N-CSRS 1 sr63022eea.htm THE EUROPEAN EQUITY FUND, INC.

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549

 

 

FORM N-CSRS

 

Investment Company Act file number: 811-04632

 

The European Equity Fund, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

875 Third Avenue

New York, NY 10022-6225

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code: (212) 454-4500

 

Diane Kenneally

100 Summer Street

Boston, MA 02110

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

 

Date of fiscal year end: 12/31
   
Date of reporting period: 6/30/2022

 

ITEM 1. REPORT TO STOCKHOLDERS
   
  (a)
   

LOGO

June 30, 2022

Semiannual Report

to Shareholders

The European Equity Fund, Inc.

Ticker Symbol: EEA

 

 

LOGO

 


Contents

 

  4      Letter to the Shareholders
  8      Performance Summary
  10      Schedule of Investments
  16      Statement of Assets and Liabilities
  17      Statement of Operations
  18      Statements of Changes in Net Assets
  19      Financial Highlights
  20      Notes to Financial Statements
  27      Report of Annual Meeting of Stockholders
  28      Additional Information

 

The brand DWS represents DWS Group GmbH & Co. KGaA and any of its subsidiaries such as DWS Distributors, Inc. which offers investment products or DWS Investment Management Americas, Inc. and RREEF America L.L.C. which offer advisory services.

NOT FDIC/NCUA INSURED     NO BANK GUARANTEE     MAY LOSE VALUE NOT A DEPOSIT     NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY

 

2   |   The European Equity Fund, Inc.  


The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation through investment primarily in equity and equity-linked securities of issuers domiciled in Europe.

Investments in funds involve risks, including the loss of principal.

The shares of most closed-end funds, including the Fund, are not continuously offered. Once issued, shares of closed-end funds are bought and sold in the open market. Shares of closed-end funds frequently trade at a discount to net asset value. The price of the Fund’s shares is determined by a number of factors, several of which are beyond the control of the Fund. Therefore, the Fund cannot predict whether its shares will trade at, below or above net asset value.

This Fund is diversified and primarily focuses its investments in equity securities of issuers domiciled in Europe, thereby increasing its vulnerability to developments in that region. Investing in foreign securities, particularly those of emerging markets, presents certain risks, such as currency fluctuations, political and economic changes, and market risks. Any fund that concentrates in a particular segment of the market or in a particular geographical region will generally be more volatile than a fund that invests more broadly.

The United States, the European Union (EU), the United Kingdom, and other countries have imposed sanctions in response to the Russian military and other actions in recent years. These sanctions have adversely affected Russian individuals, Russian issuers and the Russian economy. Russia, in turn, has imposed sanctions targeting Western individuals, businesses and products. The various sanctions have adversely affected, and may continue to adversely affect, not only the Russian economy but also the economies of many countries in Europe. The continuation of current sanctions or the imposition of additional sanctions may materially adversely affect the value of the Fund’s portfolio.

On January 31, 2020, the United Kingdom officially withdrew from the EU pursuant to a withdrawal agreement, providing for a transition period in which the United Kingdom negotiated and finalized a trade deal with the EU, the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, provisionally applied effective January 1, 2021. As a result, as of January 1, 2021 the United Kingdom is no longer part of the EU customs union and single market, nor is it subject to EU policies and international agreements. The long-term impact of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU is still unknown and could have adverse economic and political effects on the United Kingdom, the EU and its member countries, and the global economy, including financial markets and asset valuations.

War, terrorism, sanctions, economic uncertainty, trade disputes, public health crises and related geopolitical events have led, and, in the future, may lead to significant disruptions in U.S. and world economies and markets, which may lead to increased market volatility and may have significant adverse effects on the Fund and its investments.

 

The European Equity Fund, Inc.   |     3  


Letter to the Shareholders   (Unaudited)

Dear Shareholder,

For the six-month period ended June 30, 2022, the total return of the European Equity Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) in U.S. dollars (USD) was -22.99% based on net asset value and -24.29% based on market price. During the same period, the return of the Fund’s benchmark, the MSCI Europe Index, was -20.79%.1 The Fund’s discount to net asset value averaged 14.66% for the period in review, compared with 12.54% for the same period a year earlier.

The first half of 2022 saw the European and other global stock markets experience a steep decline along with considerable volatility. Early in the period, the principal driver of deteriorating sentiment was raised expectations for global central bank tightening. Equities moved lower in January and February on an acceleration of the expected timetable for interest rate normalization on the part of central banks, with more interest rate-sensitive growth sectors most negatively impacted. This decline was then exacerbated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, with global equities dropping sharply in early March. Equities retraced some of their losses into the end of March, as economic activity appeared to be holding up relatively well.

As the second quarter of 2022 progressed, recession fears moved to the forefront of the market’s focus. The reasons included the ongoing war in Ukraine and COVID-19 lockdowns in China, both of which further impaired global supply chains, along with the spike in energy prices in the aftermath of Russia’s aggression. However, most alarming was the fact that inflation was once again proving far more persistent than consensus expectations, clearly pointing to a more rapid pace of rate hikes from central banks than anticipated entering the quarter. Equities embarked on another downward leg over much of June, returning by the end of the month essentially to the lows last seen in early March.

The Fund’s largest overweight is to materials and this position was the most significant detractor from performance relative to the benchmark. In particular, shares of building materials companies CRH PLC and Sika AG saw declines in excess of the broader materials sector on investor fears of a slowdown in the construction and housing markets.

 

4   |   The European Equity Fund, Inc.


Information technology is the Fund’s second largest overweight relative to the benchmark. This allocation also detracted, principally due to holdings of semiconductor companies while positions in software companies also weighed on return. Higher real interest rates driven by hawkish central banks and the resulting heightened fears of recession help explain the underperformance of the sector.

The Fund was also meaningfully overweight the industrials sector. Within industrials, exposure to the construction segment weighed most heavily on return, specifically positions in suppliers Ashtead Group PLC, Cie de Saint-Gobain SA and Geberit AG. Sentiment with respect to transportation companies Deutsche Post AG and DSV also suffered from anticipation of recession as well as the shift in spending from goods to services with economic reopening.

On the positive side, the Fund’s allocation to and stock selection within both the consumer discretionary and financials sectors helped offset some of the negative impact of positioning in other sectors.

