American Century Investments

Corporate brand

A privately controlled, independent investment management firm offering equity, fixed-income, quantitative, and multi-asset strategies.

Last updated August 31, 2026

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Overview

American Century Investments is a privately controlled United States investment management firm headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. The company traces its origins to 1958, when James E. Stowers Jr. established Twentieth Century Mutual Funds with approximately $100,000 in assets and 24 shareholders. From the beginning, the business emphasized serving individual investors through no-load mutual funds and professional investment management rather than operating as a traditional bank or brokerage. The firm expanded from its original mutual-fund base into a broader asset-management platform. Its activities include mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, separately managed accounts, institutional mandates, and other investment solutions spanning equities, fixed income, asset allocation, and quantitative strategies. The company operates through offices in Kansas City, New York, London, Hong Kong, and Sydney, giving it a presence across North American, European, and Asia-Pacific markets. The company adopted the American Century Investments name in 1997. Its ownership structure has remained distinctive within the asset-management industry. The Stowers Institute for Medical Research holds the controlling majority interest, linking the investment manager's long-term economics to medical research and philanthropy. Minority ownership interests have also been held by large financial institutions. JPMorgan Chase sold a 41% interest in 2011 to Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, which later sold its interest to Nomura Holdings in 2015. Nomura's resulting position represented a minority voting stake rather than control. American Century's investment proposition centers on active and systematic management, research-driven portfolio construction, and a long-term orientation. In 2019, it launched Avantis Investors as a separate investment platform focused on systematic, factor-based strategies. Avantis subsequently broadened the firm's exchange-traded-fund and international offering, including European UCITS products. The company has also maintained a public-facing presence through sponsorship of the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament, held annually at Edgewood Tahoe Resort since 1999. The firm has faced regulatory and employment-related scrutiny. It paid a settlement to current and former employees after the United States Department of Justice concluded that it had participated in an agreement with another company not to compete for employees. In 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, American Century announced a policy requiring employees to receive a vaccine. These matters sit alongside the company's main identity as a private, independent investment manager whose ownership supports the Stowers Institute for Medical Research.

History

American Century Investments began in Kansas City in 1958 as Twentieth Century Mutual Funds, founded by James E. Stowers Jr. The initial business was built around no-load mutual funds and was deliberately oriented toward small investors. It started with approximately $100,000 in assets and 24 shareholders, then grew by concentrating on accessible pooled investment products and professional portfolio management. Over subsequent decades, the firm expanded its investment capabilities and distribution beyond its original mutual-fund operation. The company changed its name to American Century Investments in 1997, reflecting a broader corporate and investment identity. Its headquarters developed near Kansas City's Country Club Plaza, at the American Century Towers complex, while additional offices were established in New York, London, Hong Kong, and Sydney. American Century's ownership evolved while remaining privately controlled. JPMorgan Chase held a substantial minority interest before selling a 41% stake to Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce in 2011. CIBC later sold that interest to Nomura Holdings in 2015 for a reported amount of approximately $1 billion; Nomura's position represented about 10.1% of voting rights and did not provide control. The Stowers Institute for Medical Research retained the controlling majority. Dividends from American Century have provided significant support to the institute, which funds biomedical research. The firm's business has included mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, separately managed accounts, institutional portfolios, and strategies across equities and fixed income. In 2019, American Century launched Avantis Investors to develop systematic, factor-based investment strategies. Avantis expanded the firm's presence in the ETF market and later developed European UCITS products listed on exchanges including the London Stock Exchange and Deutsche Börse. American Century has also used sponsorship and public engagement to build brand visibility. Since 1999, it has sponsored the American Century Championship, an annual celebrity golf tournament held at Edgewood Tahoe Resort in July. A fantasy golf contest was added in 2021. The company has experienced several notable governance and policy events. The United States Department of Justice determined that American Century had violated antitrust rules through an agreement with another company not to compete for employees, leading to a $1.5 million settlement with current and former employees. In August 2021, the company announced a COVID-19 vaccination requirement for employees. These events occurred alongside continued development of its private, research-oriented investment-management model.

2021
COVID-19 vaccination policy announced
[1]American Century Investmentsen.wikipedia.org
The company announces an employee vaccine mandate during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2019
Avantis Investors is launched
[1]American Century Investmentsen.wikipedia.org
American Century introduces a dedicated platform for systematic, factor-based strategies.
2015
Nomura acquires CIBC's interest
[1]American Century Investmentsen.wikipedia.org
Nomura Holdings purchases CIBC's minority position, while the Stowers Institute remains the controlling shareholder.
2011
CIBC acquires JPMorgan Chase's stake
[1]American Century Investmentsen.wikipedia.org
CIBC purchases a 41% interest in American Century Investments from JPMorgan Chase.
1999
American Century Championship sponsorship begins
[1]American Century Investmentsen.wikipedia.org
American Century becomes sponsor of the annual celebrity golf tournament at Lake Tahoe.
1997
Corporate name becomes American Century Investments
[1]American Century Investmentsen.wikipedia.org
The company adopts its current name as it broadens its identity beyond its original Twentieth Century mutual-fund brand.
1958
Twentieth Century Mutual Funds is founded
[1]American Century Investmentsen.wikipedia.org
James E. Stowers Jr. establishes the Kansas City mutual-fund business with approximately $100,000 in assets and 24 shareholders.

