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ASTON/TAMRO Small Cap Fund

 

Summary Prospectus – March 3, 2014    Ticker: Class N–ATASX, Class I–ATSIX

 

Before you invest, you may want to review the Fund’s prospectus, which contains more information about the Fund and its risks. You can find the Fund’s prospectus and other information about the Fund online at www.astonfunds.com/forms-prospectuses . You can also get this information at no cost by calling 800-992-8151 or by sending an e-mail to contactfunds@astonasset.com. The Fund’s prospectus and statement of additional information, each dated February 28, 2014, are incorporated by reference to this summary prospectus.

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

The Fund seeks to provide long-term capital appreciation.

FEES AND EXPENSES

The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.

ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES

(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

         Class N Shares        Class I Shares  
Management Fees        0.90        0.90
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees        0.25        None   
Other Expenses        0.16        0.16
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses        1.31        1.06

Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example shows the operating expenses you would incur as a shareholder if you invested $10,000 in the Fund over the time periods shown and you redeem all your shares at the end of those periods. The example assumes that the average annual return was 5% and operating expenses remained the same.

Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the above assumptions, your costs would be:

 

         1 Year        3 Years        5 Years        10 Years  
Class N Shares      $ 133         $ 415         $ 718         $ 1,579   
Class I Shares        108           337           585           1,294   

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual Fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 71.28%.

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its assets in a blended portfolio of growth and value stocks of small-cap companies. The Fund defines companies with market capitalizations of up to $3.25 billion, at the time of acquisition, to be small-cap companies. The portfolio managers seek opportunities across the growth/value spectrum, resulting in what is generally considered a “core” portfolio.

The portfolio managers’ investment process focuses on bottom-up stock selection with the goal of identifying companies that possess a sustainable competitive advantage combined with an attractive valuation. A sustainable competitive advantage may be derived from a unique product or service offering, a capable and experienced management team, and financial flexibility in allocating capital.

Through the use of both qualitative and quantitative evaluation, the portfolio managers seek securities that they believe meet the specific criteria of one of three investment categories:

 

n  

Leaders (historically leading market share and above average profitability)

n  

Laggards (failed to create value in recent years, but have the potential for significant gains in profitability as new or reinvigorated management seeks to restructure operations)

n  

Innovators (commitment to the introduction of new or innovative products or services)

The Fund may invest in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), foreign securities (directly and through depositary receipts), convertible bonds, securities outside the small-cap range and cash-equivalent securities.

 

 

Aston Funds   1   Summary Prospectus


To manage risk, the portfolio managers limit position sizes, diversify across market sectors and adhere to a strong sell discipline.

PRINCIPAL RISKS

You could lose money by investing in the Fund. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s investment objective will be achieved. The following is a summary of the principal risks of investing in the Fund.

Convertible Security Risk. Convertible preferred securities, which are convertible into shares of the issuer’s common stock and also bear interest, are subject to the risks of equity securities and fixed income securities. The lower the conversion premium, the more likely the price of the convertible security will follow the price of the underlying common stock. Conversely, higher premium convertible securities are more likely to exhibit the behavior of bonds because the likelihood of conversion is lower. In that case, the prices of these convertible securities normally will fall as interest rates rise. Conversely, as rates fall, the prices of these convertible securities will rise.

The value of a convertible security is also affected by the credit quality of the issuer and any call provisions. There is the risk that the issuer of the security will not be able to make principal and/or interest payments as well as the risk that the holder of the security may not take advantage of the conversion features in the appropriate time frame.

Foreign Securities Risk. Investing in the securities of foreign issuers involves special risks and considerations in addition to those typically associated with investing in U.S. companies. The securities of foreign companies may be less liquid and their prices may fluctuate more widely than those traded in U.S. markets. Foreign companies and markets may also have less governmental supervision. There may be difficulty in enforcing contractual obligations against, and little public information about, the companies. Trades typically take more time to settle and clear, and the costs of buying and selling foreign securities are generally higher than the costs associated with buying and selling securities traded in U.S. markets.

The values of the securities held by the Fund may be affected by changes in exchange rates or control regulations. If a local currency gains against the U.S. dollar, the value of a holding denominated in that currency increases in U.S. dollar terms. If a local currency declines against the U.S. dollar, the value of the holding decreases in U.S. dollar terms. Changes in economic, tax or foreign investment policies, or other political, governmental or economic actions can adversely affect the value of the securities in the Fund. In foreign countries, accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and other regulatory practices and requirements are generally different from those required for U.S. companies. Investments in securities of foreign issuers may also be subject to foreign withholding and other taxes.

Growth Style Risk. Growth investing involves buying stocks that have relatively high price-to-earnings ratios. Growth stocks may be more volatile than other stocks because they are generally more sensitive to investor perceptions and market moves. During periods of growth stock underperformance, the Fund’s performance may suffer.

Liquidity Risk. When there is no willing buyer and a security cannot be readily sold at the desired time or price, the Fund may need to accept a lower price or may not be able to sell the security at all. An inability to sell securities can adversely affect the Fund’s value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities. Less liquid securities are more difficult to dispose of at their recorded values and are subject to increased spreads and volatility.

Manager Risk. The performance of the Fund is dependent upon the investment adviser’s skill in selecting managers and the portfolio manager’s skill in making appropriate investments. As a result, the Fund may underperform its benchmark or its peers.

Market Risk.  The Fund’s share price can move down in response to stock market conditions, changes in the economy or changes in a particular company’s stock price. An individual stock may decline in value even when the value of stocks in general is rising.

