share, derived from capital gains, payable on January 7, 2009, to stockholders of record on December 19, 2008.

 

I.      Supplemental Proxy Information (unaudited):  On June 19, 2008, an 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

 

Withhold

 

Gaetan Bouic

 

14,325,479

 

420,458

 

Ravindranath Santosh Kumar Hazareesing

 

14,330,470

 

415,468

 

 

15



 

 

Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund, Inc.

 

 

 

December 31, 2008

 

Notes to Financial Statements (cont’d)

 

Federal Income Tax Information (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, 2008.

 

The Fund designated and paid approximately $181,029,000 as long-term capital gain distribution.

 

For Federal income tax purposes, the following information is furnished with respect to the Fund’s earnings for its taxable year ended December 31, 2008.

 

When distributed, certain earnings may be subject to a maximum tax rate of 15% as provided for the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2004. The Fund designated up to a maximum of approximately $2,000 as taxable at this lower rate.

 

For non-U.S. residents, the Fund may designate up to a maximum of approximately $231,000 as qualifying as interest-related dividends. Additionally, the Fund may designate up to a maximum of approximately $17,879,000 as qualifying as short-term capital gain dividends.

 

In January, the Fund provides tax information to stockholders for the preceding calendar year.

 

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/msim. 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 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 section of the SEC, 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 periodically providing the information on its public website, www.morganstanley.com/ msim.

 

The Fund provides a complete schedule of portfolio holdings on the public website on a calendar-quarter basis approximately 31 calendar days after the close of the calendar quarter. The Fund also provides Top 10 holdings information on the public website approximately 15 business days following the end of each month. You may obtain copies of the Fund’s monthly or calendar-quarter website postings, by calling 1(800) 231-2608.

 

16



 

 

Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund, Inc.

 

 

 

December 31, 2008

 

Notes to Financial Statements (cont’d)

 

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 1 (800) 548-7786 or by visiting our website at www.morganstanley.com/msim. This information is also available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

17



 

 

Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund, Inc.

 

 

 

December 31, 2008

 

Portfolio Management (unaudited)

 

The Fund is managed by members of the Emerging Markets Equity team. The team consists of portfolio managers and analysts. The current members of the team jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio are James Cheng and Ruchir Sharma. Mr. Cheng is a Managing Director of the Sub-Adviser and Mr. Sharma is a Managing Director of the Adviser. Mr. Cheng has been associated with the Sub-Adviser in an investment management capacity since July 2006 and joined the team managing the Fund in February 2009. Prior to July 2006, Mr. Cheng worked in an investment management capacity at Invesco Asia Limited, Asia Strategic Investment Management Limited and Munich Re Asia Capital Management. Mr. Sharma has been associated with the Sub-Adviser in an investment management capacity since 1996 and joined the team managing the Fund in January 2001.

 

18



 

 

Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund, Inc.

 

 

 

December 31, 2008

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Stockholders and Board of Directors of
Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund, Inc.

 

 

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”), including the portfolio of investments, as of December 31, 2008, 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, 2008, by correspondence with the custodian. 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 Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund, Inc. at December 31, 2008, 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 25, 2009

 

19



 

 

Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund, Inc.

 

 

 

December 31, 2008

 

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 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 dividend or capital gain 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 dividends and distributions 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:

 

 

Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund, Inc.
Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
P.O. Box 43078
Providence, Rhode Island 02940-3078
1(800) 231-2608

 

20



 

 

Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund, Inc.

 

 

 

December 31, 2008

 

Morgan Stanley Institutional Closed End Funds
An Important Notice Concerning Our
U.S. Privacy Policy (unaudited)

 

We are required by federal law to provide you with a copy of our Privacy Policy annually.

 

The following Policy applies to current and former individual investors in Morgan Stanley Institutional closed end funds. This Policy is not applicable to partnerships, corporations, trusts or other non-individual clients or account holders. Please note that we may amend this Policy at any time, and will inform you of any changes to this Policy 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 Policy describes what non-public personal information we collect about you, why we collect it, and when we may share it with others. We hope this Policy will help you understand how we collect and share non-public personal information that we gather about you. 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?

To serve you better and manage our business, it is important that we collect and maintain accurate information about you. We may obtain this 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 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.” “Cookies” recognize your computer each time you return to one of our sites, and help to improve our sites’ content and personalize your experience on our sites by, for example, suggesting offerings that may interest you. Please consult the Terms of Use of these sites for more details on our use of cookies.

