Geoff MacDonald joins EdgePoint

Geoff MacDonald is the latest of Trimark’s former star managers to take a partnership stake in EdgePoint Capital Partners, the investment firm that had its launch announced earlier this month by Tye Bousada and Robert (Bob) Krembil.

MacDonald, along with Bousada and Krembil, will be a shareholder in the firm’s holding company, Cymbria Capital Corp., and has been named EdgePoint’s chief investment officer.

This is the third high-profile Trimark manager to hang his hat with EdgePoint. Krembil was one of the three founders of Trimark Investments, and Bousada was the former lead manager of the firm’s flagship Trimark Fund.

MacDonald left AIM Trimark Investments in August, citing personal reasons for his departure. He helped manage seven funds for that firm and had lead portfolio management duties on one of its most high-profile funds, the AIM Trimark Monthly Income Fund.

After his own departure from AIM Trimark in January, Bousada says, he contacted MacDonald about joining EdgePoint. He and MacDonald have been close colleagues for a number of years.

“It is a big day for us. You know Geoff and I have worked together for many, many years. We worked together at Ontario Teachers’ Plan, and then there was a period of time where he went to Trimark Investments, and then I went there. I know him well, I like him, and I trust him, so what more could you ask for in a partner,” Bousada says.

MacDonald says he was convinced to join the new venture because he thinks the industry needs more investment firms that are run by investors.

“I think that a lack of investment leadership has been a growing issue in this industry for a number of years. I think EdgePoint can fill that void,” he says.

MacDonald believes that Bousada and Krembil are ideal partners because, like himself, they are first and foremost investors.

“Tthat’s one of the ways we will be different than others in the industry,” he says. “There’s certainly room in this industry for a truly investor-led organization. EdgePoint certainly has an opportunity to be that.”

One former major Trimark player, Patrick Farmer, AIM Trimark’s former chief investment officer, has not resurfaced yet, leading some to speculate he too will join EdgePoint. Bousada says currently there are no plans to have Farmer join EdgePoint.

“Right now it’s only these three shareholders in Cymbria,” Bousada says. “Both Geoff and I obviously know Pat well, but he’s not involved at this point.”

EdgePoint is still seeking the applicable securities regulatory approvals, and until such approvals are obtained, Bousada and MacDonald would not elaborate on details of the business. Bousada says he doesn’t know how long the approval process will take.

Filed by Mark Noble, Advisor.ca, mark.noble@advisor.rogers.com