The Smead Value Fund plans to launch an adviser share class to engage the broker dealer community.

The class will be added to expand on the current no-load investor share class of the fund.

It will be focused on financial advisers and planners who do business on a commission basis.

'We look forward to combining our optimistic view of investing in US large cap 'quality' stocks with the strong stewardship of financial advisors,' says Bill Smead (pictured), chief investment officer of Smead Capital Management. 'With our roots on that side of the investment business, we believe we can add a lot of value to the brokerage community and their clients because we have walked in their shoes before.'

The new advisor class of shares will look much like a traditional C-share class. Its expense ratio will be capped at 2.15 per cent, 1.00 per cent of which is paid to the broker dealer in the form of a 12b-1 fee. The investor class of shares is currently capped at 1.40 per cent.

The Smead Value Fund is a large cap open-end mutual fund that was launched on 2 January 2008. Seattle-based Smead Capital Management is the adviser to the fund.