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Standard & Poor's Announces Index Change: S&P/TSX Composite, S&P/TSX Capped Composite, S&P/TSX 60, S&P/TSX 60 Capped Indices, TSX 100 Index And S&P/TSX Canadian Energy Sector Indices

Date 02/07/2002

It has been announced that the plan of arrangement between Rio Alto Exploration Ltd. (TSX:RAX) and Canadian Natural Resources Limited (TSX:CNQ) has been successfully completed. On June 27, 2002, the shareholders of Rio Alto Exploration Ltd. approved the bid whereby Canadian Natural Resources Limited will acquire all the shares of Rio Alto Exploration Ltd.

As a result, effective after the close of trading on Wednesday, July 3, 2002, Rio Alto Exploration Ltd. will be removed from the S&P/TSX Composite, S&P/TSX Capped Composite, S&P/TSX MidCap, TSX 100 and the S&P/TSX Canadian Energy Indices. Rio Alto Exploration Ltd. will be replaced in the TSX 100 Index by Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation (TSX:SC) and in the S&P/TSX Canadian MidCap Index by Western Oil Sands Inc. (TSX:WTO). Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation is a drug store group. Western Oil Sands Inc. is a 20% partner in the Athabaska Oil Sands project.

Shareholders of Rio Alto Exploration Ltd. will receive shares of Canadian Natural Resources Limited. As a result, the float shares of Canadian Natural Resources Limited will be adjusted. The relative weight of Canadian Natural Resources Limited will increase by 0.08% in the S&P/TSX Composite and S&P/TSX Capped Composite Indices, by 0.11% in the S&P/TSX 60 and the S&P/TSX 60 Capped Indices, by 0.08% in the TSX 100 Index, and by 0.64% in the S&P/TSX Canadian Energy Sector Index to reflect the float share adjustment. The float shares and relative weight of Canadian Natural Resources Limited will also be adjusted in the S&P Global 1200 Index.

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