Brandes Investment Partners Announces New Retail Collaboration With Lazard Asset Management

TORONTO, Jan. 23, 2013 /CNW/ - Brandes Investment Partners & Co. (Brandes) is pleased to announce a new arrangement with Lazard Asset Management (LAM) to offer LAM mutual funds to retail investors in Canada. Building on the proven success of the alliance with Sionna Investment Managers Inc. (Sionna), this new collaboration expects to initially offer two LAM mandates focusing on global dividend opportunities and emerging market equity and debt opportunities. LAM's investment culture and style complements the offerings of both Brandes and Sionna. All three firms have a strong bias to fundamental bottom-up stock selection and are known for their proprietary research approach and capabilities.

"Brandes has been doing business in Canada for almost 40 years" said Charles Brandes, Chairman, Brandes. "In fact, my first client was a Canadian, so I'm delighted that we are taking this step to further expand our commitment to Canadian investors by partnering with another world class manager."

With more than 280 investment personnel worldwide, LAM's diversified global investment platform manages in excess of $US146 billion (as of September 30, 2012) and is noted for its emerging markets capabilities and success. Possessing a disciplined investment style that remains consistent through all market environments, LAM's research-driven investment process focuses on financial productivity and valuation.

"Brandes has become synonymous with high-quality, value-added investment solutions designed for the discerning investor seeking long-term wealth generation," says Brandes President Carol Lynde. "Six years ago, Sionna and Brandes created an innovative and enduring strategic alliance that provides strong incentives to do what is best for clients in the long run. It has proven to be a great success; we believe collaborating with LAM will extend that success."

"We are pleased that the distribution model Brandes has created will provide Canadian investors the opportunity to access LAM's products," says Charles Carroll, Deputy Chairman, Lazard Asset Management. "LAM has a history and a culture of providing high quality investment solutions for our clients worldwide. We look forward to leveraging our success in global and emerging markets to benefit Canadian investors."

"Remaining independent but still able to offer investors' choice has proven to be a winning combination" adds Kim Shannon, President of Sionna Investment Management. "At Sionna, we are excited that investors have even greater flexibility and breadth of offering as Lazard joins the platform."

There is no impact to each company's individual operations and institutional business lines under the new retail arrangement.

About Brandes Investment Partners & Co.

Brandes Investment Partners & Co. is an affiliate of Brandes Investment Partner L.P. of San Diego, CA and has been providing Canadians with investment solutions since 1997. Brandes LP is a leading global investment advisory firm, managing more than CDN$29.3 billion of assets for institutional and private clients worldwide. Brandes LP applies the approach to securities selection pioneered by Benjamin Graham, identifying investment opportunities with a long-term context and following a time-tested value discipline in all market conditions. The company's web site is www.brandescanada.com.

About Lazard Asset Management

LAM Canada and LAM LLC are indirect subsidiaries of Lazard Ltd (NYSE: LAZ), one of the world's preeminent financial advisory and asset management firms, which operates from 42 cities across 27 countries in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, Central and South America. With origins dating back to 1848, the firm provides advice on mergers, acquisitions, strategic matters, restructuring and capital structure, capital raising and corporate finance, as well as asset management services to corporations, partnerships, institutions, government and individuals. For more information on Lazard, please visit www.lazard.com.

About Sionna Investment Managers Inc.

Sionna Investment Managers was founded in 2002 under the leadership of Kim Shannon.  Based in Toronto, Canada, Sionna is an independent, employee-owned investment management firm that currently oversees C$3.4 billion on behalf of its institutional and private clients.  The firm adheres to a disciplined, relative-value-driven, bottom-up approach to stock selection.  Sionna's relative-value style is a low-risk approach that is focused on capital preservation and generating value-added returns for its clients over the long term.  For more information, please visit Sionna's website at www.sionna.ca.

SOURCE: Brandes Investment Partners & Co.