There's a new managed futures mutual fund in town. Today, Atlanta-based alternative investment shop Aspen Partners [see profile] formally took the wraps off the Aspen Managed Futures Strategy. Nomura International plc seeded the fund with $20 million on August 2.

The fund comes in a pair of share classes: A, with an expense ratio of of 180 basis points and I, with an expense ratio of 155 bps. [prospectus]

"Our intent is to make it as easy as possible for investors to gain access to alternative investment strategies," said Ben Warwick, Aspen's co-chief investment officer, in a press release Tuesday morning.

Aspen hired ALPS Fund Services as administrator and Standard & Poor's Financial Services as calculation agent.

As of October 5, there were a total of 21 managed futures mutual funds, which hold a combined $7 billion of assets, according to a Wall Street Journal article. Players in the space include Rydex|SGI, Ramius and AQR.

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Company Press Release

Aspen Partners Announces Launch of Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund

ATLANTA, Oct 18, 2011 -- Aspen Partners, Ltd ("Aspen"), an alternative investment management firm, has announced the launch of the Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund (the "Fund.") The Fund is available in the following share classes:

A Class (load) Ticker: MFBPX CUSIP: 317609428
I Class Ticker: MFBTX CUSIP: 317609410


The Fund seeks to generate returns that correspond to the performance of managed futures, an asset class that offers return attributes not found in traditional stock and bond investments. Since a managed futures strategy may generally perform better during periods of high market volatility -- periods typically characterized by equity market losses -- its inclusion can potentially add to portfolio returns while reducing overall portfolio volatility.

The Fund is based on the Managed Futures Beta Index (MFBI) to be a systematic proxy for returns in the managed futures industry. "Our approach allows investors the opportunity to invest in a mutual fund with daily liquidity and potentially provide competitive managed futures returns," said Ben Warwick, co-Chief Investment Officer of Aspen. "Our intent is to make it as easy as possible for investors to gain access to alternative investment strategies. We believe that our unique, proprietary approach is the next step in the evolution of such products." The MFBI is published daily on Bloomberg (amfbi:IND) and Reuters (.AMFBI).

Aspen has formed a strategic partnership with Nomura International plc which includes Nomura seeding the Fund with an initial investment of $20 million on August 2, 2011. Aspen has appointed Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC to be the calculation agent and ALPS Fund Services, Inc. to be the administrator.

For additional information please call 866-277-3619, email info@aspenpartners.com, or visit www.aspenfuturesfund.com .

About Aspen Partners

Aspen Partners, Ltd is an alternative investment management firm that has been specializing in managed futures since 1996. The firm has an extensive research team with over a century of combined experience of investing in managed futures.

Aspen employs innovative strategies which are structured with thorough due diligence and risk controls. These include both active and passive solutions for clients seeking managed futures exposure.

An investor should consider investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing, including "Additional Risks" as described in the prospectus. To obtain a prospectus, which contains this and other information, call 1-855-845-9444 or visit www.aspenfuturesfund.com . Read the prospectus carefully before investing.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. The fund is new and has limited operating history. This fund is not suitable for all investors. An investment in the Fund is subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested. Please see the Fund's Prospectus for additional risk disclosures.

The MFBI is constructed using a quantitative, rules-based model designed to replicate the trend-following and counter-trend exposure of futures markets by allocating assets to liquid futures contracts of certain financial and commodities futures markets. The Index therefore seeks to reflect the performance of strategies and exposures common to a broad universe of futures markets, i.e., managed futures beta. The index does not accept direct investments.

The Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund is distributed by ALPS Distributors, Inc.

 

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