Aston Asset Management [profile] just launched a new small cap value fund. Today the Chicago-based mutual fund unleashed the Aston/Silvercrest Small Cap Fund (ASCTX and ACRTX), sub-advised by New York City-based value equity, institutional asset manager Silvercrest Asset Management Group.

Aston president Ken Anderson told MFWire.com last month about the fund's impending launch [see MFWire.com, 11/21/2011]. The move follows the partial closing of another Aston small cap value fund Aston/River Road Independent Value, earlier this month [see MFWire.com, 12/6/2011].

Silvercrest managing director and lead equity investment strategies PM Roger Vogel leads the sub-advisory team for the new fund. He joined Silvercrest nine years ago. He also served as a small-cap and large-cap PM at Donaldson, Lufkin and Jenrette and then at Credit Suisse (after Credit Suisse merged with DLJ).

Aston chairman and CEO Stuart Bilton praised Silvercrest as "well-suited to Aston's model of partnering with quality institutional investment managers that follow disciplined investment processes."

Aston worked with 25 mutual funds and $9.6 billion in assets as of November 30.

Company Press Release

CHICAGO, Dec. 27, 2011 -- Aston Asset Management, LP (Aston) is pleased to announce the addition of a new mutual fund to its family of funds, the ASTON/Silvercrest Small Cap Fund (Tickers: ASCTX N-Class, ACRTX I-Class). The Fund opens to investors on December 27, 2011.

Aston will act as the investment adviser to the Fund, while Silvercrest Asset Management Group LLC (Silvercrest) will act as subadviser and will be responsible for day-to-day management of the Fund. Silvercrest is an independent wealth advisory and institutional asset management boutique based in New York, NY, with a specialty in highly disciplined, quality-oriented, value equity strategies.

"Silvercrest is well-suited to Aston's model of partnering with quality institutional investment managers that follow disciplined investment processes," said Stuart D. Bilton, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Aston. "We are delighted to be opening the ASTON/Silvercrest Small Cap Fund with them."

The Fund's subadvisory team is headed by Roger W. Vogel, CFA, Managing Director at Silvercrest. Mr. Vogel has been the lead portfolio manager for Silvercrest's equity investment strategies team since he joined Silvercrest in April of 2002. Prior to Silvercrest, Mr. Vogel was a Managing Director at Credit Suisse Asset Management where he co-managed both small-cap and large-cap portfolios. He arrived at Credit Suisse as a result of the merger with Donaldson, Lufkin and Jenrette (DLJ), where he worked since 1993 in a similar capacity. Prior to DLJ, Mr. Vogel was a portfolio manager at Chemical Bank and Manufacturers Hanover Trust.

"Our equity management team has exten�sive experience in managing small cap portfolios using a time-tested investment approach," said Mr. Vogel. "Through our partnership with Aston, we are pleased to offer investors our small cap strategy in a mutual fund format."

The ASTON/Silvercrest Small Cap Fund's investment objective seeks to provide long-term capital appreciation. By focusing on better quality businesses as gauged by returns on capital, balance sheet strength, dominant market shares in niche businesses and other measures, Silvercrest looks to invest in attractively-valued companies that have the potential to grow over time.

"We are very pleased that 2011 was such a good year for Aston," added Bilton. "In addition to Silvercrest, we have partnered with several new subadvisers: DoubleLine Capital, Cornerstone Investment Partners, and Harrison Street Securities. We also opened a long-short fund which is our fifth Fund with River Road Asset Management."

The ASTON/DoubleLine Core Plus Fund (ADBLX, ADLIX) was launched on July 18, 2011. Cornerstone Investment Partners was appointed subadviser to the ASTON/Cornerstone Large Cap Value Fund (RVALX, AAVIX) on July 15, 2011. Harrison Street Securities was appointed subadviser to the ASTON/Harrison Street Real Estate Fund (ARFCX, AARIX) on June 30, 2011. The ASTON/River Road Long-Short Fund (ARLSX) was opened on May 4, 2011.

To request more information contact Tony Kono at (973) 850-7323 or tkono@jcprinc.com.

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.

Note: Small-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.

Real estate funds are non-diversified and may be more susceptible to risk than funds that invest more broadly. Risks include declines from deteriorating economic conditions, changes in the value of the underlying property, and defaults by borrowers. Investing in foreign markets also entails the risk of social and political instability, market illiquidity, and currency volatility.

Short sales may involve the risk that the fund will incur a loss by subsequently buying a security at a higher price than the price at which the fund previously sold the security short. A loss incurred on a short sale results from increases in the value of the security; losses on a short sale are theoretically unlimited. Value investing often involves buying the stocks of companies that are currently out of favor that may decline further. Investing in exchange traded and closed end funds are subject to additional risk that shares of the underlying fund may trade at a premium or discount to their net asset value per share. Convertible preferred securities are subject to the risks of equity securities and fixed income securities. Derivatives can be highly volatile and involve risk in addition to the risk of the underlying reference security. Investing in the securities of foreign issuers involves special risks and considerations not typically associated with investing in U.S. companies.

Before investing, carefully consider the Fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. Contact 800 992-8151 for a prospectus containing this and other information. Read it carefully.

Aston Funds are distributed by BNY Mellon Distributors Inc.

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