Fidelity Advisor Emerging Asia Fund Class C (FERCX) N-CSRCertified annual shareholder report (management investment company)

International equities returned -24.61% for the 12 months ending October 31, 2022, according to the MSCI ACWI (All Country World Index) ex USA Index. After gaining 7.98% in 2021, non-U.S. stocks retreated in the new year, as a multitude of risk factors challenged the global economy and financial markets. Persistently high inflation in some markets, exacerbated by energy price shocks from the Russia-Ukraine conflict, spurred the U.S. Federal Reserve and other central banks to aggressively tighten monetary policy, and market interest rates eclipsed their highest level in roughly a decade, stoking recession fears and sending stocks into bear market territory. Other factors influencing equities abroad included surging global commodity prices, rising sovereign bond yields in some markets, ongoing global supply-chain disruption, a broadly strong U.S. dollar and the potential for variants of the coronavirus to upend global economic growth. Against this backdrop, the index returned -24.20% year to date through October. For the full 12 months, emerging markets (-31%) and Europe ex U.K. (-25%) notably lagged. Conversely, Canada (-13%) and the U.K. (-12%) held up best. Among the 11 sectors, information technology and consumer discretionary (-37% each) fared worst. Communication services (-34%) also trailed the broader market. In contrast, energy gained 2% amid high prices for oil and natural gas. The defensive-oriented utilities (-16%) sector also outperformed, as did financials and consumer staples (-18% each).

For the fiscal year ending October 31, 2022, the fund's share classes (excluding sales charges, if applicable) returned about -32% to -31%, notably trailing the -24.61% result of the benchmark MSCI All Country World ex USA Index. By region, security selection in Europe ex U.K. - notably, France and Switzerland - the U.K. and Japan hurt the fund's relative result most this period. By sector, the largest detractors from performance versus the benchmark were an overweighting and picks in information technology, primarily within the semiconductors & semiconductor equipment industry. Investment choices and an underweighting in financials, along with smaller-than-benchmark exposure to energy stocks, hampered the portfolio's relative result as well. The fund's biggest individual relative detractor was an outsized stake in Kingspan Group, which returned -56% the past 12 months. Also weighing on performance was our overweighting in Recruit Holdings, which returned about -48%. An outsized stake in Evolution, which returned roughly -45% and was no longer held at period end, also hurt. In contrast, a large underweighting in emerging markets, especially China, and an overweighting in Europe ex U.K., specifically France, contributed most to the fund's relative return. By sector, the top contributors to performance versus the benchmark were an underweighting and stock picks in consumer discretionary. Smaller-than-benchmark exposure to communication services companies, primarily in the media & entertainment industry, helped as well. Further lifting the portfolio's relative performance was an overweighting in health care, particularly within the pharmaceuticals, biotechnology & life sciences industry. Lastly, the fund's position in cash was a notable contributor. Not owning Alibaba Group Holding, a benchmark component that returned about -63%, was the largest individual relative contributor the past 12 months. Our second-largest relative contributor was avoiding Tencent Holdings, a benchmark component that returned -56%. The portfolio's outsized stake in Wolters Kluwer (+3%) also proved beneficial. Notable changes in positioning include a higher allocation to the U.K. and Switzerland. By sector, meaningful shifts include greater exposure to health care and consumer discretionary firms.

For the period ended October 31, 2022

Funds may invest in Fidelity Central Funds, which are open-end investment companies generally available only to other investment companies and accounts managed by the investment adviser and its affiliates. The Schedule of Investments lists any Fidelity Central Funds held as an investment as of period end, but does not include the underlying holdings of each Fidelity Central Fund. An investing fund indirectly bears its proportionate share of the expenses of the underlying Fidelity Central Funds.

Based on its investment objective, each Fidelity Central Fund may invest or participate in various investment vehicles or strategies that are similar to those of the investing fund. These strategies are consistent with the investment objectives of the investing fund and may involve certain economic risks which may cause a decline in value of each of the Fidelity Central Funds and thus a decline in the value of the investing fund.

