Independence Intelligence Integrity Semi-Annual Report 2019 For the period ended 31 January 2019 Semi-Annual Report 2019 For the period ended 31 January 2019 CONTENTS 2 i Capital China Fund at a glance 4 Performance Review 4-6 Market Review and Outlook 7 Statement of Net Assets (Unaudited) 8 Statement of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) 9 Statement of Changes in Net Assets Attributable to Unitholders (Unaudited) 10 Statement of Cash Flows (Unaudited) 12 Investment Portfolio (Unaudited) 13 Statement of Movements in Portfolio Holdings (Unaudited) 14 Other Information 1 Semi-Annual Report 2019 For the period ended 31 January 2019 i CAPITAL CHINA FUND AT A GLANCE Investment Objective To achieve long-term capital appreciation by primarily investing in equity securities issued by companies listed in Hong Kong, Shanghai and/or Shenzhen. Investor Profile Investors who are seeking to access capital growth over a long term investment horizon, and can tolerate short term volatility and fluctuations in returns. Subscription Fee Nil Redemption Fee* 5% for Units held for 1 year or less; Nil for Units held for more (% of redemption amount) than 1 year Management Fee* 1.5% (150 basis points) Trustee Fee* Up to 0.15% (15 basis points), subject to a minimum monthly fee of US$5,000 Custodian Fee* Up to 0.0275% (2.75 basis points) Performance Fee* 10% (1000 basis points) of the outperformance of the Net Asset Value per Unit during a performance period over the High Water Mark Inception Date 2 January 2018 Minimum Investment (USD) $1,000 Additional Investment (USD) $1,000 Additional subscription form can be downloaded from the Manager’s website or obtained directly from the Manager. 2 Semi-Annual Report 2019 For the period ended 31 January 2019 i CAPITAL CHINA FUND AT A GLANCE (Continued) Dealing frequency Weekly (last Hong Kong Business Day of every week before 3:00pm) Manager Capital Dynamics Asset Management (HK) Private Limited Suite 701, 7th Floor, Chinachem Leighton Plaza, 29 Leighton Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong Tel. No. : (852) 2153 1455 Fax No. : (852) 2153 1451 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.capitaldynamics.hk Directors of the Manager Tan Teng Boo Wu Xiongwei Wu Chin-Shan, Richard Solicitors to the Manager Deacons Trustee and Registrar BOCI-Prudential Trustee Limited Custodian Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited Auditors PricewaterhouseCoopers *For more details on the above fees, please refer to the Fees and Expenses under the latest Explanatory Memorandum. This Semi-Annual Report shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy units in any of the funds. Subscriptions are to be made only on the basis of the information contained in the relevant explanatory memorandum (and the documents referred to within it), supplemented by the most recent financial report. 3 Semi-Annual Report 2019 For the period ended 31 January 2019 PERFORMANCE REVIEW For the period between 31 July 2018 and 31 January From 31 July 2018 to 31 January 2019, the Shanghai 2019, the NAV of the i Capital China Fund declined Composite Index and Shenzhen Composite Index by 9.21% from USD0.9328 to USD0.8469. declined by 10.15% and 19.14%, respectively. This 6-month period witnessed high volatility in Although the size of i Capital China Fund is relatively global financial markets. After many years of rallying, small, we have been patient and by 31 January 2019, the NYSE and NASDAQ had their first bear markets your fund still held about 55.16% of its NAV in from September to December 2018. China’s stock cash. Taking a very prudent approach amidst the markets were also hit hard even though China’s turbulent conditions is one reason why your fund has economy remained fundamentally very strong. outperformed the overall stock market in China. MARKET REVIEW AND OUTLOOK An important factor which drove China’s stock Regardless of how US-China relations develop, we market down in the second half of 2018 was the trade strongly believe that the fundamentals of China’s war between the US and China. After a prolonged economy remain solid. Despite internal and external period of concern over the escalation of the trade war pressures, the Chinese government still takes a long- between the world’s two largest economies, a turning term perspective by focusing on the quality and point perhaps finally arose during the meeting sustainability of economic development instead of between president Xi and Trump on 01 December boosting the economy with easy credit. The latest 2018 at the G20 summit in Argentina. At this meeting, Central Economic Work Conference in Dec 2018 has a truce and a 90-day negotiating period was declared put promoting high-quality manufacturing as the for USA and China to reach substantial agreement on top among seven key tasks for 2019. The investment