23 February 2016
Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Artisan Partners announced today that it will cease managing assets in the Artisan U.S. Small-Cap Value Strategy, which is managed by the Artisan Partners U.S. Value Team. In connection with that decision, the Board of Directors of Artisan Partners Funds, Inc. has approved a plan to reorganize Artisan Small Cap Value Fund into Artisan Mid Cap Value Fund. The reorganization is expected to close on or about May 23, 2016.
As of January 31, 2016, Artisan Partners managed $806 million in the U.S. Small-Cap Value strategy, of which $368 million was managed in Artisan Small Cap Value Fund. The remaining assets are managed in separate accounts. The firm will work with its separate account clients on transition or liquidation options available.
The decision to cease managing assets in the U.S. Small-Cap Value strategy was based on a comprehensive review of a number of factors and the determination that the strategy is no longer commercially viable. The Artisan Partners U.S. Value Team will continue to manage the Artisan U.S. Mid-Cap Value and Artisan Value Equity strategies, which had $7.1 billion and $1.5 billion of assets under management, respectively, at January 31, 2016.
