EX-99 2 b75559a1exv99.htm APRIL 2009 MONTHLY INSIGHT REPORT exv99
(GRAPHIC)
THE CHINA FUND, INC. (CHN)
(PHOTO OF SHANGHAI TEAM)
The Martin Currie
Shanghai team
IN BRIEF
         
Net asset value per share
    US$19.19  
Market price
    US$17.65  
Premium/(discount)
    (8.03 %)
Fund size
  US$437.1m  
Source: State Street Bank and Trust Company
     
At 30 April 2009   US$ returns
                 
    China Fund NAV     MSCI Golden Dragon*  
    %     %  
One month
    11.8       14.2  
Year to date
    10.4       17.6  
One year
    (35.1 )     (36.8 )
Three years % pa
    9.1       (0.6 )
Past performance is not a guide to future returns.
Source: State Street Bank and Trust Company. NAV performance.
 
*   Source for index data: MSCI.
MANAGER’S COMMENTARY
First-quarter GDP falls 6.1% in the US, Chrysler goes bankrupt and the plague returns — all these ogres were brushed aside by the new bull market, as investors were squeezed back into equities flush with stimulus cash. It is perhaps easier to be optimistic in China than in New York or London. Swiftly executed stimulus measures, together with massive growth in bank credit (renminbi loans increased by 30% in the first quarter alone), are doing their work: China’s GDP growth in the first quarter, through a strange symmetry, was +6.1%. The provincial first-quarter GDP numbers demonstrate the regional disparities in growth, as the north and west, long the laggards, outperform the south and east, areas hurt by the collapse in export demand; exports in March fell by 17% year on year.
As the benefits of an improvement in the cross-strait relationship — finally — emerge, Taiwan stole the limelight in April. The specific catalyst was news of China Mobile’s purchase of a stake in Taiwan’s Far EasTone, which is the starting gun for an open season of mainland companies purchasing Taiwanese assets. This coincides with China’s approval of Taiwan’s participation in the WHO, an agreement allowing financial institutions to operate in each other’s markets and a near tripling in direct flights (Western airline executives would have wept to see the full 747 in which your manager took the 80-minute direct flight from Shanghai to Taipei). The Fund’s weighting in Taiwan is 19.4%. The Fund also has 16.2% invested in A-shares. We expect both of these markets, largely dependent on domestic capital, to outperform Hong Kong, which is more reliant on global institutional capital.

 


 

INVESTMENT STRATEGY
The Fund is 98.8% invested with holdings in 69 companies.
In April we added shares in Far East Energy, which announced that it was now producing commercial quantities of coal-bed methane from a high-permeability basin (the company had been de-watering so long that we thought it had drilled into a river). In Taiwan, we also added the components distributor WPG and broker KGI. Over the month we were, however, mostly sellers of stock (Anta, Zijin Mining, Sichuan Expressway, China Energy, TPV, Huabao) to raise cash for our latest direct investment.
In early April we concluded the purchase of a HK$177-million (US$23m) investment in a 12% bond convertible into a 30% stake in Ugent, which controls Afex, the leading printer-cartridge recycling company, and is a subsidiary of the Hong Kong-listed Jackin. Afex collects and imports cartridges from the West, then cleans, refills and re-exports them. Such refilled cartridges provide a low-cost alternative to the printer-makers’ own cartridges. The crackdown in China on illegal copies has boosted business — Afex is now the number-one cartridge recycler in Asia. The credit crisis has removed many of the company’s rivals while stimulating demand for low-cost products. Afex’s ownership of difficult-to-obtain waste import licences is an important barrier to entry; Afex is believed to own the only two valid licences at present. Orders will be boosted in 2009 by co-operation with Imation (IMN US), which is launching an own-brand printer cartridge in the US. So by purchasing Earthwise-brand cartridges, you will not only be saving money, but saving the planet and helping the Fund in the bargain.
The proportion of the portfolio in direct investments is now 21.4%. In the short term, this will tend to hold the fund back as markets rally, but it should contribute significantly once IPO and corporate activity resumes.
Chris Ruffle, Martin Currie Inc*
 
* Martin Currie Ltd and Heartland Capital Management Ltd (HCML) have established MC China Ltd (MCCL), as a joint venture company, to provide investment management or investment advisory services to the range of China investment products managed by Martin Currie.
 MCCL has appointed Martin Currie Investment Management Ltd (MCIM), or its affiliates, as investment manager of Martin Currie’s China investment products. HCML has seconded both Chris Ruffle and Shifeng Ke to MCIM, or its affiliates, on a full time basis with the same roles and responsibilities as if they were full time employees.

