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Risks of InvestmentPrincipal Risks of Investment
There is no guarantee that a Fund’s investment objective will be achieved or that the value of the investments of any Fund will increase. If the value of a Fund’s investments declines, the net asset value (“NAV”) of that Fund will decline and investors may lose some or all of the value of their investment. Foreign securities held by the Funds may be traded on days and at times when the NYSE is closed and the NAV of the Funds is therefore not calculated. Accordingly, the NAV of the Funds may be significantly affected on days when shareholders are not able to buy or sell shares of the Funds. For additional information on the calculation of the Funds’ NAV, see page 59 of the Prospectus. Your investment in the Funds is exposed to many different financial, market, regional and country-related risks, including, but not limited to, the lower degree of economic development in some countries, the less developed and more uncertain legal and financial systems, unusual or unique political structures, unpredictable foreign relations, the state of international economics and the global financial system, natural resources dependencies, and the effect of climate and environmental conditions. A description of some of these risks follows. Information about risks that relate to a specific Fund are discussed later in this Prospectus in connection with that specific Fund. Additional information is also included in the Funds’ Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”). The Funds are not intended for, and the Funds attempt to discourage, time zone arbitrage and other market-timing transactions in shares of the Funds. Market timing can harm other shareholders because it can dilute the value of their shares. Market timing can also disrupt the management of the Fund’s investment portfolio and cause the targeted Fund to incur costs, which are borne by non-redeeming shareholders. Consequently, such activity poses a risk for your investment in a Fund. See page 68 of the Prospectus for a discussion of policies and procedures intended to minimize such trading. Because of these risks, your investment in a Fund should constitute only a portion of your overall investment portfolio, not all of it. We also recommend that you invest in a Fund only for the long term (at least five years), so that you can better manage volatility in a Fund’s net asset value (as described below). Investing in regionally concentrated or single-country funds, such as the Funds, may not be appropriate for all investors. Political, Social and Economic Risks The value of the Funds’ assets may be adversely affected by political, economic, social, and religious instability; inadequate investor protection; changes in laws or regulations of countries within the Asia Pacific region; international relations with other nations; and military activity. The Funds may have difficulty in obtaining or enforcing judgments against companies of Asia Pacific countries or their management. Furthermore, the economies of many Asia Pacific countries differ from the economies of more-developed countries in many respects, such as rate of growth, inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency, financial system stability, the national balance of payments position, and sensitivity to changes in global trade. The governments of certain countries have placed restrictions on the operational freedom of private enterprise, and have or may nationalize privately owned assets including companies held by the Funds. Asia Pacific countries also have different accounting standards, corporate disclosure, governance and regulatory requirements than do the United States and other more developed countries. As a result, there may be less publicly available information about companies in Asia Pacific countries. There is generally less governmental regulation of stock exchanges, brokers and issuers than in the United States, which may result in less transparency with respect to a company’s operations. The economies of many Asia Pacific countries are dependent on exports and global trade. Changes in the economies of the main trading partners of Asia Pacific countries, including the United States and other developed countries, could negatively impact the growth prospects of Asia Pacific countries and markets. The securities markets of Asia Pacific countries may be correlated with the markets of the United States and other developed countries. A decline in the markets of the United States or other countries could result in a significant decline in Asia Pacific markets. When a Fund buys or sells securities in an Asia Pacific market, the transaction is usually undertaken in the local currency rather than in U.S. dollars. To execute such transactions, a Fund must purchase or sell a specified amount of the local currency, which exposes that Fund to the risk that the value of the foreign currency will increase or decrease. Similarly, when a Fund receives income from Asia Pacific securities, that Fund receives local currency rather than U.S. dollars. As a result, the value of that Fund’s portfolio holdings as well as the income derived from these holdings may be impacted. Each Fund may, but currently has no intention to, engage in currency hedging transactions. For additional information see the Funds’ SAI. Additionally, Asia Pacific countries may utilize formal or informal currency-exchange controls (or “capital controls”). Currency controls may artificially affect the value of the Fund’s holdings and may negatively impact the Funds’ ability to calculate their NAV (see Pricing of Fund Shares on page 59 of the Prospectus). Such controls may also restrict or prohibit a Fund’s ability to repatriate both investment capital and income; this, in turn, may undermine the value of the Fund’s holdings and potentially place the Fund’s assets at risk of total loss. In extreme circumstances, such as the imposition of capital controls that substantially limit repatriation, the Funds may suspend shareholders’ redemption privileges for an indefinite period. Risks Associated with Emerging Markets Many Asia Pacific countries are considered emerging markets. Investing in emerging markets involves the political, social, economic and currency risks described above, as well as different and greater risks than investing in more developed markets because, among other things, emerging markets are often less stable politically and economically, and their markets are smaller and less developed than that of the United States. Their stock exchanges and brokerage industries do not have the level of government oversight as do those in the United States. Securities markets of such countries are substantially smaller, less liquid and more volatile than securities markets in the United States. The absence of negotiated brokerage commissions in certain countries may result in higher brokerage fees. In addition, standards related to corporate governance may be weaker, and transactions with or among management may be less transparent. Brokerage commissions, custodian services fees, withholding taxes, and other costs relating to investment in emerging markets are generally higher than in the United States. Trading Markets and Depositary Receipts Securities of the Asia Pacific region typically are listed on their respective stock exchanges, but