Investment involves risk. Please refer to the offering document(s) for details, including the risk factors.
1. Derivative risk
The Fund may acquire derivatives, including over-the-counter derivatives, and may therefore be subject to the risk that its direct counterparty will not perform its obligations under the transactions and that the Fund will sustain losses. Valuation of derivatives may involve uncertainties. If valuation turns out to be incorrect, they may affect the net asset value calculation of the Fund. Other risks associated with derivatives include liquidity risk and volatility risk. A small movement in the value of the underlying asset can cause a large movement in the value of the derivatives and therefore, investment in derivatives may result in losses in excess of the amount invested by the Fund and may lead to significant losses by the Fund.
2. Emerging markets risk
Emerging markets may be subject to increased political, regulatory and economic instability, less developed custody and settlement practices, poor transparency and greater financial risks. Some markets may carry higher risks for investors who should therefore ensure that they understand the risks involved and are satisfied that an investment is suitable as part of their portfolio. As a result, investors may get back less than they originally invested.
3. Concentration risk
The Fund may be concentrated in a limited number of securities, industry sectors and/or countries and as a result, may be more volatile than more broadly diversified funds, and the performance of the Fund may be adversely impacted.
4. Smaller companies risk
The Fund which invests in smaller companies may fluctuate in value more than other funds because of the greater potential volatility of share prices of smaller companies. As a result, investors may get back less than they originally invested.
5. Russia market risk
The relative infancy of the Russian governmental and regulatory framework may expose investors to various political and economic risks. The Russian securities market from time to time may also suffer from a lack of market efficiency and liquidity which may cause higher price volatility and market disruptions. Investments in Russia are currently subject to certain heightened risks with regard to the ownership and custody of securities. Investors should remember that the price of Shares and any income from them may fall as well as rise and that Shareholders may not get back the full amount invested.
6. Currency risk
Where the currency of the Fund varies from the investor’s home currency or where the currency of the Fund varies from the currencies of the markets in which the Fund invests, there is the prospect of additional loss to the investor greater than the usual risks of investment. Also, movements in currency exchange rates can adversely affect the return of the investment and as a result, investors may get back less than they originally invested.
7. Liquidity risk
Lack of liquidity may adversely affect the ease of disposal of assets. The absence of reliable pricing information in a particular security held by the Fund may make it difficult to access reliably the market value of assets. As a result, investors may get back less than they originally invested.
8. Equity risk
Equity markets may fluctuate significantly with prices rising and falling sharply, and this will have a direct impact on the Fund’s net asset value. When equity markets are extremely volatile, the Fund’s net asset value may fluctuate substantially. As a result, investors may get back less than they originally invested.
9. Payment of distributions out of capital risk
The Fund may at its discretion pay dividends out of capital. The Fund may also at its discretion pay dividends out of gross income while charging all or part of the Fund’s fees and expenses to the capital of the Fund, resulting in an increase in distributable amount for the payment of dividends and therefore, effectively paying dividends out of realised, unrealised capital gains or capital. Investors should note that, share classes of the Fund which pay dividends may distribute not only investment income, but also realised and unrealised capital gains or capital. Payment of dividends out of capital amounts to a return or withdrawal of part of an investor’s original investment or from any capital gains attributable to that original investment. Any dividend payments, irrespective of whether such payment is made up or effectively made up out of income, realised and unrealised capital gains or capital, may result in an immediate reduction of the net asset value per share.
10. Risks related to the Eurozone sovereign debt crisis
The Fund will invest substantially in the Eurozone. In light of the current fiscal conditions and concerns on the sovereign debt risk of certain countries within the Eurozone (in particular, Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece and Spain), the Fund’s investments in the region may be more volatile. The performance of the Fund may deteriorate significantly should there be any adverse credit events (e.g. downgrade of the sovereign credit rating, obligation default, etc) of any Eurozone country.