Products and positioning

Independent investment manager focused on research-led active management, systematic investing, equity and fixed-income strategies, and long-term investor outcomes.

Mutual funds · 1958
American Century mutual funds
The firm's foundational offering consists of pooled investment funds covering equity, fixed-income, asset-allocation, and other portfolio mandates. The business originated as a no-load mutual-fund provider aimed at individual investors and later expanded its range for intermediary, retirement, and institutional distribution.
Exchange-traded funds
American Century exchange-traded funds
American Century offers exchange-traded investment vehicles providing exposure to selected equity, fixed-income, and other portfolio strategies. ETFs extend the firm's investment capabilities into a listed format that can be traded during market hours and used by both individual and professional investors.
Managed accounts
Separately managed accounts
Separately managed accounts provide customized portfolio management for investors whose assets are held in individual accounts rather than pooled in a mutual fund or ETF. The firm's managed-account capabilities support tailored mandates across equity, fixed income, and other investment disciplines.
Systematic and factor-based investment strategies · 2019
Avantis Investors
Avantis Investors is an American Century platform created in 2019 to focus on systematic investment methods. Its approach uses rules-based portfolio construction and factor-oriented research, with products distributed through funds and ETFs in the United States and, later, through European UCITS offerings.

Controversies

Employee non-compete antitrust settlement
The United States Department of Justice found that American Century had participated with another company in an agreement not to compete for employees. The matter resulted in a $1.5 million settlement paid to current and former employees.
Source

1999American Century Championship
United States
American Century has sponsored an annual celebrity golf tournament at Edgewood Tahoe Resort since 1999. The event connects the investment-management brand with sports, entertainment, and charitable-publicity audiences.
Outcome. The tournament became a recurring annual brand property, and a fantasy golf contest was added in 2021.
Source

Brand decisions

2021
Introduce an employee COVID-19 vaccine mandateOther
Background
The policy was announced during the COVID-19 pandemic as employers developed workplace health and safety requirements.
Action taken
American Century announced that employees would be required to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
Aftermath
The policy became part of the company's pandemic-era workplace response.
Source
2019
Launch Avantis InvestorsProduct launch
Background
Demand for transparent, rules-based, and factor-oriented investment strategies was creating opportunities beyond traditional active mutual funds.
Action taken
American Century created Avantis Investors as a dedicated systematic and factor-based investment platform.
Aftermath
Avantis expanded into ETFs and later into European UCITS products, broadening the firm's systematic-investing presence.
Source
1997
Adopt the American Century Investments nameStrategy
Background
The original Twentieth Century Mutual Funds identity no longer fully represented the company's wider investment-management activities.
Action taken
The company changed its corporate brand name to American Century Investments.
Aftermath
The new identity became the umbrella brand for the firm's expanding investment products and international operations.
Source

Recent events

2021
American Century adds a fantasy golf contest to the American Century Championship[1]American Century Investmentsen.wikipedia.org
Campaign
A fantasy golf competition was added to the company's sponsored celebrity golf event.
2021
American Century announces a COVID-19 vaccine mandate[1]American Century Investmentsen.wikipedia.org
Regulation · Other
The firm announced that employees would be required to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
2021
American Century announces employee COVID-19 vaccine requirement[1]American Century Investmentsen.wikipedia.org
Regulation · Other
The company announced that employees would be required to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.
2021
Fantasy golf contest added to American Century Championship[1]American Century Investmentsen.wikipedia.org
Campaign
The American Century Championship sponsorship program expanded to include a fantasy-golf contest.
2019
American Century launches Avantis Investors[1]American Century Investmentsen.wikipedia.org
Product launch
The firm introduced Avantis Investors as a platform specializing in systematic, factor-based investment strategies.
2015
Nomura acquires CIBC's minority interest in American Century[1]American Century Investmentsen.wikipedia.org
M&A
Nomura Holdings acquired CIBC's interest after CIBC was unable to obtain full control of the investment manager.
2015
Nomura acquires CIBC's interest in American Century[1]American Century Investmentsen.wikipedia.org
M&A
Nomura Holdings acquired CIBC's interest after CIBC was unable to obtain control of the privately controlled investment manager.
2011
JPMorgan Chase sells its American Century stake to CIBC[1]American Century Investmentsen.wikipedia.org
M&A
JPMorgan Chase sold a 41% interest in American Century Investments to Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.
2011
CIBC acquires a minority interest in American Century[1]American Century Investmentsen.wikipedia.org
M&A
CIBC purchased J.P. Morgan Chase's 41 percent interest in American Century Investments.
1999
American Century begins sponsorship of the American Century Championship[1]American Century Investmentsen.wikipedia.org
Campaign
The company became the title sponsor of an annual celebrity golf tournament at Edgewood Tahoe Resort.

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