June 20, 2006 Securities

Montréal – The Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) has launched penal proceedings before the Court of Québec (Criminal and Penal Division), judicial district of Montréal, against Investissements Blue Ship Inc., Michel Lesage, Louis-Philippe Séguin and Corporation stratégique SPJ inc. for taking part in illegal distributions and illegal activities as a securities dealer. As well, Louis-Philippe Séguin and Corporation stratégique SPJ inc. are accused of insider trading in respect of the securities of Garda World (“Garda”).

The AMF has filed two charges against Investissement Blue Ship Inc. for assisting Corporation Stratégique SPJ with the distribution of a form of investment without a receipt from the AMF for a prospectus, pursuant to section 1 of the Québec Securities Act (the “Act”). Moreover, Investissements Blue Ship Inc. is accused of acting as a securities dealer within the meaning of section 5 of the Act, without being registered as such with the AMF. For both charges, the AMF is seeking a fine in the amount of $12,000.

The AMF has filed five charges against Michel Lesage for assisting Corporation Stratégique SPJ with the distribution of a form of investment without a receipt from the AMF for a prospectus, pursuant to section 1 of the Act. For the five charges, the AMF is seeking a fine in the amount of $50,000.

The AMF has filed 13 charges against Louis-Philippe Séguin for authorizing Corporation Stratégique SPJ to act as a securities dealer within the meaning of section 5 of the Act, without being registered as such with the AMF. As well, he is accused of assisting Corporation Stratégique SPJ with the distribution of a form of investment without a receipt from the AMF for a prospectus, pursuant to section 1 of the Act. Moreover, he is accused of assisting Corporation d’Investissement FTM with the distribution of a form of investment without a receipt from the AMF for a prospectus, pursuant to section 1 of the Act. And he is accused of assisting Corporation Stratégique SPJ with trading in the securities of Garda, a reporting issuer, namely, the sale of 40,500 shares of Garda, while Corporation Stratégique SPJ held privileged information related to the issuer, namely, the acquisition of Sécur, thereby violating section 187 of the Act. Finally, he is accused of trading in the securities of Garda, namely, the sale of 15,000 shares of Garda, while he held privileged information related to the issuer, namely, the acquisition of Sécur, thereby violating section 187 of the Act. For the 13 charges, the AMF is seeking a fine in the amount of $95,000.

The AMF has filed 15 charges against Corporation Stratégique SPJ for acting as a securities dealer within the meaning of section 5 of the Act, without being registered as such with the AMF. As well, the company is accused of distributing a form of investment, within the meaning of section 1 of the Act, without a receipt from the AMF for a prospectus. Finally, it is accused of trading in the securities of Garda, a reporting issuer, namely, the sale of 40,500 shares of Garda, while it held privileged information related to the issuer, namely, the acquisition of Sécur, thereby violating section 187 of the Act. For the 15 charges, the AMF is seeking a fine in the amount of $91,000.

The AMF is the regulatory and oversight body for Québec’s financial sector.

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Information:

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Frédéric Alberro (514) 940-2176
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