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(August 1, 2006) Unity Life of Canada announced today that the company has acquired the Canadian intermediate, weekly premium life and Canadian individual health insurance books of business from New Jersey based, Prudential Insurance Company of America.

The company says the completed acquisition, announced back in June, adds scale to Unity Life’s business and demonstrates the company’s ongoing strategy to pursue value-added acquisitions.

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Jovian subsidiary gets new CEO

(August 1, 2006) MGI Securities, a subsidiary of Jovian Capital, has appointed Lewis Reford as president and CEO, effective August 1, replacing Mark Arthur in the CEO position.

“We are very pleased to welcome Lewis to MGI. We feel that his investment banking background will serve him well at the helm of MGI. I look forward to Lewis building on the foundations, momentum and growth that has been created at MGI,” said Arthur.

Jovian also announced Bradley Griffiths will be stepping down as an officer and director of MGI, effective August 15, 2006.

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CoVirt announces support “dream team”

(August 1, 2006) CoVirt Inc., producer of web-based agency management system VirtGate, have announced two industry experts have joined the firm’s support team.

Colin Baldwin, president of Back Office Consultants Ltd. and Karen Noseworthy, Karen Noseworthy, independent project manager and business analyst, will work exclusively with MGAs.

“Both are former heads of operations for a national account MGA,” said Tim Fitzpatrick, president of CoVirt. “Colin was in the wealth management division and Karen in the insurance division. Since then Colin has set up many large MGAs on the FundSERV platform and Karen has worked with many large MGAs to move to the VirtGate platform.”

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BMO offers Saskatchewan flood relief

(August 1, 2006) The Bank of Montreal has announced a relief program for customers hit by flooding in central and northeastern Saskatchewan. The program is aimed at farmers as well as related industries which rely on the health of the agricultural sector.

Under the program, clients who with loans from the bank can apply for deferred principal payments, interest rate relief on operating loans and waiver of new loan application or renewal fees.

“I understand the setbacks that farmers and woodlot owners may suffer through this natural disaster,” said Ken Segboer, Vice President, Saskatchewan, BMO Bank of Montreal. “After personally touring the Tisdale area in late June, I knew we had to do something to assist the agricultural community.”

The program will run until on October 31, 2007, giving producers time to market a portion of next year’s crop. Approved customers must be currently in good standing.

(08/01/06)