 

The Fund categorizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to value its investments into a disclosure hierarchy consisting of three levels as shown below:

Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, etc.)

Level 3 - unobservable inputs (including the Fund's own assumptions based on the best information available)

Valuation techniques used to value the Fund's investments by major category are as follows:

Equity securities, including restricted securities, for which market quotations are readily available, are valued at the last reported sale price or official closing price as reported by a third party pricing service on the primary market or exchange on which they are traded and are categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy. In the event there were no sales during the day or closing prices are not available, securities are valued at the last quoted bid price or may be valued using the last available price and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy. For foreign equity securities, when market or security specific events arise, comparisons to the valuation of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), futures contracts, Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) and certain indexes as well as quoted prices for similar securities may be used and would be categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy. For equity securities, including restricted securities, where observable inputs are limited, assumptions about market activity and risk are used and these securities may be categorized as Level 3 in the hierarchy.

Investments in open-end mutual funds, including the Fidelity Central Funds, are valued at their closing net asset value (NAV) each business day and are categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.

Changes in valuation techniques may result in transfers in or out of an assigned level within the disclosure hierarchy. The aggregate value of investments by input level as of October 31, 2022 is included at the end of the Fund's Schedule of Investments.

Foreign-denominated assets, including investment securities, and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates at period end. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income and dividends received, and expenses denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate in effect on the transaction date.

The effects of exchange rate fluctuations on investments are included with the net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment securities. Other foreign currency transactions resulting in realized and unrealized gain (loss) are disclosed separately.

Capital accounts within the financial statements are adjusted for permanent book-tax differences. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations. Capital accounts are not adjusted for temporary book-tax differences which will reverse in a subsequent period.

As of period end, the cost and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) in securities, and derivatives if applicable, for federal income tax purposes were as follows:

The tax-based components of distributable earnings as of period end were as follows:

Capital loss carryforwards are only available to offset future capital gains of the Fund to the extent provided by regulations and may be limited. The capital loss carryforward information presented below, including any applicable limitation, is estimated as of fiscal period end and is subject to adjustment.

The tax character of distributions paid was as follows:

Purchases and sales of securities, other than short-term securities and in-kind transactions, as applicable, are noted in the table below.

For the period, sales charge amounts retained by FDC were as follows:

 

For the period, transfer agent fees for each class were as follows:

 

Certain Funds participate with other funds managed by the investment adviser or an affiliate in a $4.25 billion credit facility (the "line of credit") to be utilized for temporary or emergency purposes to fund shareholder redemptions or for other short-term liquidity purposes. The participating funds have agreed to pay commitment fees on their pro-rata portion of the line of credit, which are reflected in Miscellaneous expenses on the Statement of Operations, and are listed below. During the period, there were no borrowings on this line of credit.

Funds lend portfolio securities from time to time in order to earn additional income. Lending agents are used, including National Financial Services (NFS), an affiliate of the investment adviser. Pursuant to a securities lending agreement, NFS will receive a fee, which is capped at 9.9% of a fund's daily lending revenue, for its services as lending agent. A fund may lend securities to certain qualified borrowers, including NFS. On the settlement date of the loan, a fund receives collateral (in the form of U.S. Treasury obligations, letters of credit and/or cash) against the loaned securities and maintains collateral in an amount not less than 100% of the market value of the loaned securities during the period of the loan. The market value of the loaned securities is determined at the close of business of a fund and any additional required collateral is delivered to a fund on the next business day. A fund or borrower may terminate the loan at any time, and if the borrower defaults on its obligation to return the securities loaned because of insolvency or other reasons, a fund may apply collateral received from the borrower against the obligation. A fund may experience delays and costs in recovering the securities loaned. Any cash collateral received is invested in the Fidelity Securities Lending Cash Central Fund. Any loaned securities are identified as such in the Schedule of Investments, and the value of loaned securities and cash collateral at period end, as applicable, are presented in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Security lending income represents the income earned on investing cash collateral, less rebates paid to borrowers and any lending agent fees associated with the loan, plus any premium payments received for lending certain types of securities. Security lending income is presented in the Statement of Operations as a component of income from Fidelity Central Funds. Affiliated security lending activity, if any, was as follows:

