First Trust and WCM Announce Results of Special Meeting of Shareholders Relating to the Reorganization of Certain WCM Funds to First Trust Funds
2024年9月28日 - 5:10AM
ビジネスワイヤ(英語)
First Trust Advisors L.P. (“FTA”) and WCM Investment Management,
LLC (“WCM”) jointly announced today the results of the special
meeting of shareholders of WCM Focused Global Growth Fund (“WCM
Global”), WCM Developing World Equity Fund (“WCM Developing World”)
and WCM International Equity Fund (“WCM International Equity” and,
together with WCM Global and WCM Developing World, the “Acquired
Funds” and each, an “Acquired Fund”) held on September 27,
2024.
Based on the recommendation of WCM, the investment advisor of
each Acquired Fund, the shareholders of each Acquired Fund have
approved the reorganization of each Acquired Fund into a
corresponding newly-created series of a First Trust trust (each, an
“Acquiring Fund”), as noted in the table below (each, a
“Reorganization”).
Acquired Funds
Acquiring Funds
WCM Focused Global Growth
Fund
>
First Trust WCM Focused Global
Growth Fund
(a series of First Trust Series
Fund)
WCM Developing World Equity
Fund
>
First Trust WCM Developing World
Equity ETF
(a series of First Trust
Exchange-Traded Fund)
WCM International Equity Fund
>
First Trust WCM International
Equity ETF
(a series of First Trust
Exchange-Traded Fund)
As previously announced, the Reorganizations were approved by
the Board of Trustees of Investment Managers Series Trust. Subject
to the satisfaction of certain customary closing conditions, the
Reorganizations are expected to close on October 4, 2024, or as
soon as practicable thereafter. No assurance can be given as to the
exact closing of the Reorganizations. Upon the completion of the
Reorganizations, which are expected to be tax-free, the assets of
each Acquired Fund will be transferred to, and the liabilities of
each Acquired Fund will be assumed by, the Acquiring Fund as noted
in the table above. The shareholders of each Acquired Fund will
receive shares of its Acquiring Fund with a value equal to the
aggregate net asset value of the shares of such Acquired Fund held
by them.
FTA is a federally registered investment advisor and serves as
the investment advisor of the Fund. FTA and its affiliate First
Trust Portfolios L.P. (“FTP”), a FINRA registered broker-dealer,
are privately-held companies that provide a variety of investment
services. FTA has collective assets under management or supervision
of approximately $241 billion as of August 31, 2024, through unit
investment trusts, exchange-traded funds, closed-end funds, mutual
funds and separate managed accounts. FTA is the supervisor of the
First Trust unit investment trusts, while FTP is the sponsor. FTP
is also a distributor of mutual fund shares and exchange-traded
fund creation units. FTA and FTP are based in Wheaton,
Illinois.
WCM is an independent investment advisory firm, registered with
the SEC that specializes in providing innovative, equity investment
advisory services. Founded in 1976 and based in Laguna Beach,
California, WCM has assets under management of approximately $90.7
billion as of June 30, 2024.
Additional Information / Forward-Looking Statements
This press release is not intended to, and shall not, constitute
an offer to purchase or sell shares of any Acquiring Fund. An
investor should carefully consider the investment objectives,
risks, charges and expenses of an Acquiring Fund before
investing.
Certain statements made in this news release that are not
historical facts are referred to as “forward-looking statements”
under the U.S. federal securities laws. Actual future results or
occurrences may differ significantly from those anticipated in any
forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Generally, the
words “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,”
“project,” “will” and similar expressions identify forward-looking
statements, which generally are not historical in nature.
Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from the
historical experience of FTA and the funds managed by FTA and its
present expectations or projections. You should not place undue
reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the
date they are made. FTA, the Fund and the Acquiring Funds undertake
no responsibility to update publicly or revise any forward-looking
statements.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240927888079/en/
For First Trust: Jeff Margolin – (630) 517-7643 Jim Dykas –
(630) 517-7665
For WCM: Sarah Teel – (949) 804-9805; sarah@wcminvest.com