In July 2021, Emerge Capital Management launched EMPWR, a public equity program which has a roster of subadvisors comprised of talented women portfolio managers.
Historically, women have faced significant barriers to entry in asset management. A study conducted by Barron’s, an American weekly magazine and newspaper published by Dow Jones & Company, found that only 11% of U.S. fund managers were women in 2019, which decreased from 13.8% in 2000. The proportion of women fund managers in the U.S. falls a notable distance below the global average of women fund managers, which is around 14%.
The EMPWR program aims to ease these barriers to entry and advocate for their portfolio managers. “Our goal is to be a comprehensive platform and service provider to emerging managers,” says Lisa Langley, President, CEO and Founder, Emerge Capital Management. Even after emerging asset managers have established their success, and are no longer “emerging,” they will stay on Emerge’s platform, and Emerge continues to advocate for them.
Langley rightly takes pride in the close relationships developed with asset managers. Emerge favors an open approach with extensive due diligence, including onsite manager visits at least twice per year, a comprehensive understanding of strategy cohesion, and consistency and quality of performance. All of their portfolio managers have extensive experience and have proved themselves successful at managing in the most difficult markets.
EMPWR’s roster includes subadvisors Catherine Avery Investment Management, managed by Catherine Avery, Grace Capital, managed by Catherine Faddis, ARK Investment Management LLC, managed by Catharine Wood, Zevin Asset Management LLC, managed by Jane Li and TriLinc Global, managed by Gloria Nelund. Each sub-advisor brings her own expertise and strategy to her portfolio management, in addition to her unique approach to ESG in her investment practices.
Emerge supports these exceptional portfolio managers with performance reporting, back-office infrastructure, platform technology, and marketing collateral. Emerge provides the infrastructure that emerging managers need to succeed. EMPWR is offered to institutions, pension plans, foundations, and nonprofits. EMPWR strategies are also available on retail separate account platforms. Emerge aims to be known for making emerging investment managers accessible via separate accounts, ETFs, and funds. Emerge features active management across all asset classes, and prioritizes ESG as well as companies who demonstrate commitment to care for their employees and societies.
Lisa Langley founded Emerge U.S. in 2016 and Emerge Canada in 2019. With $1.6 billion in assets under management, Emerge uses separate accounts and ETFs. Emerge has a full separate account platform and trading capacity. Emerge provides administrative support, record keeping, and regulatory compliance. Emerge already offers six actively managed ETFs trading in Canada, and is starting separately-managed accounts as well. Emerge is dedicated to diversity, impact, and performance.