When you visit our websites, a persistent cookie (a small text file) is created and saved on your computer's hard drive. The cookie makes it possible to recognize you when you visit our site so that we can improve and personalize your online experience.

We also collect technical information on your computer each time you open a page during your visit to our sites. This information includes your IP (Internet Protocol) address, the operating system used, the type of browser, and a Web site address of reference, if need be. We collect this information to improve the quality of your visit to our site and do not sell or transfer this information to third parties.

We use a Web site analytics tool called WebTrends which provides a set of data and tracks how visitors use our site. When you visit our site, we create cookies to record and receive non personally identifiable information concerning your searches on the site. The WebTrends tool enables us to improve your online experience and make our site more user friendly. It is never used to collect personal information pertaining to you and is never compared with your user profile if you are registered on our site.

Most browsers automatically accept these cookies, but you can delete them or have them automatically refused. As each browser is different, you should refer to the "Help" section on your browser toolbar to find out how to set your preferences regarding cookies. However, you may not be able to use certain features on our site if you choose not to accept cookies.

If you sign up on our site to receive our newsletters, we send you information by e-mail that we think will be of interest to you. To better meet your needs, we monitor the number of clicks on the hyperlinks in the newsletters. The agent who manages our newsletter mailings is not allowed to use any personal information that may be collected.

If you no longer wish to receive our newsletters, you can unsubscribe at any time by clicking on the link provided at the end of the newsletter.

If you are registered on our site, you can unsubscribe at any time by modifying your personal data after entering your User ID.

To guarantee your security and ensure greater confidentiality, our Web site uses SSL encryption software (126 bits). Your bank account details and any other information you input when filling in different forms are automatically encrypted and protected during transmission over the network.

SSL automatically encrypts the information you input before it is transmitted over the network. The information can only be decrypted by using a unique key once it has arrived on our server. Developed by Netscape, SSL is the most widely used and successful secure transaction system today.

In order to offer you the best tool possible, we will continue to monitor and analyze future security systems, which will be implemented as soon as they are developed.

To use this system, you simply need to verify that your browser is compatible (in general, version 3 and better). You do this by checking if you see one of these icons either at the lower left of your screen (for Netscape) or the lower right (for Microsoft Internet Explorer).