These new strategies allow investors to further diversify their allocation to international equities
Hartford Funds announced the launch of two actively managed mutual funds with primary exposure to international equities: Hartford Schroders Sustainable International Core Fund (HSISX) and Hartford Schroders International Contrarian Value Fund (HFSIX). Both Funds will be sub-advised by Schroder Investment Management North America Inc. and Schroder Investment Management North America, Ltd. will serve as sub-sub-adviser (collectively referred to as “Schroders”).
“These mutual funds offer distinct ways to gain exposure to international equity markets, which we believe have strong potential to generate returns over the long term,” said Vernon Meyer, Chief Investment Officer at Hartford Funds. “Once again, we are pleased to leverage the global and sustainable investing expertise of Schroders, one of our long-trusted sub-advisers with a demonstrated history of excellence in this asset class.”
Hartford Schroders Sustainable International Core Fund [HSISX]
HSISX showcases best ideas from experienced and established investment teams at Schroders that collectively have deep, regional expertise and manage in aggregate more than $85 billion in assets under management. The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation by investing primarily in international and emerging-markets equities that meet Schroders’ sustainability criteria. To achieve this objective, the investment team aims to construct a diversified portfolio where stock selection is the primary driver of alpha, seeking mispriced opportunities across a multitude of industries and regions. At the same time, the investment team strives to build a portfolio that has a positive impact on society by investing in companies that they believe have best-in-class stakeholder behaviors. Schroders’ proprietary sustainability criteria, which includes a framework that incorporates environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) measures, helps the investment team determine a company’s societal impact.
The actively managed Fund’s performance benchmark will be the MSCI All Country World (ACWI) ex USA Index. Nicholette MacDonald-Brown of Schroders serves as the Fund’s portfolio manager, and is supported by regional portfolio managers Scott MacLennan, Manish Bhatia, and Kazuhiro Toyoda, who are based in London, Hong Kong, and Tokyo, respectively.
Hartford Schroders International Contrarian Value Fund [HFSIX]
HFSIX utilizes a pure contrarian deep-value style, resulting in a portfolio that is unconstrained and concentrated with high Active Share. In managing the Fund, the investment team seeks to own stocks that are significantly undervalued relative to their long-term earnings potential. They focus on identifying out-of-favor stocks which have low valuations but are considered to have resilient earnings and/or misunderstood balance sheets. The investment team integrates financially material ESG characteristics such as climate change, environmental performance, labor standards, and corporate governance into their investment process.
The actively managed Fund’s performance benchmark will be the MSCI EAFE Value Index. The Fund’s investment management team consists of Portfolio Managers Nick Kirrage, Simon Alder, and Liam Nunn, who are part of the Schroders Global Value Team.
For more information about these Funds, please visit hartfordfunds.com.
About Hartford Funds
Founded in 1996, Hartford Funds is a leading asset manager, which provides mutual funds, ETFs, and 529 college savings plans. Using its human-centric investing approach, Hartford Funds creates strategies and tools designed to address the needs and wants of investors. Leveraging partnerships with leading experts, Hartford Funds delivers insight into the latest demographic trends and investor behavior.
The firm’s product line-up includes more than 50 mutual funds and ETFs in a variety of styles and asset classes. Its mutual funds (with the exception of certain fund of funds) are sub-advised by Wellington Management or Schroder Investment Management North America Inc. The strategic beta ETFs offered by Hartford Funds are designed to help address investors’ evolving needs by leveraging a unique risk-optimized approach, which identifies risks within each asset class and then deliberately and systematically re-allocates capital toward risks more likely to enhance return potential. Excluding affiliated funds of funds, as of March 31, 2022, Hartford Funds’ investment advisory business had approximately $148.0 billion in discretionary and non-discretionary assets under management. For more information about our investment family, visit http://www.hartfordfunds.com.
About Schroders
As a global active asset manager, the way we direct capital not only shapes the financial returns we achieve for our clients but also the impact that the companies in which we invest on their behalf might have on society. The relationship between these two outcomes has rapidly evolved as we see a fundamental shift in how companies are viewed and valued. Understanding the impact that they can have on society and the planet is crucial in assessing their ability to deliver risk-adjusted profits.
