Three-Year Milestones Reached for Schroders U.S. Small and MidCap Opportunities and Emerging Market Equity 5-Star** Funds
08 Avril 2009 - 2:00PM
PR Newswire (US)
- Experienced Management, Active Diversification, and Proprietary
Fundamental Research Contribute to Impressive Track Records NEW
YORK, April 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Schroder Investment Management North
America Inc. today announced three-year anniversary milestones for
both the Schroders U.S. Small and Mid ("SMID") Cap Opportunities
Fund (NASDAQ:SMDIX) and the Schroders Emerging Market Equity Fund
(NASDAQ:SEMNX). 29-year investment veteran, fund manager Jenny
Jones, leads the experienced investment team behind the US SMID Cap
Opportunities Fund. Jones' team employs a core investment style
using a bottom-up, fundamental, research-based approach to stock
evaluation. In commenting on the Fund's milestone, Ms. Jones said,
"In the midst of a volatile and unique time in our history we are
remaining true to our bottom-up, fundamentally driven process.
Given the significant market sell-off, the team is identifying many
compelling new investment opportunities." Lipper* rankings for SMID
as of 3/31/09 indicate the fund has performed in the top quartile
of its investment category for the past three years running and the
fund recently earned a five star rating from Morningstar**. Allan
Conway, who has over 29 years experience managing global equities,
leads Schroders Emerging Market Equity Fund. The fund places equal
importance on the top-down country allocation decision and bottom
up fundamental research. The experienced 32 person team combines
the talents and insights of portfolio managers centralized in
London with research analysts located in the various regions.
Discipline, consistency and risk management are hallmarks of the
strategy. Schroders Emerging Market Equity Fund, like SMID, has
performed strongly since inception, continuously ranking in the top
quartile of its fund category according to Lipper* and achieving a
five star rating from Morningstar**. Commenting on emerging markets
in general, Mr. Conway said, "We expect emerging economies to play
a large role in leading the global economic recovery going forward.
Though likely to experience volatility in the near term, emerging
economies have become less dependent on the developed world for
growth as domestic demand and trade between emerging markets has
increased. Lacking the domestic debt troubles of Western economies
we anticipate quicker recoveries and healthy returns in emerging
markets over the medium to long term." Mandate Wins Schroders also
announced that the firm was recently awarded $31 million from
Managers Funds to become a co-manager for their Emerging Markets
Fund. With this win, the firm is seeing increasing interest in
Schroders' global emerging market strategy and builds on a $100
million emerging market equity mandate recently awarded to
Schroders by Allianz Life. Both Schroders US SMID Cap Opportunities
and Schroders Emerging Market Equity Funds apply a disciplined
approach to investing centered around a strong team culture and are
based on proprietary fundamental research structured to identify
undervalued investment opportunities. Through various affiliated
advisors, Schroders manages approximately $1 billion in SMID cap
and $1.9 billion in small cap equities (also managed by Jones' team
but closed to new investors). In addition, the firm manages over
US$10 billion in emerging market equities globally as of year end
2008. "We are delighted both funds have reached this critical
milestone," said Carter Sims, Schroders' Head of Intermediary
Distribution. "Both funds have achieved enviable three-year track
records and offer attractive investment options for investors. US
SMID Cap Equity and Emerging Market Equity are key product
offerings for Schroders reflecting our commitment to providing
Intermediaries top line solutions for their clients." Notes to
Editors Schroder Investment Management North America Inc. Schroder
Investment Management North America Inc. is a unit of Schroders plc
(SDR.L), a global asset management company with approximately $158
billion under management as of December 30, 2008. Our clients
include major financial institutions such as banks and insurance
companies, as well as local and public authorities, public and
private pension funds, endowments and foundations, intermediaries
and advisors, and high net worth individuals and retail investors.
Our aim is to apply our dedicated asset management skills in
serving the needs of our clients worldwide and in delivering value
to our shareholders. With one of the largest networks of offices of
any dedicated asset management company and over 350 portfolio
managers and analysts covering the world's investment markets, we
offer our clients a comprehensive range of products and services.
