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ASTON/LMCG SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND
ASTON/LMCG Small Cap Growth Fund
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)
Annual Fund Operating Expenses ASTON/LMCG SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND
Class N Shares
Class I Shares
Management Fees 1.00%rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 1.00%rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees 0.25%rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other Expenses 0.42%rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.42%rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses 0.01%rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.01%rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 1.68%rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.43%rr_ExpensesOverAssets
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement [1] (0.32%)rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.32%)rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses [1][2] 1.36%rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.11%rr_NetExpensesOverAssets
[1] The investment adviser is contractually obligated to waive management fees and/or reimburse ordinary operating expenses, not including investment-related costs (such as brokerage commissions), interest, taxes, extraordinary expenses and acquired fund fees and expenses, through February 29, 2016, to the extent that operating expenses exceed 1.35% of the Fund's average daily net assets with respect to Class N shares and 1.10% of the Fund's average daily net assets with respect to Class I shares (the "Operating Expense Limit"). Prior to February 29, 2016, the arrangement may be amended or terminated for a class only by a vote of the Board of Trustees of Aston Funds. For a period of up to three years from the end of the fiscal year during which fees are waived or expenses are reimbursed, the investment adviser is entitled to be reimbursed by the Fund for such fees waived and expenses reimbursed from commencement of operations through the completion of the first three full fiscal years to the extent that the Fund's Total Annual Operating Expenses for a class, not including investment-related costs (such as brokerage commissions), interest, taxes, extraordinary expenses and acquired fund fees and expenses, remain at or below the Operating Expense Limit after such reimbursement.
[2] After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement
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%, operating expenses remained the same, and expenses were capped for one year in each period.

Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on the above assumptions, your costs would be:
Expense Example ASTON/LMCG SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND (USD $)
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class N Shares
138 498 883 1,960
Class I Shares
113 421 751 1,686
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 143.99%.
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its assets in common stocks and other equity securities of small-cap companies. The Fund defines a small-cap company as one with a market capitalization below $5 billion at the time of acquisition. The subadviser seeks to achieve above average risk-adjusted returns by identifying unrecognized growth potential. The subadviser utilizes a fundamental bottom-up security selection process to identify characteristics such as: revenue growth, margin expansion, surprise potential and strong balance sheets. The focus of the fundamental research process is to confirm that the growth is durable and sustainable, as well as to conduct due diligence on the key drivers of each security. The final step in the process applies a valuation framework to each security that meets the criteria of the fundamental research process.

The Fund may also invest in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), exchange-traded notes (“ETNs”), foreign securities through depositary receipts, and mid-cap stocks, including companies with a market capitalization up to $10 billion at the time of acquisition.

To manage risk, the subadviser limits position sizes, employs a strategy of diversification, and adheres to a structured sell discipline based on fundamental drivers and company valuations.

The subadviser’s investment process may result in higher portfolio turnover.
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.

Exchange-Traded Fund Risk. The risks of investing in other investment companies typically reflect the risks of the types of securities in which those funds invest. Investments in ETFs are subject to the additional risk that their shares may trade at a premium or discount to their net asset value per share. There may also not be an active trading market available for shares of some ETFs. Additionally, trading of ETF shares may be halted or delisted by the listing exchange. When the Fund invests in an ETF, shareholders of the Fund bear their proportionate share of the other investment company’s fees and expenses as well as their share of the Fund’s fees and expenses.

Exchange-Traded Note Risk. The returns of ETNs are based on the performance of a specified market index minus applicable fees. The risks of ETNs include the risks that may affect the value of the reference index. The value of an ETN is also subject to the credit risk of the issuer. Thus, the value of an ETN may drop due to a decline in an issuer’s credit quality or a downgrade in the issuer’s credit rating, even if there is no change or an increase in the reference index. ETNs are subject to the additional risk that notes may trade at a premium or discount to their reference indices. There may also not be an active trading market available for some ETNs. Additionally, trading of ETNs may be halted or delisted by the listing exchange. When the Fund invests in an ETN, shareholders of the Fund bear their proportionate share of the ETNs’ fees and expenses as well as their share of the Fund’s fees and expenses.

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 foreign securities held by the Fund may be affected by changes in currency 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 foreign securities held 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 of companies that the subadviser believes offer above-average growth potential. These stocks may have relatively high valuations, as measured by traditional valuation metrics (e.g., price-to-earnings ratios or price-to-book ratios). Growth stocks may be more volatile than other stocks because they are generally more sensitive to investor perceptions and market moves. Because different types of stocks go in and out of favor with prevailing market and economic conditions, the Fund’s performance may be adversely affected when growth stocks underperform.

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, at the Fund’s desired price or at all, 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 wider bid-ask spreads and volatility.

Manager Risk. The performance of the Fund is dependent upon the investment adviser’s skill in selecting managers and the subadviser’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.

Portfolio Turnover Risk. Frequent trading of the Fund’s portfolio holdings may result in a higher than average level of capital gains, including short-term capital gains, and will result in greater transaction costs to the Fund. To the extent distributions to shareholders are made from net short-term capital gains (i.e., net capital gain on securities held or treated as held by the Fund for one year or less minus any net capital losses on securities held or treated as held by the Fund for more than one year), the distributions will be taxed at ordinary income rates for federal income tax purposes, rather than at the lower long-term capital gains rates. Greater transaction costs and higher expenses as a result of portfolio turnover can negatively impact the Fund’s performance.

REIT Risk. Securities of REITs may be affected by changes in the values of their underlying properties. REITs depend generally on their ability to generate cash flow to make distributions to shareholders or unitholders, which may be subject to defaults by borrowers and self-liquidations. 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. Real estate prices are also affected by general economic conditions. When growth is slowing, demand for property decreases and prices and rents may decline. High or rising interest rates, which result in high or rising mortgage and financing costs, may restrain buying and selling activity, reducing the appeal of real estate investments. 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 companies. 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 volumes 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 more than those of large-cap companies in market downturns.
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
Bar Chart
Best quarter:03/1216.15
Worst quarter:09/11(27.36)% 
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, 2014)
Average Annual Total Returns ASTON/LMCG SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND
1 Year
Since Inception
Inception Date
Class N Shares
8.11% 16.02% Nov. 03, 2010
Class N Shares Return After Taxes on Distributions
6.80% 13.61% Nov. 03, 2010
Class N Shares Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares
4.96% 11.77% Nov. 03, 2010
Class N Shares Russell 2000 Growth Index (Reflects no deduction for taxes, expenses or fees. Index return since inception for Class N shares is computed from October 31, 2010. Index return for Class I shares, since inception, computed from May 31, 2011, is 12.34%.)
5.60% 16.51% Oct. 31, 2010
Class I Shares
8.42% 12.19% Jun. 01, 2011
Class I Shares Russell 2000 Growth Index (Reflects no deduction for taxes, expenses or fees. Index return since inception for Class N shares is computed from October 31, 2010. Index return for Class I shares, since inception, computed from May 31, 2011, is 12.34%.)
5.60% 12.34% May 31, 2011
As of February 17, 2012, LMCG Investments, LLC, (“LMCG”) (formerly, Lee Munder Capital Group, LLC) became the subadviser to the Fund. Performance prior to that date reflects the performance of a previous subadviser. However, Mr. Morey has served as the Fund’s Portfolio Manager since the Fund’s inception.

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.