[July 07, 2014]

Nationwide Funds Expands Lineup

Nationwide Funds, Nationwide Financial's mutual fund business, is expanding its family of investment offerings with the addition of three new mutual funds. The new funds will provide investors with greater choice and access to new portfolio managers, while helping Nationwide Funds reach its growth objectives.

In the past year, Nationwide Funds has seen a 200 percent increase in mutual fund sales and grown assets under management to $57.2 billion, up from $47.1 billion in the first quarter of 2013. These developments mark new strides in the firm's quest to strengthen its role as a strategic partner to financial advisors and offer a broader product lineup to meet a range of investor needs.

"We are aggressively growing our mutual fund business, particularly in the retail and defined contribution markets," said Mike Spangler, president of Nationwide Funds. "We are committed to seeking new opportunities to increase our product offerings and expand our suite of investment strategies to help investors prepare for and live in retirement."

The new funds include:

The Nationwide Herndon Mid Cap Value Fund (Class A: NWWMX), which seeks to provide long-term capital appreciation by investing primarily in mid-sized companies that the subadviser believes are undervalued and poised to outperform the market. The fund is managed and subadvised by Herndon Capital Management. It is the first mutual fund to offer the Herndon mid cap value strategy.

The Nationwide Diverse Managers Fund (Institutional Service Class: NWWFX), which seeks to provide capital appreciation and income by investing in a globally diversified portfolio of equity and fixed-income securities. The fund consists of four individual investment sleeves that are managed by separate mnority- and women-owned investment firms, including Garcia Hamilton & Associates, Herndon Capital Management, Strategic Global Advisors, LLC, and Ariel Investments. The fund will be available to Nationwide Financial's retirement plan clients in mid-July.

The Nationwide Bailard Emerging Markets Fund (Class A: NWWAX), which seeks long-term capital growth by investing in equity securities of companies located in or economically tied to emerging market countries. The fund is subadvised by Bailard, Inc. Nationwide's relationship with Bailard began when it acquired 17 mutual funds from HighMark Capital Management, Inc. last year. The acquisition included three funds that were managed by Bailard, which have helped fuel recent sales growth.

"We created these new funds based on demand, and are excited to add four new investment managers to our product offerings," said Karen Heath-Wade, vice president of mutual fund sales for Nationwide Financial. "We believe the managers we have selected are among the best in the industry to help us execute on our strategy of offering a complete lineup of funds that provide long-term, above-average performance at below-average cost."

Investors interested in learning more about Nationwide Funds should contact their financial professional or visit the Nationwide Funds website. Financial professionals interested in learning more should call the Nationwide Funds Group sales desk at 877-877-5083, option 3, and can follow @NationwideFunds on Twitter (News - Alert).

About Nationwide Funds

Based in the Philadelphia area, Nationwide Funds is the mutual fund business of Nationwide Financial Services Inc., a leading provider of long-term savings and retirement products and a Nationwide Insurance company. A strategic partner to advisors, Nationwide Funds provides a full family of sub-advised mutual funds designed to help meet the unique investment goals and risk tolerances of their investor clients. As of March 31, 2014, Nationwide Funds manages 114 funds with approximately $57.2 billion in assets, excluding fund of funds.

About Nationwide

Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the U.S. and is rated A+ by both A.M. Best and Standard & Poor's. The company provides a full range of insurance and financial services, including auto, commercial, homeowners and life insurance; public and private sector retirement plans, annuities and mutual funds; banking and mortgages; specialty health; pet, motorcycle, boat and farm insurance. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com.

Nationwide, Nationwide Financial, On Your Side, Join the Nation and the Nationwide frame mark are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.

Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal.

Nationwide Funds Group (NFG) comprises Nationwide Funds Advisors, Nationwide Fund Distributors LLC and Nationwide Fund Management LLC. Together they provide advisory, distribution and administration services, respectively, to Nationwide Funds.

Nationwide Funds distributed by Nationwide Fund Distributors LLC (NFD), member FINRA, King of Prussia, Pa. NFD is not an affiliate of any subadviser contained in this material.

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