CI Financial to acquire Perimeter Financial

    TSX Symbol: CIX

    TORONTO, March 10 /CNW/ - CI Financial Corp. ("CI") today announced that
its wholly owned subsidiary CI Investments Inc. has entered into a definitive
agreement to acquire Perimeter Financial Corp. ("Perimeter"), an operator of
alternative trading systems.
    Perimeter, through its wholly owned subsidiary Perimeter Markets Inc.,
operates three alternative trading systems, CBID Institutional, CBID Retail
and CBID Futures, which provide transparent marketplaces to trade Canadian
fixed-income instruments for institutional and retail customers.
    "We are pleased to acquire CBID, a proven system with exciting
potential," said Stephen A. MacPhail, CI President. "With the stability and
resources provided by CI's ownership, we expect renewed growth and success for
the CBID business."
    "Working with CI, which shares our focus on innovation, will help
continue the evolution of electronic trading in Canada," said Doug Steiner,
Chief Executive Officer of Perimeter. "The CBID system delivers significant
benefits to institutional and retail investors, including increased liquidity,
transparency and transaction efficiency."
    The CBID team will remain in place, led by Geoff Eby, President of
Perimeter Markets. The transaction, which is subject to regulatory approval,
is expected to close in April. Terms were not disclosed.

    CI Financial Corp. (TSX: CIX) is an independent, Canadian-owned wealth
management company with approximately $74.5 billion in fee-earnings assets as
of February 28, 2009. CI offers a broad range of investment products and
services, including an industry-leading selection of investment funds, and 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, CI Financial
Corp., [phone]; Douglas E. Steiner, Chairman and CEO, Perimeter
Financial Corp., [phone]