 

2. When Do We Disclose Personal Information We Collect About You?

To provide you with the products and services you request, to serve you better and to manage our business, we may disclose personal information we collect about you to our affiliated companies and to non-affiliated third parties as required or permitted by law.

 

A. Information We Disclose to Our Affiliated Companies. We do not disclose personal information that we collect about you to our affiliated companies except to enable them to provide services on our behalf or as otherwise required or permitted by law.

 

21



 

 

Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund, Inc.

 

 

 

December 31, 2008

 

Morgan Stanley Institutional Closed End Funds
An Important Notice Concerning Our
U.S. Privacy Policy (cont’d)

 

B. Information We Disclose to Third Parties. We do not disclose personal information that we collect about you to non-affiliated third parties except to enable them to provide services on our behalf, to perform joint marketing agreements with other financial institutions, or as otherwise required or permitted by law. For example, some instances where we may disclose information about you to nonaffiliated third parties include: 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 these companies, 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.

 

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.

 

22



 

 

Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund, Inc.

 

 

 

December 31, 2008

 

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

 

Number of
Portfolios in
Fund
Complex
Overseen
by
Independent
Director**

 

Other Directorships Held by
Directors

Gaetan Bouic (74)
Les Jamalacs Building
2nd Floor
Vieux Conseil Street
Port Louis, Mauritius

 

Chairman of the Board and Director

 

Since 2001

 

Finance Manager of United Basalt Products Ltd. (manufacturing company) (retired December 2002).

 

1

 

Director of Swiss Technology Venture Capital Fund (Private) Ltd.; CDC Financial Services (Mauritius) Ltd.; Cim Foreign Equity Fund Ltd. (commercial property fund); Aureos Capital Ltd. (private equity fund); CDC-PTL Holdings Ltd (investment firm).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

M.J. Marcel Vivian
Descroizilles (60)
Les Jamalacs Building
2nd Floor
Vieux Conseil Street
Port Louis, Mauritius

 

Director

 

Since 2006

 

Managing Director of Société du Port [Rogers Group] (June to November 2006) Consultant, Total Outre Mer SA Paris (January to May 2006); formerly Managing Director and General Manager of ESSO Mauritius Ltd., affiliate of ExxonMobil Corp. (1996 to 2005); Finance Manager, Marketing Manager and Senior Internal Auditor for the Royal Dutch Shell Group of Companies (oil company) (1976 to 1996).

 

1

 

Independent director on a number of companies, including publicly quoted Roger & Co. Ltd.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joseph J. Kearns (66)
c/o Kearns & Associates LLC
PMB754
23852 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, CA 90265

 

Director

 

Since August 1994

 

President, Kearns & Associates LLC (investment consulting); Chairperson of the Audit Committee (since October 2006) and Director or Trustee of the Retail Funds (since July 2003) and Institutional Funds (since August 1994); formerly Deputy Chairperson of the Audit Committee (July 2003-September 2006) and Chairperson of the Audit Committee of the Institutional Funds (October 2001-July 2003); formerly, CFO of the J. Paul Getty Trust.

 

164

 

Director of Electro Rent Corporation (equipment leasing) and The Ford Family Foundation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ravindranath Santosh Kumar
Hazareesing (58) Morcellement St. Andrews-
Rose Hill, Mauritius

 

Director

 

Since 2003

 

Self-employed Management Consultant.

 

1

 

None.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fergus Reid (76)
c/o Lumelite Plastics
Corporation
85 Charles Coleman Blvd.
Pawling, NY 12564

 

Director

 

Since June 1992

 

Chairman, Lumelite Plastics Corporation; Chairperson of the Governance Committee and Director or Trustee of the Retail Funds (since July 2003) and Institutional Funds (since June 1992).

 

164

 

Trustee and Director of certain investment companies in the JPMorgan Funds complex managed by JP Morgan Investment Management Inc.

 

23



 

 

Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund, Inc.

