Aston Launches Aston/LMCG Emerging Markets Fund (ALEMX, ALMEX)

CHICAGO, April 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Aston Asset Management, LP (Aston) has launched a new mutual fund, the ASTON/LMCG Emerging Markets Fund (Tickers:  ALEMX N-Class, ALMEX I-Class), which seeks to provide long-term capital appreciation by investing in emerging markets in Latin America, Eastern and Southern Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

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Lee Munder Capital Group, LLC (LMCG) acts as subadviser to the ASTON/LMCG Emerging Markets Fund (the Fund). Under normal market conditions, at least 80 percent of the Fund's portfolio will be invested in equity securities including depositary receipts representing companies listed in the MSCI Emerging Markets IMI Index.  The Fund will also invest in the securities of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and exchange-traded notes (ETNs) that track an emerging market index.  LMCG's emerging markets investment philosophy is a bottom-up, quantitative approach.  It seeks to exploit inefficiencies in the market by identifying stocks with attractive valuations that also have good growth prospects and high quality of earnings. By selecting stocks that rank well on a variety of metrics, LMCG aims to diversify its source of returns in different market environments. 

"We are committed to selecting experienced, boutique investment managers with proven expertise in distinct areas of the market to help us bring new strategies to mutual fund investors," said Stuart D. Bilton, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Aston. "Our experience working with LMCG has shown us their strong capabilities, and we believe this new Fund will give investors a compelling alternative to the equity markets of developed countries."

Gordon Johnson, Ph.D., CFA; Shannon Ericson, CFA; and Vikram Srimurthy, Ph.D., CFA; serve as the Fund's Portfolio Managers. Mr. Johnson is Lead Portfolio Manager of LMCG's emerging markets strategy, while Ms. Ericson and Mr. Srimurthy are Portfolio Managers and Analysts for the strategy. 

"We look forward to expanding our relationship with Aston and giving investors an opportunity to access emerging markets that we think offer significant growth potential in the years ahead," said Kenneth L. Swan, CEO of LMCG.  "Today emerging markets are more than the 'BRICS' (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa); we see opportunities in many places including, Korea, Taiwan, Mexico, Malaysia, and Thailand."

The firm also acts as subadviser to the ASTON/LMCG Small Cap Growth Fund (ACWDX/ACWIX).

To request more information, please contact Tony Kono at 973-850-7323 or tkono@jcprinc.com.

About Aston Asset Management, LP
Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Aston provides investment management services to the mutual fund and managed accounts markets by carefully selecting, monitoring and marketing experienced boutique investment managers, who seek to achieve consistent investment performance using disciplined investment processes and best-in-class business standards. From the initial due diligence on an investment manager to the launching of a new Aston Fund, we take measured steps to ensure congruence between the requirements of Aston, the capabilities of the sub-adviser and the needs of clients. As of February 28, 2013, Aston is the adviser to 23 mutual funds with total net assets of approximately $12.5 billion. Our funds are distributed nationally through intermediaries including registered investment advisers, model platforms, broker-dealers, consultants, retirement platforms and wealth management teams.

Important considerations:
The Fund invests in emerging markets securities which tend to be more volatile and less liquid than securities traded in developed countries.  Foreign securities involve risks related to adverse political and economic developments unique to a country or a region, currency fluctuations or controls.

The Fund invests in Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) which are securities of other investment companies and Exchange-Traded Notes (ETNs) which combines aspects of a bond and ETF.  These securities seek to track the performance of an index by holding all or a sampling of the securities or bonds of that index and may not be able to exactly replicate the performance it seeks to track.  Shareholders of the Fund bear their proportionate share of the other investment company fees and expenses as well as their share of the Fund fees and expenses.  The value of an ETN is also subject to the credit risk of the issuer.

The Fund also invests in Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) which may be affected by changes in the value of their underlying properties and small to mid-cap company stocks that are considered riskier than large-cap stocks due to greater potential volatility and less liquidity.  The Fund is newly-formed and does not have an operating history.

The MSCI Emerging Markets Index IMI is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure equity market performance in the global emerging markets.

Before investing carefully consider the fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. Contact 800-992-8151 or visit the Aston Funds website at www.astonfunds.com for a prospectus or a summary prospectus containing this and other information. Read it carefully.

Aston Funds are distributed by Foreside Funds Distributors LLC.

SOURCE Aston Asset Management, LP