Toronto-based AGF Investments Inc. announced on Tuesday a new partnership with FFCM LLC, a Boston-based investment advisory firm that manages the QuantShares family of market and sector-neutral exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
“We are excited to announce this new strategic partnership. It reinforces our commitment to innovative solutions that focus on risk mitigation, while offering broad market exposure,” says Blake Goldring, chairman and CEO of AGF Management Ltd., in a statement. “FFCM’s expertise builds on our core competency in managing quantitative solutions for investors.”
FFCM and London, Ont.-based Highstreet Asset Management Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of AGF Management, will take over portfolio advisor duties relating to AGF U.S. AlphaSector Class fund, which will be renamed to AGF U.S. Sector Class, on Aug. 31.
Following the portfolio advisor change, AGF U.S. Sector Class will employ a combination of FFCM’s sector model with Highstreet’s market risk model to provide U.S. equity market exposure in a risk-aware manner that focuses on limiting downside volatility for investors, according to AGF Investments’ announcement.
“The combination of FFCM and Highstreet offers investors all the opportunities of market participation with the assurance of a proven approach to managing volatility,” says Kevin McCreadie, president and chief investment officer of AGF Investments, in a statement.