Mr. Murray Oxby reports

FORGE FIRST ASSET MANAGEMENT LAUNCHES ETF SERIES AND USD HEDGED SERIES OF ITS ALTERNATIVE STRATEGIES

Forge First Asset Management Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of CI Global Asset Management, has launched the ETF series and the U.S.-dollar hedged series of its liquid alternative funds, providing investors with expanded access to these strategies focused on balancing capital preservation with long-term growth.

The ETF series of the funds have closed their initial offering of units and begin trading today on the Toronto Stock Exchange as follows:

• CI Forge First Conservative Alternative Fund is trading under the tickers CCAF (exchange-traded fund Canadian-dollar series) and CCAF.U (ETF U.S.-dollar hedged series);
• CI Forge First Long Short Alternative Fund is trading under the tickers CLSF (ETF Canadian-dollar series) and CLSF.U (ETF U.S.-dollar hedged series).

Both funds are also available in U.S.-dollar hedged series AH, FH, IH and PH, in addition to Series A, F, I and P.

Why invest with Forge First

"The Forge First funds offer proven expertise in using a broad range of alternative strategies and asset classes to provide investors with downside protection," said Jennifer Sinopoli, executive vice-president and chief distribution officer for Forge First and its parent company, CI GAM. "These strategies are married with fundamental research and a disciplined approach to security selection. The result is a focus on consistent, risk-adjusted returns with a low correlation to traditional asset classes.

"Today's launch also expands the selection of alternative ETF mandates at CI GAM and further diversifies our overall ETF lineup, one of the most diverse in Canada with 128 ETFs and $39-billion in assets under management."

About the funds

CI Forge First Conservative Alternative Fund has a risk rating of Low. Its investment objective is to generate consistent risk-adjusted net returns over the long term with low correlation to North American equity and credit markets. The fund uses alternative investment strategies, such as equity long/short, pairs trading, arbitrage trading, thematic trading, the use of derivatives for leverage and/or borrowing, for investment purposes and seeks to achieve its objectives by investing primarily in equities, ETFs, fixed income and listed options in North American markets.

CI Forge First Long Short Alternative Fund has a risk rating of low to medium. Its investment objective is to provide a positive net total return, regardless of market conditions or general market direction, with low correlation to North American equity and credit markets. The fund uses alternative investment strategies, such as equity long/short, pairs trading, arbitrage trading, thematic trading, the use of derivatives for leverage and/or borrowing,m for investment purposes and seeks to achieve its objectives by investing primarily in equities, ETFs, fixed income and listed options in North American markets.

About Forge First Asset Management Inc.

Forge First Asset Management is an alternative asset manager offering investment solutions that find a balance between asset protection and capital enhancement. Forge First is a wholly owned subsidiary of CI Investments Inc., operating as CI Global Asset Management.

Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with an investment in mutual funds and exchange-traded funds. Please read the prospectus before investing. Important information about mutual funds and ETFs is contained in their respective prospectus. Mutual funds and ETFs are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. You will usually pay brokerage fees to your dealer if you purchase or sell units of an ETF on recognized Canadian exchanges. If the units are purchased or sold on these Canadian exchanges, investors may pay more than the current net asset value when buying units of the ETF and may receive less than the current net asset value when selling them.

Forge First Asset Management is a wholly owned subsidiary of CI Investments, operating as CI Global Asset Management. CI Global Asset Management is a registered business name of CI Investments.

The CI exchange-traded funds are managed by CI Global Asset Management, a wholly owned subsidiary of CI Financial Corp.