The Fund is permitted to have bank borrowings for temporary or emergency purposes to fund shareholder redemptions or for other short-term liquidity requirements. The Fund has established borrowing arrangements with certain banks. The interest rate on the borrowings is the bank's base rate, as revised from time to time. Any open loans, including accrued interest, at period end are presented under the caption "Notes payable" in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities, if applicable. Activity in this program during the period for which loans were outstanding was as follows:

Distributions to shareholders of each class were as follows:

Share transactions for each class were as follows and may contain in-kind transactions, automatic conversions between classes or exchanges between affiliated funds:

Many factors affect a fund's performance. Developments that disrupt global economies and financial markets, such as pandemics, epidemics, outbreaks of infectious diseases, war, terrorism, and environmental disasters, may significantly affect a fund's investment performance. The effects of these developments to a fund will be impacted by the types of securities in which a fund invests, the financial condition, industry, economic sector, and geographic location of an issuer, and a fund's level of investment in the securities of that issuer.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

Correspondence intended for a Trustee who is an interested person may be sent to Fidelity Investments, 245 Summer Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210.

* Determined to be an "Interested Trustee" by virtue of, among other things, his or her affiliation with the trust or various entities under common control with FMR.

+ The information includes the Trustee's principal occupation during the last five years and other information relating to the experience, attributes, and skills relevant to the Trustee's qualifications to serve as a Trustee, which led to the conclusion that the Trustee should serve as a Trustee for the fund.

Correspondence intended for an Independent Trustee may be sent to Fidelity Investments, P.O. Box 55235, Boston, Massachusetts 02205-5235.

+ The information includes the Trustee's principal occupation during the last five years and other information relating to the experience, attributes, and skills relevant to the Trustee's qualifications to serve as a Trustee, which led to the conclusion that the Trustee should serve as a Trustee for the fund.

Correspondence intended for a Member of the Advisory Board (if any) may be sent to Fidelity Investments, P.O. Box 55235, Boston, Massachusetts 02205-5235. Correspondence intended for an officer or Peter S. Lynch may be sent to Fidelity Investments, 245 Summer Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210. Officers appear below in alphabetical order.

As a shareholder, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, which may include sales charges (loads) on purchase payments or redemption proceeds, as applicable and (2) ongoing costs, which generally include management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees and other Fund expenses. This Example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in a fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

Each year, the Board of Trustees, including the Independent Trustees (together, the Board), votes on the renewal of the management contract with Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC (FMR) and the sub-advisory agreements (together, the Advisory Contracts) for the fund. FMR and the sub-advisers are referred to herein as the Investment Advisers. The Board, assisted by the advice of fund counsel and Independent Trustees' counsel, requests and considers a broad range of information relevant to the renewal of the Advisory Contracts throughout the year.

The Board meets regularly and, at each of its meetings, covers an extensive agenda of topics and materials and considers factors that are relevant to its annual consideration of the renewal of the fund's Advisory Contracts, including the services and support provided to the fund and its shareholders. The Board has established various standing committees (Committees), each composed of and chaired by Independent Trustees with varying backgrounds, to which the Board has assigned specific subject matter responsibilities in order to enhance effective decision-making by the Board. The Board, acting directly and through its Committees, requests and receives information concerning the annual consideration of the renewal of the fund's Advisory Contracts. The Board also meets as needed to review matters specifically related to the Board's annual consideration of the renewal of the Advisory Contracts. Members of the Board may also meet with trustees of other Fidelity funds through joint ad hoc committees to discuss certain matters relevant to all of the Fidelity funds.

At its May 2022 meeting, the Board unanimously determined to renew the fund's Advisory Contracts. In reaching its determination, the Board considered all factors it believed relevant, including (i) the nature, extent, and quality of the services provided to the fund and its shareholders (including the investment performance of the fund); (ii) the competitiveness relative to peer funds of the fund's management fee and the total expense ratio of a representative class (Class I); (iii) the total costs of the services provided by and the profits realized by Fidelity from its relationships with the fund; and (iv) the extent to which, if any, economies of scale exist and are realized as the fund grows, and whether any economies of scale are appropriately shared with fund shareholders.  

