To provide investors with access to high quality US small- and mid-cap equities, Vontobel Asset Management launches the Vontobel Fund II – KAR US Small-Mid Cap in partnership with Kayne Anderson Rudnick (KAR), an affiliated manager of Virtus Investment Partners.
This partnership builds on Vontobel’s 15-year relationship with Virtus, the US distributor for the SEC-registered mutual funds subadvised by Vontobel’s Quality Growth Boutique. KAR’s high conviction, bottom-up focus on quality complements Vontobel’s existing USD5 billion large-cap US equity offering by extending the market capitalization ranges of the firm’s US equity capabilities.
Following a disciplined investment process, the fund aims to generate attractive risk-adjusted long-term returns by investing in the stocks of US small- and mid-cap companies with durable competitive advantages, excellent management, and lower financial risk. With nearly 3,500 companies, the US small-mid cap universe provides access to a broader opportunity set of high quality companies with established businesses and leading market share.
“Especially in today’s environment, a commitment to high quality investing, alongside sound risk management, is critical to long-term outperformance,” says Andrew Raisman, Global Head of Equity Products at Vontobel Asset Management. “We are delighted to deepen our relationship with Virtus and introduce our clients to KAR, a seasoned investment manager with a 30-plus year history and expertise in the US small-mid cap asset class.”