Further information about Schroders can be found at
http://www.schroders.com/us Issued by Schroder Investment
Management North America Inc. Disclaimer Performance can go down as
well as up and is not guaranteed. The views and forecasts contained
herein are those of Schroder Investment Management North America
Inc. and are subject to change. The information and opinions
contained in this document have been obtained from sources we
consider to be reliable. No responsibility can be accepted for
errors of facts obtained from third parties. Reliance should not be
placed on the views and information in the document when taking
individual investment and/or strategic decisions. Schroder
Investment Management North America Inc. ("SIMNA, Inc.") is an
investment advisor registered with the U.S. SEC. It provides asset
management products and services to clients in the U.S. and Canada
including Schroder Capital Funds (Delaware), Schroder Series Trust
and Schroder Global Series Trust, investment companies registered
with the SEC (the "Schroder Funds"). Shares of the Schroder Funds
are distributed by Schroder Fund Advisors Inc., a member FINRA.
SIMNA, Inc. and Schroder Fund Advisors Inc. are indirect,
wholly-owned subsidiaries of Schroders plc, a UK public company
with shares listed on the London Stock Exchange. Schroder
Investment Management Ltd. is the UK based investment subsidiary of
Schroders plc. *Source: Schroders and Lipper, Inc. Rankings in the
Mid-Cap Core and Emerging Market categories are based upon average
annual total returns assuming the reinvestment of all distributions
at net asset value and the deduction of all fund expenses. Each
fund is ranked within a universe of funds similar in portfolio
characteristics and capitalizations, as defined by Lipper Inc. The
Schroder US Small and MidCap Opportunities Fund (Investor Shares)
was ranked 22/284 funds in the category or the 8th percentile of
the category as of March 31, 2009 for the three-year period. The
Emerging Market Equity Fund (Investor Shares) was ranked 18/216
funds in the category or the 9th percentile of the category as of
March 31, 2009 for the three-year period. ** Morningstar Rating:
For each fund with at least a 3-year history, Morningstar
calculates a Morningstar Rating(TM) based on a Morningstar
Risk-Adjusted return measure that accounts for variation in a
fund's monthly performance (including the effects of sales charges,
loads and redemption fees), placing more emphasis on downward
variations and rewarding consistent performance. The top 10% of
funds in each category receive five stars, the next 22.5% receive
four stars, the next 35% receive three stars, the next 22.5%
receive two stars and the bottom 10% receive one star. (Each share
class is counted as a fraction of one fund within this scale and
rated separately, which may cause slight variations in the
distribution percentages.) The Overall Morningstar Rating for a
fund is derived from a weighted average of the performance figures
associated with its three-, five- and ten-year (if applicable)
Morningstar Rating metrics. Morningstar Rating(TM) is for
individual share classes only. Other classes may have different
performance characteristics. Past performance is no guarantee of
future results. (C) 2008 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The
information contained herein: (1) is proprietary to Morningstar
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Neither Morningstar nor its content providers are responsible for
any damages or losses arising from any use of this information.
Morningstar, Inc. has not granted consent for it to be considered
or deemed an "expert" under the Securities Act of 1933. Disclosure
Performance shown represents past performance. Past performance is
no guarantee of future results and current performance may be
higher or lower than the performance shown. Principal value and
investment returns will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed,
may be worth more or less than their original cost. Risk All
investments, domestic and foreign, involve risks including the risk
of possible loss of principal. The market value of a fund's
portfolio may decline as a result of a number of factors, including
adverse economic and market conditions, prospects of stocks in the
portfolio, changing interest rates, and real or perceived adverse
competitive industry conditions. Investing overseas involves
special risks including among others, risks related to political or
economic instability, foreign currency (such as exchange,
valuation, and fluctuation) risk, market entry or exit
restrictions, illiquidity and taxation. Emerging markets pose
greater risks than investments in developed markets. Investments in
small and medium capitalization companies generally carry greater
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For a free prospectus, which contains this and other information on
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financial advisor or call (800) 730-2932. Read the prospectus
carefully before investing. DATASOURCE: Schroder Investment
Management North America Inc. CONTACT: Jennifer Manser, Schroders
(New York), +1-212-632-2947, ; or Jennifer Williams, FD,
+1-212-850-5775, Web Site: http://www.schroderfunds.com/
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