Market Outlook

Incoming inflation numbers have come as a negative surprise to central bankers. The U.S. economy is very sensitive to tightening financial conditions and we expect a modest recession in the first half of 2023, as defined by two consecutive quarters of negative growth. For the Eurozone, we have raised our June 2023 European Central Bank deposit rate forecast from 0.75% to 2.0%. We expect the negative impact should be less pronounced due to a benign job market, ongoing fiscal stimulus,

 

 

Sector Diversification (As a % of Equity Securities)    6/30/22      12/31/21  
Industrials      18%        17%  
Financials      17%        16%  
Health Care      15%        15%  
Materials      10%        13%  
Information Technology      10%        13%  
Consumer Discretionary      9%        8%  
Communication Services      7%        5%  
Consumer Staples      7%        5%  
Energy      4%        4%  
Utilities      3%        4%  
       100%        100%  

 

The European Equity Fund, Inc.   |     5  


post-COVID catch-up demand. However, Germany remains exposed to the rising risk of gas imports from Russia being completely cut this summer and beyond, which would likely trigger an energy crisis.

As for corporate earnings, after years of expanding profitability, we predict aggregate profit margins will fall in the coming quarters. For the next 12 months our top-down earnings estimates are 5-11% below market consensus, and we expect companies and analysts to lower their outlooks over the coming months. As a reference we remind investors that a “normal recession” has historically resulted in an approximately 15% decline in aggregate earnings per share, while “severe recessions” have led to an approximately one-third reduction in earnings. We do not anticipate such harsh cuts as we expect only a technical recession, as balance sheets of companies and consumers are still in healthy shape.

With respect to valuation, we note that equity markets remain highly sensitive to U.S. real interest rates. Therefore, we remain cautious over the near-term on equity markets. On a 12-month horizon, however, we remain constructive on equities, as we believe there is a strong possibility of an easing in fears around inflation, war and recession along with a stabilization of U.S. real rates.

 

 

Ten Largest Equity Holdings at June 30, 2022
(30.9% of Net Assets)
  Country   Percent  
  1.     Nestle SA   Switzerland     4.3
  2.     HSBC Holdings PLC   United Kingdom     3.6
  3.     TotalEnergies SE   France     3.6
  4.     Novo Nordisk A/S   Denmark     3.5
  5.     Roche Holding AG   Switzerland     3.1
  6.     Allianz SE   Germany     2.8
  7.     ING Groep NV   Netherlands     2.7
  8.     Sanofi   France     2.5
  9.     AXA SA   France     2.4
  10.     ASML Holding NV   Netherlands     2.4

Portfolio holdings and characteristics are subject to change and not indicative of future portfolio composition.

For more details about the Fund’s investments, see the Schedule of Investments commencing on page 10. For additional information about the Fund, including performance, dividends, presentations, press releases, market updates, daily NAV and shareholder reports, please visit dws.com.

 

6   |   The European Equity Fund, Inc.


From a sector point of view, we continue to believe that health care remains attractive. We tactically increased exposure to the oil sector at the end of the quarter, following the recent correction in energy stocks. Fundamentals with respect to the segment appear solid on the supply side, considering low OPEC spare capacity, limited past years’ capital expenditures and Russia-related disruptions. Inventories appear at the lower bound of their historic range ahead of the peak driving season. On the demand side, with COVID fears receding and the economy reopening, global oil demand is likely to structurally exceed pre-pandemic levels.

On June 23, 2022 at the Fund’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders, Ambassador Richard R. Burt retired from the Fund’s Board. The Board thanks Ambassador Burt for his excellent service for many years to the Fund.

Sincerely,

 

LOGO   LOGO   LOGO
Christian Strenger   Juan Barriobero de la Pisa   Hepsen Uzcan
Chairman   Portfolio Manager   Director, President and Chief Executive Officer

The views expressed in the preceding discussion reflect those of the portfolio management team generally through the end of the period of the report as stated on the cover. The management team’s views are subject to change at any time based on market and other conditions and should not be construed as recommendations. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Current and future portfolio holdings are subject to risk.

 

1 

The MSCI Europe Index tracks the performance of 15 developed markets in Europe. MSCI indices are calculated using closing local market prices and translate into U.S. dollars using the London close foreign exchange rates. Index returns do not reflect any fees or expenses and it is not possible to invest directly in the MSCI Europe Index.

 

The European Equity Fund, Inc.   |     7  


Performance Summary   June 30, 2022 (Unaudited)

All performance shown is historical, assumes reinvestment of all dividend and capital gain distributions, and does not guarantee future results. Investment return and net asset value fluctuate with changing market conditions so that, when sold, shares may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. Please visit dws.com for the most recent performance of the Fund.

Fund specific data and performance are provided for informational purposes only and are not intended for trading purposes.

 

Average Annual Total Returns as of 6/30/22                  
      6-Month      1-Year      5-Year      10-Year  
Net Asset Value(a)      (22.99)%        (18.17)%        2.67%        6.05%  
Market Price(a)      (24.29)%        (20.50)%        1.57%        5.69%  
MSCI Europe Index(b)      (20.79)%        (17.61)%        2.16%        5.44%  

 

Growth of an Assumed $10,000 Investment

 

LOGO

 

The growth of $10,000 is cumulative.

 

a 

Total return based on net asset value reflects changes in the Fund’s net asset value during each period. Total return based on market value reflects changes in market value during each period. Each figure includes reinvestments of income and capital gain distributions, if any, at market prices pursuant to the dividend reinvestment plan. Total returns based on net asset value and market price will differ depending upon the level of any discount from or premium to net asset value at which the Fund’s shares trade during the period. Expenses of the Fund include investment advisory and administration fees and other fund expenses. Total returns shown take into account these fees and expenses. The annualized expense ratio of the Fund for the six months ended June 30, 2022 was 1.40%.

 

8   |   The European Equity Fund, Inc.


b 

The MSCI Europe Index tracks the performance of 15 developed markets in Europe. MSCI indices are calculated using closing local market prices and translate into U.S. dollars using the London close foreign exchange rates.

 

  

Index returns do not reflect any fees or expenses and it is not possible to invest directly in the MSCI Europe Index.

 

Total returns shown for periods less than one year are not annualized.

 

Net Asset Value and Market Price                
      As of 6/30/22      As of 12/31/21  
Net Asset Value    $ 8.37      $   11.95  
Market Price    $ 7.14      $ 10.37  

Prices and Net Asset Value fluctuate and are not guaranteed.

 

Distribution Information    Per Share  

Six Months as of 6/30/22:

  

Income Distribution

   $ 0.14  

Capital Gains Distribution

   $ 0.58  

Distributions are historical, not guaranteed and will fluctuate. Distributions do not include return of capital or other non-income sources.

