Montrusco Bolton Investments Inc has partnered with Bermuda-based hedge fund specialist Focus Group to help it expand in the fast-growing market for alternative investments.

Sylvain Boulé, president & CEO of Montrusco Bolton said “The unique nature of the Montrusco Bolton Focus Group partnership will provide our clients with enhanced means to fulfill their fiduciary responsibilities through more stable returns, better risk management and full transparency.”

Focus Group, with offices in Bermuda, as well as New York, London, Geneva, Milan, and Kuwait, manages US$1 billion in highly specialized multi-manager funds. In a statement the firm said that it would be the “exclusive provider of offshore hedge fund advisory services for Montrusco Bolton.” Focus Group will provide full service and support for fund of fund products to Montrusco Bolton’s pension fund, endowment, and high net worth clients in Canada.

Mazen Jabban, Co-CEO of Focus Group said, “Focus Group’s unique position as a specialized alternative investment leader is the ideal extension to Montrusco Bolton’s equally unique position as one of Canada’s leading asset management firms.”

To head its new initiative, Montrusco Bolton recently hired Frank Belvedere, an actuary and investment consultant, as well as one of Canada’s leading experts in the application of conservative hedged strategies to institutional and private clients’ portfolios. Belvedere’s title is vice president, Alternative Investments.

The two firms have also taken the initiative of sponsoring a Web site (Hedgefunds.ca), dedicated to providing objective, educational information on hedge fund strategies and the hedge fund industry worldwide. The site is expected to launch December 1.