CI Financial to acquire Perimeter Financial

CI Financial Corp. ("CI") today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary CI Investments Inc. has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Perimeter Financial Corp. ("Perimeter"), an operator of alternative trading systems.

Perimeter, through its wholly owned subsidiary Perimeter Markets Inc., operates three alternative trading systems, CBID Institutional, CBID Retail and CBID Futures, which provide transparent marketplaces to trade Canadian fixed-income instruments for institutional and retail customers.

"We are pleased to acquire CBID, a proven system with exciting potential," said Stephen A. MacPhail, CI President. "With the stability and resources provided by CI's ownership, we expect renewed growth and success for the CBID business."

"Working with CI, which shares our focus on innovation, will help continue the evolution of electronic trading in Canada," said Doug Steiner, Chief Executive Officer of Perimeter. "The CBID system delivers significant benefits to institutional and retail investors, including increased liquidity, transparency and transaction efficiency."

The CBID team will remain in place, led by Geoff Eby, President of Perimeter Markets. The transaction, which is subject to regulatory approval, is expected to close in April. Terms were not disclosed.

CI Financial Corp. (TSX: CIX) is an independent, Canadian-owned wealth management company with approximately $74.5 billion in fee-earnings assets as of February 28, 2009. CI offers a broad range of investment products and services, including an industry-leading selection of investment funds, and is on the Web at www.ci.com/cix.

This press release contains forward-looking statements with respect to CI and its products and services, including its business operations and strategy and financial performance and condition. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include, among other things, general economic and market factors, including interest rates, business competition, changes in government regulations or in tax laws, and other factors discussed in materials filed with applicable securities regulatory authorities from time to time.

SOURCE: CI Investments Inc

Stephen A. MacPhail, President, CI Financial Corp., (416) 364-1145; Douglas E. Steiner, Chairman and CEO, Perimeter Financial Corp., (416) 703-6787