 

The European Equity Fund, Inc.   |     9  


Schedule of Investments   as of June 30, 2022 (Unaudited)

 

    Shares     Value ($)  
Common Stocks 93.9%    
France 25.0%    

Banks 2.1%

   

BNP Paribas SA

    13,551       642,712  

Credit Agricole SA

    62,675       572,114  
   

 

 

 
      1,214,826  

Beverages 1.3%

   

Pernod Ricard SA

    4,349       797,068  

Building Products 1.6%

   

Cie de Saint-Gobain

    22,296       954,447  

Construction & Engineering 1.7%

   

Vinci SA

    11,305       1,004,174  

Insurance 2.4%

   

AXA SA

    62,101       1,406,310  

IT Services 2.1%

   

Capgemini SE

    3,948       674,662  

Worldline SA 144A*

    16,049       593,649  
   

 

 

 
      1,268,311  

Media 1.6%

   

Vivendi SE

    93,165       944,429  

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 3.6%

   

TotalEnergies SE

    40,222       2,118,164  

Personal Products 1.1%

   

L’Oreal SA

    1,926       663,089  

Pharmaceuticals 2.5%

   

Sanofi

    14,538       1,464,318  

Professional Services 3.5%

   

Bureau Veritas SA

    28,113       718,638  

Teleperformance

    4,382       1,343,719  
   

 

 

 
      2,062,357  

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods 1.5%

 

 

LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE

    1,510       918,333  

Total France (Cost $17,142,973)

      14,815,826  
Germany 15.6%    

Air Freight & Logistics 1.9%

   

Deutsche Post AG (Registered)

    30,253       1,130,439  

Capital Markets 1.2%

   

Deutsche Boerse AG

    4,157       693,645  

 

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

 

10   |   The European Equity Fund, Inc.


    Shares     Value ($)  

Diversified Telecommunication Services 1.9%

   

Deutsche Telekom AG (Registered)

    57,195       1,132,921  

Insurance 2.8%

   

Allianz SE (Registered)

    8,894       1,693,475  

Interactive Media & Services 0.7%

   

Scout24 SE 144A

    7,923       405,809  

Pharmaceuticals 2.2%

   

Merck KGaA

    7,788       1,310,919  

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment 1.7%

   

Infineon Technologies AG

    41,192       994,399  

Software 1.3%

   

SAP SE

    8,403       763,709  

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods 0.9%

   

adidas AG

    3,033       535,138  

Trading Companies & Distributors 1.0%

   

Brenntag SE

    9,528       618,611  

Total Germany (Cost $10,185,077)

      9,279,065  
Switzerland 14.0%    

Building Products 1.1%

   

Geberit AG (Registered)

    1,410       675,622  

Chemicals 1.5%

   

Sika AG (Registered)

    3,834       880,919  

Containers & Packaging 0.6%

   

SIG Combibloc Group AG*

    16,262       357,000  

Food Products 4.3%

   

Nestle SA (Registered)

    22,085       2,570,394  

Life Sciences Tools & Services 1.6%

   

Lonza Group AG (Registered)

    1,787       949,956  

Pharmaceuticals 3.1%

   

Roche Holding AG

    5,563       1,850,751  

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment 1.8%

   

STMicroelectronics NV

    32,878       1,031,218  

Total Switzerland (Cost $9,564,141)

      8,315,860  
United Kingdom 13.6%    

Banks 3.6%

   

HSBC Holdings PLC

    332,329       2,160,864  

Commercial Services & Supplies 1.1%

   

Rentokil Initial PLC

    115,540       665,700  

 

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

 

The European Equity Fund, Inc.   |     11  


    Shares     Value ($)  

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure 2.3%

   

Compass Group PLC

    67,024       1,366,968  

Media 1.6%

   

Informa PLC*

    144,753       929,261  

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 0.6%

   

Shell PLC

    14,767       382,565  

Pharmaceuticals 1.9%

   

AstraZeneca PLC

    8,552       1,121,270  

Professional Services 1.8%

   

RELX PLC

    38,486       1,040,032  

Trading Companies & Distributors 0.7%

   

Ashtead Group PLC

    10,049       419,540  

Total United Kingdom (Cost $7,797,587)

      8,086,200  
Netherlands 9.0%    

Automobiles 0.9%

   

Stellantis NV

    43,160       532,100  

Banks 2.7%

   

ING Groep NV

    160,058       1,578,190  

Chemicals 1.8%

   

Koninklijke DSM NV

    7,615       1,091,519  

Entertainment 1.2%

   

Universal Music Group NV

    35,928       718,725  

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment 2.4%

   

ASML Holding NV

    2,940       1,401,178  

Total Netherlands (Cost $4,838,748)

      5,321,712  
Denmark 6.0%    

Air Freight & Logistics 1.4%

   

DSV A/S

    6,000       836,209  

Electric Utilities 1.1%

   

Orsted A/S 144A

    6,567       685,038  

Pharmaceuticals 3.5%

   

Novo Nordisk A/S ‘‘B’’

    18,535       2,051,539  

Total Denmark (Cost $2,832,350)

      3,572,786  
Ireland 3.7%    

Construction Materials 2.2%

   

CRH PLC

    37,229       1,284,456  

Containers & Packaging 1.5%

   

Smurfit Kappa Group PLC

    26,343       883,535  

Total Ireland (Cost $3,298,822)

      2,167,991  

 

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

 

12   |   The European Equity Fund, Inc.


    Shares     Value ($)  
Sweden 3.1%    

Banks 1.8%

   

Swedbank AB ‘‘A’’

    85,000       1,072,464  

Machinery 1.3%

   

Atlas Copco AB ‘‘A’’

    80,820       753,712  

Total Sweden (Cost $2,183,460)

      1,826,176  
Australia 2.1%    

Metals & Mining 2.1%

   

BHP Group Ltd. (Cost $460,188) (a)

    44,336       1,236,335  
Italy 1.8%    

Electric Utilities 1.8%

   

Enel SpA (Cost $1,454,623)

    191,033       1,042,564  

Total Common Stocks (Cost $59,757,969)

      55,664,515  
Preferred Stocks 2.7%    
Germany 2.7%    

Automobiles 2.7%

   

Porsche Automobil Holding SE

    12,572       829,651  

Volkswagen AG

    5,686       757,475  
   

 

 

 
              1,587,126  

Total Germany (Cost $2,520,052)

            1,587,126  

Total Preferred Stocks (Cost $2,520,052)

      1,587,126  
Cash Equivalents 2.9%    

DWS Central Cash Management Government Fund, 1.36% (Cost $1,688,165) (c)

    1,688,173       1,688,165  
    % of Net
Shares
    Value ($)  
Total Investment Portfolio (Cost $63,966,186)     99.5       58,939,806  
Other Assets and Liabilities, Net     0.5       326,089  