 


 

30 APRIL 2009
FUND DETAILS
         
Market cap
    US$402.1m
Shares outstanding
    22,781,762
Exchange listed
  NYSE
Listing date
  July 10, 1992
Listed and direct investment manager
  Martin Currie Inc
Source: State Street Bank and Trust Company.
SECTOR ALLOCATION
                 
    The China     MSCI Golden  
    Fund, Inc     Dragon  
Consumer discretionary
    23.4 %     4.6 %
Consumer staples
    18.9 %     2.2 %
Industrials
    14.3 %     8.1 %
Financials
    11.3 %     35.0 %
Healthcare
    10.9 %      
Information technology
    9.2 %     19.5 %
Energy
    4.8 %     8.8 %
Materials
    3.2 %     6.6 %
Utilities
    1.6 %     5.0 %
Telecommunications
    1.2 %     10.3 %
Other assets & liabilities
    1.2 %      
Source: State Street Bank and Trust Company. Source for index data: MSCI
ASSET ALLOCATION
(PIE CHART)
Source: State Street Bank and Trust Company
     
PERFORMANCE   (US$ RETURNS)
                 
    NAV     Market price  
    %     %  
One month
    11.8       13.1  
Year to date
    10.4       6.7  
Three years % pa
    9.1       3.0  
Past performance is not a guide to future returns.
Three year returns are annualized.
Source: State Street Bank and Trust Company
15 LARGEST HOLDINGS (43.2%)
             
Queenbury Investment (Huiyan)
  Consumer discretionary     9.3 %
Ugent Holdings
  Industrials     5.2 %
Shandong Weigao Group
  Healthcare     3.9 %
Wumart Stores
  Consumer staples     3.1 %
Far Eastern Department Stores
  Consumer discretionary     2.7 %
China Huiyuan Juice
  Consumer staples     2.2 %
HAND Enterprise Solutions
  Information technology     2.2 %
Shenzhen Agricultural Products
  Consumer staples     2.1 %
Ruentex Development
  Financials     2.1 %
Uni-President Enterprises
  Consumer staples     2.0 %
Chaoda Modern Agriculture
  Consumer staples     1.9 %
Repurchase Agreement
  Other     1.7 %
China Metal Products
  Materials     1.6 %
Ports Design
  Information technology     1.6 %
Taiwan Secom
  Industrials     1.6 %
DIRECT INVESTMENTS (21.3%)
             
Queenbury Investment (Huiyan)
  Consumer discretionary     9.3 %
Ugent Holdings
  Industrials     5.2 %
HAND Enterprise Solutions
  Information technology     2.2 %
Qingdao Bright Moon
  Industrials     1.6 %
Highlight Tech
  Industrials     1.4 %
Wuxi Paiho
  Industrials     0.8 %
China Silicon (Series A Preferred)
  Information technology     0.8 %
China Silicon
  Information technology     0.0 %
TECO Optronics
  Information technology     0.0 %
Source: State Street Bank and Trust Company.
     
FUND PERFORMANCE (BASED ON NET ASSET VALUE)   (US$ RETURNS)
                                                         
    One     Three     Calendar     One     Three     Five     Since  
    month     months     year to date     year     years     years     launch  
    %     %     %     %     % pa     % pa     % pa  
The China Fund, Inc.
    11.8       17.1       10.4       (35.1 )     9.1       14.2       9.8  
MSCI Golden Dragon
    14.2       26.1       17.6       (36.8 )     (0.6 )     8.2       6.8  
Hang Seng China Enterprise
    12.6       27.5       15.1       (35.8 )     10.0       17.6       19.2  
Shanghai Stock Exchange 180
    4.6       28.3       43.8       (32.9 )     36.0       19.4       n/a  
Past performance is not a guide to future returns.
Source: State Street Bank and Trust Company. Launch date 10 July 1992. Three year, five year and since launch returns are all annualized.
Source for index data: MSCI for the MSCI Golden Dragon and Copyright 2009 Bloomberg LP for the Hang Seng China Enterprise and the Shanghai Stock Exchange 180. For a full description of each index please see the index descriptions section.

