BOSTON and CHICAGO, Jan. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Harris Associates L.P., adviser to the Oakmark Funds and an affiliate of Natixis Investment Managers, announced today that the Oakmark International Fund will close to new investors at most third-party intermediaries, effective immediately.
This change will only affect new investors. Existing shareholders of the Oakmark International Fund may continue to purchase additional shares. The Fund will remain open to all retirement plans and certain intermediary-sponsored fee-based programs. Investors may also open new accounts by purchasing shares directly from Oakmark.
"We believe controlling inflows protects existing shareholders by maximizing our investment flexibility," said David Herro, portfolio manager of the Oakmark International Fund. "With the soft close of the Fund, we are able to continue to safeguard the assets of our current shareholders."
"We pride ourselves on our commitment to our long-term investment results and our long-term clients," said Kristi Rowsell, president of The Oakmark Funds. "This change is consistent with our investment philosophy and high level of customer service."
ABOUT THE OAKMARK INTERNATIONAL FUND
Oakmark International, which started in September 1992, is a diversified equity portfolio of mid- and large-size international companies. The Fund utilizes a disciplined, fundamental value investment approach.
The Oakmark International Fund returned 29.75% for the one-year period ending December 31, 2017, 10.50% annually for the five-year period, 6.95% annually for the 10-year period and 10.40% annually since its inception on September 30, 1992. Oakmark International had total assets of approximately $43 billion as of December 31.
For more information, including how to purchase shares directly from Oakmark, please visit oakmark.com.
ABOUT OAKMARK AND HARRIS ASSOCIATES L.P.
The Oakmark Funds are a $94 billion mutual fund family that utilizes a long-term value investment approach. Oakmark's investment philosophy centers on the belief that superior long-term results are achieved through investing in companies priced at a significant discount to their true economic value, with strong growth prospects and owner-oriented management teams. More information about the Oakmark International Fund and other funds in the Oakmark family is available at oakmark.com.
Harris Associates L.P., a Chicago-based investment management firm founded in 1976, serves as the Adviser to the Oakmark Funds. Harris Associates also manages U.S., international and global portfolios for institutional and high-net-worth investors worldwide. Including Oakmark, assets under management at Harris Associates totaled approximately $140 billion as of December 31, 2017. More information about Harris Associates is available at harrisassoc.com.
About Natixis Investment Managers
Natixis Investment Managers serves financial professionals with more insightful ways to construct portfolios. Powered by the expertise of 26 specialized investment managers globally, we apply Active ThinkingSM to deliver proactive solutions that help clients pursue better outcomes in all markets. Natixis ranks among the world's largest asset management firms1 ($961.1 billion AUM2).
Natixis Investment Managers includes all of the investment management and distribution entities affiliated with Natixis Distribution, L.P. and Natixis Investment Managers S.A. Services/products are not available in all jurisdictions.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. The performance data quoted represents past performance. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. Total return includes change in share prices and, in each case, includes reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions. The investment return and principal value vary so that an investor's shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost.
Investing in value stocks presents the risk that value stocks may fall out of favor with investors and underperform growth stocks during given periods.
The Fund's portfolio tends to be invested in a relatively small number of stocks. As a result, the appreciation or depreciation of any one security held by the Fund will have a greater impact on the Fund's net asset value than it would if the Fund invested in a larger number of securities. Although that strategy has the potential to generate attractive returns over time, it also increases the Fund's volatility.
Investing in foreign securities presents risks that in some ways may be greater than U.S. investments. Those risks include: currency fluctuation; different regulation, accounting standards, trading practices and levels of available information; generally higher transaction costs; and political risks.
Before investing in any Oakmark Fund, you should carefully consider the Fund's investment objectives, risks, management fees and other expenses. This and other important information is contained in a Fund's prospectus and summary prospectus. Please read the prospectus and summary prospectus carefully before investing. For more information, please call 1-800-OAKMARK (625-6275).
Natixis Distribution, L.P. is a marking agent for the Oakmark Funds, a limited purpose broker-dealer and the distributor of various registered investment companies for which advisory services are provided by affiliates of Natixis Investment Managers.
1 Cerulli Quantitative Update: Global Markets 2017 ranked Natixis Investment Managers (formerly Natixis Global Asset Management) as the 15th largest asset manager in the world based on assets under management as of December 31, 2016.
2 Net asset value as of September 30, 2017. Assets under management ("AUM"), as reported, may include notional assets, assets serviced, gross assets and other types of non-regulatory AUM.
SOURCE Harris Associates L.P.
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