Aston Launches ASTON/Value Partners Asia Dividend Fund

CHICAGO, Dec. 17, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- 

• The ASTON/Value Partners Asia Dividend Fund seeks to provide capital appreciation and current income.

Aston Asset Management, LLC (Aston) announced that it has launched the ASTON/Value Partners Asia Dividend Fund (Ticker Symbols: AVADX/ AAVPX), which seeks capital appreciation and current income through a bottom-up, all-cap strategy comprised primarily of companies that are domiciled in the Asian region or, as determined by the subadviser, either derive a majority of their income from or have a majority of their operations located in the Asian region, that distribute dividends.

Aston will act as the investment adviser to the Fund, while Value Partners Hong Kong Limited (Value Partners) will act as subadviser, responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund.

Value Partners is a subsidiary of Value Partners Group Limited (Value Partners Group), one of Asia's largest asset management firms, which has been dedicated to value investing for more than 20 years.  With a focus on the Asian and the Greater China regions, the firm identifies investment opportunities through its on-the-ground research capabilities and disciplined value investing approach.

"Value Partners has an experienced management team and a disciplined investment process— elements that we view as essential in building a successful long-term partnership," said Michael M. Mayhew, Head of Distribution at Aston. "We are delighted to be partnering with them on the ASTON/Value Partners Asia Dividend Fund."

The Fund is managed by Norman Ho, CFA and Philip Li, CFA.  Mr. Ho is the Senior Investment Director of Value Partners.  Mr. Li serves as a Senior Fund Manager of the firm.

"Value Partners has deep roots in Asia, which allows us to better understand the history and development of a company and their business in the region," said Mr. Ho. "We are very pleased to be offering our Asia Dividend strategy to Aston investors."

About Aston Asset Management, LLC
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 November 30, 2015, Aston is the adviser to 27 mutual funds with total net assets of approximately $10.5 billion. Our funds are distributed nationally through intermediaries including registered investment advisers, model platforms, broker-dealers, consultants, retirement platforms and wealth management teams.

Aston is a wholly-owned, indirect subsidiary of Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (AMG).

Value Partners Group Limited
Headquartered in Hong Kong, Value Partners Group Lim­ited (Value Partners Group), the parent holding company of Value Partners and various subsidiaries, is a public company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and one of Asia's largest asset management firms. The primary business is asset management. Value Partners Group manage absolute return long biased funds, long-short hedge funds, exchange-traded funds, fixed income funds as well as segregated portfolios for institutional inves­tors, individual clients and white labelled/co-branded funds in Asia Pacific, Europe and United States.

AMG owns a minority interest in the public stock of the Value Partners Group.

Note:  The Fund is newly formed and does not have an operat­ing history. Investing in foreign and emerging and frontier market secu­rities involve risks related to adverse political and economic developments unique to a country or a region and currency exchange fluctuations. The Fund's exposure to The People's Republic of China ("PRC") companies and products such as participatory notes may involve additional liquidity, tax and counterparty risks. The Fund may invest in products that in­volve additional risks such as, REITs which may be affected by changes in the values of their underlying properties and general economic conditions; derivative transactions which could expose the Fund to the effects of leverage and magnify potential losses; commodity futures and options which involve significantly greater volatility than investments in tradition­al securities and high yield securities (commonly known as "junk bonds") which are considered speculative and present a heightened risk of default and liquidity risk

Value investing involves the risk that an investment made in undervalued securities may not appreciate in value as antici­pated or remain undervalued for long periods of time. The Fund may hold a significant cash balance for a sustained pe­riod and the benefit to the Fund of any market upswing may likely be reduced.

Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the ASTON/Value Partners Asia Dividend Fund carefully before investing. Please call 800 597-9704 for a prospectus which contains this and other information about the Fund. Read it carefully before you invest or send money.

Aston Funds are distributed by Foreside Distributors LLC.

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SOURCE Aston Asset Management, LLC