|
Armada's Bulletin Board
Armada Funds Announces New Growth Managers.
Contact: Bob Tebeleff, Sunstar, 703-299-8390
ARMADA ADDS HIGH CALIBER GROWTH MANAGERS
Wiles, Eakin and Team join National City / Armada family Cleveland, OH, May 10, 2004 – Armada Funds announced today that Christopher H. Wiles, and Lawrence E. Eakin, Jr., formerly of Strong Capital Management, Inc., are joining National City Investment Management Company (NCIMC), the investment advisor to the Armada Funds, as co-portfolio managers of the large capitalization growth, core equity and diversified growth styles. Also joining NCIMC as part of this team is Michael J. Halloran, CFA, as large capitalization growth equity analyst, and a three-member portfolio support staff. This same team previously managed the highly successful Strong Large Company Growth Fund and Strong Advisor Large Company Core Fund. The addition of this large capitalization core and growth team to NCIMC represents a major building block in Armada Funds’ commitment to deliver quality investment management products to investment professionals and shareholders.
“We are excited about the momentum these additions bring to NCIMC, and are thrilled to have such a high caliber team joining our firm,” said Donald Ross, NCIMC president and chief investment officer. “The team has already demonstrated the ability to generate exceptional returns in their style. Their impressive history, coupled with NCIMC’s administrative, institutional asset gathering and client service capabilities, provide a winning style combination for our clients and their consultants.”
The new team will operate out of offices located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Wiles, a 19-year investment industry veteran said, “I am very pleased to join such a well-respected organization. Larry, Mike and I are especially excited about continuing our work together. It’s a very comfortable fit, as our emphasis on risk management meshes well with the NCIMC philosophy.” The team plans to maintain a fully invested portfolio while remaining sector neutral to its benchmarks – the Russell 1000 Growth Index in the large capitalization growth style, and the S&P 500 Index in the core and diversified growth styles. “I feel that by combining National City operational capabilities, marketing and client service excellence, my new team can focus on what we do best – seeking superior returns by identifying securities with strong technical and fundamental qualities.”
Anne Rapacz-Kimmins, senior vice president, director of product and marketing at Armada Funds, expressed excitement about the new team as a way to maintain and strengthen Armada’s ability to deliver quality investments. “This successful team’s approach blends perfectly with our fund lineup and value proposition to each of our constituent markets. With large caps being attractive right now, this addition stands as a very big reason for investors to pay particular attention to Armada.”
About Armada
Armada Funds, with over 30 mutual funds and assets of more than $15 billion, is managed by National City Investment Management Company (NCIMC), a wholly-owned, indirect subsidiary of National City Corporation (NYSE: NCC). NCIMC has more than $29 billion in assets under management.
National City Investment Management Company serves as investment adviser to the Armada Funds, for which it receives an investment advisory fee. Armada Funds are distributed by Professional Funds Distributor, LLC (PFD), 760 Moore Road, King of Prussia, PA 19406. PFD is not affiliated with NCIMC and is not a bank
Mutual fund investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. An investment in Armada Funds is not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency, and it is not a deposit in or obligation of National City or any bank.
|
|
