Natixis Global Asset Management Launches Gateway International Fund

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Natixis Global Asset Management (NGAM) announced today the launch of an international hedged equity fund from Gateway Investment Advisers, LLC (Gateway). Managed by a leader in hedged equity strategies, the new fund is designed to play a conservative, risk-managed role in a portfolio allocation to international equity. As an industry-leading provider of asset allocation and risk management solutions, NGAM is focused on providing products designed to help today's investors construct more durable portfolios.

The Gateway International Fund has the potential to deliver long-term results similar to the majority of the returns associated with the international developed equity market (MSCI EAFE Index) at a reduced level of risk. Co-portfolio managers on the Gateway International Fund are Michael T. Buckius and Kenneth H. Toft of Gateway. Mr. Buckius also co-manages the firm's flagship fund, Gateway Fund (GATEX).

“With continued volatility creating uncertainty and more investors looking abroad for growth, the time is right for a risk-managed approach to the international developed equity market,” said J. Patrick Rogers, president and CEO of Gateway Investment Advisers. “We believe our fund is the first to use index option contracts to hedge risk in this market, an approach we have used successfully for over 30 years in the U.S. market with the Gateway Fund.”

The Gateway International Fund invests in a broadly diversified portfolio of 200-400 international stocks that seeks to track the performance of the MSCI EAFE Index. Based on market capitalization, the fund's portfolio combines representative equity holdings from six indexes: Australia's ASX/S&P 200, Europe's Euro Stoxx 50, Hong Kong's Hang Seng, Japan's Nikkei 225, Switzerland's SMI, and the United Kingdom's FTSE 100. As a hedge, the fund actively sells index call options and buys index put options on the same six indexes. The blended portfolio represents over 90 percent of the equity exposure of the MSCI EAFE Index. Certain countries are excluded due to small index representation and/or undeveloped index option markets. Periodic rebalancing is conducted to approximate MSCI EAFE Index country weights.

“Sustained market volatility has caused investors to focus more attention on investment risk,” said David Giunta, president and CEO, Natixis Global Asset Management – U.S. Distribution. “A low volatility approach to international equity, such as Gateway's, can be a building block in a durable portfolio designed to help minimize the risks inherent in changing markets and meet return objectives over time.”

About Gateway Investment Advisers

Gateway is a Cincinnati-based investment management firm with an over 30-year history of hedged equity investing and one of the industry's longest-running option hedging programs. Noted for hedging client portfolios during the market crash of October 1987, the firm extended its hedging strategy to its flagship mutual fund, Gateway Fund, in January 1988. The firm's other hedged equity offerings include four closed-end funds and one offshore fund, as well as individual, foundation, endowment, pension and insurance accounts. Gateway's assets under management totaled $8.1 billion as of December 31, 2011.

About Natixis Global Asset Management, S.A.

Natixis Global Asset Management, S.A. is one of the 15 largest asset managers in the world based on assets under management.¹ Its affiliated asset management companies provide investment products that seek to enhance and protect the wealth and retirement assets of both institutional and individual investor clients. Its proprietary distribution network helps package and deliver its affiliates' products around the world. Natixis Global Asset Management, S.A. brings together the expertise of multiple specialized investment managers based in Europe, the United States and Asia to offer a wide spectrum of equity, fixed-income and alternative investment strategies.

Headquartered in Paris and Boston, Natixis Global Asset Management, S.A. has assets under management totaling $706 billion (€544 billion) as of December 31, 2011. Natixis Global Asset Management, S.A. is part of Natixis. Listed on the Paris Stock Exchange, Natixis is a subsidiary of BPCE, the second-largest banking group in France. Natixis Global Asset Management, S.A.'s affiliated investment management firms and distribution and service groups include: Absolute Asia Asset Management; AEW Capital Management; AEW Europe; AlphaSimplex Group; Aurora Investment Management; Capital Growth Management; Caspian Capital Management; Darius Capital Partners; Gateway Investment Advisers; H2O Asset Management; Hansberger Global Investors; Harris Associates; IDFC Asset Management Company; Loomis, Sayles & Company; Natixis Asset Management; Natixis Multimanager; Ossiam; Reich & Tang Asset Management; Snyder Capital Management; and Vaughan Nelson Investment Management.

¹ Cerulli Quantitative Update: Global Markets 2011, based on December 31, 2010 AUM of $713 billion

Diversification does not ensure a profit or guarantee against a loss.

RISKS: Equity securities may be subject to unpredictable declines in value. Investments in derivatives used for hedging purposes or as part of an investment strategy may be exposed to liquidity, interest rate, market, credit, and management risks. Over-the-counter (OTC) options are not exchange-traded and there is no assurance that there will be a liquid and/or maintained market for the derivative or that a counterparty will remain creditworthy or solvent; therefore, the risks associated with derivatives may be magnified with OTC options. Foreign securities may be subject to higher volatility, varying degrees of regulation and limited liquidity compared to U.S. securities. Being exposed to foreign securities may introduce currency and exchange rate risks as well as greater political, economic, environmental, credit and information risks.

This material should not be considered a solicitation to buy or an offer to sell any product or service to any person in any jurisdiction where such activity would be unlawful.

NGAM Distribution, L.P. is located at 399 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116. • 800-862-4863 • ngam.natixis.com

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