First Asset Investment Management and CI Investments announced on April 22 that First Asset ETFs will be rebranded as CI First Asset ETFs effective April 29.

"The new branding reflects the growing synergies between our firms," said Rohit Mehta, President of First Asset and Executive Vice-President, CI Financial Corp. "We are bringing together First Asset's specialized experience in smart beta and actively managed ETFs with CI's strength in investment management and its extensive national reach." CI Financial Corp. is the parent company of CI and First Asset.

For customers, the change clarifies the relationship between the two firms, which are now working closely together in product development, sales and marketing, the companies explained. Certain members of CI's investment management teams are portfolio managers of several actively managed First Asset ETFs, and, in January, CI launched CI Mosaic ETF Portfolios, a series of mutual fund portfolios that invest primarily in First Asset ETFs. 

"Our strategy is to be 'platform-agnostic' – making it easy for advisors and investors to access our investment management expertise and innovative solutions by offering them through a variety of platforms, including mutual funds, pools and ETFs," Mehta said.