Under normal circumstances, the Matthews Emerging Markets Sustainable Future Active ETF seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing at least 80% of its net assets, which include borrowings for investment purposes, in the common and preferred stocks of companies of any market capitalization located in emerging market countries, such as China and India, that satisfy one or more of the Fund’s environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) standards. Up to 20% of the Fund’s net assets may be invested in companies that do not satisfy these ESG standards. The Fund may also invest in companies located in developed countries; however, the Fund may not invest in any company located in a developed country if, at the time of purchase, more than 20% of the Fund’s assets are invested in developed market companies. The Fund is non-diversified, which means that it may invest its assets in a smaller number of issuers than a diversified fund. The Fund has concentrated its investments (meaning more than 25% of its assets) from time to time in a single country, including China. Emerging market countries generally include every country in the world except the United States, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore and most of the countries in Western Europe. Certain emerging market countries may also be classified as “frontier” market countries, which are a subset of emerging market countries with newer or even less developed economies and markets, such as Sri Lanka and Vietnam. The list of emerging market countries and frontier market countries may change from time to time. A company or other issuer is considered to be “located” in a country or a region, and a security or instrument is deemed to be an emerging markets (or specific country) security or instrument, if it has substantial ties to that country or region. Matthews currently makes that determination based primarily on one or more of the following criteria: (A) with respect to a company or issuer, whether (i) it is organized under the laws of that country or any country in that region; (ii) it derives at least 50% of its revenues or profits from goods produced or sold, investments made, or services performed, or has at least 50% of its assets located, within that country or region; (iii) it has the primary trading markets for its securities in that country or region; (iv) it has its principal place of business in or is otherwise headquartered in that country or region; or (v) it is a governmental entity or an agency, instrumentality or a political subdivision of that country or any country in that region; and (B) with respect to an instrument or issue, whether (i) its issuer is headquartered or organized in that country or region; (ii) it is issued to finance a project that has at least 50% of its assets or operations in that country or region; (iii) it is at least 50% secured or backed by assets located in that country or region; (iv) it is a component of or its issuer is included in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index; or (v) it is denominated in the currency of an emerging markets country and addresses at least one of the other above criteria. The term “located” and the associated criteria listed above have been defined in such a way that Matthews has latitude in determining whether an issuer should be included within a region or country. Matthews may rely on only one criterion to determine location even if other criteria point to a different location. The Fund may also invest in depositary receiptsthat are treated as emerging markets investments, including American, European and Global Depositary Receipts.In implementing its strategy for this Fund, Matthews will use any one or more of the Fund’s following key ESG standards to evaluate potential investments: whether the issuer has adopted and followed (i) sustainable environmental practices, responsible resource management and energy efficiency practices, (ii) policies related to social responsibility, employee welfare, diversity and inclusion, or (iii) sound governance practices that align interests of shareholders and management and demonstrate a commitment to integration of sustainability or ESG considerations. Businesses that meet one or more of the Fund’s ESG standards are generally businesses that currently engage in practices or have business objectives that, in the judgment of Matthews, if continued to be followed or if successfully implemented would make human or business activity less destructive to the environment or businesses that promote positive environmental, social and economic developments. Matthews uses various sources of information, including non-governmental organizations (NGOs), primary research, and third-party data sources such as negative news monitoring services and ESG data and research providers, in analyzing whether a company satisfies the Fund’s ESG standards. However, it is Matthews’ determination, based on its own analysis, as to whether a company satisfies those standards and is eligible for investment by the Fund. In addition to traditional financial data, the stock selection process takes into consideration the Fund’s ESG standards that help identify companies that Matthews believes contribute (or have the potential to contribute) to a sustainable future by addressing global environmental and social challenges. Matthews will use these standards to help identify companies that are contributing (or have the potential to contribute) to positive outcomes in environmental, social and governance focus areas including, for example, climate change mitigation and adaptation, clean environment (such as pollution alleviation), sustainable production and consumption (such as energy efficiency), health and well-being (such as food security), human capital developments (such as training and equality), sustainable and inclusive development, or corporate governance practices that demonstrate a strong commitment to the integration of the Fund’s ESG standards. Matthews will also employ a negative screening process using data and ratings from third-party data providers ISS ESG, MSCIand Sustainalytics, and Matthews’ own internal analysis to exclude, in the ultimate determination of Matthews, companies that Matthews believes do not meet the Fund’s ESG standards. These third-party providers use data and various metrics to assess companies’ exposure to certain business activities and evaluate companies’ adherence to international ESG-related norms. Matthews’ screening process may use various thresholds based on the percentage of revenue derived from certain sectors, including (1) the production or sale of tobacco products, (2) controversial weapons (e.g., cluster munitions) or the production of or military contracting for weapons, and (3) the exploration, extraction, or production of energy using certain fossil fuels, including thermal coal. The screening process is also used to help Matthews exclude companies that are in severe breach of the goals of the UN Global Compact or the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. The ESG characteristics used by Matthews to identify or exclude potential investments may change from time to time. The Fund engages its portfolio companies on sustainability matters primarily through active dialogue and proxy voting, which will be voted according to the Fund’s ESG standards, and by encouraging enhanced ESG disclosure. The implementation of the principal investment strategies of the Fund may result in a significant portion of the Fund’s assets being invested from time to time in one or more sectors, including, but not limited to, the financial and industrial sectors, but the Fund may invest in companies in any sector.The Fund seeks to invest in companies capable of sustainable growth based on the fundamental characteristics of those companies, including balance sheet information; number of employees; size and stability of cash flow; management’s depth, adaptability and integrity; product lines; marketing strategies; corporate governance; and financial health. While the Fund may invest in companies across the market capitalization spectrum, Matthews anticipates that it will invest a substantial portion of Fund assets in smaller companies. Matthews measures a company’s size with respect to fundamental criteria such as, but not limited to, market capitalization, book value, revenues, profits, cash flow, dividends paid and number of employees. The implementation of the principal investment strategies of the Fund may result in a significant portion of the Fund’s assets being invested from time to time in one or more sectors, but the Fund may invest in companies in any sector.
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