Ascendant Advisors LLC launches Ascendant National Resources Fund, Ascendant Multi-Cap Equity Fund and Ascendant Balanced Fund

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y., Oct. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Gemini Fund Services LLC ("Gemini"), an engaged partner to independent advisors as a provider of comprehensive, pooled investment solutions, is pleased to announce that three funds have been added to its Northern Lights Fund Trust I ("NLFT I") shared mutual fund trust.

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Ascendant Advisors LLC has launched the Ascendant National 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. Gemini will work closely with Ascendant to define and implement the funds' distribution and marketing plans.

"Gemini is pleased to begin partnering with another advisor on developing pooled investment solutions to meet its specific vision and needs," said Andrew Rogers, President of Gemini. "Our prediction that more advisors will seek diversification and risk protection via alternative investment products has been proven to be true. Advisors like Ascendant are concerned about rising business expenses and levels of regulation, and they look to Gemini to help raise assets and manage portfolios while reducing the costs of bringing their products to market."

NLFT I is Gemini's largest shared trust, comprised of more than 80 funds and over $6.6 billion in assets. That trust's assets doubled last year and increased by another 20 percent in the first quarter of 2011.

"Regardless of your outlook on monetary policy, we believe that the single most important factor facing individual and institutional investors alike is diversification," said Paul Wigdor, Managing Director of Ascendant Funds. "History has shown that on a risk-adjusted basis, broadly diversified portfolios generally will outperform more concentrated ones. We are confident that Gemini will allow us to reach our goals and make it easier for us to compete and earn profits in today's more complicated mutual fund market."

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  and gas, precious metals, agriculture and other "hard asset" commodities. 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 ample diversification and are intended to be used as a core holding in investor accounts.

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.

For more information about Gemini, please contact Dana Taormina at 973-850-7305 or dtaormina@jcprinc.com.

About Gemini Fund Services LLC

Gemini Fund Services LLC (www.geminifund.com) provides comprehensive, pooled investment solutions as an engaged partner to independent advisors. Gemini serves as a strategic partner and resource to advisors that want to bring their own, unique investment vehicles to market, including mutual funds, hedge funds and alternative investments such as collective investment trusts. As a full-service firm, Gemini provides the administration, accounting and technology that advisors need in order to launch and market successful products. With over 25 years of experience creating and servicing funds, Gemini brings years of industry knowledge and insight to help advisors achieve the vision of their product and deliver the most extensive range of turnkey solutions to clients.

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 advisors 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.

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. Ascendant Advisors, LLC is not affiliated with Northern Lights Distributors, LLC.

Mutual Funds involve risk including the possible loss of principal.  There is no assurance that the fund will achieve its investment objectives.  No level of diversification can ensure profits or guarantee against losses. 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.  

S&P 1500- An investable U.S. equity benchmark, that combines three leading indices, the S&P 500, the S&P MidCap 400, and the S&P SmallCap 600 to cover approximately 90% of the U.S. market capitalization.  It is designed for investors seeking to replicate the performance of the U.S. equity market or benchmark against a representative universe of tradable stocks.

Merrill Lynch Master Government/Credit Bond Index- The US Corporate & Government Master Index tracks the performance of US dollar-denominated investment grade Government and Corporate public debt issued in the US Domestic bond market, excluding collateralized products such as Mortgage Pass-Through and Asset Backed securities.

S&P North American Natural Resource Sector Index- equity benchmark that represents U.S. traded securities across a broadly defined North American Natural Resource sector.  S&P Indices uses GICS to determine a company's classification.  The index is modified-capitalization weighted, where a stock's weight is capped at a level determined on a sector basis.

CONTACT:
Dana Taormina
JCPR
973-850-7305
dana@jcprinc.com

SOURCE Gemini Fund Services

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