News Releases

GGOF Offers Opportunity to Invest in Asia with the Launch of GGOF Asian Growth and Income Fund

GGOF Guardian Group of Funds has launched GGOF Asian Growth and Income Fund, providing investors with the opportunity to invest in one of the world’s fastest-growing economic regions. Matthews International Capital Management, a San Francisco-based investment firm specializing exclusively in the Asian markets, will act as sub-advisor to the Fund.

“Matthews International Capital Management has been providing focused investment management services in the Asian markets for about 12 years,” said Gavin Graham, Vice-President and Director of Investments, GGOF Guardian Group of Funds. “Paul Matthews, the company’s founder and Chief Investment Officer, brings 20 years of Asian investment experience to his role as lead portfolio manager for GGOF Asian Growth and Income Fund. Investors in the Fund will benefit from Paul and his team’s extensive expertise in finding attractive Asian investment opportunities."

GGOF Asian Growth and Income Fund has the flexibility to invest in the various Asian Tiger markets, primarily Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, China, India, and Indonesia, as well as Japan.

Most of the Matthews investment team have lived and worked in Asia over the course of their careers, and are intimately familiar with the Asian economies and the inner workings of Asian companies. They adhere to a research-intensive, bottom-up, stock picking approach. Paul Matthews was named 2002 Manager of the Year by Value Line Investment Survey, an influential and highly respected U.S.-based investment information and rating service.

“The range and depth of experience behind the Fund’s investment management team makes it an ideal fund for investors who may have previously avoided the region,” said John Boeckh, Senior Vice-President, Marketing, GGOF Guardian Group of Funds. “We are excited about Asia's superior growth potential and are optimistic about the wealth of attractive investment opportunities the region offers.”

As a result of strong foreign investment, relatively low labour costs, a healthy export market and increasing domestic consumption, Asia is expected to continue to lead the world in growth. Key indicators of strength include:

Nearly one-half of the world’s population resides in Asia
Asia produces 24 per cent of the world’s economic output
The Asian Tiger markets account for 15 per cent of world market capitalization.

GGOF Guardian Group of Funds provides investors with a full product line of 29 mutual funds, diversified by asset class, geographic region and investment style. GGOF, with $3.1 billion of mutual fund assets under management at September 30, 2003, offers its funds exclusively through financial intermediaries.

GGOF is a member of BMO Financial Group and part of the organization’s Private Client Group. The Private Client Group provides integrated wealth management services in Canada and the United States and has total assets under management and administration and term investments of $281 billion at July 31, 2003.

-30-