 


 

PERFORMANCE IN PERSPECTIVE
(PERFORMANCE GRAPH)
Past performance is not a guide to future returns.
Source: Martin Currie Inc as at 30 April 2009.
THE CHINA FUND INC. PREMIUM/DISCOUNT
(PERFORMANCE GRAPH)
Past performance is not a guide to future returns.
Source: Martin Currie Inc as at 30 April 2009.
10 YEAR DIVIDEND HISTORY CHART
(BAR CHART)
Past performance is not a guide to future returns.
Source: State Street Bank and Trust Company.

 


 

30 APRIL 2009
                                         
Sector   Company (BBG ticker)     Price     Holding     Value US$     % of portfolio
Hong Kong
                                    22.6 %
China Huiyuan Juice
    1886HK     HK $5.3     14,055,000       9,666,151       2.2 %
Chaoda Modern Agriculture
  682 HK   HK $4.4     14,263,357       8,171,470       1.9 %
Ports Design
  589 HK   HK $11.8     4,549,500       7,161,748       1.6 %
Shangri-La Asia
  0069 HK   HK $11.5     4,755,555       7,044,312       1.6 %
Xinao Gas
  2688 HK   HK $10.7     5,084,000       7,006,035       1.6 %
China Shineway Pharmaceutical
  2877 HK   HK $4.7     11,184,000       6,840,234       1.6 %
Golden Meditech
  8180 HK   HK $1.1     35,040,000       4,792,537       1.1 %
FU JI Food & Catering Services
    1175HK     HK $4.1     8,689,000       4,630,366       1.1 %
Sina Corp
  SINA US   US $28.0     162,700       4,557,227       1.0 %
Anta Sports
  2020 HK   HK $6.6     5,313,000       4,552,012       1.0 %
Intime Department Store Group
  1833 HK   HK $2.8     12,568,629       4,524,677       1.0 %
Fushan International Energy
  639 HK   HK $2.2     16,044,000       4,492,291       1.0 %
Natural Beauty Bio-Technology
  157 HK   HK $1.0     32,780,000       4,145,057       1.0 %
Honghua Group
  196 HK   HK $1.3     20,650,000       3,490,493       0.8 %
Sinofert
    297HK     HK $3.6     7,216,000       3,361,238       0.8 %
TPV Technology
  903 HK   HK $2.6     9,552,000       3,179,871       0.7 %
Huabao International
  336 HK   HK $5.5     4,255,000       3,019,658       0.7 %
Yorkey Optical International
  2788 HK   HK $1.2     15,476,926       2,396,412       0.6 %
China Rare Earth
  769 HK   HK $1.0     17,436,000       2,272,290       0.5 %
SPG Land
  1688 HK   HK $1.4     11,037,000       1,979,527       0.5 %
Chinasoft International
  8216 HK   HK $0.6     19,230,000       1,488,765       0.3 %
 
                                       
Singapore
                                    4.8 %
Hsu Fu Chi International
  HFCI SP   SG $1.1     9,484,000       6,740,126       1.5 %
China Fishery Group
  CFG SP   SG $0.8     12,050,000       6,157,738       1.4 %
China Milk Products Group
  CMILK SP   SG $0.4     11,607,000       3,024,600       0.7 %
CDW
  CDW SP   SG $0.1     59,708,000       2,525,805       0.6 %
Financial One Corp
  FIN SP   SG $0.3     12,030,000       2,442,722       0.6 %
 
                                       
Hong Kong ‘H’ shares
                                    9.0 %
Shandong Weigao Group
  8199 HK   HK $14.6     9,004,000       17,008,737       3.9 %
Wumart Stores
  995 HK   HK $6.9     15,126,000       13,505,967       3.1 %
ZTE Corp
  763 HK   HK $26.4     1,461,926       4,961,085       1.1 %
Zijin Mining
  2899 HK   HK $6.0     4,670,000       3,609,435       0.8 %
Sichuan Expressway
  107 HK   HK $2.0     422,000       106,724       0.1 %
 
