RADNOR, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hartford Funds announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Lattice Strategies, an investment management firm and provider of strategic beta exchange-traded funds (ETF). This acquisition marks Hartford Funds’ expansion into the ETF space, adding robust investment management and product development capabilities to its existing portfolio of actively managed mutual funds.
“We are excited to acquire Lattice Strategies’ distinctive ETF offering and investment capabilities, which we foresee being increasingly demanded by financial professionals and their clients,” said Jim Davey, president of Hartford Funds. “The strategic beta space is a natural extension of Hartford Funds’ actively managed platform, enabling us to enter a fast-growing category that will serve as a foundation for growth in the future.”
The acquisition, which is expected to close in the third quarter of 2016, pending customary closing conditions, builds on Hartford Funds’ active management platform and creates nimble in-house investment and product development capabilities for future ETF strategies. Lattice Strategies’ strategic beta ETFs seek growth through multi-factor security selection and the deliberate allocation of risk. Its current ETF lineup includes:
- Lattice Developed Markets (ex-US) Strategy ETF (RODM),
- Lattice US Equity Strategy ETF (ROUS),
- Lattice Global Small Cap Strategy ETF (ROGS),
- Lattice Emerging Markets Strategy ETF (ROAM),
In addition to these strategies, Lattice Strategies provides a range of multi-asset solutions, including liquid endowments, alternatives, equity, and income strategies. Upon completion of the acquisition, Hartford Funds will maintain Lattice Strategies’ office in San Francisco and welcome Lattice’s team of more than 20 professionals.
“We look forward to joining the Hartford Funds team,” said Ted Lucas, managing partner and chairman of the investment committee for Lattice Strategies. “Our firms bring complementary strengths that will provide advisors and their clients with the strategies they need to address the investment challenges they are attempting to solve.”
The acquisition will not have a material impact on The Hartford’s financial results.
For more information about Hartford Funds, please visit www.hartfordfunds.com.
About Lattice Strategies
Lattice Strategies is a San Francisco-based investment management firm that employs risk-first thinking as the cornerstone of its investment approach. Lattice believes that the disciplined and intentional allocation of risks is the most influential contributor to growth. The firm’s suite of products includes multi-asset solutions, proprietary indexes, and a family of ETFs. The firm’s ETF family was launched in 2015, and was among the top 5 fastest-growing new ETF issuers for the year according to ETFGI.com. Lattice Strategies has $215 million in assets under management as of March 31, 2016. For more information on Lattice Strategies, visit www.latticestrategies.com.
About Hartford Funds
Founded in 1996, Hartford Funds is a leading provider of mutual funds 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 MIT AgeLab and leading practice management experts, Hartford Funds delivers insight into the latest demographic trends and investor behavior. Hartford Funds offers a diverse line-up of more than 45 mutual funds, primarily sub-advised by Wellington Management, designed to address the challenges investors face and includes equity, fixed-income, multi-strategy, and alternative investments. The Company has mutual fund assets under management of $73.6 billion as of March 31, 2016 (excluding assets used in certain annuity products). For more information about the fund family, visit www.hartfordfunds.com. Hartford Funds are underwritten and distributed by Hartford Funds Distributors, LLC.
An investor should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of an ETF or a mutual fund carefully before investing. A prospectus with this and other information about an ETF may be obtained by visiting www.latticestrategies.com or by calling 415-315-6600. A prospectus with this and other information about a mutual fund can be obtained by visiting www.hartfordfunds.com or by calling 888-843-7824 (retail) or 800-279-1541 (institutional). Investors should read the prospectus carefully before investing.
There are risks associated with investing, including the possible loss of principal. Foreign investing involves special risks, such as risk of loss from currency fluctuation or political or economic uncertainty. Lattice Strategies ETFs are new and have a limited operating history.
Lattice Strategies ETFs are distributed by ALPS Distributors, Inc. Separately managed accounts and related investment advisory services are provided by Lattice Strategies, LLC, a federally registered investment advisor. ALPS Distributors, Inc. is not affiliated with Lattice Strategies, LLC or Hartford Funds Distributors, LLC.
“The Hartford” is The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. and its subsidiaries. Hartford Funds Distributors, LLC is a subsidiary of The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc.
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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 2015 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
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