NEW: First Asset Enhanced Government Bond ETF (TSX: FGO and FGO.U) Actively Managed by Marret Asset Management

/NOT FOR DISSEMINATION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA./

TORONTO, July 31, 2018 /CNW/ - First Asset Investment Management Inc. ("First Asset") is pleased to announce that First Asset Enhanced Government Bond ETF (the "ETF") has closed the initial offering of its two classes of units (collectively, the "Units") and the Units will commence trading today on the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX"). The Common Units will trade on the TSX under the ticker symbol FGO, and the US$ Common Units will trade on the TSX under the ticker symbol FGO.U.

The ETF's investment portfolio will be co-managed by Marret Asset Management Inc.'s Barry Allan, President and Chief Investment Officer, Paul Sandhu, Vice President and Portfolio Manager and Adam Tuer, Portfolio Manager.

The ETF's investment objective is to provide long-term total returns through interest income and capital appreciation. The ETF will primarily invest in government debt, but may also invest in other debt instruments across the credit spectrum including cash, corporate debt, and debt and credit derivatives.

"Today's launch is another step in expanding our partnership with First Asset," said Mr. Allan. "The First Asset Enhanced Government Bond ETF is designed to provide investors true, active management across the duration spectrum. The key to providing our investors with a solution to capitalize on both the current and upcoming phases of the credit cycle rests on the flexibility of actively shortening the portfolio's duration in periods of rising interest rates, while also having the option to rotate to longer duration government bonds, for additional recession protection."

Barry Allan, President and Chief Investment Officer
Marret Investment Management Inc.

About Marret Asset Management Inc.
Marret Asset Management Inc. is a credit fixed-income manager. The firm invests in high-yield and investment-grade corporate debt assets for institutional and retail clients. The experienced team of investment professionals is led by Barry Allan, President and Chief Investment Officer. He founded Marret in 2000, following a career at Altamira, Nesbitt Thomson and a Canadian chartered bank, and has over 30 years of experience in credit and fixed-income markets. Marret Asset Management is a subsidiary of CI Financial Corp., and is an affiliate of First Asset.

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.

Please read the prospectus before investing. Important information about the ETF is contained in its prospectus. Individuals should seek the advice of professionals, as appropriate, prior to investing. The ETF is not guaranteed, its values changes frequently and past performance may not be repeated. Commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with an investment in the ETF.

This press release contains forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts but reflect the current expectations or opinions of First Asset or the portfolio manager of First Asset Enhanced Government Bond ETF regarding future results or events and are based on information currently available to them as of the date of this press release. Certain material factors and assumptions were applied in providing these forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. First Asset believes that the expectations and opinions reflected in forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions; however, First Asset can give no assurance that the actual results or developments will accord with such expectations and opinions be realized. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations or the opinions expressed. Readers, therefore, should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. First Asset undertakes no obligation to publicly update any such statement or to reflect new information or the occurrence of future events or circumstances except as required by securities laws.

The ETF is managed by First Asset, a subsidiary of First Asset Capital Corp. ^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. Marret Asset Management Inc. is a subsidiary of CI Financial Corp., and an affiliate of First Asset.

SOURCE First Asset Exchange Traded Funds

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