trade issues. If no progress was made by 01 March is targeting specific weak areas in the economy, such 2019, then higher tariffs for Chinese imports into as rural revitalization and regional coordination. the US would kick-in. More meetings between the Structural reform is another top priority. Fast SOE Chinese and US governments on how to resolve the reform and financial reform are also among the key trade issues were held in January and February 2019. tasks in 2019. To stabilize the growth, China has made Enough progress was made in these discussions for the proactive fiscal policy more forceful and efficient president Trump to declare on 24 February that the by targeting individuals and private business. increased tariffs he previously threatened would now be delayed until further notice. There are signs that a First, for the hundreds of millions of ordinary Chinese, trade deal will be reached by the two countries soon. their disposable incomes will receive a boost from the 4 Semi-Annual Report 2019 For the period ended 31 January 2019 various tax deductions. On 31 Aug 2018, the Standing energy, telecommunication, logistics, and charging Committee of China’s National People’s Congress facilities for new energy vehicles. approved the amendments to China’s Individual Income Tax Law (IIT). Taking effect on 1 Jan 2019, Contrary to Western media report, the Chinese the revamped IIT is the most significant in nearly 4 economy has shifted from an export and investment- decades. The tax cuts will significantly benefit those driven model to one led by consumption. whose monthly salaries are RMB20,000 or below, Consumption made a greater contribution to China’s as they would enjoy tax savings of more than 50%. economic growth last year, with final consumption According to China’s income tax department, this expenditure contributing 76.2% of overall GDP group of people accounted for about 96% of the total growth. China is estimated to have about 140 million number of taxpayers in Oct 2018. It is likely that those families or around 400 million people with annual who earn RMB10,000 per month or below will no income ranging from RMB100,000 to 500,000; people longer need to pay any income tax. To put things in who can afford to own cars, housing and travel. With perspective, the average monthly salary of an urban a significant cut on IIT and policies to further boost worker in private enterprises was RMB3,813 in 2017, residential consumption, we expect China’s economy while that of non-private enterprises RMB6,193. will sustain her long-term growth at a healthy pace. To complement tax cuts to individuals, China has Following the individual income tax cut, the State decided to stimulate domestic consumption in Council introduced another round of tax cuts and tax automobiles, household appliances, online shopping exemptions for micro and small enterprises (MSEs). and other sectors, according to an implementation In this new round of tax cuts, small and low-profit plan released by the National Development and businesses with an annual taxable income of less Reform Commission and nine other departments than RMB1 million and between RMB1 million and in January 2019. The plan proposes 24 supportive 3 million will be eligible to have their tax calculated measures in six aspects. In auto sector, the subsidy based on 25 percent or 50 percent of their taxable for new energy vehicles will be optimized and rural income. The corporate income tax rates of such residents will be encouraged to buy new cars. The enterprises will be reduced to 5% and 10% respectively. second-hand car market will also be supported. In Not only is the amount of tax cut significant, the rural areas, the plan aims to unleash the potential number of beneficiaries is extraordinary. Such tax of online shopping and tourism. Local governments cuts are expected to cover 95% of all corporate tax are encouraged to work with e-commerce companies payers in China, and 98% will be private businesses. in this field. The document also promotes the use of Not just income tax, the threshold for Value-added green and smart household appliances in urban and Tax (VAT) on small-scale tax payers, which mainly rural areas. The plan aims to accelerate the commercial cover MSEs and individual businesses and other use of fifth-generation mobile communication types of individuals, will be raised from RMB30,000 licenses and support television stations’ adoption to RMB100,000 of monthly sales. Thus, a lot of small of 4K high-definition programs. Infrastructure will businesses will be been exempted from paying VAT. be improved to overcome bottlenecks in highways, Provincial-level governments will also be allowed 5 Semi-Annual Report 2019 For the period ended 31 January 2019 to cut taxes up to 50% for small-scale VAT taxpayers level at the time of writing has fallen to 28%.