ALPS has launched the ALPS I Metis Global Micro Cap Fund, one of the industry’s first retail offerings to target micro-cap stocks in the US, international, and emerging/frontier markets.
By prospectus, the fund seeks long-term growth of capital by investing primarily in equity securities of micro-cap companies, generally defined as companies with market capitalisations of USD50 to USD750 million, located both within and outside of the United States.
Metis Global Partners, led by Portfolio Manager Machel Allen, is an independent, employee-owned firm located in San Diego, California, and will serve as the Fund’s sub-adviser. The firm is dedicated to the management of global, international, and emerging market equity portfolios, spanning the full range of large- to micro-cap companies. ALPS Advisors, Inc. is the Fund’s adviser.
According to Tom Carter, Executive Vice President of ALPS Holdings, Inc., the ALPS I Metis Global Micro Cap Fund will provide investors and advisers with several potential benefits.
“Micro-cap stocks can serve as a straightforward, active component of an existing equity allocation or as a complement to alternatives like private equity or hedge funds,” says Carter. “We see investors using the Fund as a way to replace or complement existing small-cap equity allocations or as a way to provide alpha-generating potential in a core/satellite framework. Each approach offers compelling benefits and manageable risks.
“An allocation to the Fund may provide exposure to previously overlooked areas by offering a richer opportunity set. We think the ALPS I Metis Global Micro Cap Fund may be a strong addition to any investors’ portfolio.”
