First Asset Awarded Eight 2017 FundGrade A+® Awards

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TORONTO, Jan. 29, 2018 /CNW/ - First Asset Investment Management Inc. ("First Asset") announced today that 7 of its exchange-traded funds ("ETFs") and one of its mutual funds have received 2017 FundGrade A+® Awards. The awards recognize funds with consistent, outstanding risk-adjusted performance. The awards were announced January 23, 2018 by Fundata Canada Inc., a provider of financial and market data.

The winning funds were:

• First Asset Morningstar National Bank Quebec Index ETF (TSX: QXM)
• First Asset MSCI USA Low Risk Weighted ETF (TSX: RWU)
• First Asset MSCI World Low Risk Weighted ETF (TSX: RWW)
• First Asset Canadian REIT ETF (TSX: RIT)
• First Asset Active Credit ETF (TSX: FAO)
• First Asset Canadian Convertible Bond ETF (TSX: CXF)
• First Asset Morningstar International Value Index ETF (TSX: VXM)
• First Asset REIT Income Fund Class A.

"We are very proud to have earned eight 2017 FundGrade A+® Awards," said Rohit Mehta, President of First Asset.

"First Asset is a leading provider of active ETF strategies and these awards are a testament to our commitment to providing best-in-class solutions across a wide array of asset classes and geographies."

First Asset – Smart Solutions^TM
First Asset, a CI Financial Company, is a Canadian investment firm delivering a comprehensive suite of smart ETF solutions. Rooted in strong fundamentals, First Asset's smart solutions strive to deliver better risk-adjusted returns than the broad market while helping investors achieve their personal financial goals.

FundGrade A+® is used with permission from Fundata Canada Inc., all rights reserved. The annual FundGrade A+® Awards are presented by Fundata Canada Inc. to recognize the "best of the best" among Canadian investment funds. The FundGrade A+® calculation is supplemental to the monthly FundGrade ratings and is calculated at the end of each calendar year. The FundGrade rating system evaluates funds based on their risk-adjusted performance, measured by Sharpe Ratio, Sortino Ratio, and Information Ratio. The score for each ratio is calculated individually, covering all time periods from 2 to 10 years. The scores are then weighted equally in calculating a monthly FundGrade. The top 10% of funds earn an A Grade; the next 20% of funds earn a B Grade; the next 40% of funds earn a C Grade; the next 20% of funds receive a D Grade; and the lowest 10% of funds receive an E Grade. To be eligible, a fund must have received a FundGrade rating every month in the previous year. The FundGrade A+® uses a GPA-style calculation, where each monthly FundGrade from "A" to "E" receives a score from 4 to 0, respectively. A fund's average score for the year determines its GPA. Any fund with a GPA of 3.5 or greater is awarded a FundGrade A+® Award. For more information, see www.FundGradeAwards.com.  Although Fundata makes every effort to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data contained herein, the accuracy is not guaranteed by Fundata.

List of winning funds

Fund Name	CIFSC Category	Fund count	FundGrade start date	FundGrade calculation date
First Asset Morningstar National Bank Quebec Index ETF (QXM)	Canadian Equity	321	1/31/2013	12/31/2017
First Asset MSCI USA Low Risk Weighted ETF (RWU)	U.S. Equity	703	1/31/2015	12/31/2017
First Asset MSCI World Low Risk Weighted ETF (RWW)	Global Equity	838	1/31/2015	12/31/2017
First Asset Canadian REIT ETF (RIT)	Real Estate Equity	68	1/31/2008	12/31/2017
First Asset Active Credit ETF (FAO)	High Yield Fixed Income	251	1/31/2016	12/31/2017
First Asset Canadian Convertible Bond ETF (CXF)	High Yield Fixed Income	251	1/31/2012	12/31/2017
First Asset Morningstar International Value Index ETF (VXM)	International Equity	289	1/31/2015	12/31/2017
First Asset REIT Income Fund Class A	Real Estate Equity	68	1/31/2011	12/31/2017

Performance as of December 31, 2017: First Asset Morningstar National Bank Quebec Index ETF (QXM), 1 year 16.18%; 3 years, 9.39%; 5 years, 16.11%; since inception, 14.79% (Feb. 2012); First Asset MSCI USA Low Risk Weighted ETF (RWU), 1 year, 14.27%; 3 years, 9.10%; since inception, 12.89% (Feb. 2014); First Asset MSCI World Low Risk Weighted ETF (RWW), 1 year, 13.06%; 3 years, 9.16%; since inception, 11.74% (Feb. 2014); First Asset Canadian REIT ETF (RIT), 1 year, 11.90%; 3 years, 12.49%; 5 years, 9.85%; 10 years, 9.33%; since inception, 10.91% (November 2004)¹; First Asset Active Credit ETF (FAO), 1 year, 5.26%; since inception, 5.21% (January 2015); First Asset Canadian Convertible Bond ETF (CXF), 1 year, 5.13%; 3 years, 6.70%; 5 years, 5.13%; since inception, 4.83% (June 2011); First Asset Morningstar International Value Index ETF (VXM), 1 year, 23.82%; 3 years, 11.90%; since inception, 11.73% (November 2014); First Asset REIT Income Fund Class A, 1 year, 10.16%; 3 years, 10.99%; 5 years, 9.61%; since inception, 12.83% (June 2010).

1. RIT was originally launched as a TSX-listed closed-end fund on November 15, 2004, and converted into an exchange traded fund on July 14, 2015. Performance shown is since inception of the closed-end fund. In connection with the conversion, and pursuant to unitholder approval, the annual management fee payable by RIT to First Asset, as manager, was reduced to 0.75% (from 1.05%) of the NAV per unit and certain changes were made to the investment objectives, strategies and restrictions applicable to the Fund. Material among these changes is the ability for RIT to invest up to 30% of its portfolio in securities of real estate issuers listed on non-Canadian stock exchanges and RIT is no longer permitted to use leverage. Had these changes been in effect prior to this date the performance could have been different.

Please read the prospectus before investing. Important information about the ETF or mutual fund is contained in its prospectus. Individuals should seek the advice of professionals, as appropriate, prior to investing. ETFs and mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. Commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with an investment in ETFs. Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with mutual fund investments.  The indicated rates of return are the historical annual compounded total returns including changes in security value and reinvestment of all distributions and do not take into account sales, redemption, distribution or optional charges or income taxes payable by any securityholder that would have reduced returns.   The First Asset ETFs and mutual funds are managed by First Asset Investment Management Inc., a subsidiary of First Asset Capital Corp. (FA Capital). ^TMFirst Asset and its logo are trademarks of First Asset Capital Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of CI Financial Corp. which is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "CIX".  ®CI FINANCIAL is a registered trademark of CI Investments Inc., used under license.

SOURCE First Asset

please call Investor Relations, First Asset at 416-642-1289 or 1‐877‐642‐1289 or visit www.firstasset.com.