Shares”), through the China Stock Connect program or other channels. The Fund may also invest in
other investments including, but not limited to, “B Shares” of companies listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges, “H Shares” of companies incorporated in Mainland China and listed on the Hong Kong
Stock Exchange and other foreign exchanges, shares of “Red Chip” and “P-Chip” companies with controlling Chinese shareholders that are incorporated outside of Mainland China and listed on the Hong
Kong Stock Exchange, and shares of companies listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange that
generate the majority of their value and revenue from doing business in China. “Red
Chip” companies are controlled, either directly or indirectly, by Mainland China state entities. “P-Chip” companies are controlled by Mainland Chinese companies or individuals.
While the Fund may invest in companies of any market capitalization, it expects to primarily invest in large- and mid-capitalization companies. As of February 1, 2023, the Fund
generally considers issuers with public stock market capitalizations of approximately $2.5 billion to $10 billion to be mid-capitalization companies, and issuers with public stock market capitalizations of
approximately $10 billion or more to be large-capitalization companies. The Fund may also invest in futures, exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) and other instruments with similar economic
exposures.
Allocation of the Fund’s investments is determined by the Investment Adviser’s assessment of a company’s upside potential and downside risk, how attractive it
appears relative to other holdings, and how the addition will impact sector and industry weightings. The largest weightings in the Fund’s portfolio relative to the benchmark of the Fund are given to companies the
Investment Adviser believes have the most upside return potential relative to their contribution to overall portfolio risk.
The Investment
Adviser employs a fundamental investment process that may integrate environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) factors alongside traditional fundamental factors. No one factor or consideration is determinative in the stock
selection process.
The
Fund may invest in the aggregate up to 20% of its Net Assets in: (i) equity investments in issuers that are not economically tied to China; and (ii) fixed income securities, such as government, corporate and bank debt obligations.
The Fund’s
benchmark index is the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) China All Shares Index (Net,
USD, Unhedged).
Principal Risks of the Fund |
Loss of money is a risk of investing in the Fund.
An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not
insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any government agency. The Fund should not be relied upon as a complete investment program. There can be no assurance that the Fund
will achieve its investment objective. Investments in the Fund involve substantial risks which prospective investors should consider carefully before investing. The Fund's principal risks are presented
below in alphabetical order, and not in the order of importance or potential exposure.
Currency Risk. Indirect and direct exposure to foreign currencies subjects the Fund to the risk that those currencies
will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar, which would cause a decline in the U.S. value of the holdings of the Fund. Currency rates in foreign countries may fluctuate significantly over short
periods of time for a number of reasons, including changes in interest rates and the imposition of currency controls or other political, economic and tax developments in the U.S. or abroad. To the extent
the Fund seeks exposure to foreign
currencies through foreign currency contracts and related transactions, the Fund becomes particularly
susceptible to foreign currency value fluctuations, which may be sudden and significant, and investment decisions tied to currency markets. In addition, these investments are subject to the risks associated
with derivatives and hedging and the impact on the Fund of fluctuations in the value of currencies may be magnified.
Depositary Receipts Risk. Foreign securities may trade in the form of depositary receipts, which include American Depositary
Receipts (“ADRs”)and Global Depositary Receipts (collectively “Depositary
Receipts”). To the extent the Fund acquires Depositary Receipts through banks which do
not have a contractual relationship with the foreign issuer of the security underlying the Depositary Receipts to issue and service such unsponsored Depositary Receipts, there may be an increased possibility that the Fund would
not become aware of and be able to respond to corporate actions such as stock splits or rights
offerings involving the foreign issuer in a timely manner. In addition, the lack of
information may result in inefficiencies in the valuation of such instruments. Investment in Depositary Receipts does not eliminate all the risks inherent in investing in securities of non-U.S. issuers. The market value of Depositary
Receipts is dependent upon the market value of the underlying securities and fluctuations in the relative value of the currencies in which the Depositary Receipts and the underlying securities are quoted. The issuers of
Depositary Receipts may discontinue issuing new Depositary Receipts and withdraw existing
Depositary Receipts at any time, which may result in costs and delays in the distribution of
the underlying assets to the Fund and may negatively impact the Fund’s
performance.
Foreign and Emerging Countries Risk. Foreign securities may be subject to risk of loss because of more or less foreign government regulation; less public information;
less stringent investor protections; less stringent accounting, corporate governance, financial reporting and disclosure standards; and less economic, political and social stability in the countries in which the Fund
invests. The imposition of sanctions, exchange controls (including repatriation restrictions), confiscations, trade restrictions (including tariffs) and other government restrictions by the United States and other
governments, or from problems in share registration, settlement or custody, may also result in losses. The type and severity of sanctions and other similar measures, including counter sanctions and other retaliatory
actions, that may be imposed could vary broadly in scope, and their impact is impossible to predict. For example, the imposition of sanctions and other similar measures could, among other things, cause a decline in the
value and/or liquidity of securities issued by the sanctioned country or companies located in or economically tied to the sanctioned country and increase market volatility and disruption in the
sanctioned country and throughout the world. Sanctions and other similar measures could limit or prevent the Fund from buying and selling securities (in the sanctioned country and other markets), significantly delay
or prevent the settlement of securities transactions, and significantly impact the Fund’s liquidity and performance. Foreign risk also involves the risk of negative foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations,
which may cause the value of securities denominated in such foreign currency (or other instruments through which the Fund has exposure to foreign currencies) to decline in value. Currency exchange rates
may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time. These risks are more pronounced in connection with the Fund’s investments in securities of issuers located in, or otherwise economically tied to, emerging
countries.
Greater China Risk. Investing in Greater China involves a higher degree of risk and special considerations not typically
associated with investing in other more established economies or securities markets. The
Fund’s investment exposure to Greater China may subject the Fund, to a