The Aston/River Road Small Cap Value Fund may close soon to new investors. On Tuesday Aston Asset Management revealed its intentions to shutter the N and I shares of the $386 million fund to new investors by May 22.

"The Board of Trustees of Aston Funds has approved this action in order to ensure the integrity of the Fund's investment process and in keeping with the shareholder's best interests," the statement reads.

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Company Press Release

CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwire - May 5, 2009) - Aston Asset Management LLC ("Aston") has announced that the Aston/River Road Small Cap Value Fund Class N and Class I (the "Fund") will likely close soon to new investors based on an increase in net assets. The Board of Trustees of Aston Funds has approved this action in order to ensure the integrity of the Fund's investment process and in keeping with the shareholders' best interests. The close is expected to occur on or about May 22, 2009.

The close is designed to be a "soft close" meaning the Fund will remain open to existing shareholders. Further, where operationally feasible, financial advisors who currently have clients invested in the Fund may continue to buy shares for existing and future clients and participants in retirement plans which utilize the Fund as an investment option may continue to direct contributions to the Fund. Additional exceptions may also apply.

The Fund has approximately $386 million of net assets as of May 4, 2009. When the "soft close" occurs, a supplement to the prospectus will be made available. The supplement will set forth the details of the soft close.

About Aston Asset Management LLC

Aston Asset Management LLC, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, is a diversified institutional investment management firm. Aston offers investment management services to the mutual fund and separately managed account markets. Aston is the advisor to twenty-five mutual funds with total net assets of approximately $4.4 billion as of April 30, 2009.

Note: Small-cap stocks are considered riskier than large-cap stocks due to greater potential volatility and less liquidity.

Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Aston Funds carefully before investing. Please call 800 597-9704 for a prospectus which contains this and other information about the Funds. Read it carefully before you invest or send money. Aston Funds are distributed by PFPC Distributors, Inc. 

Edited by: Neil Anderson, Managing Editor


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