Snapshot
- Bottom-up Asia credit strategy, with a focus on risk-adjusted returns
- Invest primarily in USD-denominated high yield Asian bonds
- Flexibility to invest across the spectrum of credit quality and issuers’ capital structure
30/09/2015
Inception Date
-2.47%
YTD Return (USD)
(as of 24/01/2022)
$8.69
Price (USD)
(as of 24/01/2022)
$33.83 million
Fund Assets
(as of 31/12/2021)
Objective
Total return over the long term.
Strategy
Under normal market conditions, the Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing at least 65% of its net assets in income-producing securities including, but not limited to, debt and debt-related instruments and derivative instruments with fixed income characteristics, issued by governments, quasi-governmental entities, supra-national institutions and companies in Asia. On an ancillary basis, the Fund may invest in dividend-paying equity securities of the foregoing issuers. Investments may be denominated in any currency, and may represent any part of a company’s capital structure from debt to equity or with features of both.
Risks
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, emerging and frontier market securities may involve risks such as social and political instability, market illiquidity, exchange-rate fluctuations, a high level of volatility and limited regulation, which may adversely affect the value of the Fund's assets. Fixed income investments are subject to additional risks, including, but not limited to, interest rate, credit and inflation risks. The Fund may invest in the following: derivatives which can be volatile and affect Fund performance; high yield bonds (junk bonds) which can subject the Fund to substantial risk of loss; and structured investments which can change the risk or return, or replicate the risk or return of an underlying asset. The Fund invests in holdings denominated in foreign currencies, and is exposed to the risk that the value of the foreign currency will increase or decrease.
These and other risks associated with investing in the Fund can be found in the prospectus.
Fund Facts
| Inception Date | 30/09/2015 | |
| Fund Assets | $33.83 million (31/12/2021) | |
| Base Currency | USD | |
| ISIN: | LU1275263116 (USD) LU1275263389 (GBP) | |
| Bloomberg Symbol | MACOIUS:LX (USD) MACOIGB:LX (GBP) | |
| Benchmark | J.P. Morgan Asia Credit Index | |
| Geographic Focus | Asia: Consists of all countries and markets in Asia, including developed, emerging, and frontier countries and markets in the Asian region | |
Fees & Expenses
| Management Fee | 0.65% | |
| Total Expense Ratio As of 30/09/2021 | 1.25% ( USD ) 1.25% ( GBP ) | |
Performance
- Monthly
- Quarterly
- Calendar Year
- Rolling 12 Month
Returns
As of 31/12/2021
As of 31/12/2021
For the years ended December 31st
For the period ended 31/12/2021
Source: Brown Brothers Harriman (Luxembourg) S.C.A., Index data from J.P. Morgan.
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.
Yield
(as of 31/12/2021)
5.30%
Yield to Worst
Source: FactSet Research Systems, Bloomberg, Matthews Asia
Portfolio Characteristics
(as of 31/12/2021)2.5
Modified Duration
45
Number of Positions
Source: Brown Brothers Harriman (Luxembourg) S.C.A
Risk Metrics (3 Yr Return)
(as of 31/12/2021)-4.38%
Alpha
1.80
Beta
117.17%
Upside Capture
171.92%
Downside Capture
0.21
Sharpe Ratio
-0.28
Information Ratio
6.36%
Tracking Error
75.66
R²
Fund Risk Metrics are reflective of Class I USD DIST shares.
Sources: Zephyr StyleADVISOR
Top 10 Positions
(as of 31/12/2021)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
Portfolio Breakdown (%)
(as of 31/12/2021)- Sector Allocation
- Country Allocation
- Currency Allocation
- Quality Distribution
- Asset Type Breakdown
Cash and Other Assets may include the mark-to-market value of forward currency exchange contracts and certain derivative instruments.
Sector data based on Bloomberg B Class Sector.
Source: Bloomberg.
Not all countries are included in the benchmark index. Cash and Other Assets may include the mark-to-market value of forward currency exchange contracts and certain derivative instruments.
Supranational is an international organization in which member states transcend national boundaries, (ex. IMF).
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.
Ratings
(as of 31/12/2021)
CATEGORY: Asia High Yield Bond
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.
Portfolio Managers
Teresa Kong, CFA
Lead Manager
Teresa Kong, CFA
Portfolio Manager
Teresa Kong is a Portfolio Manager at Matthews Asia and manages the firm’s Asia Total Return Bond and Asia Credit Opportunities Strategies. Prior to joining Matthews Asia in 2010, she was Head of Emerging Market Investments at Barclays Global Investors, now known as BlackRock, and responsible for managing the firm’s investment strategies in Emerging Asia, Eastern Europe, Africa and Latin America. She developed and managed strategies spanning absolute return, active long-only and exchange-traded funds. In addition to founding the Fixed Income Emerging Markets Group at BlackRock, she was also Senior Portfolio Manager and Credit Strategist on the Fixed Income credit team. Previously, Teresa was a Senior Securities Analyst in the High Yield Group with Oppenheimer Funds, and began her career with J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., where she worked in the Structured Products Group and Latin America Capital Markets Group. She received both a B.A. in Economics and Political Science and an M.A. in International Development Policies from Stanford University. She speaks Cantonese fluently and is conversational in Mandarin.
