AIM Trimark Investments today launched two global equity funds, AIM Global First Class and Trimark Global Small Companies Class.

Trimark Canadian Bond Private Pool, a more tax-efficient bond fund for the non-registered accounts of affluent investors, was also introduced.

The new offerings build from existing positions of strength in the AIM and Trimark fund families.

AIM Global First Class offers a defensive approach to global investing, using the same proven investment discipline that has contributed to the long-term success of AIM Canadian First Class: a focus on protecting capital. Both funds are overseen by Glen Hilton who has proven expertise investing in companies the world over. He also serves as the highly regarded lead manager of AIM Global Value Fund (available only to U.S.-based investors). Hilton is supported by investment analyst Glen Hayashi.

Trimark Global Small Companies Class offers investors a concentrated portfolio of some of the most attractive small-cap opportunities worldwide. Led by Rob Mikalachki and co-managed by Ted Chisholm, with Virginia Au as investment analyst, the team is also responsible for Trimark Canadian Small Companies Fund and Trimark U.S. Small Companies Class, which was a two-time winner of the Canadian Investment Award’s Best U.S. Small and Mid Cap Equity Fund of the Year (2005 and 2006) and the 2007 winner of the Lipper Award for Best U.S. Small/Mid Caps Equity Fund over three years.

“Canadians are realizing that to confine themselves to the domestic equity market is to miss out on a world of investment opportunity,” says Patrick Farmer, AIM Trimark’s chief investment officer and head of North American retail investments for Invesco. “We have the quality solutions that people are looking for, all of which share a common goal. That is, helping investors to achieve long-term investment success.”

Trimark Canadian Bond Private Pool provides a more tax-efficient way to participate in bond investing in a non-registered plan. Unlike typical bond funds, interest income earned from the Private Pool’s underlying bond holdings will be effectively re-characterized as capital gains for tax purposes, providing the potential for higher after-tax returns. Of the three levels offered by AIM Trimark’s tax-efficient flexible distribution series, T-FLEX, investors seeking a steady monthly cash flow from their investment can also take advantage of the 4% annual target distribution level.

The Private Pool invests in Series I units of the highly rated Trimark Canadian Bond Fund, one of Canada’s leading bond funds. This fund has been providing investors with strong risk-adjusted returns for more than 12 years and is managed by the Trimark fixed-income team led by Rex Chong, with Anthony Imbesi and Alfred Samson as co-managers and Gary Lew as investment analyst.

All of the new funds are part of AIM Trimark Corporate Class Inc., which provides investors with tax-efficient switch options.