Forward Management Introduces Institutional Share Class to Funds

The funds are the Forward Long/ShortCredit Analysis Fund, Forward Legato Fund, and Forward Progressive Real Estate Fund.

The Institutional share classes have lower expenses and a $100,000 investment minimum, according to a press release.

Forward Long/Short Credit Analysis Fund (institutional class: FLSIX) uses a credit-based, relative value approach, attempting to maximize total returns while minimizing risk. The management team focuses on identifying opportunities created by market anomalies and inefficiencies across a wide variety of credit markets, the release said.

Forward Legato Fund (institutional class: FFLFX) invests in small-cap companies, employing a multi-manager approach and allocating portions to three different sub-advisers who utilize growth, value, and core investment strategies.

Forward Progressive Real Estate Fund (institutional class: FPREX) uses an active management strategy of fundamental financial analyses and qualitative criteria to uncover socially and environmentally progressive real estate management companies.

In addition, Forward Management announced it has introduced class A shares for the Forward Emerging Markets Fund. Class A shares have a 5.75% front-end load.

Forward Emerging Markets Fund (institutional class: PTEMX; class A: FEMAX) seeks long-term capital appreciation by investing at least 80% of its portfolio in securities of countries considered emerging markets. The portfolio team focuses on undervalued companies with strong fundamentals, the company said.

More information is available at www.forwardfunds.com.