 

 
Net Assets     100.0       59,265,895  

 

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

 

The European Equity Fund, Inc.   |     13  


A summary of the Fund’s transactions with affiliated investments during the period ended June 30, 2022 are as follows:

 

Value ($)
at
12/31/2021
  Purchases
Cost
($)
    Sales
Proceeds
($)
    Net
Real-
ized
Gain/
(Loss)
($)
    Net
Change
in
Unreal-
ized
Appreci-
ation/
(Depreci-
ation)
($)
    Income
($)
    Capital
Gain
Distr-
ibutions
($)
    Number of
Shares at
6/30/2022
    Value ($)
at
6/30/2022
 
Securities Lending Collateral 0.0%

 

     
DWS Government & Agency Securities Portfolio ‘‘DWS Government Cash Institutional Shares’’, 1.28% (b) (c)

 

    0 (d)                         14,913                    
Cash Equivalents 2.9%

 

       
DWS Central Cash Management Government Fund, 1.36% (c)

 

2,841,887     16,926,728       18,080,450                   4,663             1,688,173       1,688,165  
2,841,887     19,251,728       20,405,450                   19,576             1,688,173       1,688,165  

 

*

Non-income producing security.

 

(a)

BHP Group PLC is domiciled in Australia and is listed on the London Stock Exchange.

 

(b)

Represents cash collateral held in connection with securities lending. Income earned by the Fund is net of borrower rebates.

 

(c)

Affiliated fund managed by DWS Investment Management Americas, Inc. The rate shown is the annualized seven-day yield at period end.

 

(d)

Represents the net increase (purchases cost) or decrease (sales proceeds) in the amount invested in cash collateral for the period ended June 30, 2022.

144A: Securities exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers.

For purposes of its industry concentration policy, the Fund classifies issuers of portfolio securities at the industry sub-group level. Certain of the categories in the above Schedule of Investments consist of multiple industry sub-groups or industries.

 

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

 

14   |   The European Equity Fund, Inc.


Fair Value Measurements

Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund’s investments. These inputs are summarized in three broad levels. Level 1 includes quoted prices in active markets for identical securities. Level 2 includes other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds and credit risk). Level 3 includes significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments). The level assigned to the securities valuations may not be an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

The following is a summary of the inputs used as of June 30, 2022 in valuing the Fund’s investments.

 

Assets   Level 1     Level 2     Level 3      Total  
Common Stocks and/or Other Equity Investments (e)

 

  

France

  $ 14,815,826     $                 —     $                 —      $ 14,815,826  

Germany

    10,866,191                    10,866,191  

Switzerland

    8,315,860                    8,315,860  

United Kingdom

    8,086,200                    8,086,200  

Netherlands

    5,321,712                    5,321,712  

Denmark

    3,572,786                    3,572,786  

Ireland

    2,167,991                    2,167,991  

Sweden

    1,826,176                    1,826,176  

Australia

    1,236,335                    1,236,335  

Italy

    1,042,564                    1,042,564  
Short-Term Instruments (e)     1,688,165                    1,688,165  
Total   $ 58,939,806     $     $      $ 58,939,806  

 

(e)

See Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

 

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

 

The European Equity Fund, Inc.   |     15  


Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

as of June 30, 2022 (Unaudited)        
Assets        
Investments in non-affiliated securities, at value (cost $62,278,021)   $ 57,251,641  
Investment in DWS Central Cash Management Government Fund
(cost $1,688,165)
    1,688,165  
Foreign currency, at value (cost $171,469)     166,415  
Cash     14,375  
Receivable for investments sold     366,361  
Dividends receivable     34,169  
Foreign taxes recoverable     281,219  
Interest receivable     6,946  
Other assets     17,347  
Total assets     59,826,638  
Liabilities        
Payable for investments purchased     387,079  
Payable for Fund shares repurchased     36,111  
Investment advisory fee payable     28,151  
Payable for Directors’ fees and expenses     11,386  
Administration fee payable     10,237  
Accrued expenses and other liabilities     87,779  
Total liabilities     560,743  
Net assets   $ 59,265,895  
Net Assets Consist of        
Distributable earnings (loss)     (4,566,976
Paid-in capital     63,832,871  
Net assets   $ 59,265,895  
Net Asset Value        
Net assets value per share
($59,265,895 ÷ 7,078,036 shares of common stock issued and outstanding, $.001 par value, 80,000,000 shares authorized)
  $ 8.37  

 

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

 

16   |   The European Equity Fund, Inc.


Statement of Operations

 

for the six months ended June 30, 2022 (Unaudited)        
Net Investment Income        
Income:  
Dividends (net of foreign withholding taxes of $202,206)   $ 1,547,373  
Interest     6  
Income distributions — DWS Central Cash Management Government Fund     4,662  
Securities lending income, net of borrower rebates     14,913  
Total investment income     1,566,954  
Expenses:  
Investment advisory fee     234,141  
Administration fee     72,043  
Custody and accounting fee     20,282  
Services to shareholders     8,706  
Reports to shareholders and shareholder meeting expenses     24,860  
Directors’ fees and expenses     28,474  
Legal fees     51,915  
Audit and tax fees     27,874  
NYSE listing fee     11,778  
Insurance     5,742  
Miscellaneous     11,674  
Total expenses before expense reductions     497,489  
Expense reductions     (36,021
Total expenses after expense reductions     461,468  
Net investment income     1,105,486  
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)        
Net realized gain (loss) from:  
Investments     70,648  
Foreign currency     (22,743
Net realized gain (loss)     47,905  
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:  
Investments     (20,461,512
Foreign currency     (29,172
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)     (20,490,684
Net gain (loss)     (20,442,779
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations   $ (19,337,293

 

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

 

The European Equity Fund, Inc.   |     17  


Statement of Changes in Net Assets

 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets   Six Months
Ended
June 30, 2022
(Unaudited)
    Year Ended
December 31,
2021
 
Operations:    
Net investment income (loss)   $ 1,105,486     $ 1,048,191  
Net realized gain (loss)     47,905       15,548,364  
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)     (20,490,684     (7,764,200
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations     (19,337,293     8,832,355  
Distributions to shareholders     (5,065,414     (10,179,231
Fund share transactions:    
Net proceeds from reinvestment of distributions     4,085,740        
Shares repurchased     (1,526,134     (4,730,559
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from Fund share transactions     2,559,606       (4,730,559
Total increase (decrease) in net assets     (21,843,101     (6,077,435
Net assets at beginning of period     81,108,996       87,186,431  
Net assets at end of period   $ 59,265,895     $ 81,108,996  
Other Information                
Shares outstanding at beginning of period     6,788,192       7,210,692  
Shares issued from reinvestment of distributions     464,944        
Shares repurchased     (175,100     (422,500
Shares outstanding at end of period     7,078,036       6,788,192  

 

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

 

18   |   The European Equity Fund, Inc.


