CI Financial posts asset growth of 3.7% in September

TSX Symbol: CIX

TORONTO, Oct 4 /CNW/ - CI Financial Corp. ("CI") today reported gross retail sales of $780 million and net sales of $32 million for the month of September 2010. Total assets under management increased 3.7% over the month to $69.2 billion, representing the highest month-end level in CI's assets under management since May 2008.

CI's retail assets under management at September 30, 2010 were $65.6 billion, up 3.3% from the average level for the third quarter of 2010, positioning CI very well for the fourth quarter of the year.

"The tone in financial markets improved considerably in September," said Stephen A. MacPhail, CI President and Chief Executive Officer. "Should recent trends continue, the outlook for the remainder of the year is quite favourable."

Sales consisted of $29 million in net sales of long-term funds and $3 million of net sales of money market funds. For the year-to-date, CI had gross retail sales of $7.6 billion and net sales of $1.2 billion.

Total fee-earning assets at September 30, 2010 were $91.5 billion. Assets under management consisted of retail investment funds at CI Investments Inc. of $65.6 billion and institutional assets of $3.6 billion. CI also reported assets under administration at Assante Wealth Management (Canada) Ltd. of $21.6 billion, and other fee-earning assets of $592 million.

Other developments in September included the initial public offering of Star Yield Managers Class, which is expected to close later this month. Signature Global Advisors of CI Investments Inc. is one of the portfolio managers for the fund, which is offered by Star Portfolio Corp. In addition, CI Investments announced several enhancements to its Portfolio Select Series investment program, including the launch of a new income fund, Select Income Advantage Managed Corporate Class, which provides for income and capital growth through a diversified mix of Canadian and foreign government bonds, investment-grade and high-yield corporate bonds and high-yielding dividend stocks. The changes were completed at the same time as several fund mergers that helped to streamline the CI Investments fund lineup.

Additional information about CI's sales, assets and financial position can be found below in the tables of preliminary statistics and on its website, www.ci.com/cix, in the Statistics section. The sales and assets reported in this release are the only statistics authorized by CI and CI takes no responsibility for reporting by any external sources.

CI FINANCIAL CORP. September 30, 2010 MONTH-END STATISTICS
MONTHLY SALES DATA RETAIL MANAGED FUNDS	GROSS SALES (millions)	REDEMPTIONS (millions)	NET SALES (millions)
Long-term funds Short-term funds	$711 $69	$682 $66	$29 $3
TOTAL RETAIL FUNDS	$780	$748	$32

FEE-EARNING ASSETS	Aug. 31/10 (millions)	Sept. 30/10 (millions)	% Change
Retail assets under management	$63,173	$65,631	3.9%
Institutional managed assets	3,555	3,599	1.2%
TOTAL assets under management	$66,728	$69,230	3.7%
Assante assets under administration*	20,936	21,628	3.3%
CI other fee-earning assets	557	592	6.3%
TOTAL FEE-EARNING ASSETS	$88,221	$91,450	3.7%
MONTHLY AVERAGE RETAIL ASSETS UNDER MANAGEMENT	Aug. 31/10 (millions)	Sept. 30/10 (millions)	% Change
Monthly average retail assets	$63,352	$64,731	2.2%

QUARTERLY AVERAGE RETAIL ASSETS UNDER MANAGEMENT	June 30/10 (millions)	Sept. 30/10 (millions)	% Change
Quarterly average retail assets	$63,515	$63,527	0.0%

FISCAL AVERAGE RETAIL ASSETS UNDER MANAGEMENT	Fiscal 2009 (millions)	Fiscal 2010 (millions)	% Change
Fiscal year average retail assets	$55,430	$63,299	14.2%

EQUITY		FINANCIAL POSITION (millions)
Total outstanding shares	287,559,301	Debt Outstanding	$728
QTD weighted avg. shares	287,727,229	Cash and marketable securities	(163)
Yield at $20.75	3.8%	Net debt outstanding	$565
In-the-money options	4,766,159
Percentage of all options	71%	Terminal redemption value of funds	$801
All options % of shares	2.3%

*Includes CI and United Financial investment fund assets administered by Assante advisors.

ESTIMATED GEOGRAPHIC EXPOSURE OF AUM
Canada	52%	Asia	3%
United States	25%	Other	4%
Europe	10%	Cash	6%

CI Financial Corp. (TSX: CIX) is an independent, Canadian-owned wealth management company. CI offers a broad range of investment products and services, including an industry-leading selection of investment funds. CI 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.

For further information:

Stephen A. MacPhail
President and Chief Executive Officer
[phone]