Global investment manager AGF Investments Inc. has launched the AGF Emerging Markets Debt mandate, to provide institutional investors with access to the long-term growth potential of emerging markets.
The mandate is managed by Jean Charbonneau, Tristan Sones and Tom Nakamura of AGF’s fixed income team.
“Emerging markets have become the growth engines of the world and it is crucial that pension plans and institutional investors have access to this untapped space,” says Chris Boyle, senior vice-president, institutional for AGF.
AGF’s fixed income team currently manages more than $3.7 billion in assets for both institutional and retail mandates as of Oct. 31, 2011.
The mandate will invest in the three main emerging market bond categories—EM local rates (EM sovereign), EM external debt (EM sovereign) and EM corporate credit—as well as actively managed emerging market currency.
Active currency management is a key focus of the team and offers investors a way to benefit from emerging market currency appreciation.
“Now is the time for investors to consider emerging market bonds,” says Jean Charbonneau, senior vice-president and portfolio manager for AGF. “In the current global environment, emerging market bonds provide investors with an opportunity to diversify within emerging markets and away from developed markets. This diversification enables investors to better manage risk and achieve higher yields.”