AGF Funds Inc. today announced that AGF International Advisors Company Ltd. (AGFIA) is assuming the role of portfolio advisor to AGF International Value Fund and AGF International Value Class.

AGFIA now advises on all of AGF’s global and international value funds. It draws on more than a decade’s experience delivering superior investment management. AGFIA has also won $1.7 billion in international institutional mandates over the past 12 months, primarily for government pension plans from around the globe.

“This is a significant move for AGF and reinforces our core competency: world-class investment management,” said President Randy Ambrosie, in a news release. “We believe we will better serve our clients’ expectations through AGFIA’s superior investment management and track record of top-quartile performance.”

Based in Dublin, Ireland, AGFIA uses a pure bottom-up value philosophy and has a proven record of surveying the globe for the best value opportunities, targeting stocks with a below-average price-earnings ratio, above-average dividend yield and a current price at least 30% off their high. This stock filter is complemented by qualitative research that sees the team visit more than 800 companies annually. AGFIA patiently holds stocks to fruition, reducing portfolio turnover and emphasizing portfolio stability.

“We conducted thorough analysis on AGFIA and its mandates. This analysis resulted in the decision to award the International Value Fund and International Value Class mandates to AGFIA,” said Ambrosie. “This change reflects our deep commitment to doing what is best for AGF unitholders.”

AGFIA veterans John Arnold, chief investment officer, global advisor Rory Flynn, head of research Yvonne Brett and senior analyst Richard McGrath will be responsible for ensuring the funds provide long-term capital growth to investors by investing in shares of large- and mid-cap companies from around the world. The funds were most recently managed by Harris Associates, L.P. who will be replaced by AGF Funds Inc. as portfolio manager.