                                       
Taiwan
                                    19.3 %
Far Eastern Department Stores
  2903 TT   NT $20.8     18,511,584       11,613,992       2.7 %
Ruentex Development
  9945 TT   NT $23.4     12,694,000       8,981,196       2.1 %
Uni-President Enterprises
  1216 TT   NT $33.3     8,728,581       8,775,162       2.0 %
China Metal Products
  1532 TT   NT $26.3     9,019,881       7,172,596       1.6 %
Taiwan Secom
  9917 TT   NT $50.0     4,738,000       7,155,671       1.6 %
Lien Hwa Industrial
  1229 TT   NT $14.1     15,919,692       6,786,934       1.6 %
Yuanta Financial
  2885 TT   NT $19.4     10,520,593       6,171,089       1.4 %
FamilyMart
  5903 TT   NT $53.0     3,777,652       6,053,655       1.4 %
HTC Corp
  2498 TT   NT$448.0     438,000       5,932,968       1.3 %
WPG Holdings
  3702 TT   NT $27.5     6,320,000       5,245,408       1.2 %
Synnex Technology
  2347 TT   NT $48.0     2,553,855       3,706,443       0.9 %
Merry Electronics
  2439 TT   NT $32.5     3,584,340       3,522,187       0.8 %
KGI Securities
  6008 TT   NT $12.0     8,800,000       3,179,585       0.7 %
 
                                       
United Kingdom
                                    1.5 %
China Medical System Holdings
  CMSH LN     £1.2       3,623,188       6,675,638       1.5 %
 
                                       
United States
                                    3.8 %
Far East Energy
  FEEC US   US $0.37     13,250,059       4,902,522       1.1 %
Mindray Medical International
  MR US   US$ 22.82       191,700       4,374,594       1.0 %
WuXi PharmaTech Cayman
  WX US   US $5.77     696,990       4,021,632       0.9 %
The9
  CMED US   US $9.32     352,300       3,297,528       0.8 %
 
                                       
Equity linked securities (‘A’ shares)
                                    16.5 %
CITIC Securities
          US $3.6     3,166,200       11,253,165       2.6 %
Shenzhen Agricultural
          US $2.3     4,000,000       9,368,312       2.1 %
Wuliangye Yibin
          US $2.4     2,857,007       6,936,813       1.6 %
Suning Appliance
          US $2.2     2,874,013       6,282,592       1.4 %
China Yangtze Power
          US $1.4     4,169,077       6,018,671       1.4 %
Shanghai Yuyuan Tourist Board
          US $2.7     216,820,000       5,945,630       1.4 %
Zhejiang Guyuelongshan
          US $1.0     5,373,000       5,417,886       1.2 %
Daqin Railway
          US $1.4     3,807,000       5,311,835       1.2 %
Shanghai Zhenhua Port Machinery
          US $1.8     2,833,192       4,982,896       1.1 %
Ping An Insurance
          HK48.5     614,500       3,837,627       0.9 %
Shanghai International Airport
          US $2.0     1,816,700       3,651,567       0.8 %
Dalian Zhangzidao Fishery
          US $2.9     1,100,565       3,219,153       0.8 %

 


 

                                         
Sector   Company (BBG ticker)     Price     Holding     Value US$     % of portfolio
Direct
                                    21.3 %
Queenbury Investment (Huiyan)
          US$ 90345.0       450       40,655,250       9.3 %
Ugent Holdings
          HK $100.0     177,000,000       22,838,562       5.2 %
HAND Enterprise Solutions
          US $18.9     500,000       9,430,000       2.2 %
Qingdao Bright Moon
          US $0.2     31,827,172       6,937,719       1.6 %
Highlight Tech
          US $1.8     3,366,893       5,999,999       1.4 %
Wuxi Paiho
          US $0.3     11,734,701       3,680,002       0.8 %
China Silicon (Series A Preferred)
          US $133.0     27,418       3,646,594       0.8 %
China Silicon
                  293,068              
China Silicon (Warrants)
                  685,450              
teco Optronics
                  1,861,710              
 