 

 

 

December 31, 2008

 

Director and Officer Information (cont’d)

 

Interested Directors:

 

Name, Age and Address of
Interested Director

 

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

 

Term of
Office and
Length of
Time
Served*

 

Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years

 

Number of
Portfolios in
Fund
Complex
Overseen
by
Interested
Director**

 

Other Directorships Held by
Interested Director

Randy Takian (34)
Morgan Stanley Investment
Management Inc.
522 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10036

 

Director, President and Principal Executive Officer

 

Since September 2008

 

President and Principal Executive Officer (since September 2008) of funds in the Fund Complex; President and Chief Executive Officer of Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc. (since September 2008). President of Morgan Stanley Investment Advisors Inc. (since July 2008). Head of the Retail and Intermediary business within Morgan Stanley Investment Management (since July 2008). Head of Liquidity and Bank Trust business (since July 2008) and the Latin American franchise (since July 2008) at Morgan Stanley Investment Management. Managing Director, Director and/or Officer of the Adviser and various entities affiliated with the Adviser. Formerly, Head of Strategy and Product Development for the Alternatives Group and Senior Loan Investment Management. Formerly with Bank of America (July 1996-March 2006),most recently as Head of the Strategy, Mergers and Acquisitions team for Global Wealth and Investment Management.

 

1

 

None.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*                  This is the earliest date the Director began serving the Retail Funds or Institutional Funds. Each Director serves an indefinite term, until his or her successor is elected.

 

**            The Fund Complex includes all funds advised by Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc. (“MSIM”) that have an investment advisor that is an affiliated entity of MSIM (including but not limited to, Morgan Stanley Investment Advisors Inc. (“MSIA”) and Morgan Stanley AIP GP LP). The Retail Funds are those funds advised by MSIA. The Institutional Funds are certain U.S. registered funds advised by MSIM and Morgan Stanley AIP GP LP.

 

24



 

 

Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund, Inc.

 

 

 

December 31, 2008

 

Director and Officer Information (cont’d)

 

Executive Officers:

 

Name, Age and Address of Executive Officer

 

Position(s) Held
with Registrant

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served*

 

Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years

Randy Takian (34)
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc.
522 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10036

 

President and Principal Executive Officer

 

Since September 2008

 

President and Principal Executive Officer (since September 2008) of funds in the Fund Complex; President and Chief Executive Officer of Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc. (since September 2008). President of Morgan Stanley Investment Advisors Inc. (since July 2008). Head of the Retail and Intermediary business within Morgan Stanley Investment Management (since July 2008). Head of Liquidity and Bank Trust business (since July 2008) and the Latin American franchise (since July 2008) at Morgan Stanley Investment Management. Managing Director, Director and/or Officer of the Adviser and various entities affiliated with the Adviser. Formerly, Head of Strategy and Product Development for the Alternatives Group and Senior Loan Investment Management. Formerly with Bank of America (July 1996-March 2006), most recently as Head of the Strategy, Mergers and Acquisitions team for Global Wealth and Investment Management.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kevin Klingert (46)
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc.
522 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10036

 

Vice President

 

Since
June 2008

 

Global Head, Chief Operating Officer and acting Chief Investment Officer of the Global Fixed Income Group of the Adviser and Morgan Stanley Investment Advisors Inc. (since April 2008). Head of Global Liquidity Portfolio Management and co-Head of Liquidity Credit Research of Morgan Stanley Investment Management (since December 2007). Managing Director of the Adviser and Morgan Stanley Investment Advisors Inc. (since December 2007). Previously, Managing Director on the Management Committee and head of Municipal Portfolio Management and Liquidity at BlackRock (October 1991 to January 2007).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amy R. Doberman (46)
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc.
522 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10036

 

Vice President

 

Since
July 2004

 

Managing Director of Morgan Stanley Investment Management (since July 2004); Vice President of the Retail Funds and Institutional Funds (since July 2004); Vice President of the Van Kampen Funds (since August 2004); Secretary (since February 2006) and Managing Director (since July 2004) of the Adviser and various entities affiliated with the Adviser. Formerly, Managing Director and General Counsel — Americas, UBS Global Asset Management (July 2000-July 2004).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carsten Otto (45)
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc.
522 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10036

 

Chief Compliance Officer

 

Since
October 2004

 

Managing Director and Global Head of Compliance for Morgan Stanley Investment Management (since April 2007) and Chief Compliance Officer of the Retail Funds and Institutional Funds (since October 2004). Formerly, U.S. Director of Compliance (October 2004-April 2007) and Assistant Secretary and Assistant General Counsel of the Retail Funds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stefanie V. Chang Yu (42)
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc.
522 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10036

 

Vice President

 

Since
December 1997

 

Managing Director of the Adviser and various entities affiliated with the Adviser; Vice President of the Retail Funds (since July 2002) and Institutional Funds (since December 1997). Formerly, Secretary of various entities affiliated with the Adviser.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mary E. Mullin (41)
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc.
522 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10036

 

Secretary

 

Since
June 1999

 

Executive Director of the Adviser and various entities affiliated with the Adviser; Secretary of the Retail Funds (since July 2003) and Institutional Funds (since June 1999).

