Forward Management is adding new share classes to four of its funds. The Forward Emerging Markets Fund is bucking the trend of funds shifting away from front-end loads by launching an A share class. The shares will carry an expense ratio of 575 bps.
The Forward Long/Short Credit Analysis Fund, Forward Legato Fund and Forward Progressive Real Estate Fund will now be available in institutional shares. The new share class will have an $100,000 investment minimum.
Company Press Release
San Francisco, 29 May, 2008 -- Forward Management, LLC announced the
introduction of Institutional share classes for the Forward
Long/ShortCredit Analysis Fund, Forward Legato Fund and Forward
Progressive Real Estate Fund. In addition, Forward has introduced
Class A shares for the Forward Emerging Markets Fund.
“The institutional share classes will provide our larger shareholders
with a more cost effective way of investing in the Forward Funds. The
new share classes also deepen our offerings for the retirement plan
and institutional market place,” said J. Alan Reid, Jr., President of
Forward Management.
The new Institutional share classes have lower expenses and $100,000
investment minimums and Class A shares have a 5.75% front-end load.
Forward Long/Short Credit Analysis Fund (Investor Class: FLSRX,
Institutional Class: FLSIX, Class A: FLSDX) uses a credit-based,
relative value approach, attempting to maximize total returns while
minimizing risk. The management team focuses on identifying
opportunities created by market anomalies and inefficiencies across a
wide variety of credit markets.
Forward Legato Fund (Institutional Class: FFLFX, Class A: FFLMX)
invests in small-cap companies, employing a multi-manager approach and
allocating portions to three different sub-advisors who utilize
growth, value and core investment strategies.
Forward Progressive Real Estate Fund (Investor Class: FFREX,
Institutional Class: FPREX) uses an active management strategy of
fundamental financial analyses and qualitative criteria to uncover
socially and environmentally progressive real estate management
companies.
Forward Emerging Markets Fund (Investor Class: PGERX, Institutional
Class: PTEMX, Class A: FEMAX) seeks long-term capital appreciation by
investing at least 80% of its portfolio in securities of countries
considered emerging markets. The highly specialized portfolio team
focuses on undervalued companies with strong fundamentals.
About Forward Management, LLC
Forward Management, LLC, based in San Francisco, is the investment
advisor to the Forward Funds, a family of sixteen mutual funds. The
firm also markets a range of separately managed accounts including
Small-Cap and Mid-Cap Intrinsic Value, REIT, Micro Cap and High Income
Total Return. Forward Management is an affiliate of ReFlow Management
Co., LLC, which developed ReFlow, an innovative liquidity tool for
portfolio managers that provides enhanced performance and tax
efficiency. ReFlow is used by the Forward Funds, as well as other
leading mutual fund managers.
Forward Management offers institutional money managers, financial
advisors and individual investors access to industry leading
investment managers, investment products and services. The firm
specializes in identifying sub-advisors who have long track records of
managing assets in specific investment disciplines and asset classes.
More information on Forward Management and the Forward Funds can be
found at www.forwardmgmt.com.
You should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and
expenses of the Forward Funds carefully before investing. A prospectus
with this and other information may be obtained by calling (800)
999-6809 or by downloading one from www.forwardfunds.com. It should be
read carefully before investing.
There are risks involved with investing, including loss of principal.
Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investing in
foreign securities, especially emerging markets, will involve certain
additional risks, including exchange rate fluctuations, less
liquidity, greater volatility and less regulation.
Real estate funds will be subject to a higher degree of market risk
due to concentration in a specific industry or in geographic regions.
Investments in real estate and REITS have various risks including
vacancies and devaluation based upon adverse economic or regulatory
changes. High-yield bonds involve a greater risk of default and price
volatility than U.S. Government and other high quality bonds.
High-yield/high-risk bonds can experience sudden and sharp price
swings which will affect net asset value.
Forward Funds are distributed by ALPS Distributors, Inc.
Alan Reid is a registered representative of ALPS Distributors, Inc.
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