For Nomura Asset Management, the investment company formerly known as the Japan Fund was just the first step of its move in the U.S. fund market, and now the second step is here. On Wednesday the Japanese firm revealed the launch of the Nomura Partners Funds, which includes the Japan Fund alongside eight other offerings: the Asia Pacific ex Japan Fund, the India Fund, the Greater China Fund, the Global Equity Income Fund, the Global Emerging Markets Fund, the Global Alpha Equity Fund, the International 130/30 Equity Fund and the International Equity Fund.
Nomura has already awarded subadvisory mandates for three of the new funds. Anchorage, Alaska-based McKinley Capital Management will manage International 130/30 Equity and Edinburgh, Scotland-based Martin Currie will manage Global Alpha Equity and Global Emerging Markets.
Last year, Nomura replaced Fidelity as advisor to the then-$300 million fund (see MFWire, 6/2/2008).
Company Press Release
NEW YORK, Jan. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Nomura Asset Management, a leading Japan based investment manager, and the Board of Directors of Nomura Partners Funds, Inc., formerly known as The Japan Fund, Inc., the United States' oldest Japanese equity mutual fund, announced today the launch of Nomura Partners Funds, Inc. (the "Funds"), a family of mutual funds with an Asian and global focus. The Funds will give investors the ability to choose from a variety of Asian and global funds, providing them with "The World from Asia." Nomura Asset Management U.S.A. Inc. will be the investment advisor for the Funds and each Fund will be managed by a team of investment specialists with one overriding goal: competitive performance.
The nine mutual funds in the family include:
* The Japan Fund (NPJAX, NPJCX, NPJIX, SJPNX)
* Asia Pacific ex Japan Fund (NPAAX, NPACX, NPAIX)
* India Fund (NPIAX, NPICX, NPIIX)
* Greater China Fund (NPCAX, NPCCX, NPCIX)
* Global Equity Income Fund (NPWAX, NPWCX, NPWIX)
* Global Emerging Markets Fund (NPEAX, NPECX, NPEIX)
* Global Alpha Equity Fund (NPGAX, NPGCX, NPGIX)
* International 130/30 Equity Fund (NPLAX, NPLCX, NPLIX)
* International Equity Fund (NPQAX, NPQCX, NPQIX)
"Nomura Asset Management and the Board of Directors of Nomura Partners Funds, Inc. are very happy to bring their expertise to creating this unique family of funds. We believe Nomura Partners Funds will provide investors with additional investment choices in global regions that can provide significant opportunities for wealth creation," said Mr. Shigeru Shinohara, President and CEO, Nomura Asset Management U.S.A. Inc. "The launch of Nomura Partners Funds further strengthens Nomura Asset Management's expansion into the U.S. retail mutual fund market."
The investment objective of each Fund, with the exception of the Global Equity Income Fund, is to achieve long-term capital growth. The Global Equity Income Fund's investment objective is to achieve current income and long-term growth of capital through investments in relatively high dividendpaying stocks.
Two leading institutional managers, McKinley Capital Management, LLC ("McKinley Capital") of Anchorage, Alaska, and Martin Currie Inc. ("Martin Currie") of Edinburgh, Scotland, will manage three of the Funds. McKinley Capital, a global growth asset management specialist, will manage the International 130/30 Equity Fund while Martin Currie, a specialist international equity investment manager, will manage the Global Alpha Equity Fund and the Global Emerging Markets Fund.
Mr. William L. Givens, Chairman of the Board of Nomura Partners Funds, Inc. said, "This is a formidable strategic alliance that we believe will serve our investors well. Our main goal is to provide our investors with stable, long-term performance and superior client service. We are committed to providing the same standard of excellence and investor satisfaction that our shareholders have always received from The Japan Fund. We are confident that Nomura Asset Management has the same objective."
The Board of Directors and Nomura Asset Management first announced the alliance with The Japan Fund on June 2, 2008. On November 1, 2008, Nomura Asset Management U.S.A. Inc. became The Japan Fund's investment advisor. On December 1, 2008, The Japan Fund officially became a series within the broader Nomura Partners Funds.
To learn more about Nomura Partners Funds, please visit www.nomurapartnersfunds.com. Visitors to www.thejapanfund.com will be redirected to the new site and as before, will have internet access to their portfolio holdings as well as the ability to buy and sell shares.
Investing in the Funds involves risks including possible loss of principal. In addition to the normal risks associated with investing, international investments may involve risk of capital loss from unfavorable accounting principles or from economic or political instability or social conditions in other nations. These risks are magnified for securities of issuers in emerging markets. Other investment risks for the Funds may include geographical concentration, concentration (relatively small number of issuers), non-diversification, short-selling, investing in small cap companies. Newly organized Funds have no trading history, and there can be no assurance that active trading markets will develop or be maintained. For more information on the risks of each Fund, including a description of each risk, please carefully read the enclosed prospectus.
Before investing you should carefully consider the Fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. This and other information is in the prospectus, a copy of which may be obtained by visiting the Fund's website at www.nomurapartnersfunds.com. Please read the prospectus carefully before you invest. Foreside Fund Services, LLC, distributor
About Nomura Partners Funds, Inc.
Founded over 40 years ago, The Japan Fund is the United States' oldest Japanese equity fund. Now a series of Nomura Partners Funds, Inc., it is one of a nine fund series with a variety of Asian as well as international and global offerings. The Board of Directors is comprised of experienced and distinguished business leaders who bring extensive experience to the Funds' oversight and governance.
About Nomura
Nomura is a leading financial services group and the preeminent Asian-based investment bank with worldwide reach. Nomura provides a broad range of innovative solutions tailored to the specific requirements of individual, institutional, corporate and government clients through an international network in 30 countries. Based in Tokyo and with regional headquarters in Hong Kong, London, and New York, Nomura employs about 26,000 staff worldwide. Nomura's unique understanding of Asia enables the company to make a difference for clients through five business divisions: domestic retail, global markets, global investment banking, global merchant banking, and asset management. For further information about Nomura, please visit www.nomura.com.
About Nomura Asset Management
Nomura Asset Management U.S.A. Inc. ("NAM-USA") specializes in providing investment management services to institutional investors and collective investment vehicles. Its client base includes pension plans, governmental agencies and investment funds operating in North America and Japan. NAM-USA, a subsidiary of Nomura Asset Management Co., Ltd. ("NAM Tokyo"), has registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. NAM Tokyo and its investment advisory subsidiaries are collectively referred to as Nomura Asset Management.
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