Aberdeen Asset Management Announces Investment Management For The Japan Equity Fund, Inc.

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Aberdeen Asset Management Asia Limited ("AAMAL") has assumed investment management responsibility for The Japan Equity Fund, Inc. (NYSE: JEQ; "The Japan Fund" or the "Fund") effective today.  The Japan Fund is a closed-end investment company with total assets of $107 million (as of October 31, 2013).  Its investment objective is to outperform over the long term, on a total return basis (including appreciation and dividends), the Tokyo Stock Price Index ("TOPIX").  The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing substantially all of its assets, but under normal circumstances at least 80% of its assets, in equity securities of companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange or listed on the over-the-counter market in Japan or listed on other stock exchanges in Japan.  There can be no assurance the Fund will achieve its investment objective.

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Expertise in the Asia-Pacific Region
"We are delighted to welcome The Japan Fund into our extensive array of Asian closed-end funds available to North American investors," says Gary Marshall, Chief Executive Officer of Aberdeen Asset Management Inc., an affiliate of AAMAL.  "We believe that Japan is home to many quality companies that have weathered years of stagflation and economic woes.  We are particularly excited about bringing Aberdeen's extensive due diligence efforts in the identification of what we believe to be quality Japanese companies to the Fund's stockholders."

North American Closed-End Funds Managed by Aberdeen
With the addition of The Japan Fund, the Aberdeen Group will manage sixteen North American closed-end funds including thirteen U.S. exchange-listed closed-end funds, one Canadian investment company, and two investment sub-advisory relationships with First Trust Advisors L.P.  Aberdeen's closed-end funds available to North American investors are:

• Aberdeen Asia-Pacific Income Fund, Inc. (NYSE MKT: FAX)²
• Aberdeen Asia-Pacific Income Investment Company Limited (TSX: FAP)
• Aberdeen Australia Equity Fund, Inc. (NYSE MKT: IAF)¹
• Aberdeen Chile Fund, Inc. (NYSE MKT: CH )²
• Aberdeen Emerging Markets Smaller Company Opportunities Fund, Inc. (NYSE MKT: ETF )²
• Aberdeen Global Income Fund, Inc. (NYSE MKT: FCO)²
• Aberdeen Indonesia Fund, Inc. (NYSE MKT: IF )
• Aberdeen Israel Fund, Inc. (NYSE MKT: ISL )
• Aberdeen Latin America Equity Fund, Inc. (NYSE MKT: LAQ)
• Aberdeen Greater China Fund, Inc. (NYSE: GCH)³
• Aberdeen Singapore Fund, Inc. (NYSE: SGF)⁴
• First Trust /Aberdeen Global Opportunity Income Fund, Inc. (NYSE MKT: FAM)
• First Trust /Aberdeen Emerging Opportunity Fund, Inc. (NYSE MKT: FEO)
• The Asia Tigers Fund, Inc. (NYSE: GRR)
• The India Fund, Inc. (NYSE: IFN)
• The Japan Equity Fund, Inc. (NYSE: JEQ)

Aberdeen's subsidiaries (the "Aberdeen Group") have managed U.S. registered closed-end funds since December of 2000. Today, Aberdeen Group is the largest manager of emerging market closed-end funds offered around the world by both value and number.⁵

Aberdeen Asset Management PLC ("Aberdeen") is the parent company of an asset management group managing assets for both institutional and private clients from offices around the world. Aberdeen Asset Management Asia Limited, based in Singapore and a subsidiary of Aberdeen, is the Fund's manager. Aberdeen's Asian operations include more than 150 investment professionals in offices across the Asia region including Bangkok, Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, Sydney, Taiwan, Tokyo, and Melbourne.

"Closed-end funds, one of the oldest types of investment vehicles, have been a key focus of Aberdeen since the firm was founded. We believe that our familiarity with their structure, coupled with our extensive experience and presence in Asia, will help deliver long-term investment opportunities to the stockholders of The Japan Equity Fund, Inc.," concluded Mr. Marshall.

Aberdeen – simply asset management
Aberdeen is an independent asset management company. Formed out of a management buy-out in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1983, we are now a FTSE 100 company operating on-the-ground in 25 countries across Europe, Asia and the Americas.

We are defined by our pure focus on asset management, including equities, fixed income, property and multi-asset portfolios. All our investment solutions are driven by our commitment to straightforward, transparent investment approaches that stress intensive, first-hand research and a long-term view.

As of September 30, 2013, we manage assets of $324.6 billion on behalf of institutional and private investors.

Foreign securities are more volatile, harder to price and less liquid than U.S. securities. They are subject to different accounting and regulatory standards, and political and economic risks. These risks may be enhanced in emerging markets countries. Concentrating investments in a single country subjects the portfolio to more volatility and greater risk of loss than geographically diverse investments.

Closed-end funds are traded on the secondary market through one of the stock exchanges. The Fund's investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor's shares may be worth more or less than the original cost. Shares of closed-end funds may trade above (a premium) or below (a discount) the net asset value (NAV) of the fund's portfolio. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

In the United States, AAM is the marketing name for the following affiliated, registered investment advisers: Aberdeen Asset Management Inc., Aberdeen Asset Managers Ltd, Aberdeen Asset Management Ltd and Aberdeen Asset Management Asia Ltd, each of which is wholly owned by Aberdeen Asset Management PLC. "Aberdeen" is a U.S. registered service mark of Aberdeen Asset Management PLC.

SOURCE The Japan Equity Fund, Inc.