Stewart Investors launches first U.S. mutual fund, with investment from U.S. foundation

NEW YORK, June 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Stewart Investors, an active, long-only global equity specialist, today launched the Stewart Investors Worldwide Leaders fund (SWWLX) with an initial investment from a U.S. foundation. SWWLX is the first registered 40 Act mutual fund introduced to U.S. investors by Edinburgh-based Stewart Investors, which manages US$16.5 billion in assets for clients globally.

The Stewart Investors Worldwide Leaders Fund seeks to achieve long-term capital growth by investing in quality companies that are well positioned to contribute to, and benefit from, sustainable development. SWWLX is actively managed, benchmark agnostic and concentrated, and will typically hold 30 to 60 companies with free float market capitalizations of at least $5 billion. The fund invests in equity securities in both developed and emerging markets.

The U.S. fund is similar to the Worldwide Leaders strategy available to non-U.S. investors since November 2013. Managers Sashi Reddy joined the firm's investment team in 2007, while David Gait joined in 1997.

Sashi Reddy said: "Quality businesses shine when the top-down macro environment becomes more challenging, as is the case today. Companies with strong cultures and sound franchises manage uncertainty, volatility and complexity better than most, and we continue to find these businesses, buy them at reasonable prices, and remain patient investors."

David Gait added: "We look forward to extending our expertise to U.S. mutual fund investors seeking access to high-quality, high-conviction global equity options. As bottom-up investors, our goal is to protect the capital our clients entrust to us and generate long-term investment returns."

Offered as a single share class, the Stewart Investors Worldwide Leaders Fund has a management fee of 0.45%. The net expense ratio will be capped at 0.60% through Dec. 4, 2026. The gross expense ratio is 6.05%, of which 5.45% will be waived and reimbursed through Dec. 6, 2026. The minimum investment is $1 million. Stewart Investors hopes to offer more share classes for retail investors in the short term, with lower minimum investment requirements.

Northern Trust is custodian, transfer agent, fund accountant and fund administrator for the Stewart Investors Worldwide Leaders Fund.

About Stewart Investors

Stewart Investors, with US$16.5 billion in assets under management as of March 31, 2025, is a long-only active global equity specialist. It manages a range of worldwide, emerging markets and regional strategies on behalf of institutional and individual clients globally. 

Based in Edinburgh, the firm also has offices in Frankfurt, Hong Kong, London, New York, Singapore and Sydney. For more information, visit: www.stewartinvestors.com.

Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Diversification does not assure a profit nor protect against loss in a declining market. Fund holdings and allocations are subject to change at any time.

SWWLX is distributed by Quasar Distributors, LLC.

Media inquiries

Stephen Sobey
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Important Information

This press release is intended for information only, aimed solely at the media and should not be further distributed to individual and/or corporate investors, and financial advisers and/or distributors.

The fund's objectives, risks, charges and expenses must be considered carefully before investing. The Statutory and Summary prospectuses contain this and other important information about the investment company, and it may be obtained by calling 1-888-898-5040 or visiting www.firstsentierfunds.com. Please read carefully before investing. 

Mutual fund investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible. The Fund's sustainability policy could cause it to perform differently compared to similar funds that do not have such a policy. The application of the Adviser's sustainability standard may affect the Fund's exposure to certain issuers, industries, sectors, and factors that impact the relative financial performance of the Fund—positively or negatively—depending on whether such investments are in or out of favor.

Investments in foreign securities may involve risks such as social and political instability, market illiquidity, exchange-rate fluctuations, a high level of volatility and limited regulation. Investing in emerging markets involves different and greater risks, as these countries are substantially smaller, less liquid, and more volatile than securities markets in more developed markets. The portfolio manager's consideration of sustainability factors could cause the Fund to perform differently compared to similar funds that do not have such factors incorporated into their investment strategies. The Fund is new with no operating history and there can be no assurance that the Fund will grow to or maintain an economically viable size, in which case the Board may determine to liquidate the Fund. 

SOURCE Stewart Investors