                                       
Other assets & liabilities
                            5,286,561       1.2 %
INDEX DESCRIPTIONS
MSCI Golden Dragon Index
The MSCI Golden Dragon is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure equity market performance in the China region. As of May 2005 the MSCI Golden Dragon Index consisted of the following country indices: China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Hang Seng China Enterprise Index
The Hang Seng China Enterprise Index is a capitalization-weighted index comprised of state-owned Chinese companies (H-shares) listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and included in Hans Seng Mainland China index.
Shanghai Stock Exchange 180 Index
The Shanghai Stock Exchange 180 ‘A’ Share Index is a capitalization-weighted index. The index tracks the daily price performance of the 180 most representative ‘A’ share stocks listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange.
OBJECTIVE
The investment objective of the Fund is to achieve long term capital appreciation. The Fund seeks to achieve its objective through investment in the equity securities of companies and other entities with significant assets, investments, production activities, trading or other business interests in China or which derive a significant part of their revenue from China.
The Board of Directors of the Fund has adopted an operating policy of the Fund, effective 30 June 2001, that the Fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in China companies. For this purpose, ‘China companies’ are (i) companies for which the principal securities trading market is in China; (ii) companies for which the principal securities trading market is outside of China or in companies organized outside of China, that in both cases derive at least 50% of their revenues from goods or services sold or produced, or have a least 50% of their assets in China; or (iii) companies organized in China. Under the policy, China will mean the People’s Republic of China, including Hong Kong, and Taiwan. The Fund will provide its stockholders with at least 60 days’ prior notice of any change to the policy described above.
The Fund is subject to the Investment Company Act of 1940 which limits the means in which it can access the ‘A’ share market. The Fund will continue to seek the most efficient way in which to increase its ‘A’ share exposure ensuring ongoing compliance with its legal and regulatory obligations.
CONTACTS
The China Fund, Inc.
c/o State Street Bank and Trust Company
2 Avenue de Lafayette
PO Box 5049
Boston, MA 02206-5049
Tel: (1) 888 CHN-CALL (246 2255)
www.chinafundinc.com

 


 

Important information: This document is issued and approved by Martin Currie Inc (MC Inc), as investment adviser of The China Fund Inc (the Fund). MC Inc is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and incorporated under limited liability in New York, USA. Registered in Scotland (No BR2575), registered address Saltire Court, 20 Castle Terrace, Edinburgh, EH1 2ES. Information herein is believed to be reliable but has not been verified by MC Inc. MC Inc makes no representation or warranty and does not accept any responsibility in relation to such information or for opinion or conclusion which the reader may draw from the newsletter.
Martin Currie Ltd and Heartland Capital Management Ltd (HCML) have established MC China Ltd (MCCL), as a joint venture company, to provide investment management or investment advisory services to our China product. MCCL has appointed Martin Currie Investment Management Ltd (MCIM), or its affiliates, as investment manager of our China funds. HMCL has seconded both Chris Ruffle and Shifeng Ke to MCIM or its affiliates on a full time basis with the same roles and responsibilities as if they were full time employees.
The Fund is classified as a ‘non-diversified’ investment company under the US Investment Company Act of 1940 as amended. It meets the criteria of a closed ended US mutual fund and its shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange. MC Inc has been appointed investment adviser to the Fund.
Investors are advised that they will not generally benefit from the rules and regulations of the United Kingdom Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and the FSA for the protection of investors, nor benefit from the United Kingdom Financial Services Compensation Scheme, nor have access to the Financial Services Ombudsman in the event of a dispute. Investors will also have no rights of cancellation under the FSA’s Conduct of Business Sourcebook of the United Kingdom.
This newsletter does not constitute an offer of shares. MC Inc, its ultimate and intermediate holding companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, clients, directors or staff may, at any time, have a position in the market referred to herein, and may buy or sell securities, currencies, or any other financial instruments in such markets. The information or opinion expressed in this newsletter should not be construed to be a recommendation to buy or sell the securities, commodities, currencies or financial instruments referred to herein.
The information provided in this report should not be considered a recommendation to purchase or sell any particular security. There is no assurance that any securities discussed herein will remain in an account’s portfolio at the time you receive this report or that securities sold have not been repurchased.
It should not be assumed that any of the securities transactions or holdings discussed here were or will prove to be profitable, or that the investment recommendations or decisions we make in the future will be profitable or will equal the investment performance of the securities discussed herein.
Investing in the Fund involves certain considerations in addition to the risks normally associated with making investments in securities. The value of the shares issued by the Fund, and the income from them, may go down as well as up and there can be no assurance that upon sale, or otherwise, investors will receive back the amount originally invested. There can be no assurance that you will receive comparable performance returns, or that investments will reflect the performance of the stock examples contained in this document. Movements in foreign exchange rates may have a separate effect, unfavorable as well as favorable, on the gain or loss otherwise experienced on an investment. Past performance is not a guide to future returns. Accordingly, the Fund is only suitable for investment by investors who are able and willing to withstand the total loss of their investment. In particular, prospective investors should consider the following risks:
è   The companies quoted on Greater Chinese stock exchanges are exposed to the risks of political, social and religious instability, expropriation of assets or nationalisation, rapid rates of inflation, high interest rates, currency depreciation and fluctuations and changes in taxation, which may affect income and the value of investments.
 
