A Message from Charlie Maxwell, CEO of Meristem

As I write to you today, we are aware of the rapid daily destructive changes being brought upon the health of the world population and our economies. The word “unprecedented” is used constantly to explain the magnitude of the breadth and tragic nature of the human and economic toll of the COVID-19 pandemic.

At Meristem, we meet daily across firm departments to address operations, investment platform and the health and well-being of our team. We continue to make our firm’s core values a priority, and in particular, our top core value: Client First. Client First has always been a focus of Meristem and it has never been more evident than in these times of heightened client concern and need. Our other Core Values; Passion for the Craft, Driven to Succeed, Humbly Confident, Own it Together and Evolving and Innovative are at the heart of who we are.

Over the last few years, Meristem has made significant investments in our technology platform. Certainly we had no idea what 2020 would bring, but these investments have proven to be very timely and beneficial, allowing us a seamless transition to working remotely. The vast majority of our team is working remotely with a small group of operational experts and senior leadership working from the office. Our management team meets virtually every week to discuss the most critical aspects of firm management. We also have standing virtual all employee firm meetings to stay connected with each other.

The crisis and working remotely have certainly tested our business. Our Meristem team members have risen to the challenge and are working diligently to serve clients while navigating the issues this crisis presents to all of us.

The senior management team at Meristem has always been conservative in managing the finances of the firm. This allows us to be well-positioned to ride out the challenges of the current environment. While there is no playbook for navigating a Pandemic, the outcomes of the Great Financial Crisis of 2008-09 provided meaningful lessons in how to operate during an unprecedented financial crisis. Meristem will continue to evolve through this challenge and we will emerge a stronger organization.

We are humbled by the sincere concern all of you have shown for us and our families. We are honored to serve such a caring group of people. Our hearts go out to the families who have lost loved ones and who have suffered financial distress. We stand in awe of the brave first responders in our medical systems and those who allow others to shelter in place.

In closing, we choose to be optimistic that the persistence of the American people will solve this health crisis and lead the country and world to economic recovery.