Destra Investments [see profile], the firm co-founded by former Janus intermediary distribution head Dominic Martellaro, has expanded its lineup of funds. Destra's Preferred and Income Securities Fund, sub-advised by Flaherty and Crumrine, and the Focused Equity Fund, sub-advised by WestEnd Advisors LLC, became effective Friday last week.

The two join three other mutual funds on Destra's roster: International L-Series Fund, Global L-Series Fund and U.S. All Cap L-Series Fund. The three funds, sub-advised by Roger Ibbotson's Zebra Capital Management, became effective last December.

Martellaro expects the funds to start taking in assets by May 1.

Destra's sub-advised approach "allows us to really scan the universe of opportunities out there," Martellaro said. "We have no desire to pin ourselves down with in-house management."

Martellaro left Janus in February of last year. He went on to start Destra with Nick Dalmaso, who serves as co-chairman, general counsel and chief operating officer. Of the eight people on Destra's leadership team, three are Claymore alums, including Dalmaso. Three on the leadership team, including Martellaro, are Janus alums.

Destra has a total of 20 employees.

Heading up distribution efforts is Jim Yount, who was previously national sales manager for the wirehouse and Edward Jones channel at Goldman Sachs Asset Management and before that worked at Janus.

Destra has eight external wholesalers and within the next seven days, the company will have a team of four internal wholesalers in place, Martellaro said.

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Company Press Release

DESTRA ANNOUNCES EXPANDING LINEUP OF MUTUAL FUNDS

Offering Combines Multiple, Highly Specialized Asset Managers on a Single Platform

LISLE, ILL— April 11, 2011 — Destra Capital Management, an investment advisory firm that specializes in offering managers with original investment theories, announced today an expanding lineup of mutual funds designed to achieve superior performance while managing downside risk. Destra’s mission is to partner with premier institutional asset managers to provide advisors with uniquely positioned investment strategies that pursue alpha in a responsible way.

"Destra has put together an innovative lineup of funds that directly responds to the evolving needs of today's advisors," said Destra CEO Dominic C. Martellaro. "Advisors are seeking strategies that emphasize income while accounting for inflation, particularly as the retiree population grows. In addition, advisors seek strategies that pursue excess returns both through downside risk management and innovative investment theories. We are assembling a platform of managers who are uniquely positioned to make a difference in portfolio construction, whether as recognized leaders in their fields or as pioneers in offering wholly new and proprietary approaches."

Destra's newest funds are The Preferred and Income Securities Fund and Focused Equity Fund which launched on April 8, 2011. Destra is the investment advisor to both Funds. The Preferred and Income Securities Fund is subadvised by Flaherty and Crumrine, which specializes in the management of preferred securities. The Focused Equity Fund is subadvised by WestEnd Advisors LLC, which specializes in sector-focused equities strategies.

The Preferred and Income Securities Fund's objective seeks to achieve total return, with an emphasis on high current income. "Destra is excited to team up with Flaherty and Crumrine on a fund focused on generating income through the preferred securities market, a relatively small and overlooked segment. This Fund will utilize Flaherty and Crumrine’s deep experience to take advantage of pockets of market inefficiency, find and exploit opportunities," said Destra Chief Investment Officer Peter G. Amendolair.

The Focused Equity Fund's objective is to seek long-term capital appreciation. "The cornerstone of WestEnd’s philosophy is that sector and industry performance is highly correlated with particular stages of the business cycle," Mr. Amendolair said. "Destra is partnering with WestEnd to offer a Fund that targets high-quality, market-leading companies within favored sectors."

The new funds build on Destra's existing lineup of mutual funds subadvised by Zebra Capital Management: International L-Series Fund, Global L-Series Fund and U.S. All Cap L-Series Fund. These Funds are based on the pioneering research of Zebra founders Roger Ibbotson, Ph.D. and Zhiwu Chen, Ph.D., which suggests that stocks with low trading volumes offer better discounts and outperform more actively traded peers over time.

Destra's asset management partners also currently includes Aviva Investors, which Destra is in the process of collaborating with on forthcoming products, including a Global Index Opportunities Fund designed to tap into opportunities arising from a mis-pricing of stocks surrounding various global equity indexes.

"Destra brings the experience, knowledge and relationships needed to recognize new and promising investment concepts, match strategies with optimal vehicle design, and effectively deliver solutions to the marketplace," said Mr. Martellaro. “We source integrity as much as investment prowess, helping advisors navigate the marketplace by seeking out the best managers and ascertaining which investment concepts have potential to add the most value."

About Destra Capital Management

Destra Capital Management is an investment management consultancy that specializes in connecting financial advisors with original and differentiated strategies. Destra partners with premier institutional investment managers who are uniquely positioned to pursue superior performance while managing downside risk. The company's strategies are currently available through sub-advised mutual funds and closed-end funds. Destra is headquartered in Lisle, Ill. For more information, visit www.destracapital.com. ###  

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