Banc of America

Chapter 15 Petition for Recognition of a Foreign Main Proceeding in Canada by Greg Watson, as the Foreign Representative of Sino-Forest Corporation, at the U. S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.

The SEC has accused a Bahamas-based hedge fund and related parties of defrauding investors of approximately $37 million. Details are contained in a civil lawsuit filed by the Commission at the U. S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on February 16, 2005.

Eighty-six investors from 19 countries who claim to have invested more than $570 million in the Lancer Offshore Group have filed a lawsuit against its directors, administrator, auditor and prime broker. The three biggest claimants are all based in Montreal, Canada: Fondation Lucie et Andre Chagnon, a charity with a claim for $100 million; Bombardier Inc., the world's biggest train maker and third largest civil aircraft manufacturer whose pension fund has a claim for $68 million; and the University of Montreal's pension fund, with a claim for $67 million.

Section 304 Petition for Assistance in Insolvency Proceedings in the Cayman Islands by Gordon MacRae and James Cleaver, as the Foreign Representatives of Parmalat Capital Finance Limited, at the U. S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.

Lancer Offshore Inc., which is registered in the British Virgin Islands and listed on the Irish Stock Exchange, has brought a libel lawsuit against the New York Post - one month after notifying investors it was effectively suspending cash redemptions. The libel action was filed at New York State Supreme Court on February 14, 2003 after the Post published three negative articles about the Fund, which purports to have assets valued at $1 billion, and/or its principal, Michael Lauer.