DURHAM, NC--(Marketwired - Sep 9, 2015) - Amundi Smith Breeden LLC today announced the launch of the Amundi Smith Breeden Total Return Bond Fund. The Total Return Bond Fund provides investors with exposure to the U.S. and non-U.S. bond market through investments in a broad universe of high-quality, liquid debt instruments, including government bonds, corporate bonds and collateralized debt instruments.

"In response to demand from asset owners and their consultants, we launched this fund to provide the U.S. institutional investment community with additional options for their fixed income allocations," said Elke Urban, Chief Market Advisory Officer at Amundi Smith Breeden. "Pension plans are continuing to evaluate the role of fixed income in their overall asset allocation. While some trends indicate flows into newer asset classes, we see continued demand from clients and prospects for investments in the 'Plus Sectors' as a means of achieving the goal of a sustainable, risk-adjusted return stream."

Favoring higher-yielding spread sectors such as corporate bonds, Agency mortgage-backed securities, commercial mortgage-backed securities and asset-backed securities, the Fund seeks to generate total return, consisting of income and capital appreciation, and emphasizes bottom-up security selection and sector allocation based on valuation.

Distributed by SEI Investments Distribution Company, the Amundi Smith Breeden Total Return Bond Fund is available in Service Class Shares (ATRSX) with a minimum investment of $500,000 and in Institutional Class Shares (ATRBX) with a minimum investment of $10,000,000. It will be managed by Timothy D. Rowe, who has managed Core bond portfolios at the firm for more than 20 years.

"The Amundi Smith Breeden Total Return Bond Fund is the manifestation of our signature Core investment strategy in a new vehicle," said Mike Giarla, CEO of Amundi Smith Breeden. "Tim Rowe has managed the Core Fixed Income strategy since its inception more than 20 years ago, and this expertise is underlying our new Total Return Bond Fund, which combines proprietary quantitative valuation tools with our team's in-depth fundamental investment analysis and market experience. We're pleased to be offering this strategy in a vehicle that enables a broader range of investors to access Amundi Smith Breeden's valuation approach."

Amundi Smith Breeden is the center of the Amundi Group's U.S. fixed income expertise and serves as the North American investment headquarters for Amundi, a leading global asset management firm with more than $1 trillion in assets under management. Both Amundi Smith Breeden and Amundi are deeply grounded in a research and quantitative finance approach and committed to building long-term partnerships with clients to create fixed income investment solutions that meet their specific needs. Amundi Smith Breeden offers domestic and global strategies across all major fixed income asset classes and sectors.

About Timothy D. Rowe
Tim is a Managing Director and Senior Portfolio Manager responsible for the Amundi Smith Breeden's core bond portfolios. Prior to joining the firm in 1988, Tim was an Assistant Economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Virginia. He holds an MBA with specialization in Finance from the University of Chicago's Graduate School of Business.

About Amundi Smith Breeden
Amundi Smith Breeden is the North American investment headquarters for Amundi, a top-10 global asset manager. Amundi Smith Breeden manages a range of U.S. fixed income strategies and contributes to global fixed income portfolios managed by Amundi investment professionals in Europe and Asia. Amundi Smith Breeden was founded as a research-driven institutional asset management firm specializing in the major U.S. fixed income sectors. The firm has a 30+ year history of pioneering work in developing and applying quantitative financial analysis to valuing and trading fixed income securities, including Agency and non-Agency mortgage-backed securities and corporate credit.

About Amundi
Amundi is the No. 1 European Asset Manager and in the Top 10 worldwide¹ with AUM of more than EUR 950 billion worldwide².

Located at the heart of the main investment regions in more than 30 countries, Amundi offers a comprehensive range of products covering all asset classes and major currencies.

Amundi has developed savings solutions to meet the needs of more than 100 million retail clients worldwide and designs innovative, high-performing products for institutional clients which are tailored specifically to their requirements and risk profile.

The Group contributes to funding the economy by orienting savings towards company development.

Amundi has become a leading European player in asset management, recognized for:

• Product performance and transparency;
• Quality of client relationships based on a long-term advisory approach;
• Efficiency in its organization and teams' promise to serving its clients;
• Commitment to sustainable development and socially responsible investment policies.

¹ No.1 European asset manager based on global assets under management (AUM) and the main headquarters being based in Europe- Source IPE " Top 400 asset managers" published in June 2015 and based on AUM as of December 2014.
² Amundi Group figures as of 30 June 2015.

Issued by Amundi - Société anonyme with a share capital of EUR 596 262 615 - Portfolio manager regulated by the AMF under number GP04000036 - Head office: 90 boulevard Pasteur - 75015 Paris - France - 437 574 452 RCS Paris

To determine if this Fund is an appropriate investment for you, carefully consider the Fund's investment objectives, risk factors, charges, and expenses before investing. This and other information can be found in the Fund's prospectus, which may be obtained by calling 1-855-ASB-7250. Read the prospectus carefully before investing or sending money.

Mutual fund investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Bonds and bond funds are subject to interest rate risk and will decline in value as interest rates rise. High yield bonds involve greater risks of default or downgrade and are more volatile than investment grade securities, due to the speculative nature of their investments. International investments may involve risk of capital loss from unfavorable fluctuation in currency values, from differences in generally accepted accounting principles or from economic or political instability in other nations. Emerging markets involve heightened risks related to the same factors as well as increased volatility and lower trading volume. The Fund may invest in derivatives, which are often more volatile than other investments and may magnify the Funds gains or losses.

The Amundi Smith Breeden Total Return Bond Fund is distributed by SEI Investments Distribution Co., which is not affiliated with The Advisor, or any of its affiliates.

Amundi Smith Breeden Funds are available to U.S. Investors only.