may also be traded on other markets within or outside of the Asia Pacific region (including U.S. markets). Asia Pacific securities may also trade in the form of depositary receipts, including American, European and Global Depositary Receipts. Although depositary receipts have risks similar to the securities that they represent, they may also involve higher expenses, and may lack fungibility, which may result in their trading at a discount (or premium) to the underlying security. In addition, depositary receipts may not pass through voting and other shareholder rights, and may be less liquid than the underlying securities listed on an exchange. Risks Associated with Smaller Companies The Funds may invest in securities of smaller companies. Such companies often have limited product lines, markets or financial resources, and their management may be dependent upon one person or a few key people. The securities of such companies generally are subject to more-abrupt or erratic market movements and may be less liquid than securities of larger, more-established companies or the market indices in general. The smaller size, lower levels of liquidity in the markets of developing countries, as well as other factors, may result in changes in the prices of Asia Pacific securities that are more dramatic, or volatile, than those of companies in more developed regions. This volatility can cause the price of a Fund’s shares (NAV) to go up or down dramatically. Volatility in the price of an investment can be disadvantageous because you may have planned or may need to sell your investment at a time when its value has decreased. Because of this volatility, it is recommended that you invest in a Fund only for the long term (at least five years). In this prospectus, references are made to credit ratings of debt securities, which measure an issuer’s expected ability to pay principal and interest over time (but not other risks, including market risks). Credit ratings are determined by rating organizations, such as Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), Standard & Poor’s Corporation (“S&P”) or Fitch Inc. (“Fitch”), based on their view of past and potential developments related to an issuer (or security). Such potential developments may not reflect actual developments. The following terms are generally used to describe the credit quality of debt securities depending on the security’s credit rating or, if unrated, credit quality as determined by Matthews:
For a further description of credit ratings, see the Funds’ SAI “Appendix: Bond Ratings.” As noted in the Appendix to the Funds’ SAI, Moody’s, S&P and Fitch may modify their ratings of securities to show relative standing within a rating category, with the addition of numerical modifiers (1, 2 or 3) in the case of Moody’s, and with the addition of a plus (+) or minus (–) sign in the case of S&P or Fitch. A Fund may purchase a security, regardless of any rating modification, provided the security is rated at or above the Fund’s minimum rating category. For example, a Fund may purchase a security rated B3 by Moody’s, B– by S&P, or B– by Fitch, to the extent that the Fund may purchase securities rated B. The Matthews Asia Pacific Equity Income Fund may invest in convertible preferred stocks. In addition, the Matthews Asia Pacific Fund, Matthews Asian Growth and Income Fund, and Matthews India Fund may invest in convertible preferred stocks, and convertible bonds and debentures. Convertible securities may, under specific circumstances, be converted into the common or preferred stock of the issuing company, and may be denominated in U.S. dollars, Euros or a local currency. The value of convertible securities varies with a number of factors including the value and volatility of the underlying stock, the level and volatility of interest rates, the passage of time, dividend policy and other variables. Convertible bonds and debentures carry different kinds of risks than those of common and preferred stocks. These risks include repayment risk and interest rate risk. Repayment risk is the risk that a borrower does not repay the amount of money that was borrowed (or “principal”) when the bond was issued. This failure to repay the amount borrowed is called a “default,” and could result in a Fund losing its investment. Interest rate risk is the risk that market rates of interest may increase over the rate paid by a bond held by a Fund. When interest rates increase, the market value of a bond paying a lower rate generally will decrease. If a Fund were to sell such a bond, the Fund might receive less than it originally paid for it. In addition, many Asia Pacific convertible securities are not rated by rating agencies like Moody’s, S&P or Fitch, or, if they are rated, they may be rated below investment grade. These securities are commonly referred to as “junk bonds” and may have a greater risk of default. Investing in a convertible security denominated in a currency different from that of the security into which it is convertible may expose a Fund to currency risk as well as risks associated with the level and volatility of the foreign exchange rate between the security’s currency and the underlying stock’s currency. Securities rated lower than Baa by Moody’s, or equivalently rated by S&P or Fitch, and unrated securities of similar credit quality are referred to as “high-yield securities” or “junk bonds.” Investing in these securities involves special risks in addition to the risks associated with investments in higher-rated fixed income securities. While offering a greater potential opportunity for capital appreciation and higher yields, high-yield securities typically entail greater potential price volatility, entail greater levels of credit and re-payment risks, and may be less liquid than higher-rated securities. High-yield securities are considered predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to meet principal and interest payments. They may also be more susceptible to real or perceived adverse economic and competitive industry conditions than higher-rated securities. An economic downturn or period of rising interest rates could adversely affect the market for these securities and reduce a Fund’s ability to sell these securities (liquidity risk). Issuers of securities in default may fail to resume principal and interest payments, in which case a Fund may lose its entire investment. Funds that invest in junk bonds may be subject to greater levels of credit and liquidity risk than funds that do not invest in such securities. Each of the Funds, including the Matthews Asia Pacific Equity Income Fund and Matthews Asian Growth and Income Fund (each of which seek to provide current income) may invest in dividendpaying equity securities. There can be no guarantee that companies that have historically paid dividends will continue to pay them or pay them at the current rates in the future. A reduction or discontinuation of dividend payments may have a negative impact on the value of a Fund’s holdings in these companies. In addition, dividend-paying equity securities, in particular those whose market price is closely related to their yield, may exhibit greater sensitivity to interest rate changes. During periods of rising interest rates, such securities may decline. A Fund’s investment in such securities may also limit its potential for appreciation during a broad market advance. |
