Aston Adds A New Fund Managed By Herndon Capital Management LLC

CHICAGO, March 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Aston Asset Management LLC (Aston) is pleased to announce the addition of a new mutual fund to its family of funds, the Aston/Herndon Large Cap Value Fund (Ticker: AALIX). The Fund opened to new investors on March 31, 2010.  

Aston Asset Management will act as the investment adviser to the new Fund, while Herndon Capital Management LLC (formerly known as Atlanta Life Investment Advisors), an institutional investment management firm specializing in large capitalization equity strategies, will act as subadviser. The Fund invests at least 80% of its assets in the securities of large-cap companies that the portfolio managers believe to be undervalued relative to their perceived worth.  Large-cap companies are defined as companies with a market capitalization, at the time of acquisition, within the range of market capitalizations of companies constituting the Russell 1000 Index.

"Herndon Capital has a wonderful reputation and extensive experience in managing large cap equity portfolios, and we are very pleased to be opening this new Fund with them," said Kenneth C. Anderson, President of Aston.

The Fund will be managed by Randell A. Cain, Principal and Portfolio Manager at Herndon Capital and Kenneth R. Holley, Principal, Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager at Herndon Capital. Mr. Cain joined Herndon Capital in 2002 and is responsible for managing the Large Cap U.S. Value Equity product. Prior to that, he worked as a portfolio manager at NCM Capital for five years. Mr. Holley also joined Herndon Capital in 2002. Prior to that, he worked at Morgan Stanley Asset Management as a portfolio manager.

"We are delighted to be partnering with Aston for the Aston/Herndon Large Cap Value Fund," Mr. Cain said. "Our independence from Wall Street combined with our mix of intellectual capital refined through years of experience, gives us a unique advantage in seeking value opportunities."

To request more information please contact Katrine Winther-Olesen at 973-400-1341 or [email protected].

About Aston Asset Management LLC

Aston Asset Management LLC, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, is a diversified institutional investment management firm. Aston offers investment management services to the mutual fund and separately managed account markets. Aston is the advisor to twenty-four mutual funds with total net assets of approximately $7.3 billion as of March 31, 2010.  For more information on the funds managed by Aston please call 800-597-9704.

Note: Value investing often involves buying the stocks of companies that are currently out of favor or are undervalued.  This may adversely affect the Fund's value and return.

Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Aston Funds carefully before investing. Please call 800 597-9704 for a prospectus which contains this and other information about the Funds. Read it carefully before you invest or send money. Aston Funds are distributed by PFPC Distributors, Inc.

SOURCE Aston Asset Management LLC