TORONTO, Nov. 29, 2012 /CNW/ - Morningstar Research Inc., a Canadian subsidiary of Morningstar, Inc. (NASDAQ: MORN), a leading provider of independent investment research, has announced the winners of the 2012 Morningstar® Canadian Investment Awards. This year's awards gala, held last night in Toronto, marked the 18th edition of Canada's premier annual awards event for the investment industry.
The evening honoured companies and individuals that Morningstar believes have made a difference in the lives of investors through superior investment products, service, marketing, and education. Chief correspondent of CBC News, Peter Mansbridge, served as host to the more than 500 guests in attendance.
The awards encompass a wide range of investment products, including mutual funds, pooled funds, and hedge funds. Additional awards recognize outstanding individual managers, career achievement, discount brokerage, and marketing. The awards program represents the year-long evaluation efforts of dozens of firms, analysts, and expert jury members.
The Morningstar Canadian Investment Awards winners are:
Morningstar Domestic Equity Fund Manager of the Year
Winner: Oscar Belaiche, GCIC Ltd.
"Oscar Belaiche has been able to replicate his approach of buying quality businesses at a reasonable price in both small-cap and equity-income funds with great success," said Salman Ahmed, associate director of fund analysis for Morningstar Canada. "He has also done so while giving investors a smooth ride. For example, over the last five years, the returns for Dynamic Small Business rank among the top of the category while its absolute volatility metric ranks the lowest."
Morningstar Foreign Equity Fund Manager of the Year
Winner: David Ragan, Mawer Investment Management Ltd.
"What sets David Ragan, and for that matter, all of Mawer's equity funds apart is the thoroughness of the investment process," Ahmed said. "Each part of the process is carefully thought out, whether it's the idea generation, research process, or portfolio construction, to ensure that the stock ideas go through numerous stages. The proof is in the pudding. If you look at the performance of David's the fund since David became co-manager in 2007, and then lead manager in 2010, the fund has consistently been a top quartile performer."
Morningstar Fixed-Income Fund Manager of the Year
Winner: PH&N Fixed Income Team, RBC Global Asset Management Inc.
"The fixed-income team's funds have consistently been top performers in both the core and high-yield category," Ahmed said. "They've achieved this by using different levers, such as duration, curve, and credit, to their advantage. But what has impressed us the most is the team's ability to understand and manage the risks in their portfolios."
Morningstar Analysts' Choice Fund Company of the Year
Winner: RBC Global Asset Management Inc.
Morningstar ETF Provider of the Year
Winner: iShares, BlackRock Canada
Advisors' Choice Investment Fund Company of the Year
Winner: Fidelity Investments Canada ULC
Finalists:
CI Investments Inc.
Dynamic Funds
Investment Funds Institute of Canada (IFIC) Investor Education Award
Winner: Brandes Scholarship Program, Brandes Investment Partners & Co.
Finalists:
Brighter Life, Sun Life Financial
Retirement U, Mackenzie Investments
The Brandes Scholarship Program, available at www.brandesscholarship.ca, was recognized as an original and innovative program designed to address the important issue of financial literacy among the younger generation.
Career Achievement Award
Winner: Arthur Labatt
Labatt, a co-founder of Trimark Financial, a company known for its excellence in investment management and client service, was also recognized for his outstanding contribution to numerous charitable organizations.
Best Canadian Balanced Fund
Winner: Steadyhand Income, Steadyhand Investment Funds Inc.
Finalists:
Fidelity Monthly Income, Fidelity Investments Canada ULC
Norrep Income Growth, Hesperian Capital Management Ltd.
TD Monthly Income, TD Asset Management Inc.
Best Global Balanced Fund
Winner: CI Signature High Income, CI Investments Inc.
Finalists:
Dynamic Strategic Yield, Dynamic Funds
Mawer Balanced, Mawer Investment Management Ltd.
Best Canadian Equity Fund
Winner: Mawer Canadian Equity, Mawer Investment Management Ltd.
Finalists:
CI Cambridge Canadian Equity, CI Investments Inc.
CI Harbour, CI Investments Inc.
Best Canadian Fixed-Income Fund
Winner: TD Canadian Core Plus, TD Asset Management Inc.
Finalists:
Fidelity Canadian Bond, Fidelity Investments Canada ULC
PH&N Total Return Bond, RBC Global Asset Management Inc.
