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29/02/2012
Inception Date
1.40%
YTD Return (USD)
(as of 03/12/2021)
$37.66
Price (USD)
(as of 03/12/2021)
$670.08 million
Fund Assets
(as of 31/10/2021)
Seeks to achieve long term capital appreciation.
The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing, directly or indirectly, at least 65% of its total net assets, in equities of small companies located in China, and may invest the remainder of its net assets in other permitted assets on a worldwide basis. For the purpose of this policy, China includes the People’s Republic of China, its administrative and other districts, such as Hong Kong, as well as Taiwan. The Fund defines Small Companies as companies with market capitalization no higher than the greater of US $5 billion or the market capitalization of the largest company included in the Fund's primary benchmark, the MSCI China Small Cap Index.
The value of an investment in the Fund can go down as well as up and possible loss of principal is a risk of investing. Investments in international and emerging market securities may involve risks such as social and political instability, market illiquidity, exchange-rate fluctuations, a high level of volatility and limited regulation. The Fund invests in holdings denominated in foreign currency, and is exposed to the risk that the value of the foreign currency will increase or decrease. The Fund invests primarily in equity securities, which may result in increased volatility. Investments in a single-country fund may be subject to a higher degree of market risk than diversified funds because of concentration in a specific country. The Fund invests in smaller companies, which are more volatile and less liquid than larger companies.
The risks associated with investing in the Fund can be found in the prospectus.
| Inception Date | 29/02/2012 | |
| Fund Assets | $670.08 million (31/10/2021) | |
| Base Currency | USD | |
| ISIN: | LU0721876877 (USD) LU2075925870 (GBP) | |
| Bloomberg Symbol | MACSMCI:LX (USD) MACSCIG: LX (GBP) | |
| Benchmark | MSCI China Small Cap Index | |
| Geographic Focus | China and Taiwan: China includes its administrative and other districts, such as Hong Kong. | |
| Management Fee | 1.00% | |
| Total Expense Ratio As of 30/09/2021 | 1.25% ( USD ) 1.25% ( GBP ) | |
Source: Brown Brothers Harriman (Luxembourg) S.C.A.
Unusually high returns may not be sustainable.
Since inception performance for share classes with less than one year of history represents actual performance, not annualised. In addition, for share classes less than a year old, Year to Date Return is calculated since inception. Where no past performance is shown there was insufficient data available in that year to provide performance.
Performance details provided are based on a NAV-to-NAV basis with any dividends reinvested, and are net of management fees and other expenses. Performance data has been calculated in the respective currencies stated above, including ongoing charges and excluding subscription fee and redemption fee you might have to pay.
All performance quoted represents past performance and is not indicative of future performance. Investors may not get back the full amount invested. Investors investing in funds denominated in non-local currency should be aware of the risk of currency exchange fluctuations that may cause a loss of principal.
Additional performance, attribution, liquidity, value at risk (VaR), security classification and holdings information is available on request for certain time periods.
Sources: Factset Research Systems, Inc.
Fund Risk Metrics are reflective of Class I USD ACC shares.
Sources: Zephyr StyleADVISOR
Top 10 holdings may combine more than one security from the same issuer and related depositary receipts.
Source: Brown Brothers Harriman (Luxembourg) S.C.A
Sector data based on MSCI’s revised Global Industry Classification Standards. For more details, visit www.msci.com.
The Portfolio’s market cap exposure breakdown presented is used for comparison purposes and the definition of the capitalization breakdown is from MSCI.
The Fund defines Small Companies as companies with market capitalization no higher than the greater of US$5 billion or the market capitalization of the largest company included in the Fund's primary benchmark, the MSCI China Small Cap Index.
Source: FactSet Research Systems unless otherwise noted.
Percentage values in data are rounded to the nearest tenth of one percent, so the values may not sum to 100% due to rounding. Percentage values may be derived from different data sources and may not be consistent with other Fund literature.
(as of 31/10/2021)
CATEGORY: China Equity
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. High ratings and rankings does not assure favorable performance.
Overall Morningstar RatingTM is reflective of the noted share class. Fund ratings represent an opinion only and are not a recommendation to buy or sell any fund. Copyright ©2021 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The information contained herein: (1) is proprietary to Morningstar and/or its content providers; (2) may not be copied or distributed; and (3) is provided for reference purposes only.
The Overall Morningstar®️ Rating for a fund is derived from a weighted-average of the performance figures associated with its three-, five- and (if applicable) ten-year ratings.
