LANCASTER, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Emerald Mutual Funds are returning to the investment advisory firm that founded the fund family in 1992 as plans are underway to grow the funds and re-connect them to the firm’s long-standing regional sales network and local investors. On March 19th the two mutual funds revert to the names Emerald Growth Fund and Emerald Banking & Finance Fund as the funds’ investment advisory contract transfers from the Forward Funds to Leola, PA-based Emerald Mutual Fund Advisers Trust. The Trust is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Emerald Advisers, Inc.
Founded by Emerald Advisers in 1992, the funds’ management transferred to California-based Forward Funds in 2005 while Emerald maintained its role as portfolio manager for the funds thru a subadvisory agreement with Forward. “Forward’s team has done an excellent job as stewards of the funds over the past several years,” said Emerald Advisers managing director Dan Moyer. “But Emerald has always enjoyed a unique relationship with investment professionals throughout the mid-Atlantic region and we missed the daily interaction with local investment professionals when the funds transitioned to California,” he said. “The Emerald Funds are known throughout our region as a ‘local’ fund family and we are proud that the Emerald Funds are back.”
Emerald’s chief investment officer Kenneth G. Mertz, CFA has served as a portfolio manager for the Emerald Growth Fund since October, 1992. “Our investment philosophy of investing in smaller, growth-oriented companies by hitting the road and meeting on-site with a firm’s managers and employees, and their competitors and suppliers, is a great complement to working hand-in-hand with local investment professionals in bringing the Emerald Funds to investors throughout the region,” Mr. Mertz said.
Founded in 1992, the Emerald Growth Fund favors smaller-sized companies with market capitalizations that are equal to or less than the largest company in the Russell 2000 Index and seeks companies with perceived leadership positions and competitive advantages in niche markets. The Fund is co-managed by Mr. Mertz, Stacey Sears and Joseph Garner.
Founded in 1997, the Emerald Banking & Finance Fund invests primarily in the stocks of community banks, insurance companies and other institutions related to the financial services industry. The Fund is co-managed by Mr. Mertz and Steven Russell, Esq.
Founded in 1991 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Emerald Advisers, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Emerald Asset Management, Inc. Emerald moved to a larger headquarters in Leola, Pennsylvania in November, 2011 as part of its ongoing growth-oriented product development and acquisition strategy. Emerald also maintains offices in King of Prussia and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Founded in 1991, Emerald Asset Management, Inc. is a diversified investment management company that operates thru its wholly-owned subsidiaries Emerald Advisers, Inc. and Emerald Mutual Fund Advisers Trust. Emerald Advisers and PMG jointly own Emerald Fixed Income Advisers, LLC. Assets managed by these companies totaled approximately $2 billion as of December 31, 2011. “Driven by Research,” Emerald employs an intense fundamental, research-focused investment philosophy and focuses primarily on growth-oriented equity investing and high-quality disciplined fixed-income investing.
Emerald Asset Management, Inc.
Emerald Advisers, Inc.
Emerald
Mutual Fund Advisers Trust
3175 Oregon Pike
Leola, PA 17540
717.556.8900
800.722.4123
www.TeamEmerald.com
An investor should consider investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. Call (855) 828-9909 to obtain an Emerald Growth Fund Prospectus and an Emerald Banking & Finance Fund Prospectus which contains this and other information. Read the Growth Fund Prospectus and the Banking & Finance Fund Prospectus carefully before investing.