Canadian asset manager BMO Global Asset Management (BMO GAM) has announced its second collaboration with Partners Group to widen access to private markets for Canadian investors.
The collaboration launched a new BMO Partners Group Private Markets Fund to provide access to a diversified portfolio containing private equity, private credit, private real estate, and private infrastructure.
Partners Group is global private markets firm with $135bn in assets under management, and a client base of more than 800 institutional investors, including major Canadian pension funds.
It provides a wide range of client solutions to institutional investors, sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and private individuals.
Partners Group partner and portfolio management co-head Adam Howarth said: “Our partnership with BMO is a great opportunity to expand access to private markets for Canadian accredited and institutional investors.
“The solution is underpinned by a broadly diversified portfolio of private markets investments and aims to offer attractive, long-term compounding returns.
“Investors will benefit from Partners Group’s global platform and investment approach, which seeks to capitalise on thematic growth trends and transform businesses and assets.”
BMO said that the partnership builds on its experience in the alternative investment space, including the recent launch of the BMO Georgian Alignment II Access Fund.
BMO Georgian Alignment II offers Canadian accredited investors the opportunity to obtain exposure to Georgian’s curated set of North American software companies.
BMO Global Asset Management president and chief commercial officer Kevin Gopaul said: “We are excited to introduce three new ETF series that help investors make progress by empowering them to customise their portfolios for today’s market environment.
“Now, advisors and investors will have an expanded toolkit to interact with market trends effectively.
“Our new BMO funds cater to income-seeking investors as well as those seeking growth through global and US equities, bolstered by the expertise and track record of our experienced team.”
In a separate development, BMO Investments, which manages the BMO Mutual Funds, has launched an exchange-traded fund (ETF) series offered by certain BMO Mutual Funds.
The new ETF series was offered by BMO Global Enhanced Income Fund (ZWQT), BMO US Equity Growth MFR Fund (ZUGE), and BMO US Equity Value MFR Fund (ZUVE).
All three mutual funds, ZWQT, ZUGE and ZUVE have closed their initial offering of exchange-traded units and will begin trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange, immediately.
The listing of ZWQT, ZUGE and ZUVE builds on BMO ETFs’ comprehensive suite of strategies across mandates, asset classes and geographies, providing effective portfolio solutions for investors.
BMO Mutual Funds are managed by BMO Investments, which is an investment fund manager and a separate legal entity from Bank of Montreal.
