TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 07/30/08 -- C.A. Bancorp Inc. ("C.A. Bancorp") (TSX: BKP) is pleased to announce that, through a newly created subsidiary, C.A.B. Barlow Holdings Corp., it has completed a $2.6 million transaction to acquire 85% of the issued and outstanding shares of Barlow Capital Management Inc. ("Barlow" or the "Company"). The Company's senior management team owns the remaining 15% of the shares.

Barlow is a fee-for-service boutique investment counselor and portfolio manager with an exclusive focus on providing endowment style investment management services to high net worth Canadian investors. At the time of closing, Barlow had approximately $160 million in assets under management and advisement.

Barlow operates two distinct asset management platforms: (i) private client and (ii) pooled portfolios. Both platforms utilize a multi-asset class, multi-manager approach that brings together the best elements of traditional and alternative investment management philosophies into a single strategy with the objective of providing superior risk adjusted returns. In addition to conventional investment allocations such as cash, bonds and equities, Barlow clients will have significant investment exposure to alternative assets such as private equity, real estate and hedge funds.

"We are excited to be partnering with a seasoned management team whose investment philosophy around asset allocation and alternative assets is aligned with that of C.A. Bancorp," said Mark Gardhouse, President of C.A. Bancorp. "I am confident that Barlow's consultative services and portfolio management capabilities will serve as a platform for tremendous growth and will distinguish Barlow in the marketplace as an investment counselor and portfolio manager that provides superior services to its clients."

"Our partnership with C.A. Bancorp enables us to continue to provide strong financial stewardship to our private clients, many of whom have been with us for over ten years. It also greatly enhances our portfolio management capabilities and our position as one of the premier providers of endowment style money management in Canada," said Brad Simpson, President of Barlow. "Our industry leading True Balance(TM) approach to portfolio management and our ability to deliver it to individual clients is solidified."

C.A. Bancorp Inc.

C.A. Bancorp is a publicly traded Canadian merchant bank and alternative asset manager that provides investors with access to a range of private equity and other alternative asset class investment opportunities. C.A. Bancorp is focused on investments in small- and middle-capitalization public and private companies, with emphasis on the industrials, real estate, infrastructure and financial services sectors.

This news release contains forward-looking statements with respect to the acquisition of Barlow, and matters concerning the business, operations, and strategy of C.A. Bancorp. These statements relate to anticipated future events, results, circumstances, performance or expectations that are not historical facts but instead represent C.A. Bancorp's beliefs regarding future events. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "will", "expect", "intend", "plan", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe" or "continue", similar words or the negative thereof, or variations of such words and phrases that certain actions, events or anticipated outcomes "may", "would" or "might" be taken, occur or be achieved. There can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which these forward-looking statements are based will occur.

The future business, operations and performance of C.A. Bancorp and Barlow discussed herein could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Such forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions which may prove to be incorrect. Additional, important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include, among other things, general economic and market factors, conditions affecting the investment management sectors, competition, changes in government regulation, interest rates, tax related matters, and reliance on key personnel of Barlow. C.A. Bancorp cautions that risk factors discussed in applicable continuous disclosure filings required by law that C.A. Bancorp has made and filed on SEDAR should also be considered carefully and that undue reliance not be placed on forward-looking statements as events and results could differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements made by C.A. Bancorp. The cautionary statements qualify all forward-looking statements attributable to C.A. Bancorp and persons acting on its behalf.

Unless otherwise stated, all forward looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release. C.A. Bancorp does not undertake, and specifically disclaims, any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable law.

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Contacts:
C.A. Bancorp Inc.Kurt Brands
Vice-President
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Email: info@cabancorp.com
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