The Central and Eastern Europe Fund, Inc. Provides Updated Portfolio Holdings

Rhea-AI Summary

The Central and Eastern Europe Fund, Inc. (NYSE: CEE) has updated its portfolio holdings as of March 2, 2022, due to significant market changes following the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the sanctions imposed on Russia by the U.S., EU, and other nations. Notably, MSCI Inc. will exclude Russian securities from its Emerging Markets Indexes starting March 9, 2022, making the Russian equity market effectively uninvestable. As a result, the Fund's Russian securities may be subject to fair valuation, potentially dropping to zero.

Positive

• None.

Negative

• Exposure to Russian securities may result in fair valuations dropping potentially to zero.
• Removal of Russian securities from MSCI indexes renders them uninvestable, severely affecting portfolio value.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Central and Eastern Europe Fund, Inc. (NYSE: CEE) (the “Fund”) announced today that it has provided its portfolio holdings as of March 2, 2022 at www.dwsfunds.com in light of material changes made to its portfolio due to, among other things, recent and current events in Russia and Ukraine; the imposition of sanctions on Russia and certain Russian companies by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and other countries; and actions taken by the Russian Central Bank that have had the effect of freezing investments in Russian securities by foreign investors, making them illiquid and difficult to value. Securities for which market quotations/evaluated prices are not readily available, such as certain of the Fund’s Russian securities, are valued at their “fair value” as determined in accordance with the Fund’s valuation procedures. Such “fair value” is the amount that the Fund might reasonably expect to receive for the security upon its current sale. Each such determination is based on a consideration of relevant factors, which are likely to vary from one pricing context to another. Under the Fund’s valuation procedures, the Fund may consider as a factor whether there is a proxy for the market that can be used to accurately estimate the impact of a significant valuation event (for example, one or more exchange traded funds may serve as a proxy for the market represented by such exchange traded fund or funds). Whether or not a Russian security held in the Fund’s portfolio requires fair valuation may be subject to change. Moreover, any fair valuations assigned to the Fund’s Russian securities are also subject to change and may be reduced to potentially as little as zero.

The Fund also noted that MSCI Inc. announced yesterday that effective March 9, 2022, it is removing Russian securities from the MSCI Emerging Markets Indexes (including the Fund’s current benchmark, the MSCI Emerging Markets Eastern Europe Index) after deeming the Russian equity market “uninvestable.”

For more information on the Fund, visit www.dwsfunds.com or call (800) 349-4281.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Investing in foreign securities, particularly those of emerging markets, presents certain risks, such as currency fluctuations, political and economic changes, and market risks. Any fund that concentrates in a particular segment of the market will generally be more volatile than a fund that invests more broadly.

The Central and Eastern Europe Fund, Inc. is non-diversified and can take larger positions in fewer issues, increasing its potential risk, and also concentrates its investments in the energy sector. Investing in foreign securities presents certain risks, such as currency fluctuations, political and economic changes, and market risks. Emerging markets tend to be more volatile and less liquid than the markets of more mature economies, and generally have less diverse and less mature economic structures and less stable political systems than those of developed countries. Any fund that focuses in a particular segment of the market or region of the world will generally be more volatile than a fund that invests more broadly.

The shares of most closed-end funds, including the Fund, are not continuously offered. Once issued, shares of closed-end funds are bought and sold in the open market through a stock exchange. Shares of closed-end funds frequently trade at a discount to net asset value. The price of a fund’s shares is determined by a number of factors, several of which are beyond the control of the fund. Therefore, a fund cannot predict whether its shares will trade at, below, or above net asset value.

Investments in funds involve risk. Additional risks of the Fund are associated with international investing, such as currency fluctuations, political and economic changes, market risks, government regulations and differences in liquidity, which may increase the volatility of your investment. Foreign security markets generally exhibit greater price volatility and are less liquid than the US market. Additionally, the Fund focuses its investments in certain geographical regions, thereby increasing its vulnerability to developments in that region and potentially subjecting the Fund’s shares to greater price volatility. Some funds have more risk than others. These include funds, such as the Fund, that allow exposure to or otherwise concentrate investments in certain sectors, geographic regions, security types, market capitalization, or foreign securities (e.g., political, or economic instability, which can be accentuated in emerging market countries).

War (including Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine), terrorism, economic uncertainty, trade disputes, public health crises (including the recent pandemic spread of the novel coronavirus) and related geopolitical events could lead to increased market volatility, disruption to US and world economies and markets and may have significant adverse effects on the Fund and its investments, including making investments illiquid and/or difficult to value.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the laws of such state or jurisdiction.

Certain statements contained in this release may be forward-looking in nature. These include all statements relating to plans, expectations, and other statements that are not historical facts and typically use words like “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “intend,” and similar expressions. Such statements represent management’s current beliefs, based upon information available at the time the statements are made, with regard to the matters addressed. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, such statements. Management does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements: (i) the effects of adverse changes in market and economic conditions; (ii) legal and regulatory developments; and (iii) other additional risks and uncertainties, including public health crises (including the recent pandemic spread of the novel coronavirus), war, terrorism, trade disputes and related geopolitical events.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

NOT FDIC/ NCUA INSURED • MAY LOSE VALUE • NO BANK GUARANTEE
NOT A DEPOSIT • NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY

DWS Distributors, Inc.
222 South Riverside Plaza Chicago, IL 60606-5808
www.dws.com
Tel (800) 621-1148
© 2022 DWS Group GmbH & Co. KGaA. All rights reserved

The brand DWS represents DWS Group GmbH & Co. KGaA and any of its subsidiaries such as DWS Distributors, Inc. which offers investment products or DWS Investment Management Americas, Inc. and RREEF America L.L.C. which offer advisory services. (R-088516) (03-2022)

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220304005314/en/

For additional information:

DWS Press Office (212) 454-4500

Shareholder Account Information (800) 294-4366

DWS Closed-End Funds (800) 349-4281

Source: DWS

FAQ

What recent changes has the Central and Eastern Europe Fund (CEE) made to its portfolio?

The Central and Eastern Europe Fund updated its portfolio due to significant events in Russia and Ukraine, resulting in potential fair valuation drops for its Russian securities.

When will Russian securities be removed from the MSCI indexes affecting CEE?

MSCI will remove Russian securities from its Emerging Markets Indexes effective March 9, 2022.

What implications do the sanctions on Russia have for CEE's investments?

The sanctions have resulted in illiquidity and challenges in valuing Russian securities within the Fund's portfolio.

How might fair valuation affect CEE's Russian securities?

Fair valuations of Russian securities may significantly decline, potentially reaching zero.

What should investors consider regarding CEE's exposure to Russian securities?

Investors should be aware that exposure to Russian securities involves substantial risks due to market instability and sanctions.