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(June 12, 2006) Mackenzie Financial Corporation and BMO Financial Group have teamed up to launch the MSP ArMADA Protected Deposit Noted, Japan & International Growth Class, Series 1.

The principal protected notes, issued by the Bank of Montreal, are available for sale until August 11 and will mature on or about August 17, 2012. The notes invest in a bond portfolio and three Mackenzie mutual funds, including the Mackenzie Cundill Value Fund, Mackenzie Select Managers Japan Capital Class and the Mackenzie Universal International Stock Fund.

Initially 50% of the portfolio will be invested in the Cundill Value fund with 30% invested in the Select Manager Japan fund and the remaining 20% in the International Stock fund. Total annual fees are 2.75% if the basket of investments is 100% allocated to the fund portfolio.

Mackenzie says the deposit notes are not conventional notes or debt instruments, they do no provide a return or income stream prior to maturity or a return at maturity calculated using rates of interest that can be determined prior to maturity. Investors do not have the opportunity to reinvest income generated by the notes. As well, the notes are not covered by any deposit insurance regime or protection provided by the Canadian Investor Protection Fund. Minimum investment is $2,000.

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AIM Trimark unveils new pricing options

(June 12, 2006) AIM Trimark Investments today announced the launch of Lower Load 4 (LL4), a new purchase option for the company’s mutual fund lineup.

The new low-load schedule charges lower redemption fees than the company’s standard deferred sales schedule. Redemption charges range from 4.5% in the first year and 3% in year four. Advisor commissions for funds sold under the four year schedule are 4%, compared to the 4.9% or 1% commissions paid by the company for conventional DSC and low load sales.

Trailing commissions on equity and balanced funds are 50 basis points in the first four years, increasing to 100 basis points annually at the end of four years. Fixed income and money market funds pay 20 basis point trailing commissions which increase to 50 basis points at the end of four years.

Conventional DSC and low load trailer fees for equity and balanced funds are 50 basis points and 100 basis points respectively or 20 and 50 basis points for fixed income and money market funds sold under the conventional DSC and low load redemption schedules.

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BluMont launches new core hedge fund

(June 12, 2006) BluMont Capital announced today that it has added the BluMont Core Hedge Fund to the company’s product line up for qualified investors.

The single manager, long/short equity fund invests with a focus on North American securities. The strategy combines long positions with the ability to short sell securities that are expected to decrease in value.

The company says the long component of the strategy usually resembles mutual fund investment strategies, while the hedge fund’s short component gives managers the ability to use leverage which primarily differentiates a long/short hedge fund from that of a traditional mutual fund.

The Core Hedge fund will be managed by Burlington Capital.

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