DALLAS, Jan. 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. (NYSE:WHG) today announced the Westwood Dividend Growth Fund (WHGDX) has transitioned [effective December 30, 2016] to the Westwood Low Volatility Equity Fund and will trade under the ticker WLVIX. The new mandate will incorporate a fundamental bottom-up approach to low-volatility investing, primarily in equities and convertible securities, with a goal of providing investors participation in up-markets with loss limitation in down-markets and an attractive current yield.
The fund transition comes in response to growing demand from investors looking for equity exposure without the severity of fluctuations that equity markets can experience. “We are very excited to offer this fund, which is rooted in our firm’s 30-year-old philosophy that seeks to protect client capital and exhibits Westwood’s continued focus on developing our suite of low-volatility, outcome-oriented solutions,” said Matt Lockridge, Senior Portfolio Manager and member of Westwood’s U.S. Value Team. “Through fundamental bottom-up security selection, across two distinct asset classes, the fund offers a differentiated way of investing in a space dominated by quantitative-based funds.”
The Fund
The Fund aims to provide investors total return, through a combination of current income and capital appreciation, with a lower level of volatility than traditional equity-oriented strategies over a market cycle. The new mandate will leverage the fundamental research capabilities across Westwood’s equity and convertible securities platforms. “A strategic allocation to convertibles can provide an income boost to the portfolio and provide additional downside protection through the structural asymmetric return profile offered by the asset class,” said David Clott, Senior Portfolio Manager and member of Westwood’s Global Convertible Securities Team. “Additionally, the use of convertibles allows us to balance the sector bias that is inherent in many low-volatility products that invest only in common stock.”
The Fund will be managed by portfolio managers representing Westwood’s equity and convertible securities capabilities, with an average of 19 years of industry experience. The Fund will offer a lower fee structure by reducing its management fee to 70 basis points (bps), with total fund expenses capped at 75 bps.
About Westwood Holdings Group, Inc.
Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. provides investment management services to institutional investors, private wealth clients and financial intermediaries. With $21.3 billion in assets under management (as of September 30, 2016), the firm offers a range of investment strategies including U.S. equities, Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs), Multi-Asset, Global and Emerging Markets equities, and Global Convertible securities portfolios. Access to these strategies is available through separate accounts, the Westwood Funds family of mutual funds, UCITS funds and other pooled vehicles. Westwood benefits from significant, broad-based employee ownership and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “WHG.” Based in Dallas, Westwood also maintains offices in Toronto, Boston, Omaha and Houston.
For more information about Westwood, please visit our website at www.westwoodgroup.com.
For more information on Westwood Funds, please visit us as www.westwoodfunds.com.
It is currently expected that the Adviser will contractually agree to reduce fees and reimburse expenses in order to keep total annual Fund operating expenses (excluding interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses) from exceeding 0.75% of the Fund’s average daily net assets from the Effective Date through February 28, 2018.
To determine if a Fund is an appropriate investment for you, carefully consider the Fund's investment objectives, risk factors, charges, and expenses before investing. This and other information can be found in the Fund's prospectus, which may be obtained by calling 1.877.FUND.WHG, or by visiting our website at www.westwoodfunds.com. Read the prospectus carefully before investing or sending money.
The Westwood Funds are distributed by SEI Investments Distribution Co., 1 Freedom Valley Dr., Oaks, PA 19456 which is not affiliated with the Adviser.
There can be no assurance that a Fund will achieve its stated objectives.
Mutual fund investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal.