Michael Lee-Chin
Chairman, Portland Holdings Inc.

Michael Lee-Chin, Chairman, Portland Holdings Inc., is widely regarded as a visionary entrepreneur whose philosophy of "doing well and doing good" has resulted in phenomenal success and inspiring philanthropic initiatives.

Born in Port Antonio, Jamaica in 1951, Michael immigrated to Canada in 1970 to study civil engineering at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. After beginning post-graduate studies, Michael decided to explore career opportunities within the mutual fund industry. At the age of 26, Michael became a financial advisor and, with growing success, progressed to the position of branch manager.

In 1983, at the age of 32, Michael borrowed money to purchase $500,000 of Mackenzie Financial stock. After four years, this stock appreciated seven-fold, and Michael used the profits to make his first acquisition, a small Ontario-based investment firm called AIC Limited. At that time, Advantage Investment Counsel (a division of AIC Limited) had assets under management of just $800,000. Within 20 years, assets under management for this 1987 acquisition had surpassed $9 billion. AIC Limited was to become the first in a series of acquisitions for Michael Lee-Chin, Chairman, Portland Holdings Inc.

As the founder of Portland Holdings Inc., Michael Lee-Chin’s business accomplishments span various countries and numerous sectors. At the helm, Michael established an investment philosophy and guiding principles for each of the Portland group of companies. Although some companies may not have possessed strong balance sheets or a guiding framework prior to acquisition or establishment by Portland, it has been under Michael’s stewardship that each of the Portland group of companies has come to display the following attributes:

* Solid returns on equity
* Positioned in a long-term growth industry
* Entrepreneurial, competitive and hard-working management
* Potential to be a global leader
* Possessing competitive advantages (for example, brands, relationship networks, licenses, etc.)
* Possessing quality tangible assets

In 2002, Portland’s interests expanded internationally with the acquisition of National Commercial Bank (NCB) Jamaica Ltd. and its subsidiaries. Since becoming part of the Portland group, NCB profits have increased to US$86 million from US$6 million. NCB today stands as Jamaica’s largest bank with 45 branches, 2,400 employees, and offices in the Caymans and the United Kingdom.

In 2003, Senvia Money Services Inc., a global money transfer company, was established in Canada. This was followed in 2004, by the acquisition of AIC Financial Group Limited, headquartered in Trinidad.

In Canada in 2005, two investment product managers offering structured products joined the Portland Holdings portfolio. Copernican Capital Corporation has offered retail investment products, primarily sold by brokers, and has raised more than $300 million since its launch. Markland Street Asset Management, which launched the Oil Sands Sector Fund, raised $430 million in one of Canada’s largest closed-end IPOs.

In April 2006, Portland acquired a controlling stake in the United General Insurance Company, the largest auto insurer in Jamaica, and renamed the firm Advantage General Insurance Company. A controlling interest in CVM Communications Group (consisting of radio and television stations and newspapers) was purchased at the same time.

In the tourism sector, Michael has guided Portland through a number of acquisitions in the Caribbean. Among them, the hospitality operations of the Trident Villas and Hotel in Jamaica, Reggae Beach and Blue Lagoon.

The first Portland acquisition in the health care industry sector was announced by Michael in July 2006, when Medical Associates Limited, a privately held hospital in Kingston, Jamaica, joined the Portland group.

Under Michael’s stewardship, Portland Holdings Inc. stands today as the parent to more than 30 diversified companies, operating in sectors that include financial services, insurance, telecommunications, hospitality, tourism, media and health care.

Over the years, Michael’s vision for sustainable growth for Portland Holdings Inc. is anchored in two principles. First, Portland will invest in businesses that are economically substantial and provide exceptional products and services into the marketplace. And, equally important, these businesses must also seek to improve the social well-being of the communities in which they operate. Michael formally established as the Portland mantra "prosperitas cum caritate" which in Latin speaks to his goal that businesses must "not only do well, but also do good" that is the measure of success.

Free The Children is the world's largest network of children helping children through education. Through the organization's unique youth-driven approach, more than one million young people have been involved in their innovative programs in more than 45 countries. Founded by international child rights activist Craig Kielburger at the age of 12 in 1995, Free the Children has an established track record of successes as the proud recipient of the Children's Nobel Prize and the Human Rights Award from the World Association of Non-Governmental Organizations. It has also formed successful partnerships with leading school boards and Oprah's Angel Network.

Unlike any other children's charity in the world, Free The Children is both funded and driven by children and youth. Their mission is to free young people from the idea that they are powerless to bringing about social change, and encourage them to act now to improve the lives of young people.

For more information and to make a contribution, please visit www.freethechildren.com.

To support Free the Children, Impact will be hosting a silent auction at the banquet. Some of the items include a trip to New York City and Portugal.

The banquet will be held at the Westin Harbour Castle in the elegant Metropolitan Grand Ballroom, one of Toronto's foremost attractions.

The Westin Harbour Castle is located at 1 Harbour Square, Toronto, ON.

For parking information, please visit the Westin Hotel's website.