CI Financial announces partnership with leading global private markets investment firm

TORONTO (April 14, 2020) – CI Financial Corp. (“CI”) (TSX: CIX) announced today a strategic partnership with Adams Street Partners, LLC (“Adams Street”), a global leader in private markets investment management. Adams Street is developing investment solutions exclusively for CI that provide Canadian investors access to private investments in markets around the world.

“We believe private market and other alternative investments can provide investors with valuable benefits, including the potential for added diversification, stability and downside support,” said Kurt MacAlpine, CI Chief Executive Officer.

“Our liquid alternatives lineup has performed comparatively well during the recent volatility and we are expanding our product choices in alternatives by adding private markets options. Partnering with Adams Street allows us to benefit from their world-class expertise, leadership and more than 45 years’ experience in private markets investing, while customizing investment solutions to meet the specific needs of our accredited investor clients.”

Adams Street was founded in 1972 and is a pioneer in private markets investment management. The independent, 100% employee-owned firm is dedicated exclusively to private markets and manages US$40 billion. Adams Street has four offices in the United States, as well as offices in London, Munich, Singapore, Beijing, Tokyo and Seoul.

“We are pleased to join CI Financial in developing unique innovative private markets investment solutions for CI’s Canadian clients,” said Jeff Diehl, Managing Partner and Head of Investments at Adams Street. “Our partnership will allow us to provide Canadian investors with access to a global portfolio of private equity and private credit investments. Historically, these investments have primarily been available only to large institutional investors.”

CI’s initiative to expand its capabilities in alternative investments supports its three overall strategic priorities: modernizing its asset management business; expanding its wealth management platform; and globalizing the firm. Alternatives are playing an increasingly important role in CI’s wealth management business, given the relevance of these strategies for high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients.

“Institutional investors such as pension plans, endowments and foundations are increasingly focused on achieving returns based on their investors’ long-term objectives,” Mr. MacAlpine said. “We are seeing the same trend with our high-net-worth clients, who are shifting their attention to longer-term wealth preservation and inter-generational planning. 

“As one of Canada’s largest wealth managers for high net worth individuals, families and businesses, we are taking the lead in providing institutional-style investment mandates to meet our clients’ evolving needs. In offering private market solutions, we are building on the leadership we’ve established in liquid alternative funds, where we have $1.3 billion in assets under management and are one of the top two managers in this category.”

Private market investments are investments in entities that are not publicly listed or traded and are typically restricted to large institutional investors. Private market investments are considered “illiquid,” which means they are not easily sold. However, the illiquidity justifies a targeted return premium over public market investments. Liquid alternative funds combine sophisticated investment strategies with the liquidity – daily sales and purchases – and low investment minimums of a mutual fund structure.

CI’s liquid alternative funds are:

• CI Munro Alternative Global Growth Fund and CI Munro Alternative Global Growth ETF
• CI Marret Alternative Absolute Return Bond Fund and CI Marret Alternative Absolute Return Bond ETF
• CI Lawrence Park Alternative Investment Grade Credit Fund and CI Lawrence Park Alternative Investment Grade Credit ETF.

About CI Financial

CI Financial Corp. (TSX: CIX) is an independent Canadian company offering global asset management and wealth management advisory services. CI held approximately C$156 billion in fee-earning assets as of March 31, 2020. Its primary operating businesses are CI Investments Inc., Assante Wealth Management (Canada) Ltd., CI Private Counsel LP, GSFM Pty Ltd., WealthBar Financial Services Inc., and BBS Securities Inc. Further information is available at www.cifinancial.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning anticipated future events, results, circumstances, performance or expectations with respect to CI Financial Corp. (“CI”) and its products and services, including its business operations, strategy and financial performance and condition. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as “believe”, “expect”, “foresee”, “forecast”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “estimate”, “goal”, “plan” and “project” and similar references to future periods, or conditional verbs such as “will”, “may”, “should”, “could” or “would”. These statements are not historical facts but instead represent management beliefs regarding future events, many of which by their nature are inherently uncertain and beyond management’s control.  Although management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements involve risks and uncertainties. The material factors and assumptions applied in reaching the conclusions contained in these forward-looking statements include that the investment fund industry will remain stable and that interest rates will remain relatively stable.  Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include, among other things, general economic and market conditions, including interest and foreign exchange rates, global financial markets, changes in government regulations or in tax laws, industry competition, technological developments and other factors described or discussed in CI’s disclosure materials filed with applicable securities regulatory authorities from time to time. The foregoing list is not exhaustive and the reader is cautioned to consider these and other factors carefully and not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Other than as specifically required by applicable law, CI undertakes no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statement after the date on which it is made, whether to reflect new information, future events or otherwise.

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For further information:

CI Financial Corp.
Murray Oxby
Vice-President, Communications
416-681-3254
moxby@ci.com