Press Release

STaRS ANNOUNCES FEBRUARY 2002 DISTRIBUTION

STaRS Income Fund ("STaRS") is pleased to announce that its first monthly distribution of $0.075 per trust unit will be payable on March 28, 2002 to unitholders of record on February 28, 2002. This equates to an annualized yield of 9% based on the original issue price of $10.00 per unit.

STaRS trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "STZ.UN".

For further information visit our website at www.middlefield.com or contact the undersigned:

Nancy Tham
Vice President
(416) 362-0714, Ext. 277

January 22, 2002

This press release contains forward-looking information. Actual future results may differ materially. The risks, uncertainties and other factors that could influence actual results are described in STaRS’ prospectus and other documents filed with regulatory authorities.