AGF Management Ltd. announced Tuesday that it plans to further expand its global presence through the acquisition of Consort Information Systems Ltd. in the United Kingdom.

The Consort acquisition will strengthen AGF’s wholly owned subsidiary Investmaster Group Ltd. and turn it into the U.K.’s leading wealth management software company. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Consort also today recommended to its shareholders that they accept the offer made by Investmaster. Subject to shareholder approval, the acquisition will be completed by the end of April, 2003. Consort will become a separate and independently managed subsidiary of Investmaster.

“This acquisition enables AGF to develop a market-leading franchise in wealth management software while enhancing our presence in the U.K. private client market,” said Blake Goldring, president and CEO of AGF

Both companies will continue to support and enhance their respective product ranges while exploring opportunities for cross-marketing and maximizing economies of scale.

Established in 1983, Consort is based in Leicester with offices in London. The company has 29 stock broking and investment management clients and approximately 70 shareholders.

Based in London, Investmaster has been owned by AGF Management Ltd. since 1999. AGF also owns established investment advisory subsidiaries in Dublin and Singapore and branch offices in Tokyo and Beijing. These global subsidiaries give AGF a closer focus on foreign markets.

http://www.newswire.ca/releases/April2003/01/c6226.html