Morningstar RatingTM for funds, or "star rating", is calculated for managed products (including mutual funds, variable annuity and variable life subaccounts, exchange-traded funds, closed-end funds, and separate accounts) with at least a three-year history. Exchange-traded funds and open-ended mutual funds are considered a single population for comparative purposes. It is calculated based on a Morningstar Risk-Adjusted Return measure that accounts for variation in a managed product's monthly excess performance, placing more emphasis on downward variations and rewarding consistent performance. The Morningstar Rating does not include any adjustment for sales loads. The top 10% of products in each product category receive 5 stars, the next 22.5% receive 4 stars, the next 35% receive 3 stars, the next 22.5% receive 2 stars, and the bottom 10% receive 1 star. The Overall Morningstar Rating for a managed product is derived from a weighted average of the performance figures associated with its three-, five-, and 10-year (if applicable) Morningstar Rating metrics. The weights are: 100% three-year rating for 36-59 months of total returns, 60% five-year rating/40% three-year rating for 60-119 months of total returns, and 50% 10-year rating/30% five-year rating/20% three-year rating for 120 or more months of total returns. While the 10-year overall star rating formula seems to give the most weight to the 10-year period, the most recent three-year period actually has the greatest impact because it is included in all three rating periods.
Lead Manager
Portfolio Manager
Winnie Chwang is a Portfolio Manager at Matthews Asia and manages the firm’s China Small Strategy and co-manages the China and Pacific Tiger Strategies. She joined the firm in 2004 and has built her investment career at the firm. Winnie earned an MBA from the Haas School of Business and received her B.A. in Economics with a minor in Business Administration from the University of California, Berkeley. She is fluent in Mandarin and conversational in Cantonese.
Lead Manager
Portfolio Manager
Andrew Mattock is a Portfolio Manager at Matthews Asia and manages the firm's China and China Small Companies Strategies. Prior to joining the firm in 2015, he was a Fund Manager at Henderson Global Investors for 15 years, first in London and then in Singapore, managing Asia Pacific equities. Andrew holds a Bachelor of Business majoring in Accounting from ACU. He began his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers and qualified as a Chartered Accountant.
Performance figures discussed in the Fund Manager Commentary above reflect that of the Institutional Accumulation Class Shares and has been calculated in USD. Performance details provided for the Fund are based on a NAV-to-NAV basis, with any dividends reinvested, and are net of management fees and other expenses. Past performance information is not indicative of future performance. Investors may not get back the full amount invested.
The information contained herein has been derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate at the time of compilation, but no representation or warranty (express or implied) is made as to the accuracy or completeness of any of this information. Matthews Asia and its affiliates do not accept any liability for losses either direct or consequential caused by the use of this information.
Information contained herein is sourced from Matthews Asia unless otherwise stated. The views and opinions in this commentary were as of the report date, subject to change and may not reflect the writer’s current views. They are not guarantees of performance or investment results and should not be taken as investment advice. Investment decisions reflect a variety of factors, and the managers reserve the right to change their views about individual stocks, sectors, and the markets at any time. As a result, the views expressed should not be relied upon as a forecast of the Fund’s future investment intent. It should not be assumed that any investment will be profitable or will equal the performance of any securities or any sectors mentioned herein. The information does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any securities mentioned.
Investors should not invest in the Fund solely based on the information in this material alone. Please refer to the Prospectus for further details of the risk factors.
The Markit iBoxx Asian Local Bond Index tracks the total return performance of a bond portfolio consisting of local-currency denominated, high quality and liquid bonds in Asia ex-Japan. The Markit iBoxx Asian Local Bond Index includes bonds from the following countries: China (on- and offshore markets), Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand.
The J.P. Morgan Asia Credit Index (JACI) tracks the total return performance of the Asia fixed-rate dollar bond market. JACI is a market cap-weighted index comprising sovereign, quasi-sovereign and corporate bonds and is partitioned by country, sector and credit rating. JACI includes bonds from the following countries: China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand.
The MSCI All Country Asia ex Japan Index is a free float–adjusted market capitalization–weighted index of the stock markets of China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand.
The MSCI All Country Asia Pacific Index is a free float–adjusted market capitalization–weighted index of the stock markets of Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand.
The MSCI China Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization-weighted index of Chinese equities that includes H shares listed on the Hong Kong exchange, B shares listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen exchanges, Hong Kong-listed securities known as Red chips (issued by entities owned by national or local governments in China) and P Chips (issued by companies controlled by individuals in China and deriving substantial revenues in China) and foreign listings (e.g. ADRs).
The MSCI China All Shares Index captures large and mid-cap representation across China A shares, B shares, H shares, Red chips (issued by entities owned by national or local governments in China), P chips (issued by companies controlled by individuals in China and deriving substantial revenues in China), and foreign listings (e.g. ADRs). The index aims to reflect the opportunity set of China share classes listed in Hong Kong,Shanghai, Shenzhen and outside of China.
The S&P Bombay Stock Exchange 100 (S&P BSE 100) Index is a free float–adjusted market capitalization–weighted index of 100 stocks listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange.
The MSCI Japan Index is a free float–adjusted market capitalization–weighted index of Japanese equities listed in Japan.
The MSCI All Country Asia ex Japan Small Cap Index is a free float–adjusted market capitalization–weighted small cap index of the stock markets of China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand.