In considering whether to renew the Advisory Contracts for the fund, the Board reached a determination, with the assistance of fund counsel and Independent Trustees' counsel and through the exercise of its business judgment, that the renewal of the Advisory Contracts was in the best interests of the fund and its shareholders and that the compensation payable under the Advisory Contracts was fair and reasonable. The Board's decision to renew the Advisory Contracts was not based on any single factor, but rather was based on a comprehensive consideration of all the information provided to the Board at its meetings throughout the year. The Board, in reaching its determination to renew the Advisory Contracts, was aware that shareholders of the fund have a broad range of investment choices available to them, including a wide choice among funds offered by Fidelity's competitors, and that the fund's shareholders, who have the opportunity to review and weigh the disclosure provided by the fund in its prospectus and other public disclosures, have chosen to invest in this fund, which is part of the Fidelity family of funds.

 

The Board noted that the growth of fund assets over time across the complex allows Fidelity to reinvest in the development of services designed to enhance the value and convenience of the Fidelity funds as investment vehicles. These services include 24-hour access to account information and market information over the Internet and through telephone representatives, investor education materials, and asset allocation tools. The Board also considered that it reviews customer service metrics such as telephone response times, continuity of services on the website and metrics addressing services at Fidelity Investor Centers.

The Board took into account discussions that occur at Board meetings throughout the year with representatives of the Investment Advisers about fund investment performance. In this regard the Board noted that as part of regularly scheduled fund reviews and other reports to the Board on fund performance, the Board considers annualized return information for the fund for different time periods, measured against an appropriate securities market index (benchmark index) and an appropriate peer group of funds with similar objectives (peer group). The Board also reviews and considers information about performance attribution. In its evaluation of fund investment performance, the Board gave particular attention to information indicating changes in performance of certain Fidelity funds for specific time periods and discussed with the Investment Advisers the reasons for any overperformance or underperformance.  

In addition to reviewing absolute and relative fund performance, the Independent Trustees periodically consider the appropriateness of fund performance metrics in evaluating the results achieved. In general, the Independent Trustees believe that fund performance should be evaluated based on net performance (after fees and expenses) of the representative class, compared to appropriate benchmark indices, over appropriate time periods that may include full market cycles, and compared to peer groups, as applicable, over the same periods, taking into account relevant factors including the following: general market conditions; issuer-specific information; and fund cash flows and other factors.

The Independent Trustees recognize that shareholders evaluate performance on a net basis over their own holding periods, for which one-, three-, and five-year periods are often used as a proxy. For this reason, the performance information reviewed by the Board also included net cumulative total return information for the fund and an appropriate benchmark index and peer group for the most recent one-, three-, and five-year periods ended September 30, 2021, as shown below. Returns are shown compared to the 25th percentile (top of box, 75% beaten) and 75th percentile (bottom of box, 25% beaten) of the peer universe. Returns of the benchmark index are "net MA," i.e., adjusted for tax withholding rates applicable to U.S.-based funds organized as Massachusetts business trusts.

 

The Board also considered that the fund's management fee is subject to upward or downward adjustment depending upon whether, and to what extent, the fund's investment performance for the performance period (a rolling 36-month period) exceeds, or is exceeded by, a securities index, thus leading to a performance adjustment for the same period. The Board noted that the performance adjustment provides FMR with a strong economic incentive to seek to achieve superior long-term performance for the fund's shareholders and helps to more closely align the interests of FMR and the shareholders of the fund.

 

Based on its review, the Board concluded that the nature, extent, and quality of services provided to the fund under the Advisory Contracts should continue to benefit the shareholders of the fund.

 

The Board noted that the fund's management fee rate ranked below the median of its Total Mapped Group and below the median of its ASPG for the 12-month period ended September 30, 2021. The Board also noted the effect of the fund's performance adjustment, if any, on the fund's management fee ranking.   

