Ascendant Advisors Announces Launch of Three New Funds

HOUSTON, Oct. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Ascendant Advisors, LLC, ("Ascendant") is pleased to announce today the launch of Ascendant Natural Resources Fund (NRGAX/NRGCX/NRGIX), Ascendant Multi-Cap Equity Fund (AEQAX/AEQCX/AEQIX), and Ascendant Balanced Fund (ATBAX/ATBTX/ATBIX). Founded in 1970, Ascendant has designed these funds to provide mutual fund investors access to Ascendant's investment strategies, which have previously only been available to institutional investors.

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Ascendant's four-member Investment Committee is led by its non-executive Chairman, Phil Ferguson, who brings 44 years of experience in the asset management profession. Most recently Mr. Ferguson served as Chief Investment Officer of AIM Capital Management where he oversaw more than $100 billion of equity and fixed income assets, and currently serves as Vice Chairman of the $26 billion University of Texas Investment Management Company (UTIMCO). Ascendant's investment approach begins with Mr. Ferguson and the Investment Committee's macro outlook on the economy and the markets. The portfolios are ultimately constructed at the direction of Todd Smurl, CFA and Portfolio Manager, based on a proprietary quantitative process developed over the course of over four decades.

"Inflation has been prevalent in our economy since the creation of the Federal Reserve and especially since the abandonment of the gold standard," says Phil Ferguson, "and our current outlook calls for more of the same. We view natural resources equities as an attractive hedge in this environment." The Ascendant Natural Resource fund will seek long-term out performance of the S&P North American Natural Resource Sector Index by applying the Ascendant investment approach to equities involved in natural resource industries, including oil & gas, precious metals, agriculture, and other "hard asset" commodities.

"We believe that natural resource equities are an important part of a diversified portfolio and consequently our Multi-Cap Equity and Balanced Funds will maintain a meaningful allocation to the sector," says Managing Director of Ascendant Funds, Paul Wigdor. The Ascendant Multi-Cap Equity Fund seeks long-term outperformance of the S&P 1500 index and will allocate to Ascendant's Large Cap, Small-Mid Cap, Equity Income, and Natural Resource strategies. The Ascendant Balanced Fund, the most broadly diversified product, is a combination of the Multi-Cap Equity and Fixed Income Composite Strategies and seeks to outperform a 60/40 blend of the S&P 1500 and Merrill Lynch Master Government/Credit Bond Index. Both the Multi-Cap Equity and especially the Balanced Fund are designed to provide diversification and could be considered as a core holding in some investor accounts. "Regardless of your outlook on monetary policy, we believe that the single most important factor facing individual and institutional investors alike is diversification. History has shown that on a risk adjusted basis, broadly diversified portfolios will outperform more concentrated ones," Wigdor states.

About Ascendant Advisors and Ascendant Funds

Ascendant Advisors, LLC is the investment advisor to the Ascendant Natural Resources, Multi-Cap, and Balanced Funds. Founded in 1970, Ascendant Advisors is one of the oldest independent registered investment advisers in Texas, providing active portfolio management to high net worth families and institutions. Ascendant's investment effort is led by a four-member Investment Committee, whose members average over 30 years of first-hand investment experience. Ascendant Funds was created to provide mutual fund investors access to what was otherwise only available through managed accounts to Ascendant's high net worth and institutional clients.

Prospectus Disclosure:

Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Ascendant Balanced, Natural Resources, and MultiCap Funds. This and other important information about the Funds is contained in the prospectus, which can be obtained at www.ascendantfunds.com or by calling 855-527-2363. The prospectus should be read carefully before investing. The Ascendant Balanced, Natural Resources, and MultiCap Funds are distributed by Northern Lights Distributors, LLC, member FINRA.

Risk Disclosure:

Mutual Funds involve risk including the possible loss of principal. There is no assurance that the fund will achieve its investment objectives. The Portfolio's investments in convertible securities subject the Portfolio to the risks associated with both fixed-income securities and common stocks. There is a risk that issuers and counterparties will not make payments on securities and other investments held by the Fund, resulting in losses to the Fund. Investments in foreign securities could subject the Fund to greater risks including, currency fluctuation, economic conditions, and different governmental and accounting standards. In general, the price of a fixed income security falls when interest rates rise. The Fund's adviser has not previously managed a mutual fund. Investments in underlying funds that own small and mid-capitalization companies may be more vulnerable than larger, more established organizations. The Fund's exposure to companies primarily engaged in the natural resource markets may subject the Fund to greater volatility than investments in a wider variety of industries.

CONTACT:
Dana Taormina
JCPR
973-850-7305
[email protected]

SOURCE Ascendant Advisors, LLC