The China Fund, Inc. Announces Board Approval of Plan of Liquidation

Rhea-AI Summary

The China Fund (NYSE: CHN) announced that its Board of Directors has approved a plan of liquidation and dissolution, which will be presented to stockholders for approval at an upcoming Special Meeting. The Board recommends stockholders vote in favor of the liquidation after considering various factors including geopolitical and market conditions, fund size, trading volume, discount to NAV, and availability of competing investment products like ETFs. The Board evaluated alternatives such as converting to an open-end fund but concluded liquidation would best serve stockholders' interests. The Fund will file a proxy statement with the SEC containing detailed information about the proposed liquidation, which will be mailed to stockholders. Matthews International Capital Management, LLC serves as the Fund's investment manager.

Positive

• Clear path forward with Board-approved liquidation plan providing certainty to investors
• Shareholders will have opportunity to vote on the liquidation plan
• Potential elimination of NAV discount through liquidation

Negative

• Complete dissolution of the fund will force investors to find alternative investment vehicles
• Potential tax implications for shareholders upon liquidation
• Possible transaction costs and market impact during portfolio liquidation

Insights

Investment Fund Specialist

CHN's board approved liquidation plan due to geopolitical concerns, fund size issues, trading volume, and NAV discount, awaiting shareholder vote.

The China Fund (NYSE: CHN) has announced a significant structural change with its Board approving a plan of liquidation and dissolution. This decision wasn't made lightly - the Board cited several critical factors including challenging geopolitical conditions surrounding Chinese investments, the fund's relatively small size limiting operational efficiency, low trading volume impacting liquidity, and a persistent discount to net asset value (NAV) that has frustrated shareholders.

The Board's decision to recommend liquidation rather than conversion to an open-end structure is particularly telling. Closed-end funds traditionally offer advantages for investing in less liquid markets like China, but the Board determined these benefits were outweighed by the challenges. The existence of more accessible and possibly more cost-efficient alternatives like ETFs likely contributed to this conclusion.

For current shareholders, this represents a material event that will require careful consideration. If approved at the upcoming Special Meeting, the liquidation would distribute the fund's assets to shareholders based on NAV, potentially eliminating the discount gap that has existed between market price and underlying asset value. However, this process will likely trigger taxable events for shareholders holding the fund in taxable accounts, as portfolio positions are unwound and proceeds distributed.

This decision reflects broader trends in the investment management industry, where specialized closed-end vehicles focused on emerging markets face mounting competition from more flexible, transparent, and often lower-cost ETF alternatives that provide similar exposures while offering daily liquidity and typically trading closer to their NAV.

BOSTON, June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The China Fund, Inc. (NYSE: CHN) (the “Fund”) announced today that its Board of Directors (the “Board”) has approved a plan of liquidation and dissolution (the “Plan”) for the Fund. The Plan will be submitted to Fund stockholders for approval at a Special Meeting. The date of the Special Meeting and more detailed information about the proposed liquidation and Plan will be set forth in a proxy statement to be mailed to the Fund’s stockholders in the near future. The Board recommends that the Fund’s stockholders vote for the liquidation of the Fund at the Special Meeting.

In determining to liquidate the Fund, the Board considered a variety of factors including, among others, prevailing geopolitical and market conditions, the size of the Fund, the trading volume of the Fund’s shares, the Fund’s discount to net asset value, and the availability of competing open-end products, such as exchange-traded funds. The Board also considered alternatives, including converting the Fund into an open-end management investment company. On balance, the Board determined that the liquidation of the Fund is in the best interests of the Fund and its stockholders.

The Fund intends to file a proxy statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) with respect to the proposal to liquidate the Fund. As noted, copies of the Fund’s proxy statement will also be mailed to each stockholder of record of the Fund. Upon receipt, stockholders are advised to read the Fund’s proxy statement as it will contain important information. Once filed with the SEC, the proxy statement will be available free of charge on the SEC website, www.sec.gov.

This press release may contain statements regarding plans and expectations for the future that constitute forward-looking statements within the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are based on the Fund’s current plans and expectations, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning such risks and uncertainties are contained in the Fund’s regulatory filings, which are available free of charge on the SEC’s website. An investment in the Fund involves risk, including loss of principal. Investment return and the value of shares will fluctuate. Any data and commentary provided in this press release are for informational purposes only.

The Fund is a closed-end management investment company. The Fund’s investment manager is Matthews International Capital Management, LLC. For further information regarding the Fund, please call (888)-CHN-CALL or visit the Fund’s website at www.chinafundinc.com. The information contained on the Fund’s website is not part of this press release. Copies of the Fund’s complete audited financial statements are available free of charge upon request.

Investments involve risk, including possible loss of principal, and an investment should be made with an understanding of the risks involved with owning a particular security or asset class. Interested parties are strongly encouraged to seek advice from qualified tax and financial experts regarding the best options for your particular circumstances.

Contact

Julian Reid
Chairman of the Board
The China Fund, Inc.
+44 7768 068200

FAQ

What is happening to The China Fund (CHN)?

The China Fund's Board has approved a plan of liquidation and dissolution, which will be submitted to stockholders for approval at an upcoming Special Meeting.

Why is The China Fund (CHN) being liquidated?

The Board considered factors including geopolitical conditions, market conditions, fund size, trading volume, NAV discount, and competition from ETFs before determining liquidation was in shareholders' best interests.

When will CHN stockholders vote on the liquidation?

The specific date of the Special Meeting will be announced and detailed in a proxy statement that will be mailed to stockholders in the near future.

What alternatives did CHN's Board consider before choosing liquidation?

The Board considered alternatives including converting the Fund into an open-end management investment company before deciding on liquidation.

What should CHN shareholders do now?

Shareholders should wait for the proxy statement, which will contain important information about the proposed liquidation, and then vote on the proposal at the Special Meeting.