Toronto-based Guardian Capital Group Limited has agreed to acquire a 70% stake in Agincourt Capital Management LLC, an investment manager based in Richmond, Va.
The deal, which is expected to close in the fourth quarter, will add almost US$7 billion to Guardian’s assets under management, according to a release.
Agincourt specializes in high-grade bond portfolios. The firm’s current owners will retain a 30% stake in the company and invest a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the rest of the company into Guardian shares, the release said.
“We’re very pleased to partner with the Agincourt principals and to continue to grow our presence in the United States,” George Mavroudis, Guardian’s president and CEO, said in a statement.
Guardian has also launched its first suite of actively managed ETFs.
The Guardian Directed Equity Path ETF invests directly and indirectly in global equities, targeting annualized monthly distributions of 4%.
The Guardian Directed Premium Yield ETF also invests in global equities, using options strategies to generate steady returns. It targets annualized monthly distributions of 6%.
The Guardian i3 Global Quality Growth ETF invests in high-quality companies from around the world and pays quarterly distributions.
The Guardian i3 U.S. Quality Growth ETF invests in high-quality, U.S.-based companies and pays quarterly distributions.
The Guardian i3 Global REIT ETF invests in a portfolio of publicly traded real estate investment trusts and common stock of real estate operating corporations. It pays quarterly distributions.
Each of the ETFs is available in hedged and unhedged units.