Loomis, Sayles & Company is to hold a soft close on the Loomis Sayles Small Cap Growth Fund effective 14 September 2012.

The fund, co-managed by John Slavik and Mark Burns, was launched on 31 December 1996 and has USD760m in assets as of 29 August.

Overall strategy assets in the small cap growth discipline total USD1.5bn.

The close has been initiated to preserve the investment team’s flexibility in executing the strategy. The fund will remain open to existing shareholders, including employee benefit plan sponsors who currently hold it on their menu of investment options or are in the process of adding it.

"Our small cap growth team has delivered above average performance for shareholders since assuming portfolio management responsibility in 2005 and the market has responded accordingly," says Robert Blanding (pictured), chief executive officer of Loomis Sayles and president of the Loomis Sayles Funds. "Ensuring that their ability to effectively serve our clients' investment needs remains uncompromised is our foremost priority."