Financial Highlights

 

    Six Months
Ended 6/30/22
    Years Ended December 31,  
     (Unaudited)     2021     2020     2019     2018     2017  
Per Share Operating Performance                                                
Net asset value, beginning of period     $11.95       $12.09       $10.73       $9.04       $10.97       $8.76  
Income (loss) from investment operations:            

Net investment income (loss)a

    .16       .15       .10       .15       .08       .06  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency

    (2.96     1.11       1.38       2.03       (1.98     2.21  

Total from investment operations

    (2.80     1.26       1.48       2.18       (1.90     2.27  
Less distributions from:            

Net investment income

    (.14     (.11     (.13     (.13     (.07     (.09

Net realized gains

    (.58     (1.39     (.07     (.39            

Total distributions

    (.72     (1.50     (.20     (.52     (.07     (.09
Dilution in net asset value from dividend reinvestment     (.10           (.01     (.01            
Increase resulting from share repurchases     .04       .10       .09       .04       .04       .03  
Net asset value, end of period     $8.37       $11.95       $12.09       $10.73       $9.04       $10.97  
Market value, end of period     $7.14       $10.37       $10.40       $9.38       $7.73       $9.87  
Total Investment Return for the Periodb                                                
Based upon market value (%)     (24.29 )**      15.23       13.28       28.29       (21.02     28.97  
Based upon net asset value (%)     (22.99 )c**      14.22       15.12       25.48       (16.90 )c      26.32 c 
Ratios to Average Net Assets

 

Total expenses before expense reductions (%)     1.40 *      1.28       1.30       1.33       1.38       1.45  
Total expenses after expense reductions (%)     1.30 *      1.28       1.30       1.33       1.28       1.43  
Net investment income (%)     1.54 **      1.16       .93       1.51       .75       .63  
Portfolio turnover (%)     16 **      57       25       60       58       48  
Net assets at end of period ($ thousands)     59,266       81,109       87,186       81,254       70,177       87,813  

 

a 

Based on average shares outstanding during the period.

 

b 

Total investment return based on net asset value reflects changes in the Fund’s net asset value during each period. Total return based on market value reflects changes in market value during each period. Each figure includes reinvestments of dividend and capital gain distributions, if any. These figures will differ depending upon the level of any discount from or premium to net asset value at which the Fund’s shares trade during the period.

 

c 

Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced.

 

* 

Annualized

 

** 

Not annualized.

 

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

 

The European Equity Fund, Inc.   |     19  


Notes to Financial Statements   (Unaudited)

A. Accounting Policies

The European Equity Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) was incorporated in Delaware on April 8, 1986 as a diversified, closed-end management investment company. Investment operations commenced on July 23, 1986. The Fund reincorporated in Maryland on August 29, 1990 and, on October 16, 1996, the Fund changed from a diversified to a non-diversified company. The Fund became a diversified fund on October 31, 2008.

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The Fund qualifies as an investment company under Topic 946 of Accounting Standards Codification of U.S. GAAP. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements.

Security Valuation. The Fund calculates its net asset value (“NAV”) per share for publication at the close of regular trading on Deutsche Börse XETRA, normally at 11:30 a.m., New York time.

Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund’s investments. These inputs are summarized in three broad levels. Level 1 includes quoted prices in active markets for identical securities. Level 2 includes other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds and credit risk). Level 3 includes significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments). The level assigned to the securities valuations may not be an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with investing in those securities.

Equity securities are valued at the most recent sale price or official closing price reported on the exchange (U.S. or foreign) or over-the-counter market on which they trade prior to the time of valuation. Securities for which no sales are reported are valued at the calculated mean between the most recent bid and asked quotations on the relevant market or, if a mean cannot be determined, at the most recent bid quotation. Equity securities are generally categorized as Level 1.

Investments in open-end investment companies are valued and traded at their NAV each business day and are categorized as Level 1.

 

20   |   The European Equity Fund, Inc.


Purchased options are generally valued at the settlement prices established each day on the exchange on which they are traded and are categorized as Level 1.

Securities and other assets for which market quotations are not readily available or for which the above valuation procedures are deemed not to reflect fair value are valued in a manner that is intended to reflect their fair value as determined in accordance with procedures approved by the Board and are generally categorized as Level 3. In accordance with the Fund’s valuation procedures, factors considered in determining value may include, but are not limited to, the type of the security; the size of the holding; the initial cost of the security; the existence of any contractual restrictions on the security’s disposition; the price and extent of public trading in similar securities of the issuer or of comparable companies; quotations or evaluated prices from broker-dealers and/or the appropriate stock exchange (for exchange-traded securities); an analysis of the company’s or issuer’s financial statements; an evaluation of the forces that influence the issuer and the market(s) in which the security is purchased and sold; and, with respect to debt securities, the maturity, coupon, creditworthiness, currency denomination, and the movement of the market in which the security is normally traded. The value determined under these procedures may differ from published values for the same securities.

Disclosure about the classification of the fair value measurements is included in a table following the Fund’s Schedule of Investments.

Securities Transactions and Investment Income. Investment transactions are accounted for on a trade date plus one basis for daily NAV calculation. However, for financial reporting purposes, investment security transactions are reported on trade date. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date net of foreign withholding taxes. Certain dividends from foreign securities may be recorded subsequent to the ex-dividend date as soon as the Fund is informed of such dividends. Realized gains and losses from investment transactions are recorded on an identified cost basis. Proceeds from litigation payments, if any, are included in net realized gain (loss) for investments.

Securities Lending. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., as lending agent, lends securities of the Fund to certain financial institutions under the terms of its securities lending agreement. During the term of the loans, the Fund continues to receive dividends generated by the securities and to participate in any changes in their market value. The Fund requires the borrowers of the securities to maintain collateral with the Fund consisting of either cash and/or U.S. Treasury Securities having a value at least equal to the value of the securities loaned. When the collateral falls below specified amounts, the lending agent will use its best effort to obtain additional collateral on the next business day to meet required amounts

 

The European Equity Fund, Inc.   |     21  


under the securities lending agreement. During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Fund invested the cash collateral into a joint trading account in DWS Government & Agency Securities Portfolio, an affiliated money market fund managed by DWS Investment Management Americas, Inc. DWS Investment Management Americas, Inc. receives a management/administration fee (0.07% annualized effective rate as of June 30, 2022) on the cash collateral invested in DWS Government & Agency Securities Portfolio. The Fund receives compensation for lending its securities either in the form of fees or by earning interest on invested cash collateral net of borrower rebates and fees paid to a lending agent. Either the Fund or the borrower may terminate the loan at any time and the borrower, after notice, is required to return borrowed securities within a standard time period. There may be risks of delay and costs in recovery of securities or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. If the Fund is not able to recover securities lent, the Fund may sell the collateral and purchase a replacement investment in the market, incurring the risk that the value of the replacement security is greater than the value of the collateral. The Fund is also subject to all investment risks associated with the reinvestment of any cash collateral received, including, but not limited to, interest rate, credit and liquidity risk associated with such investments.