The MSCI China Small Cap Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization-weighted small cap index of the Chinese equity securities markets, including H shares listed on the Hong Kong exchange, B shares listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen exchanges,Hong Kong-listed securities known as Red Chips (issued by entities owned by national or local governments in China) and P Chips (issued by companies controlled by individuals in China and deriving substantial revenues in China), and foreign listings (e.g., ADRs).
Commentary
Period ended 30 September 2021
For the quarter ending 30 September 2021, the Matthews China Small Companies Fund returned ‑10.57%, while its benchmark, the MSCI China Small Cap Index, returned -13.15% over the same period.
Market Environment:
Chinese equities experienced a large sell-off following recent regulatory announcements created on technology and for-profit education and were the weakest performing in the region in the third quarter. In addition, recent economic data has pointed to a slowdown of economic growth which has been compounded by worries of a weaker real estate sector, as China Evergrande Group, one of the country’s largest real estate developers, has run into financial stress. Fears of systemic financial market contagion and the publicized electricity shortages after the government pressed for restrictions of energy production to reduce carbon output contributed to ongoing headwinds. Real estate, consumer discretionary and communication services sectors were weak during the quarter, while cyclical sectors like energy and materials were among the best performers. Mega caps underperformed while mid- and small-cap equities were more insulated from downside pressure.
Performance Contributors and Detractors:
The Fund’s outperformance during the third quarter was driven by both stock selection and sector allocation effects. From a sector perspective, stock selection in information technology, industrials and financials contributed to relative performance. The information technology sector continued to contribute positively to performance year to date, buoyed by chip design firm Alchip Technologies. Alchip is benefiting from larger demand from increased outsourcing needs related to chip-design services and the establishment of more ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit) chip companies, especially in China. Among industrials, a contributor was Ginlong Technologies Co., a company that manufactures solar inverters for solar energy production. The solar inverters are a critical component in solar modules and may have more pricing protection when compared to other solar module components given a more consolidated market structure. The trajectory of renewable energy expansion in China is very clear in our view and we expect continued solar growth in China given the government’s supportive policies, such as its goal of carbon neutrality by 2060. In the financials sector, Chailease Holdings, which provides financing services such as leasing, installment sale, import/export factoring and direct financing, did well as it has a combination of growing assets, rising loan spreads and benign asset growth along with strong earnings growth.
On the other hand, the real estate, energy and utilities sectors detracted from relative performance. The portfolio’s real estate holding KWG Living Group Holdings, a property management services provider, continued to experience weakness on an ever tightening policy environment—deepening market concerns about the outlook of the overall property market in China in the third quarter. However, given the sharp pull back in valuations, we continue to believe real estate opportunities in China are attractively valued and may offer high dividend yields, making the risk/reward prospects still favorable. In both the energy and utility sectors, the Fund underperformed given a lack of sector exposure in these areas of the market which have rallied on the back of higher energy prices and efforts to grow renewable energy contributions within the earnings mix of traditional utility companies. We are still assessing the opportunities, but believe that direct opportunities in renewable energy growth can be captured elsewhere in the portfolio, e.g., in industrials and materials.
Notable Portfolio Changes:
During the third quarter, China equities continued to be volatile as real estate concerns weighed on an already fragile market sentiment. We continued to take the opportunity to reallocate capital into growth areas that have experienced a considerable pull back in valuations. One addition during the quarter was Zhejiang Shuanghuan which makes both electric drives used in electric vehicles (EVs) and rotate vector (RV) reducers, a type of speed reducer used in robotics. Zhejiang Shuanghuan has been benefiting from growth in both industries as company has been gaining market shares. We closed out of our position in Asia Cement due to the moderating cement volume outlook given the clamp down of real estate industry in China and reallocated capital elsewhere.
Outlook:
First half earnings results announced in the third quarter in China showed continued COVID recovery and were generally encouraging across the board, except for a weaker recovery in some parts of consumption, e.g., consumer staples, which we continue to monitor closely. The first half results also shed some light on potential government directives over the next year, which we believe will be positively directed toward China’s efforts at increased domestic self-sufficiency across a myriad of supply chains (e.g., technology and health care) and environmental efforts to further promote green energy developments in China. We believe there are many opportunities in China that stand to benefit positively from these developments and expect to see meaningful volume expansions, which should help drive positive earnings growth across these supported industries.
Looking ahead, there are many reasons why we think small companies will remain resilient. Not only are they are at the front and center of China’s economy across metrics such as contribution to GDP, percentage of patents and innovation, but they are more insulated from trade and geopolitical affairs. Small companies are highly driven by domestic demand, and they tend to be asset-light and capital-efficient. As such, small companies are often nimble companies that can react quickly to a changing market environment.
Rolling 12 Month Returns For the period ended 30/09/2021 - I (Acc)
Sources: Brown Brothers Harriman (Luxembourg) S.C.A, Matthews Asia, FactSet Research Systems, Bloomberg