MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - July 5, 2012) - The Canadian LP structure managed by Innocap Investment Management Inc. ("Innocap"), launched 18 months ago in response to increasing demand for hedge funds from investors in Quebec and Canada, has reached $235 million in assets under management as of May 31, 2012.

The structure now houses four specialized Quebec-based managers with strong portfolio management skills and knowledge of local and international markets. The fund offering is expected to increase to seven funds by the end of the year. The offering addresses investors' appetite for hedge funds while providing visibility for Quebec and Canadian managers. The Innocap platform provides a risk and asset-controlled environment for investing in hedge funds.

"Considering the prevailing volatile market environment, investors are seeking easily accessible managers who can generate consistent performance; hence being local is a plus. We are proud to invest in talented local managers and provide them with the opportunity to grow. The market in Quebec and Canada offers attractive investment opportunities with niche managers, some of which have international recognition" stated Innocap President and Chief Executive Officer Denis Parisien.

Here is a brief summary of the available funds:

Innocap Casgrain Bond Fund LP, managed by Casgrain Asset Management Ltd.

• Canadian fixed income specialist
• 20+ years trading fixed-income securities

Hexavest GTAA Fund LP, managed by Hexavest Inc.

• Tactical asset allocation combined with tail hedging properties
• Liquid, nimble strategy that performs well in difficult market environments

NBCAI Credit Disclocation Fund LP, managed by NBC Alternative Investments Inc.

• One of the few credit-oriented hedge funds in Canada
• Diversified credit strategies
• Exposure to large-capitalization securities

Innocap Sigma Alpha GM+ fund LP, managed by Sigma Alpha Capital Inc.

• Nine-year track record
• Liquid and diversified investment strategy.

About Innocap

Innocap, which stands for Innovative Capital, is the result of 16 years of investments in hedge fund strategies with approximately $2.5 billion in assets under advisory as of May 30, 2012. Innocap acts as the Investment Advisor to Innocap Global, which manages a Malta-domiciled collective investment scheme licensed as a Professional Investor Fund. Innocap offers hedge fund managed account solutions using a conservative approach to hedge fund investing with a strong emphasis on risk management, asset control and transparency. This structure increases control over assets; no money is invested directly in the managers' hedge funds. Created by an institutional investor for institutional investors, Innocap's core values, such as a transparent fee structure and no hidden conflicts of interest, are aligned with the high standards expected in the markets. For more information, visit Innocap's website at [ www.innocap.com ].

About National Bank of Canada

With $176 billion in assets as at April 30, 2012, National Bank of Canada ([ www.nbc.ca ]), together with its subsidiaries, forms one of Canada's leading integrated financial groups, and was named among the five strongest banks in the world by Bloomberg Markets. The Bank has close to 20,000 employees and is widely recognized as a top employer. Its securities are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX:NA). Follow the Bank's activities via social media and learn more about its extensive community involvement at [ clearfacts.ca ] and [ commitment.nationalbank.ca ].

About BNP Paribas

BNP Paribas ([ www.bnpparibas.com ]) has a presence in 80 countries with nearly 200,000 employees, including more than 150,000 in Europe. It ranks highly in its three core activities: Retail Banking, Investment Solutions and Corporate & Investment Banking. In Europe, the Group has four domestic markets (Belgium, France, Italy and Luxembourg) and BNP Paribas Personal Finance is the leader in consumer lending. BNP Paribas is rolling out its integrated retail banking model across Mediterranean basin countries, in Turkey, in Eastern Europe and a large network in the western part of the United States. In its Corporate & Investment Banking and Investment Solutions activities, BNP Paribas also enjoys top positions in Europe, a strong presence in the Americas and solid and fast-growing businesses in Asia.

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