 

25



 

 

Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund, Inc.

 

 

 

December 31, 2008

 

Director and Officer Information (cont’d)

 

Executive Officers (cont’d):

 

Name, Age and Address of Executive Officer

 

Position(s) Held
with Registrant

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served*

 

Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years

James W. Garrett (40)
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc.
522 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10036

 

Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

 

Treasurer since February 2002 and Chief Financial Officer since July 2003

 

Head of Global Fund Administration; Managing Director of the Adviser and various entities affiliated with the Adviser; Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of the Institutional Funds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*                  This is the earliest date the Officer began serving the Retail Funds or Institutional Funds. Each Officer serves an indefinite term, until his or her successor is elected.

 

In accordance with Section 303A. 12(a) of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual, the Fund’s Annual CEO Certification certifying as to compliance with NYSE’s Corporate Governance Listing Standards was submitted to the Exchange on October 3, 2008.

 

The Fund’s Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer Certifications required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 were filed with the Fund’s N-CSR and are available on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

26



 

Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund, Inc.

 

Directors

Officers

Gaetan Bouic

Kevin Klingert

Chairman of the Board

Vice President

 

 

M.J. Marcel Vivian

Amy R. Doberman

Descroizilles

Vice President

 

 

Joseph J. Kearns

Stefanie V. Chang Yu

 

Vice President

Ravindranath Santosh

 

Kumar Hazareesing

James W. Garrett

 

Treasurer and Chief

Fergus Reid

Financial Officer

 

 

Randy Takian

Carsten Otto

Director, President and

Chief Compliance Officer

Principal Executive Officer

 

 

Mary E. Mullin

 

Secretary

 

 

Investment Adviser and Administrator

Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc.

522 Fifth Avenue

New York, New York 10036

 

Custodian

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

270 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10017

 

Stockholder Servicing Agent

Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

250 Royall Street

Canton, Massachusetts 02021

 

Legal Counsel

Clifford Chance US LLP

31 West 52nd Street

New York, New York 10019-6131

 

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 1(800) 231-2608 or visit our website at www.morganstanley.com/msim. All investments involve risks, including the possible loss of principal.

 

© 2009 Morgan Stanley

 

CEIIFANN  IU09-006301-Y12/08

 



 

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 Trustees has determined that Joseph J. Kearns, an “independent” Trustee, 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 Trustees 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:

 

2008

 

 

 

Registrant

 

Covered Entities(1)

 

Audit Fees

 

$

106,900

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-Audit Fees

 

 

 

 

 

Audit-Related Fees

 

$

 

 

$

742,276

(2)

Tax Fees

 

$

3,380

(3)

$

99,522

(4)

All Other Fees

 

$

 

 

$

246,887

(5)

Total Non-Audit Fees

 

$

3,380

 

$

1,088,685

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

110,280

 

$

1,088,685

 

 

2007

 

 

 

Registrant

 

Covered Entities(1)

 

Audit Fees

 

$

116,400

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-Audit Fees

 

 

 

 

 

Audit-Related Fees

 

$

 

 

$

731,800

(2)

Tax Fees

 

$

3,100

(3)

$

104,020

(4)

All Other Fees

 

$

 

 

$

166,270

(5)

Total Non-Audit Fees

 

$

3,100

 

$

1,002,090

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

119,500

 

$

1,002,090

 

 


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 attestation services provided in connection with a SAS 70 Report and advisory consulting work.

 

 

(3)

Tax Fees represent tax advice and compliance services provided in connection with the review of the Registrant’s tax returns.

 

 

(4)

Tax Fees represent tax advice services provided to Covered Entities, including research and identification of PFIC entities.

 

 

(5)

All Other Fees represent attestation services provided in connection with performance presentation standards and a compliance review project performed

 

1



 

(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.