The Fund had no securities on loan at June 30, 2022.

Foreign Currency Translation. The books and records of the Fund are maintained in United States dollars.

Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currency are translated into United States dollars at the prevailing exchange rates at period end. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income and expenses are translated at the rate of exchange prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. Net realized and unrealized gains and losses on foreign currency transactions represent net gains and losses between trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, the acquisition and disposition of foreign currencies, and the difference between the amount of net investment income accrued and the U.S. dollar amount actually received. The portion of both realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments that results from fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates is not separately disclosed but is included with net realized and unrealized gain/appreciation and loss/depreciation on investments.

At June 30, 2022, the exchange rate was EUR 1.00 to USD $1.05.

Contingencies. In the normal course of business, the Fund may enter into contracts with service providers that contain general indemnification clauses. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against

 

22   |   The European Equity Fund, Inc.


the Fund that have not yet occurred. However, based on experience, the Fund expects the risk of loss to be remote.

Taxes. The Fund’s policy is to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended, which are applicable to regulated investment companies, and to distribute all of its taxable income to its shareholders.

Additionally, the Fund may be subject to taxes imposed by the governments of countries in which it invests. Such taxes are generally based on income and/or capital gains earned or repatriated. Estimated tax liabilities on certain foreign securities are recorded on an accrual basis and are reflected as components of interest income or net change in unrealized gain/loss on investments. Tax liabilities realized as a result of security sales are reflected as a component of net realized gain/loss on investments.

At June 30, 2022, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $63,966,186. The net unrealized depreciation for all investments based on tax cost was $5,026,380. This consisted of aggregate gross unrealized appreciation for all investments for which there was an excess of value over tax cost of $7,806,635 and aggregate gross unrealized depreciation for all investments for which there was an excess of tax cost over value of $12,833,015.

The Fund has reviewed the tax positions for the open tax years as of December 31, 2021 and has determined that no provision for income tax and/or uncertain tax positions is required in the Fund’s financial statements. The Fund’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain open subject to examinations by the Internal Revenue Service.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders. The Fund records dividends and distributions to its shareholders on the ex-dividend date. The timing and character of certain income and capital gain distributions are determined annually in accordance with United States federal income tax regulations, which may differ from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These differences primarily relate to investments in foreign currency denominated investments and certain securities sold at a loss. As a result, net investment income (loss) and net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions for a reporting period may differ significantly from distributions during such period. Accordingly, the Fund may periodically make reclassifications among certain of its capital accounts without impacting the NAV of the Fund.

The tax character of current year distributions will be determined at the end of the current fiscal year.

 

The European Equity Fund, Inc.   |     23  


B. Investment Advisory and Administration Agreements

The Fund is party to an Investment Advisory Agreement with DWS International GmbH (“DWSI”). The Fund also has an Administration Agreement with DWS Investment Management Americas, Inc. (“DIMA”). DWSI and DIMA are affiliated companies.

Under the Investment Advisory Agreement with DWSI, DWSI directs the investments of the Fund in accordance with its investment objectives, policies and restrictions. DWSI determines the securities, instruments and other contracts relating to investments to be purchased, sold or entered into by the Fund.

The Investment Advisory Agreement provides DWSI with a fee, computed weekly and payable monthly, at the annual rate of 0.65% of the Fund’s average weekly net assets up to and including $100 million, and 0.60% of such assets in excess of $100 million. In addition, DWSI has agreed to implement a temporary partial fee waiver. Effective January 1, 2022, the fee payable by the Fund to DWSI was reduced by 10 basis points for a one year period.

Accordingly, for the six months ended June 30, 2022, the fee pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement aggregated $234,141, of which $11,674 was waived resulting in an annualized rate of 0.55% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

Under the Administration Agreement with DIMA, DIMA provides certain fund administration services to the Fund. The Administration Agreement provides DIMA with an annual fee, computed weekly and payable monthly, of 0.20% of the Fund’s average weekly net assets.

C. Transactions with Affiliates

DWS Service Company (“DSC”), an affiliate of DIMA, is the transfer agent, dividend-paying agent and shareholder service agent of the Fund. Pursuant to a sub-transfer agency agreement between DSC and DST Systems, Inc. (“DST”), DSC has delegated certain transfer agent and dividend-paying agent functions to DST. DSC compensates DST out of the fee it receives from the Fund. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, the amount charged to the Fund by DSC included in the Statement of Operations under “Services to shareholders” aggregated $5,973, of which $982 is unpaid.

Under an agreement with the Fund, DIMA is compensated for providing certain pre-press and regulatory filing services to the Fund. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, the amount charged to the Fund by DIMA included in the Statement of Operations under “Reports to shareholders and shareholder meeting expenses” aggregated $6,154, of which all is unpaid.

 

24   |   The European Equity Fund, Inc.


Deutsche Bank AG, the majority shareholder in the DWS Group, and its affiliates may receive brokerage commissions as a result of executing agency transactions in portfolio securities on behalf of the Fund, that the Board determined were effected in compliance with the Fund’s Rule 17e-1 procedures. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, Deutsche Bank did not receive brokerage commissions from the Fund.

Certain Officers of the Fund are also officers of DIMA.

The Fund pays each Director who is not an “interested person” of DIMA or DWS International GmbH retainer fees plus specified amounts for attended board and committee meetings.

The Fund may invest cash balances in DWS Central Cash Management Government Fund, which is managed by DIMA. The Fund indirectly bears its proportionate share of the expenses of DWS Central Cash Management Government Fund. DWS Central Cash Management Government Fund does not pay DIMA an investment management fee. DWS Central Cash Management Government Fund seeks maximum current income to the extent consistent with stability of principal.

D. Portfolio Securities

Purchases and sales of investment securities, excluding short-term investments, for the six months ended June 30, 2022, were $11,470,827 and $21,847,355, respectively.

