Thursday, November 8, 2012

AHF - Aston Hill Financial announces third quarter 2012 results and quarterly cash dividend increase (CAD 0.0125)

Company: Aston Hill Financial Inc
Stock Name: AHF
Amount: CAD 0.0125
Announcement Date: 08/11/2012
Record Date: 16/11/2012

Dividend Detail:




CALGARY, Nov. 8, 2012 /CNW/ - Aston Hill Financial Inc. ("Aston Hill" or the "Company") (TSX:AHF) is pleased to announce it has filed its unaudited interim
consolidated financial statements for the period ended September 30,
2012
and related Management Discussion and Analysis with Canadian
securities regulatory authorities. Additionally, the Board of Directors
is pleased to announce an increase in the quarterly cash dividend from
$0.01 to $0.0125 per Common Share, which will be payable on December 7,
2012
to all Aston Hill shareholders of record on November 20, 2012.��
The ex-dividend date for the Common Shares will be November 16, 2012.��
This dividend is an eligible dividend for Canadian income tax purposes.



As of September 30, 2012, Aston Hill's assets under management, advisory
and administration ("AUM") increased to a milestone $6.02 billion.�� The
$6.02 billion in AUM represents a 7.1% increase quarter over quarter
and a year over year rise of 16.2% when compared to $5.18 billion at
September 30, 2011. The current quarter increase in AUM is primarily
the result of increases in managed mutual fund and advisory assets and
the addition of oil and gas assets related to the Company's
administrative services agreement with Argent Energy Trust ("Argent").



Aston Hill's revenues for the third quarter of 2012 were approximately
$6.2 million as compared to $5.4 million in the third quarter of 2011,
representing a 14.8% year over year increase. Current quarter revenue
increased by $416,000 from the prior quarter as a result of the Argent
overhead recovery charges and an increase in management fees from Aston
Hill's proprietary suite of mutual funds. The overhead recovery charge
from Argent of $175,000 represents only a partial quarter.�� These
charges are expected to increase to $300,000 per quarter beginning in
the fourth quarter of 2012.



For the third quarter of 2012, Aston Hill reported EBITDA1 of $2.38 million compared to $0.89 million in the prior quarter.�� The
quarter over quarter increase of $1.49 million (167%) in EBITDA is the
result of a reduction in G&A expenses and a valuation gain on the
Company's original investment in Argent.�� EBITDA before non-cash share
compensation expense for the third quarter 2012 was $2.94 million.



As a result of the increase in EBITDA, the Board of Directors has
approved an increase in the quarterly cash dividend to $0.0125 per
Common Share.



General and administrative expenses decreased by $286,000 from the prior
quarter as a result of reductions in marketing, rent and legal
expenses. On August 22, 2012, the Company announced that it will assume
in-house responsibility for the portfolio management of Aston Hill VIP
Income Fund and AVIP Trust effective November 20, 2012 (total AUM of
$465 million).�� This change results in a savings of sub-advisory fee
expenses of approximately $1.0 million per year for the Company.



Aston Hill is a diversified asset management company with a suite of
retail mutual funds, closed end funds, private equity funds, hedge
funds and segregated institutional funds. The Company is also engaged
in the administration of Argent Energy Trust. Aston Hill has offices in
Calgary and Toronto.






The TSX has neither approved nor disapproved the information contained
herein.




  1. EBITDA: EBITDA is not a standardized earnings measure prescribed by IFRS;
    however, management believes that most of its shareholders, creditors,
    other stakeholders and investment analysts prefer to use this
    performance measure in analyzing Aston Hill's results.






  2. Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within
    the meaning of such statements under applicable securities law.
    Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such
    as "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe",
    "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed" and
    other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions
    "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Various
    assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions or making the
    projections contained in the forward-looking statements throughout this
    news release.�� Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and
    estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are
    subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that
    could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those
    projected in the forward-looking statements.



For a detailed description of the risks and uncertainties facing the
Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the
Company's annual financial statements and management discussion and
analysis for the year ended December 31, 2011, both of which are
available at www.sedar.com.�� The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking
statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions
should change, unless required by law. The reader is cautioned not to
place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.



SOURCE: Aston Hill Financial Inc.







For further information:

For further information concerning this press release, please contact:

Eric Tremblay��������
Chief Executive Officer
Aston Hill Financial Inc.
(403) 770-4817

Larry Titley
Vice President and CFO
Aston Hill Financial Inc.
(403) 770-4808









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