American Beacon Advisors Adds Stephens Growth Funds to Product Suite

FORT WORTH, Texas, Feb. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- American Beacon Advisors, Inc. ("American Beacon"), an experienced provider of investment advisory services to retail and institutional clients, is pleased to announce the addition of the American Beacon Stephens Small Cap Growth Fund (A Class: SPWAX, Institutional Class: STSIX) and the American Beacon Stephens Mid-Cap Growth Fund (A Class: SMFAX, Institutional Class: SFMIX) to the firm's product suite.

The small-cap growth and mid-cap growth strategies were launched by Stephens Investment Management Group^® ("Stephens") on December 1, 2005 and February 1, 2006, respectively. Stephens will remain as the sole sub-advisor to the Funds. The same team that has managed the Funds since their inception will continue in that role.

"We are very happy to be working with Stephens Investment Management Group to bring to investors two funds that rely on a disciplined approach to seek long-term capital growth," said Gene L. Needles Jr., American Beacon President and Chief Executive Officer. "We are confident that such a close-knit portfolio management team, which works well together and has the support of an established financial institution, will seek out the best growth opportunities among small-cap and mid-cap companies. These two latest offerings underscore American Beacon's commitment to working with proven sub-advisors to find optimal investment solutions for our clients."

Both Funds are diversified, apply the tenets of behavioral finance — which considers human nature and how it can affect decision making —  and use investment strategies formulated with both growth and shareholder protection in mind. As a result, no more than 2 percent to 3 percent of the Funds' assets are invested in a single stock. 

The American Beacon Stephens Small Cap Growth Fund primarily invests in stocks of U.S. companies with $3 billion or less in market capitalization. By investing early in emerging growth companies with advantages over their competitors, the Fund managers can potentially obtain strong returns.

The American Beacon Stephens Mid-Cap Growth Fund mostly invests in stocks of U.S. companies with market capitalizations of $1 billion to $15 billion. The Fund makes investments in established growth companies that have recorded above-average growth.

"While we follow consistent and proven investment strategies, we are also well-aware that small-cap and mid-cap stocks can be volatile investments," said Ryan E. Crane, Stephens Chief Investment Officer and the Funds' Lead Portfolio Manager. "As a result, we are careful not to put all of our shareholders' eggs in one basket or to let our emotions and assumptions lead us down the wrong path."

About American Beacon Advisors

Established in 1986, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. is an experienced provider of investment advisory services to institutional and retail markets. American Beacon Advisors serves defined benefit plans, defined contribution plans, foundations, endowments, corporations and other institutional investors, as well as retail clients. The firm also provides corporate cash management and fixed-income separate account management.

American Beacon Advisors manages the American Beacon Funds, a series of low-cost mutual funds. The Funds employ a "manager of managers" investment style and currently include international and domestic equity, fixed income and money market Funds. As of December 31, 2011, American Beacon Advisors had $43.9 billion in assets under management.                       

About Stephens Investment Management Group

Stephens Investment Management Group, LLC ("SIMG") specializes in equity investment management focused on small- and mid-capitalization growth companies. SIMG was established in 2005 as a registered investment advisor managing assets for a variety of clients. SIMG is a subsidiary of Stephens Investments Holdings, LLC, a privately held and family owned company. For more information, visit www.stephensimg.com.

You should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Fund carefully before investing. The prospectus and summary prospectus contain this and additional information regarding the Fund. To obtain a prospectus or summary prospectus, please contact your financial advisor, call 800-967-9009 or visit americanbeaconfunds.com. The prospectus and summary prospectus should be read carefully before investing.

Distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC.

American Beacon is a registered service mark of American Beacon Advisors, Inc. American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Stephens Mid-Cap Growth Fund and American Beacon Stephens Small Cap Growth Fund are service marks of American Beacon Advisors, Inc. Stephens Investment Management Group is a registered service mark of Stephens Inc.

Mutual fund investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible. The Funds invest in small- and/or mid-sized companies, which involve additional risks such as limited liquidity and greater volatility than larger companies. Growth stocks typically are more volatile than value stocks; however, value stocks have a lower expected growth rate in earnings and sales. The Funds may invest in foreign securities, which involve greater volatility and political, economic and currency risks and differences in accounting methods.

CONTACT:

Tony Kono
JCPR
973-850-7323
[email protected]

SOURCE American Beacon Advisors, Inc.