KPMG Appointment as Receiver of Portus Extended

Toronto – On Friday March 18, 2005, the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) obtained a court order extending the appointment of KPMG Inc. as the receiver of all the property, undertaking and assets of Portus Alternative Asset Management Inc., Portus Asset Management Inc. and BancNote Corp. The extension is to March 24, 2005. At that hearing, the OSC will be seeking to further extend the receivership against all the above-noted parties. Portus Asset Management Inc. will seek to terminate the receivership against it.

The court appointment, originally made March 4, 2005, authorizes the receiver to take control of any assets and preserve any documents of the above-noted parties. KPMG is also empowered to conduct investigations as appropriate and respond to questions and claims of Portus’ clients.

For more information on the receivership, please go to http://www.portusgroup.ca/. Copies of the OSC orders issued February 2, 10 and 15, 2005 and other relevant documents are made available on the OSC’s web site (www.osc.ca).

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For Media Inquiries:	Wendy Dey Director, Communications 416-593-8120
For Investor Inquiries:	Call the OSC Contact Centre (416) 593-8314 1-877-785-1555 (Toll Free)