Criterion launches U.S. Buyback Fund

Toronto-based Criterion Investments Ltd. has launched Criterion U.S. Buyback Currency Hedge Fund. The fund will invest in equity securities of 30 U.S. public companies with the best record of net share buyback activity in their market-cap segment over the previous calendar year. The fund’s portfolio will be rebalanced quarterly and reset annually to capture the latest batch of companies with the highest share repurchases, says Criterion. The fund is currency-hedged for Canadian investors to reduce the volatility associated with the currency exchange rate. An unhedged version of the fund is also available. Advisor commissions are 0%-2% for front-end sales, 5% for deferred sales or 2% for the low-load option. Redemption fees begin at 5.5% in Year 1 and end at zero after Year 7 of the regular DSC schedule, or begin at 2.5% in Year 1 and end at zero after Year 3 of the low-load option. Trailing commissions are 1% for front-end sales, 0.6% for deferred sales and 0.7% for the low-load option. Management fees are 1.3% for the hedged fund and 1.2% for the unhedged version. Minimum investment is $500.

Acuity merges funds

As of Dec. 28, Toronto-based Acuity Funds Ltd. has merged three of its funds into a another fund. Acuity All Cap & Income Trust, Acuity Diversified Total Return Trust and Acuity Multi-Cap Total Return Trust will merge with Acuity Growth & Income Trust. The exchange ratio for the units were based on the net asset value per unit of All Cap, Diversified and Multi-Cap relative to Acuity Growth & Income Trust, as determined at the close of trading on Dec. 28.

Covington unveils new RVC product

Toronto-based Covington Group of Funds has launched its retail venture-capital product, Covington Venture Fund Capital Protected Series. Available until March 31, the fund will provide investors with capital protection on their initial contribution and additional return potential from a venture-capital investment portfolio, as well as 15% provincial tax credit on a $7,500 investment and a 15% federal tax credit on the first $5,000 of that same $7,500 investment. In the first 60 days of the calendar year, RRSP investors will be able to double up their purchase and invest up to $15,000. This purchase allows for tax credits on an annual investment of $7,500 to be claimed in the current taxation year (on the first $7,500) and the remaining tax credits on the final $7,500 in the following taxation year. The fund’s venture-capital portfolio will focus on later-stage opportunities in sectors such as technology, financial services, manufacturing and consumer products.

CI launches Cambridge Fund family

Cambridge Funds is the new fund family from Toronto-based CI Investments Inc., and Alan Radlo is the new manager. The fund family consists of Cambridge Canadian Equity Corporate Class, Cambridge Canadian Asset Allocation Corporate Class and Cambridge Global Equity Corporate Class funds. The Canadian equity fund strives to achieve long-term capital growth by investing in equities of Canadian companies. The Canadian asset-allocation fund will invest in a combination of primarily Canadian equity and fixed-income securities. The global equity fund will invest primarily in equity securities of companies located anywhere in the world. Radlo, chief investment officer for the Cambridge Funds team, is lead portfolio manager. Radlo recently joined CI after 21 years at Boston-based Fidelity Investments, at which he managed various Canadian equity, global equity and balanced portfolios. Advisor commissions are 0%-5% for front-end sales, 5% for deferred sales or 2% for the low-load option. Redemption fees begin at 5.5% in Year 1 and end at zero after Year 7 of the regular DSC schedule, or begin at 3% in Year 1 and end at zero after Year 3 of the low-load option. Trailing commissions are 1% for front-end sales and 0.5% for deferred sales. Management fees are 2% for A-class units and 1% for F-class units. Minimum investment is $500.

IPG launches new mutual fund company

Ottawa-based Brigata Capital Management Inc., an affiliate of Ottawa-based Independent Planning Group Inc., has launched a new line of Brigata mutual funds — Brigata Canadian Equity Fund and Brigata Canadian Balanced Fund. Montreal-based C.F.G. Heward Investment Management Ltd. is the portfolio manager for Brigata Canadian Equity, while Ottawa-based Doherty & Associates Ltd. will manage Brigata Canadian Balanced. Both funds are offered on a no-load basis and have no advisor commissions for either A-class units and F-class units. There is no fee to redeem the units of the funds. If clients redeem within 90 days of their original purchase, they may be subject to a short-term trading fee equal to 2% of the value of the units being redeemed. Trailing commissions are 0.95% for A-class units. Management fees are 1.95% for A-class units and 1% for F-class units. Minimum investment is $5,000.

@page_break@Compiled by Clare O’Hara (cohara@investmentexecutive.com).