Investment Approach

• Focus on companies within the market cap range of the Russell 2500 Index at time of purchase.
• Assess valuation using relevant sector/industry metrics — absolute and relative price to earnings, price to cash flow, and price to assets.
• Integrate fundamental research by a dedicated Small-Cap research team to discover underfollowed companies possessing clear business plans, financial flexibility, and proven management teams.
• Identification of a “value creation” catalyst is key.
• Broadly diversify holdings to manage portfolio risk profile.
• Employ a low turnover and patient trading strategy to promote full value realization.
• Assess environmental, social and governance ("ESG") factors with particular focus on those considered most likely to have a material impact on the performance of the holdings or potential holdings in the portfolio. These ESG factors, which are incorporated into the investment process alongside financials, valuation, macro-economics and other factors, are components of the investment decision. Consequently, ESG factors are not the sole driver of an investment decision but are instead one of several important inputs considered during investment analysis.