 

2



 

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

 

3



 

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

 

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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 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

Van Kampen Asset Management

Morgan Stanley Services Company, Inc.

Morgan Stanley Distributors Inc.

Morgan Stanley Trust FSB

 

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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 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: Frank Joseph Kearns, Michael Nugent and Allen Reed.

 

(b) Not applicable.

 

Item 6. Schedule of Investments

 

(a) Refer to Item 1.

 

(b) Not used.

 

Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

 

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APPROVED FEBRUARY 28, 2008

 

MORGAN STANLEY INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

PROXY VOTING POLICY AND PROCEDURES

 

I.                                         POLICY STATEMENT

 

Introduction - 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 Investment Advisors Inc., Morgan Stanley AIP GP LP, Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc., Morgan Stanley Investment Management Limited, Morgan Stanley Investment Management Company, Morgan Stanley Asset & Investment Trust Management Co., Limited, Morgan Stanley Investment Management Private Limited, Van Kampen Asset Management, and Van Kampen Advisors Inc. (each an “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 MSIM registered management investment companies (Van Kampen, Institutional and Advisor Funds—collectively referred to herein as 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. An MSIM Affiliate will not vote proxies if the “named fiduciary” for an ERISA account has reserved the authority for itself, or in the case of an account not governed by ERISA, the investment management or investment advisory agreement does not authorize 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 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.

 

Proxy Research Services - RiskMetrics Group ISS Governance Services (“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. While we may review and utilize the recommendations of the Research Providers in

 

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making proxy voting decisions, we are in no way obligated to follow such recommendations. In addition to research, ISS provides vote execution, reporting, and recordkeeping.

 

Voting Proxies for Certain Non-U.S. Companies - Voting proxies of companies located in some jurisdictions, particularly emerging markets, 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.

 

II.                                     GENERAL PROXY VOTING GUIDELINES

 

To promote consistency in voting proxies on behalf of its clients, we follow this Policy (subject to any exception set forth herein), including the guidelines set forth below.  These guidelines address a broad range of issues, and provide 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 and 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, but such a split vote must be approved by the Proxy Review Committee.

 

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.

 

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·                  General updating/corrective amendments to the charter, articles of association or bylaws.

 

·                  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 generally support shareholder proposals advocating confidential voting procedures and independent tabulation of voting results.

 

B.                                    Board of Directors

 

1.               Election of directors: 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 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, although lack of board turnover and fresh perspective can be a negative factor in voting on directors.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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b.              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, nominating or audit committee.

 

c.               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, and/or acting with insufficient independence between the board and management.

 

d.              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 pills would be seen as a basis for opposing one or more incumbent nominees.

 

e.               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.

 

f.                 We consider withholding support from or voting against a nominee who has failed to attend at least 75% of board meetings within a given year without a reasonable excuse.

 

g.              We consider withholding support from or voting against a nominee who serves on the board of directors of more than six companies (excluding investment companies).  We also consider voting against a director who otherwise appears to have too many commitments to serve adequately on the board of the company.

 

2.                 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.

 

3.                 Board diversity:  We consider on a case-by-case basis shareholder proposals urging diversity of board membership with respect to social, religious or ethnic group.

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4.                 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.

 

5.                 Proxy access:  We consider on a case-by-case basis shareholder proposals to provide procedures for inclusion of shareholder nominees in company proxy statements.

 

6.                 Proposals to elect all directors annually:  We generally support proposals to elect all directors annually at public companies (to “declassify” the Board of Directors) where such action is supported by the board, and otherwise consider the issue on a case-by-case basis based in part on overall takeover defenses at a company.

 

7.                 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.

 

8.                 Separation of Chairman and CEO positions:  We vote on shareholder proposals to separate the Chairman and CEO positions and/or to appoint a non-executive 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.

 

9.                 Director retirement age and term limits:  Proposals recommending set director retirement ages or director term limits are voted on a case-by-case basis.

 

10.           Proposals to limit directors’ liability and/or broaden indemnification of directors.  Generally, we will support such proposals provided that the officers and directors are eligible for indemnification and liability protection if they have acted in good faith on company business and were found innocent of any civil or criminal charges for duties performed on behalf of the company.

