Portfolio Managers Michael Smith and Chris Warner at the Wells Fargo (Lux) Worldwide Fund are awarded for its well-run US Large-Cap Growth Fund.

Both are longstanding Mangers at the Fund where they have developed a distinctive investment approach and impressive track record, while investing primarily in a concentrated portfolio of large-cap US equities.

Strategy is anchored to the investment theme of technology disruption and seeking to identify companies that are on the “right side” or beneficiaries of this change. It is supported by unique portfolio construction methodologies and process principles, including “Core Growth” holdings, “Developing Situations,” and “Valuation Opportunities” and combined with intensive high conviction research or “Edge.”

The Fund demonstrates prudent and effective risk management processes and disciplines and has consistently produced alpha over benchmarks.

ESG and stewardship policies are bold and are actively used to drive better behavior by asking management to respond to specific ESG issues before an investment is made or continued. For example, due to a disappointing response received from Facebook two years ago, the Fund divested, while the Fund has also challenged Amazon to improve staff treatment. The Manager articulated the aim to balance ESG concerns, while also being clear about the objective of achieving a reasonable total return.

This Fund has been reviewed by five industry veterans of the Benchmark judging committee.