Standard & Poor's Announces Changes In The S&P/TSX Venture Composite Index - 67 Companies To Be Removed From The Index And 92 New Companies To Be Added

Pursuant to quarterly rebalancing methodology, Standard & Poor's will make the following changes in the S&P/TSX Venture Composite Index effective after the close of trading on Friday, October 18, 2002. As of the close of trading on Friday, October 11, 2002, the index was comprised of 520 companies. A total of 67 companies will be removed from the index and 92 new companies will be added. The revised index will therefore be made up of 545 companies.

Company additions to and deletions from an S&P equity index do not in any way reflect an opinion on the investment merits of the company.

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