 

C.                                  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.  However, proposals for mergers or other significant transactions that are friendly and approved by the Research Providers generally will be supported and in those instances will not need to be reviewed by the Proxy Review Committee, where there is no portfolio manager objection and where there is no material conflict of interest.  We also analyze proxy contests on a case-by-case basis.

 

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D.                                   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.

 

·                  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.

 

·                  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.

 

·                  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 proposals for higher dividend payouts.

 

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.

 

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·                  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.

 

E.                                    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; 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.               Shareholder rights to call meetings:  We consider proposals to enhance shareholder rights to call meetings on a case-by-case basis.

 

4.               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.

 

5.               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, as determined by the Proxy Review Committee) 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.

 

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6.              Bundled proposals:  We may consider opposing or abstaining on proposals if disparate issues are “bundled” and presented for a single vote.

 

F.                                    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.

 

G.                                  Executive and Director Remuneration.

 

1.             We generally support the following proposals:

 

·                  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 up to 15%, but only for grants that are part of a broad-based employee plan, including all non-executive employees.

 

·                  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.

 

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2.               Shareholder proposals requiring shareholder approval of all severance agreements will not be supported, but proposals that require shareholder approval for agreements in excess of three times the annual compensation (salary and bonus) generally will be supported. 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 proposals where we consider SERPs to be excessive.

 

3.               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 whether a proposal may be overly prescriptive, and the impact of the proposal, if implemented as written, on recruitment and retention.

 

4.               We consider shareholder proposals for U.K.-style advisory votes on pay on a case-by-case basis.

 

5.               We generally support proposals advocating reasonable senior executive and director stock ownership guidelines and holding requirements for shares gained in option exercises.

 

6.               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.

 

H.                                  Social, Political and Environmental Issues.  We consider proposals relating to social, political and environmental issues on a case-by-case basis to determine whether they will have a financial impact on shareholder value. However, we generally vote against proposals requesting reports that are duplicative, related to matters not material to the business, or that would impose unnecessary or excessive costs. We may abstain from voting on proposals that do not have a readily determinable financial impact on shareholder value. We generally oppose proposals requiring adherence to workplace standards that are not required or customary in market(s) to which the proposals relate.

 

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I.                                       Fund of Funds.  Certain 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.

 

III.                              ADMINISTRATION OF POLICY

 

The MSIM Proxy Review Committee (the “Committee”) has overall responsibility for creating and implementing the Policy, working with an MSIM staff group (the “Corporate Governance Team”).  The Committee, which is appointed by MSIM’s Chief Investment Officer of Global Equities (“CIO”), consists of senior investment professionals who represent the different investment disciplines and geographic locations of the firm.  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 Committee Chairperson is the head of the Corporate Governance Team, and is responsible for identifying issues that require Committee deliberation or ratification. The Corporate Governance Team, 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 Corporate Governance Team has responsibility for voting case-by-case where guidelines and precedent provide adequate guidance, and to refer other case-by-case decisions to the Proxy Review Committee.

 

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.

 

A.                                  Committee Procedures

 

The Committee will meet at least monthly to (among other matters) address any outstanding issues relating to the Policy or its implementation. The Corporate Governance Team will timely communicate to ISS MSIM’s Policy (and any amendments and/or any additional guidelines or procedures the Committee may adopt).

 

The Committee will meet on an ad hoc basis to (among other matters): (1) authorize “split voting” (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); (2) review and approve upcoming votes, as appropriate, for matters for which specific direction has been provided in this Policy; and (3)  determine how to vote matters for which specific direction has not been provided in this Policy.

 

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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 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 Committee 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.

 

B.                                   Material Conflicts of Interest

 

In addition to the procedures discussed above, if the Committee determines that an issue raises a material conflict of interest, the Committee will request a special committee to review, and recommend a course of action with respect to, the conflict(s) in question (“Special Committee”).

 

The Special Committee shall be comprised of the Chairperson of the Proxy Review Committee, the Chief Compliance Officer or his/her designee, a senior portfolio manager (if practicable, one who is a member of the Proxy Review Committee) designated by the Proxy Review Committee, and MSIM’s relevant Chief Investment Officer or his/her designee, and any other persons deemed necessary by the Chairperson. The Special Committee may request the assistance of MSIM’s General Counsel or his/her designee who will have sole discretion to cast a vote.  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.                                   Identification of Material Conflicts of Interest

 

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 material matter affecting 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).

