Cohen & Steers [profile] earlier this month broadened its product lineup with the rollout of the Cohen & Steers Real Assets Fund.

"Considering our long history of investing in REITs and infrastructure, it was a natural step for our firm to broaden our real assets focus and bring this timely and unique solution to investors," said co-chairman and co-CEO Robert Steers, in a press release.

Senior PM Yigal D. Jhirad is running the mutual fund, which comes in five share classes.

Expense ratios are 139 basis points for A shares, 204 bps for C shares, 104 bps for I shares, 154 for R shares and 119 bps for Z shares.

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Company Press Release

Cohen & Steers Launches Real Assets Fund Focused on Long-term Total Return and Inflation Protection

NEW YORK, March 7, 2012 -- Cohen & Steers today announced the launch of Cohen & Steers Real Assets Fund, which seeks to deliver long-term total return and to maximize real returns during inflationary environments.

Cohen & Steers Real Assets Fund invests primarily in securities backed by core real assets, such as commodities, natural resource equities and REITs. According to president and chief investment officer Joseph M. Harvey, "These groups are all attractive from a fundamental perspective. With values driven by increasing demand, barriers to supply and rising replacement costs, they also have inflation-fighting tendencies, which are the key to maintaining long-term purchasing power."

"The new fund offers an approach that will help investment portfolios overcome the corrosive effects of inflation," said co-chairman and co-CEO, Robert Steers. "Considering our long history of investing in REITs and infrastructure, it was a natural step for our firm to broaden our real assets focus and bring this timely and unique solution to investors."

Cohen & Steers holds the view that changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) do not fully measure true economic inflation. For this reason, the Fund is not focused on investments pegged to CPI, like Treasury Inflation Protected Securities. "We believe massive global stimulus and sustained emerging markets growth will ultimately drive prices higher," said Mr. Harvey, "and this will elevate the importance of protecting a portfolio's purchasing power. In our view, it's not too soon to prepare for this outcome with a diversified allocation to real assets." For additional perspective, see Cohen & Steers new whitepaper, The Elements of Investing in Real Assets, which is available on the Firm's website at www.cohenandsteers.com.

The fund is managed by senior portfolio manager Yigal D. Jhirad, who has 24 years of investment experience. Cohen & Steers will oversee the asset allocation and manages the Fund's real estate securities, gold and multi-currency fixed income components. The allocations to commodities and natural resource equities are managed by industry-leading sub-advisers Gresham Investment Management and Investec Asset Management, respectively. According to Mr. Jhirad, "The Fund brings together proven managers with best-in-class research and investment processes. When combined, this specialized expertise offers a unique and disciplined allocation in a professionally managed real assets portfolio."

The fund offers Class A, C, I, R and Z shares to accommodate the needs of different investors. Shares will be available for purchase through financial advisors and other distributors across the country.

More information is available at cohenandsteers.com.

About Cohen & Steers. Founded in 1986, Cohen & Steers is a leading global investment management firm focused on global real estate securities, global listed infrastructure, real assets, large cap value stocks, and preferred securities. The company also manages alternative investment strategies for qualified investors, such as hedged real estate securities portfolios and private real estate multimanager strategies. Headquartered in New York City, with offices in London, Brussels, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Seattle, Cohen & Steers serves institutional and individual investors through a broad range of investment vehicles.

 

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