Company Press Release

American Independence Creates Mutual Funds Sub-Advised by Cougar Global

  Four new funds featuring downside risk management, driven by Cougar Global’s MAR methodology, are designed for risk-aware financial advisors and their clients

  New York, N.Y. – Jan. 7, 2014 – American Independence Financial Services, LLC (“American Independence”), a New York-based investment advisory firm and manager of mutual funds and separate accounts, today announced the creation of four funds based on strategies from Cougar Global Investments Limited (“Cougar Global”), a Toronto-based investment manager specializing in global tactical exchange traded fund (“ETF”) portfolios. The funds are based on Cougar Global’s ETF-based Macroeconomic Assessment of Risk (MAR) strategy, a macro-driven tactical ETF asset allocation methodology offering downside risk protection. American Independence will provide oversight, marketing, administration and execution. The funds will be marketed to financial intermediaries in the U.S.

  “These funds are structured for investors who are concerned about equity market volatility, but do not want to miss out on the wealth-accumulation possibilities that the markets have to offer. The MAR strategy helps investors get invested when the macro picture is favorable and shift to a defensive posture when it’s not, seeking the highest return consistent with a limited probability of loss,” said Charles McNally of American Independence, co-portfolio manager of the funds.

  The strategies underlying the MAR Tactical Funds are ideal for core portfolios, each providing a variable balance of income and growth. However, the strategies’ modest correlations with traditional asset classes also make the MAR Tactical Funds useful as actively managed portfolio diversifiers.

  The funds are as follows:

  ·       MAR Tactical Conservative Fund which seeks attractive returns while targeting at most a 5% probability of loss, targeted at clients seeking regular withdrawals for income purposes.

·       MAR Tactical Moderate Growth Fund which seeks attractive returns while targeting at most a 10% probability of loss, is for clients with occasional income needs and moderate risk appetite.

·       MAR Tactical Growth Fund which seeks attractive returns while targeting at most a 15% probability of loss, is for clients with a long-term investment horizon.

·       MAR Tactical Aggressive Growth Fund which seeks attractive returns while targeting at most a 20% probability of loss, is for clients with a long-term investment horizon who are willing to tolerate higher volatility.

  The Cougar Global MAR strategies employ a rigorous top-down investment discipline that seeks to achieve the compound growth rate required for investors to meet their specific financial goals over time, while managing downside risk by limiting the probability of negative returns in any given year. The investment process incorporates multiple macroeconomic scenario analyses and third-party research. It then constructs portfolios designed to perform with the appropriate risk/return trade-offs.

  “Creating these funds represent the next step in our developing partnership with Cougar Global. We’re pleased to be able to bring these products to our financial intermediaries in the U.S.,” said John Pileggi, Managing Partner of American Independence.

  Follow American Independence on Twitter @AmIndependence.

  About American Independence Financial Services, LLC

American Independence is an investment advisory firm registered with the SEC providing professional, actively managed investment advisory services to 11 American Independence funds, as well as separately managed accounts, aggregating approximately $1 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2013. The firm is comprised of industry leaders with over 25 years of average industry tenure. To learn more about American Independence, visit http://www.americanindependence.com or call (646) 843-6901.

  About Cougar Global

Founded in 1993 by Dr. James Breech, Cougar Global Investments Limited has demonstrated solid performance in both bull and bear market conditions by employing a global tactical asset allocation methodology using exchange traded funds (ETFs) to implement the asset mix decisions. Cougar Global’s team of investment professionals manages or advises approximately $1.4 billion in total assets as of November 2013. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, the firm has 250 private clients globally and provides investment solutions for advisory platforms in the U.S.  To learn more, visit http://www.cougarglobal.com/.