Lauriel Investments, Inc.

Ernst & Young (Bahamas), its Senior Partner, Paul Clarke; and its former Managing Partner, Bahamian politician Philip Galanis, have agreed to pay $3 million to settle a civil lawsuit alleging racketeering. Details of the settlement are contained in documents that were recently filed at the United States District Court for the District of Arizona.

Ernst & Young (Bahamas), partner Paul Clarke and former partner Philip Galanis have failed to obtain the dismissal of a civil lawsuit filed against them in the United States.They now face a trial on allegations of investment fraud that were brought under the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.

Ernst & Young (Bahamas), its former Managing Partner, Philip Galanis; and a current partner, Paul Clarke, are being sued in the United States for their role in an alleged $9.95 million investment fraud. The complaint, which was filed on November 30, 2000 at the U. S. District Court for the District of Arizona, relates to the same events that led to Galanis being fired from Ernst & Young in 1997.