Hartford International Equity Fund celebrates first anniversary as number one
fund in its category

    
    Fund follows in footsteps of Hartford Global Leaders and Hartford Global
    Balanced Funds
    

TORONTO , Oct. 13 /CNW/ - A year after Hartford Investments launched an international equity mandate with multiple award-winning manager Richard Jenkins at the helm, Hartford International Equity Fund is the number one fund in its category. The fund's one-year return of 28.8% far outpaced the peer group average return of 2.7% and the MSCI EAFE Index return of 4.2%.

Jenkins, who joined renowned global equity manager Bill Kanko at Black Creek Investment Management in July 2008 , is also lead manager of Hartford Global Balanced Fund, while Kanko is the portfolio manager of Hartford Global Leaders Fund. Both funds are top decile (outperforming 90% of their peers) on a one- and two-year basis, and Hartford Global Leaders Fund is top quartile over three- and four-year periods as well.

The investment process employed by Jenkins and Kanko is distinct from other managers. They run concentrated portfolios of proprietary ideas - in essence developed views of the future growth prospects of the companies they own that are different from what the market sees.

"People love to lump managers into categories - value, growth and so on - but we're not statistically driven value investors," says Jenkins. "We ask the investment question from the perspective of a potential business owner: 'Do I want to own this business for the next 10 years, with my own money?' As we have our own money invested in the funds we manage, we can ask this question in good conscience. I think investors appreciate that."

Jenkins also credits the fact that Hartford Investments is continually in positive net sales as a key advantage in managing their funds.

"Having positive cash flows into our funds means we can act quickly on opportunities. And instead of worrying about managing redemptions, our only reason to sell a position is when we find a better idea."

The expertise of Richard Jenkins and Bill Kanko is available exclusively to Canadian retail investors through Hartford Global Leaders, Hartford Global Balanced and Hartford International Equity Funds.

Hartford Investments: Hartford Investments was founded in 2000 and is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. a leading global provider of investment products, life insurance and group benefits. With over $1 billion in assets under management, Hartford Investments currently offers a suite of 14 mutual funds, namely, Hartford Capital Appreciation Fund, Hartford Global Leaders Fund, Hartford U.S. Stock Fund, Hartford U.S. Dividend Growth Fund, Hartford Canadian Stock Fund, Hartford Canadian Value Fund, Hartford Canadian Dividend Growth Fund, Hartford Canadian Dividend Fund, Hartford Global Balanced Fund, Hartford Canadian Balanced Fund, Hartford Canadian Bond Fund, Hartford Global High Income Fund, Hartford Canadian Money Market Fund and Hartford International Equity Fund, and four Hartford Portfolios, each of which is a reporting issuer in all of the Canadian provinces and territories.

Black Creek Investment Management Inc.: Founded in 2004 by global equity pioneer Bill Kanko, Black Creek manages retail mutual funds offered exclusively through Hartford Investments. Managing Director Richard Jenkins joined the firm as co-owner in July 2008 . Black Creek is structured to support a long-term focus on investment success.

All performance and quartile rankings to September 30, 2009

For further information: Hugh Cameron, Razorvoice Public Relations, [phone], [email protected]; Mary Taylor, Senior Vice-President, Marketing, Product and Key Accounts, Hartford Investments, [phone], [email protected]