First State Investments will soft-close five of its emerging market funds next year to “protect the interests of existing investors”, noticeably the $623 million Firs State Greater China Growth.

The other concerned funds are First State Asia Pacific Sustainability, First State Indian Subcontinent, First State Global Emerging Markets Sustainability and First State Latin America.

This means that the funds' initial charges will be compulsory to dissuade clients from investing new money into them, but regular savers, who maintain the level of their contributions, will not be affected, the firm said.

“Over the past couple of years, inflows into our specialist Asia Pacific and Global Emerging Market (GEM) funds have grown rapidly, reflecting their exceptional long term investment performance,” Gary Withers, regional managing director for EMEA at First State, said in a statement. “We believe that we are nearing the point beyond which capacity issues could start affecting performance of these funds and, more specifically, restrict their ability to invest in smaller companies.”

The funds will be soft-closed at the start of the year but aa transitional period will take place until 5 April.