Aston to Soft Close the ASTON/River Road Dividend All Cap Value Fund (ARDEX, ARIDX)

CHICAGO, Dec. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Aston Asset Management, LP (Aston) has announced that it will implement a "Soft Close" of the ASTON/River Road Dividend All Cap Value Fund ("the Fund"), on or about December 16, 2011. 

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The Soft Close will mean that the Fund will close to new investors but remain open to existing shareholders.  The supplement sets forth the details of the Soft Close and can be found on the Aston Funds website, www.astonfunds.com.  The supplement explains that certain exceptions may apply.

"Investors searching for funds with an income-producing objective may be disappointed to learn that we need to Soft Close the ASTON/River Road Dividend All Cap Value Fund," said Stuart D. Bilton, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Aston. "However, we must protect the integrity of the Fund's investment process."

The Fund's portfolio managers are Henry W. Sanders, III CFA, Thomas S. Forsha, CFA, and James C. Shircliff, CFA, of River Road Asset Management, LLC.     

"Today's low interest rate environment has been very challenging for investors seeking income from traditional bond funds," added Bilton.  "At Aston, we have been pleased to offer clients alternative income solutions. The ASTON/DoubleLine Core Plus Fixed Income Fund, the ASTON/TCH Fixed Income Fund and the ASTON/MD Sass Enhanced Equity Fund remain open for investment."      

The ASTON/DoubleLine Core Plus Fixed Income Fund (ADBLX, ADLIX) uses an investment process that integrates bottom-up security analysis with top-down sector allocation.  The Fund takes a more aggressive asset allocation approach seeking to find yield in uncommon places.

The ASTON/TCH Fixed Income Fund (CHTBX, CTBIX) seeks to maximize current income by focusing on independent fundamental security research to gain from inefficiencies in various bond market sectors. 

The goal of the ASTON/MD Sass Enhanced Equity Fund (AMBEX, AMDSX) is to combine income with capital appreciation. The Fund has a focused portfolio of dividend-paying stocks and is supplemented by writing out-of-the-money covered calls on the securities.  This could potentially dampen volatility and may add a third component to total return.

To request more information please contact Tony Kono at 973-732-3521 or [email protected]

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 subadviser and the needs of clients.  As of November 30, 2011, Aston is the adviser to twenty-five mutual funds with total net assets of approximately $9.6 billion.  Our funds are distributed nationally through intermediaries including registered investment advisors, model platforms, broker-dealers, consultants, retirement platforms and wealth management teams.

About River Road Asset Management, LLC
River Road Asset Management, LLC is an institutional asset management firm based in Louisville, KY.  The firm specializes in value-oriented equity investment management. With $4.4 billion in assets, as of September 30, 2011, River Road provides institutional separate account and investment sub-advisory services to a broad range of domestic and international clients. River Road's strategies are available to retail investors through five mutual funds in the Aston Funds family.  River Road is an Aviva Investors company.

Note: Small- and Mid-cap stocks are considered riskier than large-cap stocks due to greater potential volatility and less liquidity.  Value investing often involves buying the stocks of companies that are currently out of favor that may decline further. 

Bond funds are subject to interest-rate and credit risk similar to individual bonds. As interest-rates rise or credit quality suffers, an investor is susceptible to loss of principal. Additional financial instruments that the Fund may use, including high-yield bonds, foreign bonds, and derivatives, are subject to additional risks. Additionally, asset-backed/mortgage-backed securities risk, call risk and emerging market risk are principal risks associated with investment in the fund.

By selling covered call options, a Fund limits its opportunity to profit from an increase in the price of the underlying stock above the exercise price, but continues to bear the risk of a decline in the stock. A liquid market may not exist for options held by the Fund. If the Fund is not able to close out an options transaction, it will not be able to sell the underlying security until the option expires or is exercised. While the Fund receives premiums for writing the call options, the price it realizes from the exercise of an option could be substantially below a stock's current market price. Premiums from the Fund's sale of call options typically will result in short-term capital gain taxes, making it ill-suited for investors seeking a tax efficient investment.

The use of derivatives by the Fund to hedge risk may reduce the opportunity for gain by offsetting the positive effect of favorable price movements. There is no guarantee that derivatives, to the extent employed, will have the intended effect, and their use could cause lower returns or even losses to the Fund.

Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the 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 BNY Mellon Distributors Inc.

Contact:  
Tony Kono
JCPR
973-732-3521
[email protected]

SOURCE Aston Asset Management, LP