è   At present, the securities market and the regulatory framework for the securities industry in China is at an early stage of development. The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) is responsible for supervising the national securities markets and producing relevant regulations. The Investment Regulations, under which the Fund invests in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and which regulate repatriation and currency conversion, are new. The Investment Regulations give CSRC and State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) wide discretions and there is no precedent or certainty as to how these discretions might be exercised, either now or in the future. The Fund may, from time to time, obtain access to the securities markets in China via Access Products. Such products carry additional risk and may be less liquid than the underlying securities which they represent.
 
è   During the past 15 years, the PRC government has been reforming the economic and political systems of the PRC, and these reforms are expected to continue, as evidenced by the recently announced changes. The Fund’s operations and financial results could be adversely affected by adjustments in the PRC’s state plans, political, economic and social conditions, changes in the policies of the PRC government such as changes in laws and regulations (or the interpretation thereof), measures which may be introduced to control inflation, changes in the rate or method of taxation, imposition of additional restrictions on currency conversion and the imposition of additional import restrictions.
 
è   PRC’s disclosure and regulatory standards are in many respects less stringent than standards in certain Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, and there may be less publicly available or less reliable information about PRC companies than is regularly published by or about companies from OECD countries.
 
è   The Shanghai Stock Exchange and Shenzhen Stock Exchange have lower trading volumes than most OECD exchanges and the market capitalisations of listed companies are small compared to those on more developed exchanges in developed markets. The listed equity securities of many companies in the PRC are accordingly materially less liquid, subject to greater dealing spreads and experience materially greater volatility than those of OECD countries. These factors could negatively affect the Fund’s NAV.
 
è   The Fund invests primarily in securities denominated in other currencies but its NAV will be quoted in US dollars. Accordingly, a change in the value of such securities against US dollars will result in a corresponding change in the US dollar NAV.
 
è   The marketability of quoted shares may be limited due to foreign investment restrictions, wide dealing spreads, exchange controls, foreign ownership restrictions, the restricted opening of stock exchanges and a narrow range of investors. Trading volume may be lower than on more developed stockmarkets, and equities are less liquid. Volatility of prices can also be greater than in more developed stockmarkets. The infrastructure for clearing, settlement and registration on the primary and secondary markets may be underdeveloped. Under certain circumstances, there may be delays in settling transactions in some of the markets.
Martin Currie Inc, registered in Scotland (no BR2575)
Registered office: Saltire Court, 20 Castle Terrace, Edinburgh EH11 2ES Tel: 44 (0) 131 229 5252 Fax: 44 (0) 131 228 5959 www.martincurrie.com/china
North American office: 1350 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 3010, New York, NY 10019, USA Tel: (1) 212 258 1900 Fax: (1) 212 258 1919
Authorised and registered by the Financial Services Authority and incorporated with limited liability in New York, USA.
Please note: calls to the above numbers may be recorded.