William Blair Investment Management Expands Mutual Fund Lineup With Launch of New China Growth Fund

CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–William Blair Investment Management today announced the launch of a new China Growth mutual fund to provide investors with exposure to the country�s growth into an economic superpower with some of the most innovative and fastest-growing industries and companies in the world.

The fund is managed by Casey Preyss and Vivian Lin Thurston from William Blair Investment Management’s Global Equity Team. Under normal market circumstances, the fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets in securities issued by companies of the People’s Republic of China, including class A-shares of companies listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges, H-shares listed in Hong Kong, ADRs, GDRs, and dual-listed securities. The team will also integrate ESG factors in its analysis of potential holdings to better understand the risks and opportunities at the company level.

“Over the past several decades, the world has witnessed the transformation of China from a smokestack economy to a labtech economy. Urbanization, rising income, and growing number of millennials have been driving significant consumption in the Chinese middle class,” said Preyss, CFA, portfolio manager.

“China’s domestic market is largely inefficient, uncorrelated to other major market indices, and under-represented in many investors’ portfolios,” said Thurston, CFA, portfolio manager. “It provides very attractive and unique investment opportunities to capture China’s growth themes, and we believe that our quality growth investment style is well suited for Chinese equities as we seek to differentiate sustainable value creators from the average growth company.”

The launch of the new fund is the latest addition to the suite of William Blair investment strategies available to U.S. investors. As of June 30, 2021, William Blair Investment Management manages more than $73 billion of assets.

“The launch of this new fund further expands our strong emerging markets franchise and expands the range of investment strategies available to U.S. investors,” said Robert Duwa, CFA, partner, head of North America Distribution at William Blair Investment Management. “China has been an integral part of our Global Equity platform since the mid-1990s. Our global approach provides us with broader and deeper investment insights that allows us to better understand global developments and trends relevant for China and global supply chains.”

About William Blair

William Blair is the premier global boutique with expertise in investment banking, investment management, and private wealth management. We provide advisory services, strategies, and solutions to meet our clients’ evolving needs. As an independent and employee-owned firm, together with our strategic partners, we operate in more than 20 offices worldwide.*

William Blair Investment Management is a premier global investment management boutique, with a sole focus on active management across equity, fixed income, currency and multi-asset strategies. We are a U.N.-Supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) Signatory, Tier-1 U.K. Stewardship Signatory, Investor Stewardship Group Member (Framework for U.S. Stewardship and Governance), and Signatory to the Japan and Korea Stewardship Codes. We work closely with private and public pension funds, insurance companies, endowments, foundations, and sovereign wealth funds, as well as financial advisors. As of June 30, 2021, William Blair Investment Management manages more than $73 billion in assets. For more information on William Blair Funds, please visit www.williamblairfunds.com.

*Includes strategic partnerships with Allier Capital, BDA Partners, and Poalim Capital Markets

Disclosure:

This content is for informational and educational purposes only and not intended as investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Investment advice and recommendations can be provided only after careful consideration of an investor’s objectives, guidelines, and restrictions.

Equity securities may decline in value due to both real and perceived general market, economic, and industry conditions. Investing in Chinese securities involves a higher degree of risk and special considerations not typically associated with investing in other more established economies or securities markets. The Fund’s investment exposure to China may subject the Fund, to a greater extent than if investments were made in developed countries, to the risks of adverse securities markets, exchange rates and social, political, regulatory, economic, or environmental events and natural disasters that may occur in the China region. Investing in China A-Shares through the Shanghai – Hong Kong and Shenzhen – Hong Kong Stock Connect programs is subject to trading, clearance, settlement, and other procedures, which could pose risks to the Fund.

Please carefully consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses before investing. This and other information is contained in the Fund’s prospectus and summary prospectus, which you may obtain by calling 1-800-742-7272. Read the prospectus and summary prospectus carefully before investing. Investing includes the risk of loss.

The William Blair Funds are distributed by William Blair & Company, L.L.C., member FINRA/SIPC.

Contacts

Tony Zimmer

tzimmer@williamblair.com