Mackenzie Financial today announced the appointments of Daniel Becker, Phil Sanders and Jim Wineland, each a senior vice president at Waddell & Reed Investment Management Co., to sub advise several funds in Mackenzie’s Universal fund family.

“We’re extremely fortunate to have access to the depth of expertise that is available through Waddell & Reed,” said David Feather, president, Mackenzie Financial Services Inc. “With Jim, Phil and Dan and the support of Hank Herrmann, Waddell & Reed’s president and chief investment officer, we are adding a caliber of U.S. equity talent that brings considerable strength to Mackenzie’s core U.S. offerings.”

Effective immediately, Wineland assumes lead management responsibilities for Mackenzie’s Universal U.S. Blue Chip Fund and Universal U.S. Blue Chip Capital Class. Wineland is a 19-year veteran of the investment industry, having been with Waddell & Reed since 1984. Wineland’s track record includes management of Waddell & Reed’s $4.4 billion Waddell & Reed Advisors Core Investment Fund available in the U.S., which has been rated 4-stars by Morningstar over 3-, 5-, 10-years, and overall.

Becker, who has been with Waddell & Reed since 1989, and Sanders, an industry veteran of 15 years who joined Waddell & Reed in 1998, together assume direction of the large-cap U.S. equity component of the Mackenzie Universal Select Managers Fund, Mackenzie Universal Select Managers Capital Class and Mackenzie Universal Select Managers U.S.A. Capital Class.

In the U.S., Becker has led the Waddell & Reed Large Cap Growth Fund since its inception in June 2000, and the Waddell & Reed Advisors Vanguard Fund since July 1997. According to Lipper Inc., the $5 billion Advisors Vanguard Fund has been ranked by performance in the top ten per cent among other funds in its category every year for 1-, 3- and 5-years, as at December 31, 2002.

Sanders has served as manager of the W&R Target Growth Portfolio, which Lipper has also ranked by performance in the top ten per cent among funds in its category for 1-, 3- and 5-years, as at December 31, 2002.

“The hallmark of our investment approach, especially among our U.S.- equity team, has been our ability to outperform in rising markets while preserving capital in declining markets,” said Herrmann. “We’re very pleased to have the opportunity to lend our expertise to Mackenzie’s U.S. portfolios and we’re committed to delivering the top-rated, research-driven approach our investors have come to expect from us.”

Wineland, Becker and Sanders replace former manager, Paul Baran, who leaves following the sale of Mackenzie’s U.S. subsidiary, Mackenzie Investment Management Inc. (MIMI), to Waddell & Reed on Dec. 17, 2002.