TORONTO, ONTARIO -- 11/03/09 --
Excel Funds is pleased to announce the launch of the Excel BRIC Fund, bringing investors some of the fastest growing economies in the world-Brazil, Russia, India and China.
The Excel BRIC Fund provides investors a simple one-fund solution by combining four existing Excel Funds that have proven investment track records. Tactical asset allocation between the four funds is optimized through quarterly rebalancing with the use of Excel's proprietary quantitative model, and judgmental overlay is provided by Excel's asset allocation committee.
The four Excel Funds are sub-advised by Excel's roster of leading asset managers that are situated in the local markets where they invest: Baring Asset Management (Asia) Limited in Hong Kong, China managing the Excel China Fund; Birla Sun Life AMC Ltd. in Mumbai, India managing the Excel India Fund; Banco Itau - Unibanco in Sao Paulo, Brazil managing the Excel Latin America Fund; and Baring International Investment Limited in London, England managing the Excel Emerging Europe Fund.
"The BRIC nations represent more than 40% of the world's population and are among the fastest growing economies," says company President and CEO, Bhim D. Asdhir," yet, on the whole, Canadian investors have less than 1% of their investment portfolios invested in these economies. These markets are too big to ignore, as the combined GDP of the BRIC nations now exceed the GDP of the United States of America."
Four of the world's fastest growing economies of this past decade are represented by these countries which are projected to grow into economic superpowers over the next two decades, according to research by Goldman Sachs. China, India, Brazil and Russia, along with the European Union (EU5) and the United States, are predicted to be in the top six spots, when ranked by GDP by 2050 according to Goldman Sachs.
"Valuations are attractive and the world economy is stabilizing," Asdhir says. "We have gathered the best on-the-ground money managers for the Excel BRIC Fund so that the Canadian investors can capitalize on this massive growth opportunity."
The Excel BRIC Fund is available through financial advisers across Canada. Minimum initial investment of the Excel BRIC Fund is $500 for both front-end and deferred sales charge purchases. Minimum investment for subsequent purchases is $50.
About the Sub-advisers
Baring Asset Management (Asia) Limited is an affiliate of Baring Asset Management Inc., which has been managing Pacific market investments since 1975 and is responsible for the largest China fund in the market. Baring Asset Management received Asia Asset Management's award for best fund invested in the Greater China Region over 3 and 5 years in 2009.
Birla Sun Life AMC Ltd. is one of the largest private sector mutual fund companies in India, managing assets for clients all over the world. It had the distinction of being awarded "Mutual Fund House of the Year" by CNBC TV18 in 2009.
Banco Itau - Unibanco is the largest bank in the southern hemisphere and awarded "Best Asset Manager in Brazil" by Exame Magazine for 2008 and 2009, and "Best Equity Fund Manager in Brazil" by ValorInveste/S&P from 2004 to 2008.
Baring International Investment Limited is one of the largest fund investors in the Eastern European markets, with a pedigree which dates back to 1980. Baring Asset Management received the Lipper award for "Equity Emerging Markets Europe over 5 and 10 Years" in 2009. Operating from nine countries with professionals from over 30 different nations provides Barings with a unique investment perspective.
About Excel Funds
Founded in 1996, Excel Funds is a specialized fund management company that focuses on investment opportunities in emerging markets. Excel Funds manages highly ranked and award-winning mutual funds including Excel BRIC Fund, Excel China Fund, Excel India Fund, Excel Latin America Fund, Excel Emerging Europe Fund, Excel Chindia Fund, Excel Income and Growth Fund, Excel, Excel Money Market Fund and Excel India Trust (EXI.UN), a TSX-listed closed-end fund.
For further information about these mutual funds, please contact Tessa Boyce, National Sales Manager, Excel Funds at 1-888-813-9813 or visit our website at www.excelfunds.com, or contact your financial adviser.
Contacts:
Excel Funds Management Inc.
Barbara Daley
905.817.2933
barbara.daley@excelfunds.com
www.ExcelFunds.com
Excel Funds
Tessa Boyce
National Sales Manager
1-888-813-9813