E. Capital

During the six months ended June 30, 2022 and the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund purchased 175,100 and 422,500 of its shares of common stock on the open market at a total cost of $1,526,134 and $4,730,559 ($8.72 and $11.20 average per share), respectively. The average discount of these purchased shares, comparing the purchase price to the NAV per share at the time of purchase, was 14.09% and 12.52%, respectively.

During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Fund issued for dividend reinvestment 464,944 shares. The average discount of these issued shares, comparing the issue price to the NAV per share at the time of issuance, was 14.75%. During the year ended December 31, 2021 there were no reinvestments.

F. Share Repurchases

On July 24, 2020, the Fund announced that the Board of Directors approved an extension of the current repurchase authorization permitting the Fund to repurchase up to 745,000 shares during the period from August 1, 2020 through July 31, 2021. The Fund repurchased 435,155 shares between August 1, 2020 and July 31, 2021. On July 30, 2021, the

 

The European Equity Fund, Inc.   |     25  


Fund announced that the Board of Directors approved an extension of the current repurchase authorization permitting the Fund to repurchase up to 700,849 shares during the period from August 1, 2021 through July 31, 2022. The Fund repurchased 344,400 shares between August 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022. On July 28, 2022, the Fund announced that the Board of Directors approved an extension of the current repurchase authorization permitting the Fund to repurchase up to 708,104 shares during the period from August 1, 2022 through July 31, 2023.

Repurchases will be made from time to time when they are believed to be in the best interests of the Fund. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s repurchases will reduce the spread between the market price of the Fund’s shares referred to below and its NAV per share.

Monthly updates concerning the Fund’s repurchase program are available on its Web site at dws.com.

G. Concentration of Ownership

From time to time, the Fund may have a concentration of several shareholder accounts holding a significant percentage of shares outstanding. Investment activities of these shareholders could have a material impact on the Fund. At June 30, 2022, there were two shareholders that held approximately 27% and 6%, respectively, of the outstanding shares of the Fund.

H. Other — COVID-19 Pandemic

A novel coronavirus known as COVID-19, declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization, has caused significant uncertainty, market volatility, decreased economic and other activity, increased government activity, including economic stimulus measures, and supply chain interruptions. The full effects, duration and costs of the COVID-19 pandemic are impossible to predict, and the circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to evolve, including the risk of future increased rates of infection due to significant portions of the population remaining unvaccinated and/or the lack of effectiveness of current vaccines against new variants. The pandemic has affected and may continue to affect certain countries, industries, economic sectors, companies and investment products more than others, may exacerbate existing economic, political, or social tensions and may increase the probability of an economic recession or depression. The Fund and its investments may be adversely affected by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the pandemic may result in the Fund and its service providers experiencing operational difficulties in coordinating a remote workforce and implementing their business continuity plans, among others. Management will continue to monitor the impact COVID-19 has on the Fund and reflect the consequences as appropriate in the Fund’s accounting and financial reporting.

 

26   |   The European Equity Fund, Inc.


Report of Annual Meeting of Stockholders   (Unaudited)

The Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Meeting”) of The European Equity Fund, Inc. was held on June 23, 2022. At the close of business on April 29, 2022, the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the Meeting, there were issued and outstanding 6,966,451 shares of the Fund’s common stock, each share being entitled to one vote, constituting all of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities. At the Meeting, the holders of 5,584,444 shares of the Fund’s common stock were represented in person or by proxy, constituting a quorum. At the Meeting, the following matters were voted upon by the stockholders. The resulting votes are presented below:

 

1.

To elect three (3) Class II Directors, each to serve for a term of three years and until his or her successor is elected and qualifies.

 

    Number of Votes  
     For     Withheld  
Dr. Holger Hatje     5,344,549       239,895  
Dr. Christopher Pleister     4,761,301       823,143  
Ms. Fiona Flannery     5,388,362       196,082  

 

2.

To elect one (1) Class III Director, to serve for a term of one year and until his successor is elected and qualifies.

 

    Number of Votes  
     For     Withheld  
Mr. Bernhard Koepp     5,356,318       228,126  

The other Directors of the Fund whose terms continued after the Meeting are Mr. Walter C. Dostmann, Dr. Wolfgang Leoni, Mr. Christian H. Strenger, Ms. Hepsen Uzcan and Mr. Christian M. Zügel.

 

3.

To ratify the appointment by the Audit Committee and the Board of Directors of Ernst & Young LLP, an independent public accounting firm, as independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022.

 

Number of Votes  
For   Against     Abstain  
5,458,238     87,567       38,639  

 

4.

To approve a stockholder proposal asking the Fund to take steps to declassify the Board of Directors of the Fund.

 

Number of Votes  
For   Against     Abstain  
1,331,447     2,518,995       67,240  

 

The European Equity Fund, Inc.   |     27  


Additional Information  

 

Automated Information Lines   

DWS Closed-End Fund Info Line

 

1-800-GERMANY (1-800-437-6269)

Web Site   

dws.com

 

Obtain fact sheets, financial reports, press releases and webcasts when available.

Written Correspondence   

DWS

 

Attn: Secretary of the DWS Funds

100 Summer Street

Boston, MA 02110

Legal Counsel   

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

 

125 Broad Street

New York, NY 10004

Dividend Reinvestment Plan Agent   

DST Systems, Inc.

 

333 W. 11th Street

Kansas City, MO 64105

Shareholder Service Agent and Transfer Agent   

DWS Service Company

 

P.O. Box 219066

Kansas City, MO 64121-9066

1-800-GERMANY (1-800-437-6269)

Custodian   

Brown Brothers Harriman & Company

 

50 Post Office Square

Boston, MA 02110

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm   

Ernst & Young LLP

 

200 Clarendon Street

Boston, MA 02116

Proxy Voting    A description of the Fund’s policies and procedures for voting proxies for portfolio securities and information about how the Fund voted proxies related to its portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available on our Web site — dws.com/en-us/resources/proxy-voting or on the SEC’s Web site — sec.gov. To obtain a written copy of the Fund’s policies and procedures without charge, upon request, call us toll free at 1-800-GERMANY (1-800-437-6269).
Portfolio Holdings    Following the Fund’s fiscal first and third quarter-end, a complete portfolio holdings listing is posted on dws.com, and is available free of charge by contacting your financial intermediary, or if you are a direct investor, by calling (800) 728-3337. In addition, the portfolio holdings listing is filed with the SEC on the Fund’s Form N-PORT and will be available on the SEC’s Web site at sec.gov. Additional portfolio holdings for the Fund are also posted on dws.com from time to time. Please see the Fund’s current prospectus for more information.

