BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On January 7, 2021, the Board of Trustees of Tekla World Healthcare Fund authorized the filing of a preliminary registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a proposed rights offering by the Fund to its shareholders to acquire additional shares. Key aspects of the Offering, including the timing and the pricing, have yet to be determined. The Board reserves the right to delay or cancel the Offering.

The proceeds from the Offering (if commenced) would allow the Fund to take advantage of new investment opportunities without having to reduce existing holdings. Increasing the assets of the Fund may also result in certain economies of scale which may lower the Fund’s fixed expenses as a percentage of average net assets.

Under the proposed Offering, each shareholder would receive one non-transferable right for each common share held on the record date. It is anticipated that at least three rights will be required to acquire one additional common share of the Fund. The subscription price will be determined at a later date and is expected to be below the Fund’s market price at that time. Shareholders of record on the record date for the Offering are expected to be entitled to oversubscribe, subject to certain limitations, for any shares not purchased by exercise of the primary subscription rights. The Fund may issue, at its discretion, up to an additional 25% of the shares available pursuant to the Offering to honor over-subscriptions. The record date for the Offering and the length of the Offering period have not yet been determined and will also be announced at a later date.

Tekla Capital Management LLC, the Fund’s investment adviser, is a Boston, MA based healthcare-focused investment manager. Information regarding the Fund and Tekla Capital Management LLC can be found at www.teklacap.com.