C.I. Fund Management Inc. today reported that its wholly owned subsidiary, CI Mutual Funds Inc., had net sales of $105 million in March 2002.

This represents an increase in net sales of 50% from February 2002, noted Stephen A. MacPhail, chief operating officer of C.I. Mutual fund assets increased by 3% during the month to $21.3 billion, while overall fee-earning assets grew by 2.6% to $26.7 billion.

“Strong performances by a number of equity funds, including the top-selling Harbour Funds and Signature Funds, have boosted assets and improved CI’s asset mix, with equity funds accounting for an increased proportion of assets,” MacPhail said.

CI’s family of global value funds managed by John Hock of Altrinsic Advisors, LLC also performed well in the first quarter. For example, CI Global Value Fund and CI International Value Fund have each returned 4.1% for the year-to-date, versus 0.4% for the MSCI World Index.

In other highlights, investor interest in the CI Portfolio Series continues to grow, as this group of funds had $15 million in net sales in March. The CI Portfolio Series, which was launched in mid-December, is a family of asset allocation funds that allow investors to diversify across asset classes, investment styles and geographic regions in one fund.