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(February 4, 2008) Scotia Securities is offering environmentally-conscious investors a means to put their money to good use, launching the Scotia Global Climate Change Fund on Monday.

The fund is designed for investors who want exposure to environmentally responsible companies and solid returns.

“Global climate change is a reality that has the potential to impact the way we live, the companies where we work and the way in which we invest our money,” says Glen Gowland, managing director and head of Scotia Mutual Funds and president and CEO of SSI. “Companies that are positioning themselves as leaders in recognizing and addressing the effects of climate change present a solid and sustainable investment base that will be less affected by the future impacts of a changing environment.”

Bill Page, from State Street Global Advisors, is responsible for the fund. The investment strategy is to invest long term and to benefit from the companies that are adopting “technological and environmental practices that mitigate and address the implications of climate change.”

The fund diversifies across nine climate themes that cover 10 economic sectors. The themes include clean fuels, clean technology and efficiency, efficient transport, environmental finance, power, power merchants and generation, renewable energy, sustainable living and water.

“Public and media awareness of the climate change issue has created an opportunity for companies and investors to get ahead of the pack,” says Page, who is vice-president and head of ESG Investments at State Street. “The trend toward more strict environmental regulations gives this fund sustainability because companies taking steps to reduce their ecological footprint now will be less impacted by future regulations.”

The fund is available in class A, advisor class, class F, and class I units.

Scotia Securities also revealed that it is expanding its ScotiaFunds lineup, with a new set of ScotiaFunds Advisor Class.

Glen Gowland, managing director and head of Scotia Mutual Funds and president and CEO of SSI, says that the new class will build on what the company already offers. “With the launch of this series, we are able to broaden out our offering to clients who work with an advisor to build their investment strategy,” he says.

The advisor class will initially offer a suite of 10 individual funds and four portfolio solutions, including the Scotia Money Market Fund, the Scotia Canadian Income Fund and the Scotia Diversified Monthly Income Fund.

Like the regular ScotiaFunds, this class will be managed by advisors at Scotia Cassels and Scotia Capital as well as by a number of “institutional-calibre external advisors.”

There are several purchase options associated with this class, including front-end, low-loads and Deferred Sales Channel.

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Edward Jong takes over frontierAlt fund

(February 4, 2008) frontierAlt Funds Management announced Monday that Edward Jong, co-manager of the company’s All Terrain Bond Fund, now has full control over the fund.

The change comes as a result of the retirement of Jong’s co-manager, Robert Marcus. This means Jong will join MAK, Allen & Day Capital Partners as senior vice-president and portfolio manager, responsible for fixed income. Majorica Asset Management, where Jong and Marcus worked, will be wound down.

“We are confident that Ed’s extensive experience and lengthy association as co-manager of the fund will ensure the consistency of the investment strategy will be maintained,” says Kurankye Sekyi-Otu, president, frontierAlt.

“We are pleased to welcome Ed, who strengthens our in-house capabilities in the fixed income space.”

Jong has more than 17 years of investment experience and most recently was vice-president, fixed income, with Majorica Asset Management Corp.

(02/04/08)