Best Canadian Dividend & Income Equity Fund
Winner: Sentry Canadian Income, Sentry Investments
Finalists:
Dynamic Equity Income, Dynamic Funds
RBC Canadian Equity Income, RBC Global Asset Management Inc.
Best US Equity Fund
Winner: Trimark US Companies, Invesco Canada Ltd.
Finalists:
Dynamic Power American Growth, Dynamic Funds
TD US Blue Chip Equity, TD Asset Management Inc.
Best Global Equity Fund
Winner: Capital International Global Equity, Capital International Asset Management
Finalists:
CI Global High Dividend Advantage, CI Investments Inc.
Mackenzie Ivy Foreign Equity, Mackenzie Investments
Trimark Global Endeavour, Invesco Canada Ltd.
Best Global Fixed-Income Fund
Winner: RBC Global Corporate Bond, RBC Global Asset Management Inc.
Finalists:
DFA Investment Grade Fixed Income, Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC
Templeton Global Bond, Franklin Templeton Investments Corp.
Best Equity ETF
Winner: iShares S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index, iShares, BlackRock Canada
Finalists:
Horizons S&P/TSX 60 Index ETF, Horizons Canada
iShares S&P/TSX 60, iShares, BlackRock Canada
Best Fixed-Income ETF
Winner: iShares DEX Universe Bond Index, iShares, BlackRock Canada
Finalist:
iShares DEX All Corporate Bond Index, iShares, BlackRock Canada
Best Canadian Small-/Mid-Cap Equity Fund
Winner: Mawer New Canada, Mawer Investment Management Ltd.
Finalists:
IA Clarington Canadian Small Cap, IA Clarington Investments Inc.
Sentry Small/Mid Cap Income, Sentry Investments
Trimark Canadian Small Companies, Invesco Canada Ltd.
Best International Equity Fund
Winner: Mawer International Equity, Mawer Investment Management Ltd.
Finalists:
CI Black Creek International Equity, CI Investments Inc.
Invesco International Growth, Invesco Canada Ltd.
Best Emerging Markets Equity Fund
Winner: Mackenzie Universal Emerging Markets, Mackenzie Investments
Finalists:
Desjardins Emerging Markets, Desjardins Investments Inc.
TD Emerging Markets, TD Asset Management Inc.
Best US Small-/Mid-Cap Equity Fund
Winner: Trimark US Small Companies, Invesco Canada Ltd.
Finalists:
Mackenzie Universal American Growth, Mackenzie Investments
TD US Small Cap, TD Asset Management Inc.
Best Global Small-/Mid-Cap Equity Fund
Winner: Mawer Global Small Cap, Mawer Investment Management Ltd.
Finalists:
CI Global Small Companies, CI Investments Inc.
Trimark Global Small Companies, Invesco Canada Ltd.
Best High Yield Fixed-Income Fund
Winner: RBC Global High Yield Bond, RBC Global Asset Management Inc.
Finalists:
Northwest Specialty Global High Yield Bond, NEI Investments
PH&N High Yield Bond, RBC Global Asset Management Inc.
Best Specialty Equity Fund
Winner: TD Health Sciences, TD Asset Management Inc.
Finalists:
CI Global Health Sciences Corp. Class, CI Investments Inc.
Sentry REIT, Sentry Investments
Best Discount Brokerage
Winner: Qtrade Investor
Finalists:
Scotia iTRADE
Credential Direct
BMO InvestorLine
Best Fund of Funds
Winner: CI Portfolio Series, CI Investments Inc.
Finalists:
Invesco Intactive, Invesco Canada Ltd.
National Bank Meritage, National Bank Mutual Funds
Best Canadian Equity Pooled Fund
Winner: Burgundy Canadian Equity, Burgundy Asset Management Ltd.
Finalists:
Bissett Canadian Equity, Franklin Templeton Investments Corp.
Mawer Canadian Equity, Mawer Investment Management Ltd.
Best Canadian Income Pooled Fund
Winner: Fiera Capital Tactical Fixed Income, Fiera Capital Corp.
Finalists:
Beutel Goodman Income, Beutel Goodman & Co. Ltd.
Leith Wheeler Total Return Bond, Leith Wheeler Investment Counsel Ltd.
Best Global Equity Pooled Fund
Winner: Burgundy Partners Global, Burgundy Asset Management Ltd.
Finalists:
Hexavest World, Hexavest Asset Management
Mawer Global Small Cap, Mawer Investment Management Ltd.
