Guardian Group of Funds launched three new mutual funds today: GGOF Guardian Global Equity Fund, GGOF Guardian International Equity Fund and GGOF Guardian Dividend Growth Fund.

The new funds have received regulatory clearance and are now available for sale. The global equity fund and the international equity fund employ a blend of investment styles and are modeled on funds offered in the U.S. by Putnam Advisory Company, LLC of Boston. The global fund will invest worldwide, while the international fund will invest strictly outside of North America. Putnam will be the portfolio advisor for both funds and will use both top-down and bottom-up investment approaches.

The goal of the dividend growth fund is to provide a high after-tax return, including dividend income and capital gains from growth in the fund’s portfolio. The lead manager of the fund will be Michael Stanley of Jones Heward Investment Counsel Inc., who also manages the BMO Dividend Fund.

“GGOF’s new funds provide investors with even greater access to some of the best investment managers from around the world,” said Harold Hillier, president and CEO, GGOF. “Together with our existing funds, these products will help meet the investment needs of most Canadian investors, from the risk averse to the risk tolerant.”