 

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If the Chairperson of the Committee determines that an issue raises a potential material conflict of interest, depending on the facts and circumstances, the Chairperson will address the issue 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 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 Chairperson will refer the matter to the Committee to vote on the proposal.  If the Committee determines that an issue raises a material conflict of interest, the Committee will request a Special Committee to review and recommend a course of action, as described above.  Notwithstanding the above, the Chairperson of the Committee may request a Special Committee to review a matter at any time as he/she deems necessary to resolve a conflict.

 

D.                                    Proxy Voting Reporting

 

The Committee and the Special Committee, or their designee(s), will document in writing all of their decisions and actions, which documentation will be maintained by the Committee and the Special Committee, or their designee(s), for a period of at least 6 years.  To the extent these decisions relate to a security held by an MSIM Fund, the Committee and Special Committee, or their designee(s), will report their 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 by the Committee and Special Committee during the most recently ended calendar quarter immediately preceding the Board meeting.

 

The Corporate Governance Team will timely communicate to applicable portfolio managers and to ISS, decisions of the Committee and Special Committee so that, among other things, ISS will vote proxies consistent with their decisions.

 

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.

 

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APPENDIX A

 

The following procedures apply to accounts managed by Morgan Stanley AIP GP LP (“AIP”).

 

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 Liquid Markets investment team and the Private Markets investment team of AIP.  A summary of decisions made by the 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.

 

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APPENDIX B

 

The following procedures apply to the portion of the Van Kampen Dynamic Credit Opportunities Fund (“VK Fund”) sub advised by Avenue Europe International Management, L.P. (“Avenue”).  (The portion of the VK Fund managed solely by Van Kampen Asset Management will continue to be subject to MSIM’s Policy.)

 

1.                                       Generally:  With respect to Avenue’s portion of the VK Fund, the Board of Trustees of the VK Fund will retain sole authority and responsibility for proxy voting.  The Adviser’s involvement in the voting process of Avenue’s portion of the VK Fund is a purely administrative function, and serves to execute and deliver the proxy voting decisions made by the VK Fund Board in connection with the Avenue portion of the VK Fund, which may, from time to time, include related administrative tasks such as receiving proxies, following up on missing proxies, and collecting data related to proxies.  As such, the Adviser shall not be deemed to have voting power or shared voting power with Avenue with respect to Avenue’s portion of the Fund.

 

2.                                       Voting Guidelines:  All proxies, with respect to Avenue’s portion of the VK Fund, will be considered by the VK Fund Board or such subcommittee as the VK Fund Board may designate from time to time for determination and voting approval.  The VK Board or its subcommittee will timely communicate to MSIM’s Corporate Governance Group its proxy voting decisions, so that among other things the votes will be effected consistent with the VK Board’s authority.

 

3.                                       Administration:  The VK Board or its subcommittee will meet on an adhoc basis as may be required from time to time to review proxies that require its review and determination.  The VK Board or its subcommittee will document in writing all of its decisions and actions which will be maintained by the VK Fund, or its designee(s), for a period of at least 6 years.  If a subcommittee is designated, a summary of decisions made by such subcommittee will be made available to the full VK Board for its information at its next scheduled respective meetings.

 

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Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies

 

FUND MANAGEMENT

 

The Fund is managed by members of the Emerging Markets Equity team.  The team consists of portfolio managers and analysts.  The current members of the team primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio are James Cheng and Ruchir Sharma.  Mr. Cheng is a Managing Director of the Sub-Adviser and Mr. Sharma is a Managing Director of the Adviser.  Mr. Cheng has been associated with the Sub-Adviser in an investment management capacity since July 2006 and joined the team managing the Fund in February 2009.  Prior to July 2006, Mr. Cheng worked in an investment management capacity at Invesco Asia Limited, Asia Strategic Investment Management Limited and Munich Re Asia Capital Management. Mr. Sharma has been associated with the Adviser in an investment management capacity since 1996 and joined the team managing the Fund in January 2001.

 

The composition of the team may change without notice from time to time.

 

OTHER ACCOUNTS MANAGED BY THE PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

 

The following information is as of December 31, 2008.

 

Mr. Cheng managed eight registered investment companies with a total of approximately $3 billion in assets; one pooled investment vehicle other than registered investment companies; and five other accounts with a total of approximately $3.9 billion in assets.  Of these other accounts, one account with a total of approximately $302.8 million in assets had performance based fees.