Best Canadian Balanced Pooled Fund
Winner: Burgundy Balanced Pension, Burgundy Asset Management Ltd.
Finalists:
Bissett Canadian Balanced, Franklin Templeton Investment Corp.
QV Canadian Balanced, QV Investors Inc.
Best Canadian Small-/Mid-Cap Equity Pooled Fund
Winner: Burgundy Canadian Small Cap, Burgundy Asset Management Ltd.
Finalists:
Bissett Microcap, Franklin Templeton Investment Corp.
Mawer New Canada, Mawer Investment Management Ltd.
QV Canadian Small Cap, QV Investors Inc.
Best Global Balanced Pooled Fund
Winner: Burgundy Partners Balanced, Burgundy Asset Management Ltd.
Finalists:
JF Global Balanced, Jarislowsky Fraser Ltd.
Mawer Balanced, Mawer Investment Management Ltd.
Best International Equity Pooled Fund
Winner: Burgundy EAFE, Burgundy Asset Management Ltd.
Finalists:
Mawer International Equity, Mawer Investment Management Ltd.
Sprucegrove International Equity, Sprucegrove Investment Management Ltd.
Best US Equity Pooled Fund
Winner: Burgundy Smaller Companies, Burgundy Asset Management Ltd.
Finalists:
Burgundy American Equity, Burgundy Asset Management Ltd.
UBS (Canada) US Large Cap Growth Equity, UBS Global Asset Management (Canada)
Canadian Investment Marketing Award
Winner: Volatunity, Dynamic Funds
Finalists:
Smart Income, Macquarie Canada
Invesco Intactive, Invesco
Advisor ToGo, CIBC Asset Management
Best Multi-Strategy or Fund of Hedge Funds
Winner: PH&N Absolute Return Strategy, RBC Global Asset Management Inc.
Finalists:
DGAM Diversified Strategies, Diversified Global Asset Management Corp.
North Pole Multi-Strategy, Polar Securities Inc.
Best Relative Value Hedge Fund
Winner: Amethyst Arbitrage, Crystalline Management Inc.
Finalists:
CC&L Canadian Q Market Neutral, Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd.
Flatiron Market Neutral, Sprott Asset Management LP
Best Opportunistic Hedge Fund
Winner: JM Catalyst, JM Fund Management Inc.
Finalists:
Sherpa Diversified Returns, Sherpa Asset Management
Vision Opportunity, Vision Capital Corp.
Best ETF Initiative
Winner: iShares, BlackRock Canada, Investor Outreach
Finalists:
BMO Exchange Traded Fund, Investor Education
Vanguard Investments Canada, Vanguard ETFs Launch
Best Use of Technology Award
Winner: adviceDirect, BMO InvestorLine
Finalists:
Invesco Canada iPad app, Invesco
WealthElements, EquiSoft
For further information about the Morningstar Canadian Investment Awards, please visit www.investmentawards.com.
About Morningstar Research Inc. and Morningstar, Inc.
Morningstar Research Inc. is a Canadian subsidiary of Chicago-based Morningstar, Inc., a leading provider of independent investment research in North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. The company offers an extensive line of products and services for individuals, financial advisors, and institutions. Morningstar provides data on more than 385,000 investment offerings, including stocks, mutual funds, and similar vehicles, along with real-time global market data on more than 8 million equities, indexes, futures, options, commodities, and precious metals, in addition to foreign exchange and Treasury markets. Morningstar also offers investment management services through its registered investment advisor subsidiaries and has approximately $195 billion in assets under advisement or management as of Sept. 30, 2012. The company has operations in 27 countries.
©2012 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Image with caption: "Peter Mansbridge (CNW Group/Morningstar Research Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20121129_C4293_PHOTO_EN_21344.jpg
Image with caption: "Awards On Stage (CNW Group/Morningstar Research Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20121129_C4293_PHOTO_EN_21345.jpg
Image with caption: "Opening Reception (CNW Group/Morningstar Research Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20121129_C4293_PHOTO_EN_21346.jpg
Image with caption: "Awards Dinner (CNW Group/Morningstar Research Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20121129_C4293_PHOTO_EN_21347.jpg
Image with caption: "Award Winners (CNW Group/Morningstar Research Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20121129_C4293_PHOTO_EN_21348.jpg
SOURCE: Morningstar Research Inc.
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