Our ongoing success is built on a history of experience and expertise, whereby we partner with our clients to construct innovative products and solutions across our five business areas consisting of Private Assets & Alternatives, Solutions, Mutual Funds, Institutional and Wealth Management and invest in a wide range of assets and geographies. By combining our commitment to active management and focus on sustainability, our strategic capabilities are designed to deliver positive outcomes for our clients.
We are responsible for $990.9 billion (£731.6 billion; €871.3 billion) as of December 31, 2021 assets of our clients, managed locally by 42 investment teams worldwide. As a global business with over 5,500 talented staff across 35 locations, we are able to stay close to our clients and understand their needs. We have over 200 years of experience in investment and innovation.
HIG-W
Some of the statements in this release may be considered forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We caution investors that these forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may differ materially. Investors should consider the important risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ. These important risks and uncertainties include those discussed in The Hartford’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, our 2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the other filings The Hartford makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We assume no obligation to update this release, which speaks as of the date issued.
From time to time, The Hartford may use its website to disseminate material company information. Financial and other important information regarding The Hartford is routinely accessible through and posted on our website at http://ir.thehartford.com. In addition, you may automatically receive email alerts and other information about The Hartford when you enroll your email address by visiting the "Email Alerts" section at http://ir.thehartford.com.
Hartford Schroders Sustainable International Core Fund
Important Risks: The Fund is new and has a limited operating history. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Security prices fluctuate in value depending on general market and economic conditions and the prospects of individual companies. • Foreign investments may be more volatile and less liquid than U.S. investments and are subject to the risk of currency fluctuations and adverse political, economic and regulatory developments. These risks may be greater, and include additional risks, for investments in emerging markets or if the Fund focuses in a particular geographic region or country. • Mid-cap securities can have greater risks and volatility than large-cap securities. • Applying sustainability criteria to the investment process may result in foregoing certain investments and underperformance comparative to funds that do not have a similar focus. There is a risk that the securities identified by the sub-adviser as meeting its sustainable investing criteria do not operate as anticipated. • To the extent the Fund focuses on one or more sectors, the Fund may be subject to increased volatility and risk of loss if adverse developments occur. • Derivatives are generally more volatile and sensitive to changes in market or economic conditions than other securities; their risks include currency, leverage, liquidity, index, pricing, regulatory and counterparty risk.
Hartford Schroders International Contrarian Value Fund
Important Risks: The Fund is new and has a limited operating history. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Security prices fluctuate in value depending on general market and economic conditions and the prospects of individual companies. • Foreign investments may be more volatile and less liquid than U.S. investments and are subject to the risk of currency fluctuations and adverse political, economic and regulatory developments. These risks may be greater, and include additional risks, for investments in emerging markets or if the Fund focuses in a particular geographic region or country. • Mid-cap securities can have greater risks and volatility than large-cap securities. • Integration of environmental, social, and/or governance (ESG) characteristics into the investment process may not work as intended. • Different investment styles may go in and out of favor, which may cause the Fund to underperform the broader stock market. • To the extent the Fund focuses on one or more sectors, the Fund may be subject to increased volatility and risk of loss if adverse developments occur. The Fund may also hold a limited number of securities.
Diversification does not ensure a profit or protect against a loss in declining market.
Investors should carefully consider a fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. This and other important information is contained in the fund’s prospectus and summary prospectus, which can be obtained by visiting hartfordfunds.com. Please read it carefully before investing.
Mutual funds are distributed by Hartford Funds Distributors, LLC (HFD), Member FINRA. ETFs are distributed by ALPS Distributors, Inc. (ALPS). Advisory services may be provided by Hartford Funds Management Company, LLC (HFMC) or its wholly owned subsidiary, Lattice Strategies LLC (Lattice). Certain funds are sub-advised by Wellington Management Company LLP and/or Schroder Investment Management North America Inc (SIMNA). Schroder Investment Management North America Ltd. (SIMNA Ltd) serves as a secondary sub-adviser to certain funds. HFMC, Lattice, Wellington Management, SIMNA, and SIMNA Ltd. are all SEC registered investment advisers. Hartford Funds refers to HFD, HFMC, and Lattice, which are not affiliated with any sub-adviser or ALPS.
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