AGF Investments Inc. has launched of AGF Emerging Markets Bond Fund and AGF Emerging Markets Balanced Fund, giving investors further access to the ongoing potential of emerging markets, the company said Monday.

The launch of the two funds present a timely opportunity for investors who want diversification and exposure to emerging markets growth, but do not have the appetite for pure equities, Toronto-based AFG says.

“As emerging markets evolve into a core category of tomorrow, we believe it is critical to give investors access to these markets today,” says Gordon Forrester, executive vice president, marketing and product strategy and development for AGF Investments Inc. “These new emerging markets products demonstrate our commitment to providing advisors and investors with a comprehensive line-up across the investment spectrum.”

AGF Emerging Markets Bond Fund will include investments in three kinds of bonds, plus EM currency – EM Local Rates (Sovereign/Government), EM External Debt (Sovereign/Government), EM Corporate Credit and EM Currencies. The fund’s investment objective is to maximize total returns by investing primarily in fixed-income securities of emerging market issuers.

The fund will be managed by Jean Charbonneau, Tom Nakamura and Tristan Sones of AGF’s fixed-income team that has over 10 years experience investing in emerging market bonds.

“AGF has extensive experience in emerging markets bonds and is one of Canada’s largest investors in emerging markets local currency,” says Martin Hubbes, executive vice president and chief investment officer. “Investors can now add to their well-diversified portfolios by taking advantage of strong emerging markets currencies.”

AGF Emerging Markets Balanced Fund, believed to be one of the first of its kind in North America, is a diversified emerging markets fund-of-fund portfolio that will invest primarily in a mix of emerging market equity and fixed income, including AGF Emerging Markets Bond Fund and AGF Emerging Markets Fund.

The fund’s objective is to provide above-average long-term total return. It invests primarily in a mix of emerging market equity and fixed income (via mutual funds and/or underlying holdings), as well as cash and cash equivalents.

The fund will be managed by the multinational AGF global equities team led by Patricia Perez-Coutts and the fixed-income team led by Jean Charbonneau.