Country Concentration
Risk: The Fund may invest a significant portion of its assets in the securities of issuers located in a single country. An investment in the
Fund therefore may entail greater risk than an investment in a fund that does not concentrate its investments in a single or small number of countries because these securities may be more sensitive to
adverse social, political, economic or regulatory developments affecting that country or
countries. As a result, events affecting a single or small number of countries may have a
significant and potentially adverse impact on the Fund’s investments, and the Fund’s performance may be more volatile than that of funds that invest globally. The Fund has concentrated or may concentrate
its investments in China, Taiwan and India.
Risks Associated with China: The Chinese government exercises significant control over China’s economy through its industrial
policies, monetary policy, management of currency exchange rates, and management of the
payment of foreign currency-denominated obligations. Changes in these policies could
adversely impact affected industries or companies in China. As its consumer class
continues to grow, China’s domestically oriented industries may be especially sensitive to changes in government policy and investment cycles. The Chinese government has been accused of state-sponsored cyberattacks
against foreign governments and companies, and responses to such activity, including
sanctions, tariffs or cyberattacks on the Chinese government or Chinese companies, may negatively affect China’s
economy and Chinese securities issuers. In addition, the current political climate has intensified concerns about trade tariffs or trade disputes with China’s
major trading partners, including a potential trade war between the U.S. and China. These consequences may trigger a significant reduction in international trade, shortages or oversupply of certain
manufactured goods, substantial price increases or decreases of goods, inflationary
pressures, and possible failure of individual companies and/or large segments of the
foreign export industry in China with a potentially negative impact on the Fund’s investments.
Risks Associated with Taiwan. The political reunification of China and Taiwan, over which China continues to claim sovereignty, is a highly complex issue and is
unlikely to be settled in the near future. Although the relationship between China and
Taiwan has been improving, there is the potential for future political or economic
disturbances that may have an adverse impact on the values of investments in either China or Taiwan, or make investments in China and Taiwan impractical or impossible. Any escalation of hostility between
China and Taiwan would have a significant adverse impact on the value of investments in both countries and the region, which could negatively affect the value and liquidity of a Fund’s
investments.
Risks Associated with
India: Government actions, bureaucratic obstacles and inconsistent economic reform within the Indian government have had a significant effect
on the Indian economy and could adversely affect market conditions, economic growth and
the profitability of private enterprises in India. Global factors and foreign actions may inhibit the flow of foreign capital on which India is dependent to sustain its growth. Large portions of many Indian companies remain in the
hands of their founders (including members of their families). Corporate governance
standards of family-controlled companies may be weaker and less transparent, which
increases the potential for loss and unequal treatment of investors. India experiences many of the risks associated with developing economies, including relatively low levels of liquidity, which may result
in extreme volatility in the prices of Indian securities.
Religious, cultural and military
disputes persist in India and between India and Pakistan (as well as sectarian groups within each country). Both India and Pakistan have tested nuclear arms, and the threat of deployment of such
weapons could hinder development of the Indian economy, and escalating tensions could
impact the broader region, including China.
Indian securities may
be subject to a short-term capital gains tax in India on gains realized upon disposition of securities lots held less than one year. The Fund accrues for this potential expense, which reduces its net asset values. For
further information regarding this tax, please see page 106.
Active Management Risk: The Fund is actively managed by Matthews. There is the risk that Matthews may select securities
that underperform the relevant stock market(s), the Fund’s benchmark index or other
funds with similar investment objectives and investment strategies.
Sector Concentration Risk:
To the extent that the Fund emphasizes, from time to time, investments in a particular
sector, the Fund will be subject to a greater degree to the risks particular to that
sector, including the sector(s) described below. Market conditions, interest rates, and economic, regulatory, or financial developments could significantly affect a single sector. By focusing its investments in a particular
sector, the Fund may face more risks than if it were diversified broadly over numerous
sectors.
—Information Technology Sector Risk: As of December 31, 2024, 30% of the Fund’s assets were invested in the information technology sector. Information
technology companies may be significantly affected by aggressive pricing as a result of
intense competition and by rapid product obsolescence due to rapid development of
technological innovations and frequent new product introduction. Other factors, such as
short product cycle, possible loss or impairment of intellectual property rights, and
changes in government regulations, may also adversely impact information technology
companies.
—Financials Sector
Risk: As of December 31, 2024, 26% of the Fund’s assets were invested in the
financial sector. Financial companies are subject to extensive government regulation and
can be significantly affected by the availability and cost of capital funds, changes in interest rates, the rate of corporate and consumer debt defaults, price competition and other sector-specific
factors.
Underlying ETF Risk: Because the Fund may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated ETFs, it is subject to additional risks that do not apply to conventional mutual
funds, including the risks that the market price of ETF shares held by the Fund may trade at a discount to its net asset value, an active secondary trading market may not develop or be maintained,
or trading may be halted by the exchange in which an ETF trades, which may impact the
Fund’s ability to sell its shares of an ETF.
Cybersecurity Risk: With the increased use of technologies such as the internet to conduct business, the Fund is
susceptible to operational, information security, and related risks. Cyber incidents
affecting the Fund or its service providers may cause disruptions and impact business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses, interference with the Fund’s ability to calculate its NAV, impediments to
trading, the inability of shareholders to transact business, violations of applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, or
additional compliance costs.