CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 26, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Barings, one of the world’s leading asset management firms with over $288 billion in assets under management, has expanded its U.S. retail distribution team to support increased demand for the firm’s investment solutions for the retail and private wealth channels.

The new members of the team include Tony Grigonis, CFA; David Perkins, AIF®; and Sevan Sakayan. Prior to joining Barings, Grigonis was a Vice President with Touchstone Investments. He has nearly 15 years of financial services experience and earned his Master of Business Administration from Northwestern University – Kellogg School of Management. Perkins has worked as a financial professional for nearly 20 years and joins Barings following 14 years with Principal Global Investors, where he was a Senior Director. Perkins earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa. Sakayan joins Barings following a 23-year career with Neuberger Berman, where he most recently served as a Managing Director. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Lehigh University.

Since launching in 2013 as an extension of the firm’s core institutional investment management platform, Barings’ retail mutual fund platform has had more than $1 billion in sales across eight open-end mutual funds, including the Barings Global Floating Rate Income Fund, rated five stars by Morningstar*. The firm utilizes a rigorous bottom-up investing approach that leverages the expertise of over 600 investment professionals worldwide, and its mutual fund platform provides individual investors with access to some of the same investment strategies that the firm has managed successfully for institutional investors for years.

“We continue to be excited by the growth opportunities in the U.S. retail and private wealth markets,” said Duncan Robertson, Managing Director and Head of Global Distribution at Barings. “Our goal of bringing institutional-quality investment offerings to individual investors has attracted wide interest among the financial-advisor community, and we plan to continue to expand our fund offerings in response to advisors’ and investors’ needs.”

Barings’ open-end funds are available through Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) custodial platforms, wirehouses and independent and regional broker dealers. They include Barings Active Short Duration Bond Fund (BXDAX), Emerging Markets Debt Blended Total Return Fund (BXEAX), Global Credit Income Opportunities Fund (BXIAX), Global Floating Rate Fund (BXFAX), Global High Yield Fund (BXGAX), Total Return Bond Fund (BXTAX), U.S. High Yield Fund (BXHAX), and Emerging Markets Local Currency Debt Fund (BXLAX). 

*Morningstar rated the Barings Global Floating Rate Fund class Y share 5 stars among 208 Bank Loan Funds for the overall rating and the three-year period as of 08/31/2017. The Overall Morningstar Rating is derived from a weighted average of the performance figures associated with the fund’s three-, five-, and ten-year (as applicable) Morningstar Rating metrics. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. The Morningstar Rating TM for funds, or “star rating” is calculated for managed products (including mutual funds, variable annuity and variable life subaccounts, exchange-traded funds, closed-end funds, and separate accounts) with at least a three-year history. Exchange-traded funds and open-end mutual funds are considered a single population for comparative purposes. It’s calculated based on a Morningstar Risk-Adjusted Return measure that accounts for variation in a managed product’s monthly excess performance, placing more emphasis on downward variations and rewarding consistent performance. The top 10% of products in each category receive 5 stars, the next 22.5% receive 4 stars, the next 35% receive 3 stars, the next 22.5% receive 2 stars, and the bottom 10% receive 1 star. The Overall Morningstar Rating for a managed product is derived from a weighted average of the performance figures associates with its three-, five-, and 10-year (if applicable) Morningstar Rating metrics. The weights are: 100% three-year rating for 36-59 months of total returns, 60% five-year rating/40% three-year rating for 60-119 months of total returns, and 50% 10-year rating/30% five-year rating/20% three-year rating for 120 or more months of total returns. While the 10-year overall star rating formula seems to give the most weight to the 10-year period, the most recent three-year period actually has the greatest impact because it is included in all three rating periods.

Risks:

Before investing in any of the Barings Funds, investors should carefully consider a fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. The prospectus, which should be read carefully before investing, contains fund information and may be obtained by asking your financial advisor, visiting www.barings.com/funds or calling 1.855.439.5459. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

ALPS Distributors, Inc. is the distributor for the Barings mutual funds.  ALPS Distributors, Inc. and Barings LLC are separate and unaffiliated.

About Barings LLC

Barings is a $288 billion global financial services firm dedicated to meeting the evolving investment and capital needs of our clients. We build lasting partnerships that leverage our distinctive expertise across traditional and alternative asset classes to deliver innovative solutions and exceptional service. A member of the MassMutual Financial Group, Barings maintains a strong global presence with over 600 investment professionals and offices in 16 countries. Learn more at www.barings.com.

Media Contact

Brian Whelan Corporate Communications, [email protected], (Tel.) 980-417-7700

BCM000693        09/15/2018