What’s New: In brief (February 13, 2006)

Dinner tickets for WICC Ontario Chapter’s 10th Anniversary Dinner “Fueling the Flame” are on sale now at wicc.ca. WICC’s goal for its 2006, 10th Anniversary year, is to raise $2 million to fund breast and prostate cancer research projects through the Canadian Cancer Society. The anniversary dinner will be held on March 29, 2006, at the Westin Harbour Castle, and will begin with a cocktail reception and followed by a “blazing gala dinner; a smoldering silent auction and hot entertainment.” Over 700 guests are expected to be in attendance. This event sells out very quickly so in order to ensure a fair registration process, WICC is giving priority to on-line registrations via www.wicc.ca. If you cannot attend and would like to make a donation to WICC, visit www.wicc.ca and make a donation online, via credit card in a secure environment.

Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc. recently listed a Canadian public offering of $125 million of Non-Cumulative Class A Preferred Shares, Series B. Industrial Alliance will issue 5 million Series B Preferred Shares priced at $25.00 per share and holders will be entitled to receive fixed non-cumulative preferential quarterly dividends in the amount of $0.2875 per share, to yield 4.60% per annum. The offering will be underwritten by a syndicate of investment dealers led by Scotia Capital Inc. The expected closing date for the offering is February 24, 2006. The Series B Preferred Shares will be issued under a prospectus supplement to Industrial Alliance’s base shelf prospectus dated February 19, 2004. The Series B Preferred Shares have not been and will not be registered in the United States under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and will not be offered, sold or delivered in the United States.