Montréal - On June 11, 2012, Justice Réna Émond of the Court of Québec of the judicial district of Québec City found Sylvie Samson guilty of pursuing illegal practice as a securities dealer and Ghyslaine Pigeon guilty of aiding Groupe Beaudoin Fournier Roy inc. to pursue illegal practice as a securities adviser. Justice Émond ordered them to pay a fine of $5,000 and $10,000 respectively.

These two convictions are part of a major penal proceeding launched by the Autorité des marchés financiers(the AMF) in July 2011 in the Groupe Placirent inc. matter, in which three other individuals are facing 84 charges and a total of $558,000 in fines.

The Autorité des marchés financiers(the AMF) is the regulatory and oversight body for Québec's financial sector.

- 30 -

Information:

Media only:
Sylvain Théberge: 514-940-2176

Information Centre:
Québec City: 418-525-0337
Montréal: 514-395-0337
Toll-free: 1-877-525-0337