HSBC INVESTMENT FUNDS (CANADA) INC. PROPOSES MERGER OF FOUR LIFEMAP(R) MM
PORTFOLIOS

VANCOUVER, Sept. 24 /CNW/ - HSBC Investment Funds (Canada) Inc. today announced proposals to merge each of the four LifeMap(R) MM Portfolios into their equivalent LifeMap(R) Portfolio, as described below.

    
    Current LifeMap MM Portfolio        Converts to LifeMap Portfolio

    HSBC LifeMap(R) MM Moderate         HSBC LifeMap(R) Moderate Conservative
     Conservative Portfolio              Portfolio
    HSBC LifeMap(R) MM Balanced         HSBC LifeMap(R) Balanced Portfolio
     Portfolio
    HSBC LifeMap(R) MM Growth           HSBC LifeMap(R) Growth Portfolio
     Portfolio
    HSBC LifeMap(R) MM Aggressive       HSBC LifeMap(R) Aggressive Growth
     Growth Portfolio                    Portfolio
    

The purpose of the proposed mergers is to provide unitholders of the LifeMap MM Portfolios with the opportunity to hold units of the LifeMap Portfolios, each of which offers lower management fees; a larger asset base with resulting economies of scale with respect to operating costs together with access to underlying third party funds and HSBC Mutual Funds.

Effective today, units of the LifeMap MM Portfolios will no longer be available for purchase, except for those investors who have existing arrangements in place to purchase units under regular pre-authorized investment plans, including Group RRSP Payroll contributions.

The proposed mergers are expected to be effective on or about 10 December 2010, subject to regulatory approval and the approval of the unitholders of each of the LifeMap MM Portfolios. The Independent Review Committee of the LifeMap MM Portfolios has considered the proposed mergers and provided its recommendations that the proposed mergers achieve a fair and reasonable result for each of the Portfolios.

Special meetings of the unitholders of the LifeMap MM Portfolios will be held on or about 26 November 2010. Subject to unitholder approval, holders of Investor Series, Advisor Series, Manager Series and Institutional Series units of each LifeMap MM Portfolio will convert to units of the same series of the equivalent LifeMap Portfolio. Following the mergers, the LifeMap MM Portfolios will be closed. Unitholders in the LifeMap MM Portfolios will have the right to redeem their units up to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the effective date of the mergers.

Additional details regarding the mergers will be set out in amendments to the Simplified Prospectus and Annual Information Form of the Portfolios that will be available at www.sedar.com.

    
    Notes to Editors:
    -----------------
    1.  HSBC Bank Canada, a subsidiary of HSBC Holdings plc, has more than
        260 offices, including over 140 bank branches, and is the leading
        international bank in Canada. With around 8,000 offices in 87
        countries and territories and assets of US$2,418 billion at 30 June
        2010, the HSBC Group is one of the world's largest banking and
        financial services organizations.

    2.  HSBC Global Asset Management (Canada) Limited is a wholly-owned
        subsidiary of, but separate entity from, HSBC Bank Canada and is the
        Canadian business of HSBC Global Asset Management.

    3.  Globally, HSBC Global Asset Management, the core investment business
        of the HSBC Group, has approximately US$428.3 billion under
        management at 30 June 2010. With investment teams based in 20
        locations throughout Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Americas, HSBC
        Global Asset Management is able to deliver global capabilities with
        the benefit of local market perspectives.
    

For further information: Media enquiries: Ernest Yee, Vice President, Corporate Affairs, HSBC Bank Canada, Tel: [phone]; Sharon Wilks, Senior Manager, Public Affairs, HSBC Bank Canada, Tel: [phone]