Assante Corporation has received approval to begin a normal course issuer bid to purchase some of its common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange. The normal course issuer bid will begin Oct. 22, 2002 and expire on Oct. 21, 2003.

Under the bid, Assante may purchase for cancellation up to 1,000,000 of its common shares, representing approximately 1.2% of the 82,631,329 common shares issued and outstanding at Oct. 21, 2002. In the 12 months preceding the commencement of
the bid, Assante has not purchased any of its common shares.

The TSX filing permits Assante to purchase shares through the facilities of the TSX when appropriate. For example, says Assante, it could purchase shares to lessen the effect of dilution when additional common shares are issued in connection with the conversion of outstanding preference shares or in connection with acquisitions.