While still a member of The Hartford's family of mutual funds, the Hartford Global Equity Fund adopted a new name last Friday, changing to the Hartford Global Research Fund. The name change follows a 0.15 percent reduction in the fund's net operating expenses, implemented November 1.

According to a company press release, "the fund's new name emphasizes the analyst-driven, proprietary research approach," stated Keith Sloane, senior vice president of The Hartford Mutual Funds. "The Fund may be a good choice for advisors looking to diversify abroad, while still investing domestically, and it gives investors access to Wellington Management's superior research skills."

The original Global Equity Fund, which launched March 1, 2008, has been sub-advised by Wellington Management Company and co-managed by Mark Mandel and Cheryl Duckworth, both senior vice presidents at Wellington, since its inception. The global research fund seeks to provide long-term capital appreciation via investments in predominantly equity securities of companies that span a breadth of countries, industries, and market capitalizations globally. Following a 15 basis points price reduction across all share classes, Class A shares of the fund are currently offered at 150 basis points, while Class B and C shares are 225 basis points.

"In the aftermath of the largest synchronized global monetary and fiscal policy response in history, investment opportunities will be found in all shapes, sizes and places around the world, so flexibility to invest anywhere is key," stated Dr. Bob Froehlich, senior managing director at The Hartford. "The world of investing is like a book, and those investors who stay home and only invest domestically are reading only one page."

Company Press Release

SIMSBURY, Conn. - (Business Wire) The Hartford Mutual Funds renamed its Global Equity Fund as The Hartford Global Research Fund, effective December 11, 2009.

The Hartford Global Research Fund, which is sub-advised by Wellington Management Company, LLP, seeks long term capital appreciation by outperforming the MSCI All-Country World Index through investing primarily in equity securities of companies in a broad range of countries, industries and market capitalizations worldwide.

The Hartford Global Research Fund is a collection of stock ideas from Wellington Management global industry analysts and the Fund new name emphasizes the analyst-driven, proprietary research approach, says Keith Sloane, senior vice president of The Hartford Mutual Funds. The Fund may be a good choice for advisors looking to diversify abroad, while still investing domestically, and it gives investors access to Wellington Management superior research skills.

The Hartford Global Research Fund has the flexibility to invest anywhere it sees opportunity across the globe regardless of country and market capitalization. As of October 31, 2009, the portfolio is weighted 47.4 percent U.S. stocks and 52.6 percent non-U.S. stocks, and the breakdown by market cap is:

Small Cap (<$2 billion) 6.8 percent

Mid Cap ($2 billion - $10 billion) 23.9 percent

Large Cap (>$10 billion) 69.3 percent

In the aftermath of the largest synchronized global monetary and fiscal policy response in history, investment opportunities will be found in all shapes, sizes and places around the world so flexibility to invest anywhere is key, says Dr. Bob Froehlich, senior managing director at The Hartford. The world of investing is like a book, and those investors who stay home and only invest domestically are reading only one page.

*Same Managers*

The Fund continues to be managed by Mark Mandel, CFA, and Cheryl Duckworth, CFA, who coordinate a team of Wellington Management's global industry analysts that manage the Fund. Portfolio managers are supported by the full resources of the firm.

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