MutualFundWire.com: Post-Deal, GE's Retail Mutual Funds Take a New Name

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Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Post-Deal, GE's Retail Mutual Funds Take a New Name

Highland Funds Asset Management has completed its adoption of the GE Funds. Effective February 18, Dallas, Texas-based Highland became the investment adviser to the funds, with GE Asset Management continuing as sub-adviser. [SEC filing]. The exception is the GE Small-Cap Equity Fund, which uses third-party sub-advisors.

GE's retail funds now sport the Highland brand.

The GE fund family is made up of 16 mutual funds, 12 of which are active, for individual investors. The funds have AUM of about $1.2 billion. They join four mutual funds managed by Highland or its affiliates. The four have $2.1 billion in AUM.

Highland and GEAM first unveiled the adoption deal last September. Shareholders of the funds gave their blessing to the transaction in December.

Company Press Release

Highland Now New Investment Adviser For GE Funds

DALLAS and STAMFORD, Conn., Feb. 22, 2011 -- Highland Funds Asset Management, L.P. ("Highland") and GE Asset Management Incorporated ("GEAM") announced today the completion of Highland's appointment as the new investment adviser for the GE Funds. The GE Funds Board of Trustees had approved the proposal in September 2010, and the action received the required approvals from the shareholders of the funds in December.

Highland now serves as the funds' investment adviser with GEAM continuing to manage the assets of all of these funds as sub-adviser, with the exception of the GE Small-Cap Equity Fund, which currently uses other third-party sub-advisers.

The GE Funds family is comprised of 16 mutual funds, 12 of which are active, for individual investors with approximately $1.2 billion in total assets. Highland has rebranded the GE Funds as part of the Highland Funds family, which currently consists of a family of four other mutual funds managed by Highland or its affiliates with approximately $2.1 billion in total retail assets under management. The GE Funds' array of offerings complements Highland's lineup and provides the Highland Funds family with a broader product range.

The appointment of Highland as the GE Funds' new investment adviser combines Highland's and its affiliates' established advisor and retail distribution capabilities with GEAM's capabilities as an investment manager.

"We are delighted to be able to offer investors such a broad and diverse suite of funds as we continue to build out our unique platform and expand our client base," said Joe Dougherty, President and CEO of Highland Funds.

"We look forward to growing our relationship with Highland Funds for many years to come," added Mike Cosgrove, President and CEO of Mutual Funds and Intermediary Business at GEAM. "Their experience and established presence will allow us to bring our investment capabilities to an even wider group of investors while we focus our efforts on our core strengths as an asset manager."

The diversified fund offerings now active on the Highland platform are:

Highland Global Equity Fund
Highland International Equity Fund
Highland Core Value Equity Fund
Highland Premier Growth Equity Fund
Highland Small-Cap Equity Fund
Highland U.S. Equity Fund
Highland Total Return Fund
Highland Fixed Income Fund
Highland Government Securities Fund
Highland Short-Term Government Fund
Highland Tax-Exempt Fund
Highland Money Market Fund II

The above funds would complement Highland's existing offerings:

Highland Floating Rate Fund
Highland Floating Rate Advantage Fund
Highland Long/Short Equity Fund
Highland Long/Short Healthcare Fund

About Highland Funds Asset Management

Based in Dallas, Texas, Highland Funds Asset Management is an SEC registered investment advisor to the Highland Funds. Highland Funds is known as one of the premier providers of unique fund strategies distributed through financial intermediaries. The Highland Funds complex consists of a number of distinct registered investment companies falling into three types: open-end "mutual" funds; closed-end "interval" funds; and traditional closed-end funds. With the GE Funds, Highland Funds will have over $3.3 billion in retail assets under management.

Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Highland Funds carefully before investing. Please call 1-877-665-1287 or visit www.highlandfunds.com for more information on the Funds. Please read the prospectus carefully before you invest.

Securities may be offered through NexBank Securities, Inc., an affiliate of Highland Capital Management, L.P. NexBank Securities, Inc. is a FINRA member firm.

About GE Asset Management Incorporated

GEAM is a global asset manager wholly owned by General Electric Company, an advanced technology, services and finance company taking on the world's toughest challenges. Built on an 80-year heritage of investment experience, GEAM, along with its subsidiaries, today manages approximately $119 billion (as of December 31, 2010) in total assets. Portfolios managed by GEAM and its subsidiaries include client assets for leading institutions and individual investors around the world, and the $45 billion GE U.S. Pension Trust. Investment strategies are offered across all major asset classes, including U.S. and non-U.S. equities, fixed income, and alternative assets.