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Every year, Fundata Canada Inc. (Fundata) hosts an ‘Evening of Excellence’ to acknowledge those Canadian investment funds that have maintained an exceptional performance rating over the entire previous calendar year. Since its debut in 2012, The FundGrade A+® award has become a highly prized achievement in the Canadian investment funds industry and has been accepted and embraced by the financial services industry as a truly objective, independent mark of distinction for those funds and fund managers who receive the award. The FundGrade A+® is given annually to investment funds and their managers who have shown consistent, outstanding, risk-adjusted performance through the year.

For the twelfth consecutive year, several mutual funds managed by TD Asset Management Inc. (TDAM) were recognized at the annual Fundata FundGrade A+® Awards. A combination of 18 TD Mutual Funds, TD Managed Assets Program portfolios and TD Exchange-Traded Funds (TD ETFs) won in their respective categories at the 2023 awards, announced Thursday, February 1, 2024. This represents the most FundGrade A+™ Awards received by investment funds managed by TDAM in a single period.

To get his thoughts on these accomplishments, we caught up with David Sykes, Chief Investment Officer, Head of Investments, TDAM and Senior Vice President, TD Bank Group.

First off, congratulations on the awards and accomplishments!

Thank you very much! On behalf of our entire investment management team, I would like to thank Fundata for recognizing multiple investment funds, across several categories, at the 2023 FundGrade A+ Awards. Recognition from Fundata is always a tremendous honour for our TDAM Team. The awards reflect the dedication and expertise of our diverse investment teams. I also want to thank advisors, investors and clients for your continued confidence in our innovative solutions.

I know it takes a lot of effort for this type of success, but what do you feel are the main factors that contributed to this year's accomplishments?

Investment excellence and performance is the top priority for the investment team here at TDAM. Our philosophy is centered around investing in quality businesses with solid long-term prospects. But our philosophy alone isn’t enough. Some of the key factors that contribute to our success include a consistent process which requires discipline, and this discipline is ultimately generated through our people. Our performance is the outcome of our philosophy, through our process and people – the 3 p's.

You took over as CIO about 2 years ago now, tell us about the evolution of your portfolio management team since then.

In our business, there is constant change. The markets change, the business evolves, and teams often change. At TDAM, we are always looking for ways to improve how we operate and how we are structured, and in the past two years have made some adjustments. The adjustments are always made with the goal of investment excellence. So, while structure and teams may change, the one thing that remains the same is our philosophy.

What is next for TDAM

As always, we continue to be forward thinking and consistently strive to ensure we provide more optimal solutions to our clients. This is typically done through adding new capabilities to our investment team. For example, several years ago, through the acquisition of Greystone Managed Investments Inc. we added alternative investment capabilities and solutions which increased our breath of experience and depth in solutions. Continuing to leverage this expertise we also recently launched new alternative focused solutions like the TD Alternative Commodities Pool and theTD Global Carbon Credit Index ETF.

For a complete list of the winning TD Mutual Funds, TD Managed Assets Program Portfolios and ETFs, please visit our website.

The FundGrade A+® rating is used with permission from Fundata Canada Inc., all rights reserved. Fundata is a leading provider of market and investment funds data to the Canadian financial services industry and business media. The FundGrade A+® rating identifies funds that have consistently demonstrated the best risk-adjusted returns throughout an entire calendar year. For more information on the rating system, please visit www.Fundata.com/ProductsServices/FundGrade.aspx.

TD Active Global Enhanced Dividend ETF was awarded the FundGrade A+™ Award in the Global Equity category for the 12-month period ending December 31, 2023 out of a total of 1095 funds.

TD Active Global Equity Growth ETF was awarded the FundGrade A+™ Award in the Global Equity category for the 12-month period ending December 31, 2023 out of a total of 1095 funds.

TD Active Preferred Share ETF was awarded the FundGrade A+™ Award in the Preferred Share Fixed Income category for the 12-month period ending December 31, 2023 out of a total of 45 funds.

