Artisan Funds Portfolio Managers David Samra and Daniel OKeefe Named Morningstars 2008 International-Stock Fund Manager of the Year

MILWAUKEE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Artisan Partners, investment adviser to the Artisan Funds, announced that Morningstar has named David Samra and Daniel O’Keefe, Portfolio Co-Managers of the Artisan International Value Fund (ARTKX) and Artisan Global Value Fund (ARTGX), its International-Stock Fund Manager of the Year for 2008. The duo received the award for their efforts on the Artisan International Value Fund.

According to Russ Kinnel, director of mutual fund research for Morningstar, “When selecting our Fund Managers of the Year, we look for superior long- and short-term performance, proven strategies executed by experienced teams rather than trend-chasing, and strong stewardship.”

In addition, Morningstar highlighted how Samra and O’Keefe “admirably steered the fund through the turbulence of 2008” and further praised them for paying “little attention to how their peers are investing, or to indexes like MSCI EAFE^® and the MSCI EAFE^® Value.” Kinnel noted “Samra and O’Keefe’s aversion to companies that carry a lot of debt means that they avoided some of the most troubled areas of the market, like banks and insurers. We think their clear, consistent strategy positions them well for the long term.”

Artisan International Value Fund invests in undervalued, international companies of all market capitalizations; while Artisan Global Value Fund invests in undervalued, U.S. and international companies with market capitalizations of at least $2 billion at the time of purchase.

Both Funds employ a bottom-up value style focused on identifying high quality businesses that are trading at a meaningful discount to their intrinsic value. The team looks for companies with enduring competitive advantages, high returns on capital employed and management teams with a track record of building value for their shareholders.

Artisan Funds becomes the first mutual fund company in the history of the Morningstar award to have two distinct international fund teams receive this honor. David Samra and Daniel O’Keefe join Mark Yockey, Portfolio Manager of the Artisan International Fund (ARTIX), in receiving this prestigious award. Yockey was named Morningstar International–Stock Fund Manager of the Year in 1998.

Established in 1988, the Morningstar Fund Manager of the Year award recognizes portfolio managers who demonstrate excellent investment skill and the courage to differ from the consensus to benefit investors. To qualify for the award, managers’ funds must have not only posted impressive returns for the year, but the managers also must have a record of delivering outstanding long-term performance and of aligning their interests with shareholders’. The Fund Manager of the Year award winners are chosen based on Morningstar’s proprietary research and in-depth evaluation by its fund analysts.

About Artisan Partners

Artisan Partners Limited Partnership, an independent, multi-product investment management firm based in Milwaukee, with principal investment offices in San Francisco, Atlanta, and New York, is the investment adviser to the Artisan Funds, a family of 11 no-load mutual funds. As of December 31, 2008, Artisan Partners managed more than $30 billion for individuals, financial professionals, endowments, foundations and pension plans by focusing exclusively on high-value-added equity strategies in the U.S. and international markets. The firm offers both mutual fund and separate account management in each strategy to accommodate a broad range of client mandates.

Artisan Funds are available on a no transaction fee basis through Charles Schwab OneSource^®, Fidelity FundsNetwork, and TD Ameritrade Mutual Fund Network platforms or on a direct basis through Artisan Distributors LLC. Investors should consider carefully before investing a Fund’s investment objective, risks and charges and expenses. For a prospectus, which contains that information and other information about a Fund, investors should call (800) 344-1770 or visit www.artisanfunds.com. Financial professionals should call (800) 454-1770. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing or sending money.

For the 1-year, 5-year and since inception periods ended 12/31/08, Artisan International Value Fund was down -30.11%, and gained 6.33% and 13.85% for the respective periods. For the 1-year, 5-year and since inception periods ended 12/31/08, the MSCI EAFE^® Index was down -43.38%, and gained 1.66% and 7.85% for the respective periods. The inception date for Artisan International Value Fund is 9/23/02. The performance quoted represents past performance, which does not guarantee future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment in the Fund will fluctuate, so that an investor’s shares in the Fund, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance date quoted. For current to most recent performance information, call (800) 344-1770 or visit www.artisanfunds.com. The performance shown does not reflect the deduction of a 2% redemption fee on shares held by an investor for 90 days or less and, if reflected, the fee would reduce the performance quoted. Artisan International Value Fund’s expense ratio for the fiscal year ended 9/30/07 was 1.23%. For expense ratio information for the year ended 9/30/08, please visit www.artisanfunds.com. International investments involve special risks, including currency fluctuation, lower liquidity, different accounting methods and economic and political systems, and higher transaction costs. These risks typically are greater in emerging markets. For Artisan International Fund, growth stocks may underperform other asset types during a given period. International Value and Global Value Fund: Value stocks may underperform other asset types during a given period. The stocks of medium-sized companies tend to be more volatile than those of large companies and may have underperformed the socks of small and large companies during some periods. International Value Fund may invest a significant portion of its assets in the stocks of small-sized companies, which tend to be more volatile and less liquid than those of large companies, may have underperformed the stocks of larger companies during some periods and tend to have a shorter history of operations than larger companies. The MSCI EAFE^® Index is an unmanaged, market-weighted index of companies in developed markets, excluding the U.S. and Canada. The MSCI EAFE^® Value Index is an unmanaged, market-weighted index of companies in developed markets, excluding the U.S. and Canada, with lower price-to-book ratios. Index returns include net reinvested dividends but, unlike the Fund’s returns, do not reflect the payment of sales commissions or other expenses incurred in the purchase or sale of the securities included in the index. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. Artisan Funds distributed through Artisan Distributors, LLC, member FINRA. A9503L/010609

Artisan Partners
Karen Guy
(414) 390-6100