AIM Trimark Investments today announce the appointment of Scott Margach to the position of vp and portfolio manager. Margach will take over lead management responsibility of AIM Canadian First Class.

Effective immediately, AIM Canadian First Class will no longer be subadvised by Invesco Aim Advisors, Inc., and will be managed by AIM Trimark Investments. Glen Hilton, the previous lead manager of this fund, is no longer with Invesco Aim Advisors, Inc.

Having over 16 years of industry experience, Margach graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Carleton University and is a CFA charterholder. He most recently held the position of vp and director at TD Asset Management Inc.

“Scott is a great addition to our line-up of industry-recognized fund managers,” says Graham Anderson, AIM Trimark’s chief investment officer. “He brings significant portfolio management expertise to the position and we’re very excited to have him join our organization.”

In accordance with this change, effective August 11, , AIM Canadian First Class will be renamed Trimark Canadian First Class and the investment strategies will be amended to best reflect the specific approach of the new lead manager. The portfolio management team looks for companies that are industry leaders with dominant market positions, have strong balance sheets and financial strength, and are run by proven management teams. The team looks for businesses whose current valuations do not reflect the real value of the underlying assets or earnings potential of the company.

In addition, effective immediately, AIM Global First Class, previously subadvised by Invesco Aim Advisors, Inc., will now be subadvised by a team of 13 investment professionals from Invesco Global Asset Management (N.A.), Inc. On August 11, the fund will be renamed Invesco Global Equity Class, and the investment strategies will also change. The fund’s new investment team includes portfolio managers Ingrid Baker, Lindsay Davidson, Michele Garren, Erik Granade, and Kent Starke. These five portfolio managers have an average of 24 years of investment experience and currently manage approximately US$14 billion in assets for Invesco globally.

The portfolio managers seek to identify attractively valued companies with a market capitalization typically in excess of $1 billion. Initial factors considered when evaluating potential investments include a company’s return on equity, the amount of shareholders capital and the percentage of earnings paid in dividends, a company’s historical earnings stability and overall debt levels. Portfolio managers conduct research on companies meeting their criteria and may communicate directly with company management.

Lastly, AIM Trimark Core Canadian Equity Class will be amending its investment strategies effective immediately so that its assets will be divided into two approximately equal portions between portfolio management teams from AIM Trimark and Invesco Aim Advisors, Inc. These portions are rebalanced periodically. The two management teams employ complementary investment approaches as a means of managing risks and increasing potential. The investment objectives of each of the funds remain the same.