 

28   |   The European Equity Fund, Inc.


Investment Management   

DWS International GmbH (the “Advisor”), which is part of the DWS Group GmbH & Co. KGaA (“DWS Group”), is the investment advisor for the Fund. DWS International GmbH provides a full range of investment advisory services to both institutional and retail clients. DWS International GmbH is a wholly owned subsidiary of DWS Group.

 

DWS Group is a global organization that offers a wide range of investing expertise and resources, including hundreds of portfolio managers and analysts and an office network that reaches the world’s major investment centers. This well-resourced global investment platform brings together a wide variety of experience and investment insight across industries, regions, asset classes and investing styles.

Open Market Purchases by the Fund    Notice is hereby given in accordance with Section 23(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 that the Fund may purchase at market prices from time to time shares of its common stock in the open market.
Voluntary Cash Purchase Program and Dividend Reinvestment Plan   

The Fund offers shareholders a Voluntary Cash Purchase Program and Dividend Reinvestment Plan (“Plan”) which provides for optional cash purchases and for the automatic reinvestment of dividends and distributions payable by the Fund in additional Fund shares. Plan participants may invest as little as $100 in any month and may invest up to $36,000 annually. The Plan allows current shareholders who are not already participants in the Plan and first time investors to enroll in the Plan by making an initial cash deposit of at least $250 with the plan agent. Share purchases are combined to receive a beneficial brokerage fee. A brochure is available by writing or telephoning the transfer agent:

 

DWS Service Company

P.O. Box 219066

Kansas City, MO 64105

Tel.: 1-800-GERMANY (1-800-437-6269)

NYSE Symbol    EEA
Nasdaq Symbol    XEEAX
CUSIP Number    298768102

 

The European Equity Fund, Inc.   |     29  


Notes


 

 

 

There are three closed-end funds investing in European equities advised and administered by wholly owned subsidiaries of the DWS Group:

 

 

The Central and Eastern Europe Fund, Inc. — investing primarily in equity or equity-linked securities of issuers domiciled in Central and Eastern Europe (with normally at least 80% in securities of issuers domiciled in countries in Central and Eastern Europe).

 

 

 

The European Equity Fund, Inc. — investing primarily in equity or equity-linked securities of issuers domiciled in Europe (with normally at least 80% in securities of issuers domiciled in Europe).

 

 

 

The New Germany Fund, Inc. — investing primarily in equity or equity-linked securities of middle market German companies with up to 20% in other Western European companies (with no more than 15% in any single country).

 

Please consult your broker for advice on any of the above or call 1-800-GERMANY (1-800-437-6269) for shareholder reports.


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EEA-3

(R-028303-10 8/22)

   
  (b) Not applicable
   
ITEM 2. CODE OF ETHICS
   
  Not applicable.
   
ITEM 3. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT
   
  Not applicable
   
ITEM 4. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES
   
  Not applicable
   
ITEM 5. AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS
   
  Not applicable
   
ITEM 6. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
   
  Not applicable
   
ITEM 7. DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES
   
  Not applicable
   
ITEM 8. PORTFOLIO MANAGERS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
   
  Not applicable
   
ITEM 9. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY
   

Period

(a)

Total Number of

Shares Purchased

(b)

Average Price Paid

per Share

(c)

Total Number of

Shares Purchased as

Part of Publicly Announced

Plans or Programs

(d)

Maximum Number of

Shares that May Yet Be

Purchased Under the

Plans or Programs

         
January 1 through January 31 19,000  $                           10.05 19,000 512,549
February 1 through February 29 51,000  $                             9.77 51,000 461,549
March 1 through March 31 17,601  $                             8.75 17,601 443,948
April 1 through April 30 6,399  $                             8.64 6,399 437,549
May 1 through May 31 38,906  $                             7.86 38,906 398,643
June 1 through June 30 42,194  $                             7.63 42,194 356,449
         
Total 175,100  $                             8.72 175,100  
           
On July 30, 2021, the Fund announced that the Board of Directors approved an extension of the current repurchase authorization permitting the Fund to repurchase up to 700,849 shares during the period from August 1, 2021 through July 31, 2022. Under this plan, the Fund repurchased 344,400 shares in open market transactions between August 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022.
         
On July 28, 2022, the Fund announced that the Board of Directors approved an extension of the current repurchase authorization permitting the Fund to repurchase up to 708,104 shares during the period from August 1, 2022 through July 31, 2023.

 

   
ITEM 10. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
   
  There were no material changes to the procedures by which stockholders may recommend nominees to the Fund’s Board.  The Nominating and Governance Committee will consider nominee candidates properly submitted by stockholders in accordance with applicable law, the Fund's Articles of Incorporation or By-laws, resolutions of the Board and the qualifications and procedures set forth in the Nominating and Governance Committee Charter and this proxy statement. The Nominating and Governance Committee's Charter requires that a stockholder or group of stockholders seeking to submit a nominee candidate (i) must have beneficially owned at least 5% of the Fund's common stock for at least two years, (ii) may submit only one nominee candidate for any particular meeting of stockholders, and (iii) may submit a nominee candidate for only an annual meeting or other meeting of stockholders at which directors will be elected. The stockholder or group of stockholders must provide notice of the proposed nominee pursuant to the requirements found in the Fund's By-laws.  Generally, this notice must be received not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of mailing of the notice for the preceding year's annual meeting. Such notice shall include the specific information required by the Fund's By-laws. The Nominating and Governance Committee will evaluate nominee candidates properly submitted by stockholders on the same basis as it considers and evaluates candidates recommended by other sources.
   
ITEM 11. CONTROLS
   
  (a) The Chief Executive and Financial Officers concluded that the Registrant’s Disclosure Controls and Procedures are effective based on the evaluation of the Disclosure Controls and Procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report.
   
  (b) There have been no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal controls over financial reporting.
   
ITEM 12. Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
   
  Not applicable
   
ITEM 13. EXHIBITS
   
  (a)(1) Not applicable
   
  (a)(2) Certification pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30a-2(a)) is filed and attached hereto as Exhibit 99.CERT.
   
  (b) Certification pursuant to Rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30a-2(b)) is furnished and attached hereto as Exhibit 99.906CERT.
       

 

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: The European Equity Fund, Inc.
   
   
By:

/s/Hepsen Uzcan

Hepsen Uzcan

President

   
Date: 8/29/2022

 

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

 

By:

/s/Hepsen Uzcan

Hepsen Uzcan

President

   
Date: 8/29/2022
   
   
   
By:

/s/Diane Kenneally

Diane Kenneally

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

   
Date: 8/29/2022