 

Mr. Sharma managed 14 registered investment companies with a total of approximately $4.1 billion in assets; five pooled investment vehicles other than registered investment companies with a total of approximately $1.7 billion in assets; and 23 other accounts with a total of approximately $7.3 billion in assets.  Of these other accounts, four accounts with a total of approximately $1.1 billion in assets, had performance based fees.

 

Because the portfolio managers manage 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 and/or Sub-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 managers 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 and/or Sub-Adviser have 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 and/or Sub-Adviser’s employee benefits and/or deferred compensation plans.  The portfolio manager may have an incentive to favor these accounts over others.  If the Adviser and/or Sub-Adviser manage accounts

 

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that engage in short sales of securities of the type in which the Fund invests, the Adviser and/or Sub-Adviser could be seen as harming the performance of the Fund for the benefit of the accounts engaged in short sales if the short sales cause the market value of the securities to fall.  The Adviser and/or Sub-Adviser have 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

 

Portfolio managers receive a combination of base compensation and discretionary compensation, comprised of a cash bonus and several deferred compensation programs described below. The methodology used to determine portfolio manager compensation is applied across all accounts managed by the portfolio manager.

 

BASE SALARY COMPENSATION. Generally, portfolio managers receive base salary compensation based on the level of their position with the Adviser and/or Sub-Adviser.

 

DISCRETIONARY COMPENSATION. In addition to base compensation, portfolio managers may receive discretionary compensation.

 

Discretionary compensation can include:

 

· Cash Bonus;

 

· Morgan Stanley’s Long-Term Incentive Compensation Program awards — a mandatory program that defers a portion of discretionary year-end compensation into restricted stock units or other awards or other investments based on Morgan Stanley common stock that are subject to vesting and other conditions;

 

· Investment Management Alignment Plan (IMAP) awards — a mandatory program that defers a portion of discretionary year-end compensation and notionally invests it in designated funds advised by the Adviser and/or Sub-Adviser or its affiliates. The award is subject to vesting and other conditions. Portfolio managers must notionally invest a minimum of 25% to a maximum of 100% of their IMAP deferral account into a combination of the designated open-end funds they manage that are included in the IMAP Fund menu;

 

· Voluntary Deferred Compensation Plans — voluntary programs that permit certain employees to elect to defer a portion of their discretionary year-end compensation and directly or notionally invest the deferred amount across a range of designated investment funds, including funds advised by the Adviser and/or Sub-Adviser or its affiliates.

 

Several factors determine discretionary compensation, which can vary by portfolio management team and circumstances. In order of relative importance, these factors include:

 

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· Investment performance. A portfolio manager’s compensation is linked to the pre-tax investment performance of the funds/accounts managed by the portfolio manager. Investment performance is calculated for one-, three- and five-year periods measured against an appropriate securities market index (or indices) for the funds/accounts managed by the portfolio manager. The assets managed by the portfolio managers in funds, pooled investment vehicles and other accounts are described in “Other Accounts Managed by the Portfolio Managers” above. Generally, the greatest weight is placed on the three- and five-year periods.

 

· Revenues generated by the investment companies, pooled investment vehicles and other accounts managed by the portfolio manager.

 

· Contribution to the business objectives of the Adviser and/or Sub-Adviser.

 

· The dollar amount of assets managed by the portfolio manager.

 

· Market compensation survey research by independent third parties.

 

· Other qualitative factors, such as contributions to client objectives.

 

· Performance of Morgan Stanley and Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc., and the overall performance of the investment team(s) of which the portfolio is a member.

 

SECURITIES OWNERSHIP OF PORTFOLIO MANAGERA

 

As of  December 31, 2008, the portfolio managers did not own any shares of the Fund.

 

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Item 9. Closed-End Fund Repurchases

 

None.

 

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.

 

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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.

 

(Registrant)

Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund, Inc.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Randy Takian

 

Name:

Randy Takian

Title:

Principal Executive Officer

Date:

February 19, 2009

 

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.

 

By:

/s/ Randy Takian

 

Name:

Randy Takian

Title:

Principal Executive Officer

Date:

February 19, 2009

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ James W. Garrett

 

Name:

James W. Garrett

Title:

Principal Financial Officer

Date:

February 19, 2009