REIT Risk.  Securities of REITs may be affected by changes in the values of their underlying properties and by defaults by borrowers or tenants. Some REITs may have limited diversification and may be subject to risks inherent in investments in a limited number of properties, in a narrow geographic area, or in a single property type. The value of real estate is also affected by general economic conditions. When economic growth is slowing, demand for property decreases and prices may decline. Rising interest rates, which drive up mortgage and financing costs, can restrain construction and buying and selling activity, and may reduce the appeal of real estate investments. REITs depend generally on their ability to generate cash flow to make distributions to shareholders or unitholders, and may be subject to defaults by borrowers and self-liquidations. A REIT’s return may be adversely affected when interest rates are high or rising. Distributions from REITs generally are taxed as ordinary income for federal income tax purposes.

Small-Cap and Mid-Cap Company Risk. Investing in securities of small-cap and mid-cap companies may involve greater risks than investing in securities of larger, more established issuers. Small-cap and mid-cap companies generally have limited product lines, markets and financial resources. Their securities may trade less frequently and in more limited volume than the securities of larger, more established companies. Also, small-cap and mid-cap companies are typically subject to greater changes in earnings and business prospects than larger companies. As a result, their stock prices may experience greater volatility and may decline significantly in market downturns.

Value Style Risk. Value investing involves buying stocks that are out of favor and/or undervalued in comparison to their peers or their prospects for growth. Typically, their valuation levels are less than those of growth stocks. Because different types of stocks go out of favor with investors depending on market and economic conditions, the Fund’s return may be adversely affected during a market downturn and when value stocks are out of favor.

 

 

Aston Funds   2   Summary Prospectus


FUND PERFORMANCE

The bar chart shows how the performance of the Class N shares of the Fund has varied from year to year over the periods shown. Class N shares and Class I shares are invested in the same portfolio of securities, so the annual returns would differ only to the extent that the classes have different expenses. The annual returns of the Class I shares would be higher than the returns of the Class N shares due to 12b-1 fees paid by Class N shares. This information may help illustrate the risks of investing in the Fund. The Fund makes updated performance information available on the Fund’s website, www.astonfunds.com, or by calling toll-free 800-992-8151. As with all mutual funds, past performance (before and after taxes) does not guarantee future performance.

Class N Shares

Calendar Year Total Return

 

LOGO       
  Best quarter:     03/06         19.41
  Worst quarter:     12/08         (25.91 )% 
      
      
      

The following table indicates how the Fund’s average annual returns for different calendar periods compared to the returns of a broad-based securities market index.

Average Annual Total Returns

(For the periods ended December 31, 2013)

 

       ASTON/TAMRO Small Cap Fund  
         1 Year        5 Years        10 Years      Since Inception  
Class N Shares (Inception 11/30/00):                  

Return Before Taxes

       27.72        19.91        9.30      11.61

Return After Taxes on Distributions

       25.04        18.58        8.38      10.59

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares

       17.88        16.41        7.67      9.74
Class I Shares (Inception 1/04/05):                  

Return Before Taxes

       28.03        20.20        N/A         9.68
Russell 2000 Index (Reflects no deduction for taxes, expenses or fees. Index return for Class I shares, since inception, computed from December 31, 2004, is 8.09%.)        38.82        20.08        9.07      9.05

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are shown only for Class N shares. After-tax returns for Class I shares will vary .

MANAGEMENT

Aston Asset Management, LP serves as investment adviser to the Fund. TAMRO Capital Partners, LLC (“TAMRO”) serves as the subadviser to the Fund. Aston Asset Management, LP will be known as Aston Asset Management, LLC following the purchase of its remaining outstanding equity by its parent company, which is expected to occur during the second quarter of 2014.

Mr. Philip D. Tasho, CFA, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of TAMRO, and Mr. Timothy A. Holland, CFA, a principal for TAMRO, serve as Portfolio Managers of the Fund. Mr. Tasho has served as Portfolio Manager of the Fund since November 2000. Mr. Holland has served as Portfolio Manager of the Fund since February 2010.

 

 

Aston Funds   3   Summary Prospectus


PURCHASE AND SALE OF FUND SHARES*

Shares of the Fund may be purchased, exchanged, or redeemed on any business day by written request (Aston Funds, P.O. Box 9765, Providence, RI 02940), wire transfer, online access (www.astonfunds.com), or by telephone (800-992-8151). Investors who wish to purchase, exchange or redeem Fund shares through a broker-dealer should contact the broker-dealer directly.

 

Class and Account Type      Minimum Initial Investment        Subsequent Investments  
Class N —Regular Accounts      $ 2,500         $ 50   
Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs)      $ 500         $ 50   
Education Savings Accounts (ESAs)      $ 500         $ 50   
Custodial Accounts for Minors (UGMA/UTMA)      $ 500         $ 50   
Class I —Institutional Accounts      $ 1 Million         $ 50   
* The Fund is currently accepting additional investments from existing investors only. The Fund will remain closed to new investors until further notice, with certain limited exceptions as listed in the “Shareholder Information” Section of the statutory prospectus.

TAX INFORMATION

The Fund’s distributions are generally taxable as ordinary income or capital gains for federal income tax purposes, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred account such as a 401(k) or individual retirement account. Distributions on investments made through tax-deferred vehicles, such as 401(k) plans or IRAs, may be taxed later upon withdrawal of assets from those plans or accounts.

PAYMENTS TO BROKER-DEALERS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

If you purchase shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

 

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Aston Funds   4   Summary Prospectus
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