TD Growth ETF Portfolio (formerly, TD One-Click Aggressive ETF Portfolio) was awarded the FundGrade A+™ Award in the Global Equity category for the 12-month period ending December 31, 2023 out of a total of 1095 funds.

TD Conservative ETF Portfolio, (formerly, TD One-Click Conservative ETF Portfolio) was awarded the FundGrade A+™ Award in the Global Fixed Income Balanced category for the 12-month period ending December 31, 2023 out of a total of 488 funds.

TD International Equity CAD Hedged Index ETF was awarded the FundGrade A+™ Award in the International Equity category for the 12-month period ending December 31, 2023 out of a total of 370 funds.

TD Q Canadian Dividend ETF was awarded the FundGrade A+™ Award in the Canadian Dividend & Income Equity category for the 12-month period ending December 31, 2023 out of a total of 258 funds.

TD Q Global Dividend ETF was awarded the FundGrade A+™ Award in the Global Equity category for the 12-month period ending December 31, 2023 out of a total of 1095 funds.

TD Q U.S. Small-Mid-Cap Equity ETF was awarded the FundGrade A+™ Award in the U.S. Small/Mid Cap Equity category for the 12-month period ending December 31, 2023 out of a total of 153 funds.

TD Select Short Term Corporate Bond Ladder ETF was awarded the FundGrade A+™ Award in the Canadian Short Term Fixed Income category for the 12-month period ending December 31, 2023 out of a total of 161 funds.

TD Canadian Blue Chip Dividend Fund was awarded the FundGrade A+™ Award in Canadian Dividend & Income Equity category for the 12-month period ending December 31, 2023 out of a total of 258 funds.

TD Canadian Diversified Yield Fund was awarded the FundGrade A+™ Award in the Canadian Neutral Balanced category for the 12-month period ending December 31, 2023 out of a total of 250 funds.

TD Global Equity Focused Fund was awarded the FundGrade A+™ Award in the Global Equity category for the 12-month period ending December 31, 2023 out of a total of 1095 funds.

TD International Index Currency Neutral Fund was awarded the FundGrade A+™ Award in the International Equity category for the 12-month period ending December 31, 2023 out of a total of 370 funds.

TD Managed Aggressive Growth ETF Portfolio was awarded the FundGrade A+™ Award in the Global Equity Balanced category for the 12-month period ending December 31, 2023 out of a total of 704 funds.

TD Managed Balanced Growth ETF Portfolio was awarded the FundGrade A+™ Award in the Global Neutral Balanced category for the 12-month period ending December 31, 2023 out of a total of 888 funds.

TD U.S. Monthly Income Fund was awarded the FundGrade A+™ Award in the Global Neutral Balanced category for the 12-month period ending December 31, 2023 out of a total of 888 funds.

TD U.S. Quantitative Equity Fund was awarded the FundGrade A+™ Award in the U.S. Equity category for the 12-month period ending December 31, 2023 out of a total of 794 funds.

The FundGrade A+® is used with permission from Fundata Canada Inc., all rights reserved. The annual FundGrade A+® Awards are presented by Fundata Canada Inc. to recognize the “best of the best” among Canadian investment funds. The FundGrade A+® calculation is supplemental to the monthly FundGrade ratings and is calculated at the end of each calendar year.

The FundGrade rating system evaluates funds based on their risk-adjusted performance, measured by Sharpe Ratio, Sortino Ratio, and Information Ratio. The score for each ratio is calculated individually, covering all time periods from two to 10 years. The scores are then weighted equally in calculating a monthly FundGrade. The top 10 per cent of funds earn an A Grade; the next 20 per cent of funds earn a B Grade; the next 40 per cent of funds earn a C Grade; the next 20 per cent of funds receive a D Grade; and the lowest 10 per cent of funds receive an E Grade. To be eligible, a fund must have received a FundGrade rating every month in the previous year. The FundGrade A+® uses a GPA-style calculation, where each monthly FundGrade from “A” to “E” receives a score from 4 to 0, respectively. A fund’s average score for the year determines its GPA. Any fund with a GPA of 3.5 or greater is awarded a FundGrade A+® Award. For more information, see www.FundGradeAwards.com. Although Fundata makes every effort to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data contained herein, the accuracy is not guaranteed by Fundata.

Commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with mutual fund and/or exchange-traded fund ("ETF") investments (collectively, "the Funds"). Trailing commissions may be associated with mutual fund investments. ETF units are bought and sold at market price on a stock exchange and brokerage commissions will reduce returns. Please read the fund facts or summary documents and the prospectus, which contain detailed investment information, before investing in the Funds. The Funds are not covered by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation or by any other government deposit insurer and are not guaranteed or insured. Their values change frequently. There can be no assurances that a money market fund will be able to maintain its net asset value per unit at a constant amount or that the full amount of your investment will be returned to you. Past performance may not be repeated.

The TD International Equity CAD Hedged Index ETF is not sponsored, promoted, sold or supported in any other manner by Solactive AG nor does Solactive AG offer any express or implicit guarantee or assurance either with regard to the results of using the Index and/or Index trade mark or the Index Price at any time or in any other respect. The Solactive GBS Developed Markets ex North America Large & Mid Cap Hedged to CAD Index (CA NTR) is calculated and published by Solactive AG. Solactive AG uses its best efforts to ensure that the Index is calculated correctly. Irrespective of its obligations towards the Issuer, Solactive AG has no obligation to point out errors in the Index to third parties including but not limited to investors and/or financial intermediaries of the TD International Equity CAD Hedged Index ETF. Neither publication of the Index by Solactive AG nor the licensing of the Index or Index trade mark for the purpose of use in connection with the TD International Equity CAD Hedged Index ETF constitutes a recommendation by Solactive AG to invest capital in said TD International Equity CAD Hedged Index ETF nor does it in any way represent an assurance or opinion of Solactive AG with regard to any investment in this TD International Equity CAD Hedged Index ETF.

The TD International Index Currency Neutral Fund (the "Fund") is not sponsored, promoted, sold or supported in any other manner by Solactive AG nor does Solactive AG offer any express or implicit guarantee or assurance either with regard to the results of using the Solactive GBS Developed Markets ex North America Large & Mid Cap Hedged to CAD Index (CA NTR) and/or any trade mark(s) associated with the Solactive GBS Developed Markets ex North America Large & Mid Cap Hedged to CAD Index (CA NTR) or the prices of the Solactive GBS Developed Markets ex North America Large & Mid Cap Hedged to CAD Index (CA NTR) at any time or in any other respect. The Solactive GBS Developed Markets ex North America Large & Mid Cap Hedged to CAD Index (CA NTR) is calculated and published by Solactive AG. Solactive AG uses its best efforts to ensure that the Solactive GBS Developed Markets ex North America Large & Mid Cap Hedged to CAD Index (CA NTR) is calculated correctly. Irrespective of its obligations towards TDAM, Solactive AG has no obligation to point out errors in the Solactive GBS Developed Markets ex North America Large & Mid Cap Hedged to CAD Index (CA NTR) to third parties including but not limited to investors and/or financial intermediaries of the Fund. Neither publication of the Solactive GBS Developed Markets ex North America Large & Mid Cap Hedged to CAD Index (CA NTR) by Solactive AG nor the licensing of the Solactive GBS Developed Markets ex North America Large & Mid Cap Hedged to CAD Index (CA NTR) or any trade mark(s) associated with the Solactive GBS Developed Markets ex North America Large & Mid Cap Hedged to CAD Index (CA NTR) for the purpose of use in connection with the Fund constitutes a recommendation by Solactive AG to invest capital in said Fund nor does it in any way represent an assurance or opinion of Solactive AG with regard to any investment in the Fund.

TD Mutual Funds and the TD Managed Assets Program portfolios are managed by TD Asset Management Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Toronto-Dominion Bank, and are available through authorized dealers.

TD ETFs are managed by TD Asset Management Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Toronto- Dominion Bank.

TD Bank Group means The Toronto-Dominion Bank and its affiliates, who provide deposit, investment, loan, securities, trust, insurance and other products or services.

® The TD logo and other TD trademarks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank or its subsidiaries

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