The Board also considered that, for funds subject to the group fee, FMR agreed to voluntarily waive fees over a specified period of time in amounts designed to account for assets converted Based on its review, the Board concluded that the fund's management fee is fair and reasonable in light of the services that the fund receives and the other factors considered.

The Board noted that the total net expense ratio of Class I ranked above the similar sales load structure group competitive median and above the ASPG competitive median for the 12-month period ended September 30, 2021. The Board considered that, in general, various factors can affect total expense ratios. The Board noted that Class I ranked above the similar sales load structure group median due to the fund's positive performance adjustment. The Board considered that, when compared to a subset of the ASPG that FMR believes is most comparable, Class I would not be above the ASPG competitive median for 2021.The Board noted that the fund offers multiple classes, each of which has a different sales load and 12b-1 fee structure, and that the multiple structures are intended to offer a range of pricing options for the intermediary market. The Board also noted that the total expense ratios of the classes vary primarily by the level of their 12b-1 fees, although differences in transfer agent fees may also cause expenses to vary from class to class.

 

Based on its review of total expense ratios and fees charged to other Fidelity clients, the Board concluded that the total expense ratio of each class of the fund was reasonable in light of the services that the fund and its shareholders receive and the other factors considered.  

On an annual basis, Fidelity presents to the Board information about the profitability of its relationships with the fund. Fidelity calculates profitability information for each fund, as well as aggregate profitability information for groups of Fidelity funds and all Fidelity funds, using a series of detailed revenue and cost allocation methodologies which originate with the books and records of Fidelity on which Fidelity's audited financial statements are based. The Audit Committee of the Board reviews any significant changes from the prior year's methodologies and the full Board approves such changes.

A public accounting firm has been engaged annually by the Board as part of the Board's assessment of Fidelity's profitability analysis. The engagement includes the review and assessment of the methodologies used by Fidelity in determining the revenues and expenses attributable to Fidelity's mutual fund business, and completion of agreed-upon procedures in respect of the mathematical accuracy of certain fund profitability information and its conformity to established allocation methodologies. After considering the reports issued under the engagement and information provided by Fidelity, the Board concluded that while other allocation methods may also be reasonable, Fidelity's profitability methodologies are reasonable in all material respects.

 

The Board also reviewed Fidelity's non-fund businesses and potential indirect benefits such businesses may have received as a result of their association with Fidelity's mutual fund business (i.e., fall-out benefits) as well as cases where Fidelity's affiliates may benefit from the funds' business. The Board considered areas where potential indirect benefits to the Fidelity funds from their relationships with Fidelity may exist. The Board's consideration of these matters was informed by the findings of a joint ad hoc committee created by it and the boards of other Fidelity funds to evaluate potential fall-out benefits.  

The Board considered the costs of the services provided by and the profits realized by Fidelity in connection with the operation of the fund and was satisfied that the profitability was not excessive.

The Board recognized that the fund's management contract incorporates a "group fee" structure, which provides for lower group fee rates as total "group assets" increase, and for higher group fee rates as total "group assets" decrease ("group assets" as defined in the management contract). FMR calculates the group fee rates based on a tiered asset "breakpoint" schedule that varies based on asset class. The Board considered that the group fee is designed to deliver the benefits of economies of scale to fund shareholders when total Fidelity fund assets increase, even if assets of any particular fund are unchanged or have declined, because some portion of Fidelity's costs are attributable to services provided to all Fidelity funds, and all funds benefit if those costs can be allocated among more assets. The Board further considered that Fidelity agreed to impose a temporary fee waiver in the form of additional breakpoints to the current breakpoint schedule. The Board concluded that, given the group fee structure, fund shareholders will benefit from lower management fees as "group assets" increase at the fund complex level, regardless of whether Fidelity achieves any such economies of scale.

The Board concluded, taking into account the analysis of the Economies of Scale Committee, that economies of scale, if any, are being appropriately shared between fund shareholders and Fidelity.

Based on its evaluation of all of the conclusions noted above, and after considering all factors it believed relevant, the Board concluded that the advisory fee arrangements are fair and reasonable and that the fund's Advisory Contracts should be renewed.