Man Investments Canada Corp. today announced the launch of the Man MGS Access (Canada) Notes, the company’s first independent note designed specifically for the Canadian market.

The notes, denominated in Canadian dollars, will provide exposure to the performance of the MGS Access Portfolio, which is actively managed by Man Global Strategies (MGS).

“One concern many investors have had regarding hedge fund products is a lack of transparency. We are extremely proud to be providing a solution to this problem by bringing a product to market that discloses all underlying managers in the portfolio,” said Toreigh Stuart, CEP of Man Investments Canada Corp., in a news release. “The quality of the managers in the Access portfolio and the high level of transparency that we have into their daily operations via managed accounts gives us the confidence to offer such a concentrated and dynamic portfolio.”

The notes are issued by Citibank Canada, and are structured to ensure that holders of the Notes receive payment of an amount equal to 100% of the subscription price at maturity. The obligations of Citibank Canada are guaranteed by Citibank, N.A.

Additionally, Man Investments Ltd., the investment advisor of the Access Portfolio, will seek to provide investment exposure to the MGS Access portfolio of up to 150% of the prevailing net asset value of the notes. This portfolio allocates to a selection of quality hedge fund managers that score highly on MGS’ internal rating system and all have one thing in common: a focus on capturing alpha.

The Access Portfolio is comprised of hedge funds managers that use complementary investment styles. MGS has negotiated favourable terms with these managers, several of which are closed to new investors. These terms include increased levels of reporting; the flexibility to adjust the amount of money invested with the manager; and bespoke managed accounts.

Through managed accounts, MGS maintains control over client funds and receives comprehensive trading data for all its investments. This high level of transparency, supported by regular contact through a dedicated relationship management team and a strong due diligence process, allows MGS to actively manage the concentrated portfolio.

“We are very pleased that the launch of these Notes marks our first product offering in the Canadian market,” said Stuart. “This is a highly attractive offering for investors seeking strong capital growth over the medium to long-term and diversification, with the security of principal protection.”

The notes will be open for investment from Feb. 1 until April 30.