Conestoga Small Cap Fund Managers Nominated for Morningstar's 2013 Domestic-Stock Fund Manager of the Year Award in the United States.

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Jan 08, 2014, 07:15 ET

RADNOR, Pa., Jan. 8, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Conestoga Capital Advisors, LLC is pleased to announce that Robert M. Mitchell and William C. Martindale, Jr., co-managers of the Conestoga Small Cap Fund, have been nominated for Morningstar's 2013 Domestic-Stock Fund Manager of the Year award in the United States. The award acknowledges managers who Morningstar determined through its criteria have achieved not only significant accomplishments in 2013, but have also experienced long-term success.

"We are excited to have been nominated by Morningstar for this award," said Bill Martindale, "and we are proud of the investment results we have achieved for our clients and Fund shareholders through the years." Formed in 2001, Conestoga manages small- and mid-capitalization stock portfolios for institutional investors, high net worth individuals, and sub-advisory relationships. The Conestoga Small Cap Fund was launched in October 2002, and now has over $700 million in net assets. The firm has grown steadily since inception, and manages over $1.7 billion in total assets. The firm is 100% employee-owned by the six managing partners.

Martindale and Mitchell have co-managed investment portfolios together since 1995, when they began working together at Martindale's previous firm, Martindale Andres & Co. Rounding out the investment team at Conestoga are Joseph Monahan, David Lawson, and David Neiderer. Monahan and Lawson are also managing partners at Conestoga, having joined the firm in 2008. Bob Mitchell added, "We all share a passion for our investment approach, and we have a very collaborative culture for identifying, researching and selecting stocks for the Fund."

The Conestoga Small Cap Fund seeks to provide long-term growth of capital through a portfolio invested in small-cap companies. The investment team searches for profitable companies, which they believe have sustainable earnings growth rates, strong financial characteristics, and insider ownership. Conestoga conducts intensive fundamental analysis on every company prior to purchasing the stock into the Fund.

Looking to the future, Conestoga has begun offering a SMid Cap investment strategy to its separate account clients, and plans to launch a mutual fund, the Conestoga SMid Cap Fund, at the end of January 2014. The SMid Cap strategy represents a blend of both small- and mid-capitalization stocks, and Conestoga believes the new strategy will be a natural extension of its investment expertise. "The Morningstar Domestic-Stock Fund Manager of the Year award nomination is a proud achievement for all of us at Conestoga," said Mark Clewett, Managing Partner and Director of Institutional Sales. "But we won't be resting on our laurels, we're looking forward to continuing to serve our clients and Fund shareholders in the years ahead."

ADDITIONAL DISCLOSURES:
The information herein relating to the SMid Cap Fund is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This press release is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

Please consider the investment objectives, risks and charges and expenses of the Funds discussed in this press release carefully before investing. This and other information can be found in the prospectus and summary prospectus. A free prospectus or summary prospectus, which contains detailed information, including fees and expenses, and the risks associated with investing in these Funds, can be obtained by calling 1-800-494-2755 or writing to the Fund at Conestoga Funds, 259 N. Radnor-Chester Road, Radnor Court, Suite 120, Radnor, PA 19087. Read the prospectus or summary prospectus carefully before investing.

Securities distributed by Arbor Court Capital, LLC.

Morningstar Inc.'s awards are based on qualitative evaluation and research, thus subjective in nature and should not be used as the sole basis for investment decisions. Morningstar's awards are not guarantees of a fund's future investment performance. Morningstar, Inc. does not sponsor, issue, sell, or promote any open-end mutual funds including Conestoga Capital Advisors funds.

About Conestoga Capital Advisors, LLC
Conestoga Capital Advisors, LLC ( www.conestogacapital.com ) is an independent investment advisory firm with over $1.7 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2013. The firm specializes in the management of small- and mid-cap equities. Conestoga Capital Advisors' investment style is conservative high-quality growth. The firm's portfolio managers utilize a fundamental, bottom-up research approach with a long-term investment focus.

SOURCE Conestoga Capital Advisors, LLC