ABRDN plc today has announced that its U.S. subsidiary, abrdn Inc., has entered into an agreement with First Trust Advisors L.P. to acquire the assets of four closed-end funds listed below, adding AUM totalling approximately £0.6bn*.
Subject to approval by the shareholders of the respective funds, the four closed-end funds will be reorganised into existing abrdn funds.
The transaction will also further strengthen our closed-end fund business, which currently has £23.8bn** in AUM in US and UK listed closed-end funds, making abrdn the third largest manager of closed-end funds in the world.
Stephen Bird, abrdn CEO, said;
“The acquisition of these four closed-end funds is another clear statement of intent from abrdn, as we continue to focus on the areas of investing where we have global scale and competitive advantage. We are already the third-largest manager of closed-end funds globally, and this marks the third acquisition we have done in this space over the past 12 months.
“By consolidating these funds into existing abrdn funds, we bring economies of scale. And we are adding approximately £0.6bn of assets under management to the group in a perpetual capital structure, and in asset classes where we already have strength. This transaction represents further disciplined allocation of shareholder capital that is fully aligned to our strategy.”
ENDS
| Acquired Fund | Acquiring Fund |
| Macquarie/First Trust Global Infrastructure/Utilities Dividend & Income Fund (“MFD”) | abrdn Global Infrastructure Income Fund (“ASGI”) |
| First Trust High Income Long/Short Fund (“FSD”) | abrdn Income Credit Strategies Fund (“ACP”) |
| First Trust/abrdn Global Opportunity Income Fund (“FAM”)*** | |
| First Trust Specialty Finance and Financial Opportunities Fund (“FGB”) | abrdn Total Dynamic Dividend Fund (“AOD”) |
* The reorganisations will be subject to the approval of the shareholders of the transferring funds and are expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2024. AUM figure as of October 2023.
** As of 17 July 2023, and includes completion of Tekla.
*** abrdn Inc. is the investment sub-advisor to FAM providing portfolio management services.
