News

    /NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR
    DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES/

    TSX Symbol: ETC

    TORONTO, June 25 /CNW/ - Equitable Group Inc. (the "Company") today
announced that it has entered into an agreement with a syndicate of
underwriters co-led by GMP Securities L.P. and TD Securities Inc., including
BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., Cormark Securities Inc., CIBC World Markets Inc.,
Scotia Capital Inc. and Clarus Securities Inc. which have agreed to purchase,
on a bought deal basis, 1,600,000 common shares of the Company at a purchase
price of $21.50 per common share, for aggregate gross proceeds of
approximately $34.4 million (the "Public Offering").
    The underwriters will also have an option, exercisable for a period of
30 days following the closing date, to purchase up to an additional
160,000 common shares to cover over-allotments and for market stabilization
purposes.
    The common shares to be issued under the Public Offering will be offered
by way of a short form prospectus in all of the provinces in Canada and in the
United States on a private placement basis pursuant to an exemption from
registration requirements.
    The Company has also announced that it has agreed to issue, on a
non-brokered private placement basis, 240,000 common shares at a price of
$21.50 per common share (the "Private Placement") to Emberwood Glen
Enterprises Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Oakwest Corporation Limited, a
corporation whose controlling shareholders are Austin Beutel and Eric Beutel,
each directors of the Company, for aggregate gross proceeds of $5.16 million.
    The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Public Offering and
Private Placement to invest in the equity of the Company's wholly-owned
subsidiary, The Equitable Trust Company and to enhance its Tier 1 capital.
    Andrew Moor, Equitable President and CEO said: "This offering accelerates
our previously announced intention to increase our total capital ratio. It
positions us to generate sustained growth while meeting our capital targets.
During the second quarter of fiscal 2008, we anticipate securitizing
CMHC-insured mortgage loans valued at approximately $410 million, which is
well beyond historical levels. As a result of progress with our business plan
and the opportunities we see ahead, we believe the timing of this financing is
appropriate."
    The offerings are scheduled to close on or about July 16, 2008. Each
closing is conditional upon the other and is subject to certain conditions
including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals
including the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange.

    About Equitable Group Inc.

    Equitable Group Inc. is a leading niche mortgage lender. Its primary
business is first mortgage financing, which it offers through The Equitable
Trust Company, its wholly-owned subsidiary. Founded in 1970, Equitable Trust
is a federally regulated trust company. It serves single family, small and
large commercial borrowers and their mortgage advisors, as well as the
investing public as a provider of Guaranteed Investment Certificates.
Equitable's non-branch business model, valued relationships with third-party
mortgage professionals and deposit-taking agents, and disciplined lending
practices have allowed the Company to grow profitably and efficiently for many
years. The common shares of Equitable Group Inc. are listed on the Toronto
Stock Exchange under the trading symbol of "ETC". For more information, visit
www.equitablegroupinc.com.

    This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the
meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Generally,
forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward- looking
terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected",
"budget", "scheduled", "planned", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends",
"anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such
words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may",
"could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved".
Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of
activity, closing of transactions, performance or achievements of the Company
to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: risks related to
capital markets and additional funding requirements, fluctuating interest
rates and general economic conditions, legislative and regulatory
developments, the nature of our customers and rates of default, and
competition as well as those factors discussed in the Company's documents
filed on SEDAR (www.sedar.com).
    Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in
forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not
to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that
such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events
could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.
Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking
statements that are contained herein, except in accordance with applicable
securities laws. Further information on the Company is available at
www.sedar.com.

    This news release and the information contained herein does not
constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States and securities
may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or
exemption from registration.