Satya Patel
Lead Manager
Satya Patel
Portfolio Manager
Satya Patel is a Portfolio Manager at Matthews Asia and manages the firm's Asia Credit Opportunities Strategy and co-manages the Asia Total Return Bond and Asian Growth and Income Strategies. Prior to joining Matthews Asia in 2011, Satya was an Investment Analyst with Concerto Asset Management. He earned his MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business in 2010. In 2009, Satya worked as an Investment Associate in Private Placements for Metlife Investments and from 2006 to 2008, he was an Associate in Credit Hedge Fund Sales for Deutsche Bank in London. He holds a Master's in Accounting and Finance from the London School of Economics and a B.A. in Business Administration and Public Health from the University of Georgia. Satya is proficient in Gujarati.
Distributions
LATEST FIXED INCOME INSIGHTS
Performance figures discussed in the Fund Manager Commentary above reflect that of the Institutional Distribution 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 September 30, 2021, the Matthews Asia Credit Opportunities Fund returned 0.86%, while its benchmark, the J.P. Morgan Asia Credit Index, returned -0.98%.
Market Environment:
Third quarter was dominated by China. First, there were fast and unexpected regulatory announcements that had major implications on the country’s companies, industries, and economy. Investors were no doubt caught off guard by the speed and magnitude of the regulations spanning from e-commerce to energy to real estate. Within this backdrop was an economy that had to implement selective shutdowns to combat the new Delta variant of COVID. As the overall systematic risk was rising, it certainly didn’t help investor sentiment to witness the deterioration and the default of China Evergrande Group, one of the China’s largest property developers. The default of Evergrande caused a selloff in the bonds of Chinese property developers, as markets worried about the implications of the default of such a large company.
Performance Contributors and Detractors:
The biggest contributor to returns in the quarter were our holdings in Huarong Finance, one of the major Chinese asset managers. We had started a position in Huarong in the first quarter of last year as rumors gripped the market with the expectation that Huarong is a systematically important financial institution. After several months of very little information, Huarong bonds finally rallied on the news that a consortium led by CITIC Group Corp. would make a substantial capital injection into the asset manager. This, along with the reporting of earnings, finally shed light into the underlying financial health and resolution of the future of the asset manager. Outside of China, the Fund’s holding in Pan Brothers, an Indonesia textile manufacturer, contributed to the Fund’s performance. The company has indicated that it remains on-track to refinance its liabilities.
The Fund’s performance detractors were mostly China property bonds and convertible bond holdings in China. The default of Evergrande spilled over to other property developers, including our holdings in Sunac China and Times China even though these companies have solid balance sheets and no foreseeable liquidity issues in the coming quarters. Due to the numerous regulations from China on internet, web-based shopping platform Meituan and e-commerce and marketing solutions company Weimob fell during the quarter.
Notable Portfolio Changes:
Portfolio changes during the quarter were concentrated in China. We adjusted our China real estate holdings, reducing positions in holdings that have met the target yield and adding to positions that represent attractive yields given the fundamental credit quality. In particular, we exited Chinese developer Powerlong and Cifi. We added to high-quality developers such as Times China and Sunac China. In addition to real estate, we also added to convertible bond holdings in Baozun Inc., Weimob, and iQIYI Inc. Despite the ongoing regulatory headwinds in China, we believe these issuers represent a good opportunity to capture attractive yield even if assuming no potential upside to the underlying equity. Outside of China, we exited our position in Xero, a New Zealand based accounting software company as the company’s convertible bonds had reached our price target. We also initiated a position in the bonds of HDFC Bank, one of the largest financial institutions in India.
Outlook:
One risk facing our portfolio is the potential forced delisting of Chinese ADRs (American depositary receipts) by the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission). As owners of some convertible bonds that are convertible into equities which are ADRs, we believe that our downside is mostly covered by the trigger of a change of control put at 100, an option given to bondholders to oblige the issuer to repay the bondholders the notional face value of the bonds, under such an event. We entered into these positions at discounts to par, or face value, and as such believe that the downside risk is contained as we would be able to put the bonds back at a price higher than our basis. However, this does cap the potential upside in these securities and as such we expect to monitor the positions carefully and exit when they reach our price targets.
Looking ahead, we expect the Chinese government to undergo more and deeper easing policies across the economy to alleviate the market fallout from the recent cadence of regulatory announcements. While it may be hard at first to comprehend why the Chinese government effected so much change in such a short time period, we expect the market to come to the view over the next couple of quarters that these series of regulatory changes as the Chinese government’s solutions to the most common pressing issues globally: the rising gap between the rich and the poor, data privacy, consumer and labor protection, and monopolistic behavior. While the west might leave some of these issues to the internet titans like Mark Zuckerberg or Jeff Bezos, the Chinese government has decided to tackle these problems head-on before they become even more protracted. We have already begun to see these countercyclical policies, including the injection of liquidity by the People’s Bank of China as well as deeper engagement of the government in facilitating the restructuring of Evergrande. Despite the size of the Evergrande default, it is not a systematically important financial institution like that of Huarong. We also believe that government policies can alleviate the sector by easing quota on mortgage lending as well as lifting further real estate restrictions at the provincial and local levels. Given this backdrop, we believe that the credit markets have reached “peak uncertainty” in the third quarter and expect credit spreads to tighten over the course of the next several quarters.
Rolling 12 Month Returns For the period ended 31/12/2021 - I (Dist)
Sources: Brown Brothers Harriman (Luxembourg) S.C.A, Matthews Asia, FactSet Research Systems, Bloomberg