[...] [Translation] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE GROWTH IN PERSONAL INSURA NCE IN QUÉBEC IN 2007 Montréal, June 17, 2008 - The Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF ) has released the 2007 report on insurance following its tabling today in the Québec National Assembly by Minister of Finance Monique Jérôme-Forget. The report notes that personal insurance companies operating in Québec wrote premiums for a total of $10.297 billion in Québec in 2007, compared with $9.747 billion in 2006, a 5.6% increase in written premiums. Written premiums in accident and health insurance in 2007 were up 7.5% to $4.911 billion, while written premiums in life insurance rose 4.4% to $4.003 billion. Annuity contributions were up 3.1% in 2007 to $1.383 billion. However, sales of annuity products for Québec-chartered insurers fell 2.0%, pushing their market share in Québec to 52.9% in 2007, down from 55.6% in 2006. Indivi dual annuity contributions rose 2.2%, while group annuity contributions fell 7.8%. Benefits and dividen [...]