American Century Investments: A Leading Mutual Fund Company?

American Century Investments is an investment management firm that was founded in 1958 by James E. Stowers Jr. in Kansas City, Missouri. The company was originally called Twentieth Century Mutual Funds and has since changed its name to American Century Investments in 1997. With headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri, and offices in New York, London, Hong Kong, and Sydney, American Century Investments offers a range of investment products, including mutual funds, ETFs, and separately managed accounts. The company's funds comprise various asset classes, market capitalizations, and investment styles, with a focus on risk management and long-term growth.

American Century Investments' history

American Century Investments is a privately controlled and independent investment management firm. It was founded by James E. Stowers Jr. in 1958 as "Twentieth Century Mutual Funds", a family of no-load funds, in Kansas City, Missouri. Stowers started the funds with just $100,000 in assets from 24 shareholders. He built his business by concentrating on small investors. The company changed its name to American Century Investments in 1997.

The company's headquarters are located at 4500 Main in Kansas City, Missouri, near the Country Club Plaza, and it employs around 1,300 people. It also has offices in New York, London, Hong Kong, and Sydney.

In 2011, JP Morgan Chase sold their 41% stake in American Century Investments to the Toronto-based bank CIBC. CIBC then resold this stake to Nomura Holdings in 2015 for approximately $1 billion as it could not gain full control of the company. The Stowers Institute for Medical Research holds the controlling majority stake in the company, receiving over $1.1 billion in dividends from American Century between 2000 and 2019.

American Century Investments has a strong focus on research and supporting initiatives that can improve health and save lives. The company is committed to making a positive impact on society and contributing to communities through various initiatives.

The company has a long history of sponsoring the American Century Championship, an annual celebrity golf tournament held at Edgewood Tahoe Resort since 1999.

The company's founder

American Century Investments was founded by James E. Stowers Jr. in 1958 as "Twentieth Century Mutual Funds", a family of no-load funds, in Kansas City, Missouri. Stowers started the funds with just $100,000 in assets from 24 shareholders. He built his business concentrating on small investors.

Stowers was clearly a man with a vision, and his vision was to help clients achieve financial success. This vision has expanded to include significant, ongoing contributions to humanity through breakthrough medical research. This is reflected in the company's motto: "Managing Money, Making an Impact".

Stowers and his wife Virginia established and endowed the Stowers Institute for Medical Research, a world-class biomedical research organisation dedicated to uncovering the causes, treatments and prevention of genetically based diseases, like cancer. The institute holds a controlling interest in American Century, and through this unique ownership structure, dividend payments ensure ongoing support for important work that can improve human health and save lives. Since 2000, those payments have totalled over $2 billion.

The company changed its name to American Century Investments in 1997.

The company's headquarters and offices

American Century Investments was founded in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1958, and its headquarters remain in the same city. The head office is located at 4500 Main in Kansas City, near the Country Club Plaza, and the company employs around 1,300 to 1,400 people.

The company was founded by James E. Stowers Jr. as "Twentieth Century Mutual Funds", starting with just $100,000 in assets from 24 shareholders. Stowers focused on small investors and built his business from there. The company changed its name to American Century Investments in 1997 to reflect its broader vision.

In addition to its headquarters in Kansas City, American Century Investments also has offices in several other major cities around the world. These include New York in the United States, London in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, and Sydney, Australia.

The company has a global presence and offers a range of financial services, including mutual funds and ETFs (exchange-traded funds). It takes a team-based approach, with managers and analysts working closely together, often over long periods. This collaborative approach is a key part of the company's culture and strategy.

The company's current offerings

American Century Investments is an investment management firm that offers a range of financial products and services to its clients. The company was founded in 1958 by James E. Stowers Jr. as "Twentieth Century Mutual Funds", and it changed its name to American Century Investments in 1997. Today, it is a privately controlled and independent firm with a strong commitment to its clients and society.

One of their key offerings is the American Century Balanced Fund, which seeks long-term capital growth and current income. The fund invests in large capitalisation companies and has total assets of $833 million. Another offering is the American Century CA High-Yld Muncpl Fd, which seeks high current income exempt from federal and California state income taxes. This fund is ranked #8 in Muni California Long.

American Century Investments also offers the American Century Core Plus Fund, which aims to maximise total return while providing a high level of income. This fund has total assets of $364.89 million. Additionally, they have the American Century Disciplined Core Value Fund, which focuses on long-term capital growth, and the American Century Disciplined Growth Fund, with total assets of $911.83 million.

The company's offerings also include the American Century Diversified Bond Fund, ranked #89 in Intermediate Core Bond, and the American Century Diversified Municipal Bond ETF, with total assets of $439.26 million.

The company's ownership structure

American Century Investments is a privately controlled and independent investment management firm. It was founded by James E. Stowers Jr. in 1958 as "Twentieth Century Mutual Funds", a family of no-load funds, in Kansas City, Missouri. The company changed its name to American Century Investments in 1997.

The company's headquarters are located at 4500 Main in Kansas City, Missouri, near the Country Club Plaza, and employs around 1,300 people. It also has offices in New York, London, Hong Kong, and Sydney.

In 2011, JP Morgan Chase sold their 41% stake in American Century Investments (ACI) to the Toronto-based bank CIBC. CIBC resold its stake to Nomura Holdings in 2015 for around $1 billion as it could not gain full control of ACI. The stake gave Nomura 10.1% of the voting rights.

The Stowers Institute for Medical Research, a world-class biomedical research organization dedicated to defeating life-threatening diseases, holds the controlling majority stake in the company. James E. Stowers Jr. and his wife, Virginia, established and endowed the institute, bestowing much of their personal wealth on it. Over 40% of American Century Investments' profits go to the institute, allowing it to focus on research rather than grant writing. The institute has received over $1.1 billion in dividends from American Century between 2000 and 2019, with total dividend payments exceeding $2 billion since it opened in 2000.

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