ASTON/DoubleLine Core Plus Fixed Income Fund Marks Three-Year Anniversary; Earns Five-Star Morningstar Rating Based On Risk-Adjusted Returns

CHICAGO, Aug. 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Aston Asset Management, LLC (Aston) announced today that its ASTON/DoubleLine Core Plus Fixed Income Fund (the "Fund") has reached its three-year anniversary and has earned a 5-Star Overall and three-year rating from Morningstar.  The Fund was rated against 934 funds in the Morningstar Intermediate-Term Bond Category for its risk-adjusted performance for the Overall and three-year period ending July 31, 2014.

"We are very pleased by the 5-Star Morningstar rating, "said Stuart D. Bilton, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Aston. "It is a testament to the rigor of DoubleLine's investment process and the exceptional skill of Jeffrey Gundlach and the portfolio management team in executing a unique strategy that blends active management of sector allocations with bottom-up security selection."

The Fund's lead portfolio manager is Jeffrey Gundlach, founder and Chief Executive Officer of DoubleLine Capital LP.  Mr. Gundlach, well known as an expert in fixed income investing and asset allocation, is joined in the management of the Fund by, among others, Philip Barach, President of DoubleLine; Bonnie Baha, head of DoubleLine's Global Developed Credit;  Luz Padilla, head of DoubleLine Emerging Markets Fixed Income; and Gregory Whiteley, Treasury securities portfolio manager.

"The key to the Fund's success has been our focus on pure active management – notably of sector allocation as well as individual security selection," Mr. Gundlach said.  "The ASTON/DoubleLine Core Plus Fixed Income Fund has broad flexibility in adjusting asset class exposures.  That flexibility enables the portfolio management team to endeavor to fully exploit sector-specific opportunities and, just as important, to manage risk through sector avoidance.  Through that careful integration of risk/reward trade-offs and pay-offs, the portfolio is always diversified into what we believe is the best fixed income opportunity set at any point in time."

The Fund seeks to maximize total return.  Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its assets in fixed income securities. Fixed income securities include, but are not limited to, securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored corporations; agency mortgage-backed securities; nonagency mortgage-backed securities; commercial mortgage-backed securities; asset-backed securities; foreign and domestic corporate bonds; fixed income securities issued by corporations and governments in foreign countries including emerging markets; securities issued by municipalities; and other securities bearing fixed interest rates of any maturity.

To request more information, please contact Tony Kono at 973-850-7323 or [email protected].

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 June 30, 2014, Aston is the adviser to 25 mutual funds with total net assets of approximately $16.3 billion. Our funds are distributed nationally through intermediaries including registered investment advisers, model platforms, broker-dealers, consultants, retirement platforms and wealth management teams.

About DoubleLine Capital LP
DoubleLine Capital LP, a registered investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, is headquartered in Los Angeles, CA. As of the June 30, 2014 end of the second quarter, DoubleLine managed approximately $52 billion in assets across 1940 open- and closed-end fund, separately managed account, variable annuity, UCIT and hedge fund vehicles. Its offices can be reached by telephone at (213) 633-8200 or by e-mail at [email protected]. Media can reach DoubleLine by e-mail at [email protected]. DoubleLine® is a registered trademark of DoubleLine Capital LP.

Note: 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 techniques that the Fund may use, including high-yield bonds, foreign bonds, derivatives, asset-backed/mortgage-backed securities, calls, and emerging markets, are subject to additional risks.

For each fund with at least a three-year history, Morningstar calculates a Morningstar Rating based on a Morningstar Risk-Adjusted Return measure that accounts for variation in a fund's monthly performance (including the effects of sales charges, loads, and redemption fees), placing more emphasis on downward variations and rewarding consistent performance. The top 10% of funds in each category receive 5 stars, the next 22.5% receive 4 stars, the next 35% receive 3 stars, the next 22.5% receive 2 stars, and the bottom 10% receive 1 star. The Overall Morningstar Rating is derived from a weighted-average of the performance figures associated with its three-, five-, and 10-year (if applicable) Morningstar Rating metrics. © Morningstar, Inc.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Fund carefully before investing. Please call 800 597-9704 for a prospectus or a summary 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 Funds Distributors LLC.

CONTACT: Tony Kono
Jennifer Connelly Public Relations
973-850-7323
[email protected]

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SOURCE Aston Asset Management, LLC