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Luxor’s Mill Frame LLC Obtains Approval for 5th Person under the United States Investor Visa Program

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 21, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Luxor Industrial Corporation (TSX.V:LRL) (OTC:LXRRF)  is pleased to announce its subsidiary Mill Frame LLC, a Washington State Company, has obtained approval for a fifth employee under the Unites States E-2 Investor Visa Program. This is a key component of Luxor’s expansion into the United States for its turnkey framing business. To date the Company has announced 4 contracts with 3 builders in Washington State. There is an extreme shortage of skilled labor in greater Seattle and Luxor is able to secure contracts as it can provide key managers, site supervisors and skilled labor from its Canadian Subsidiary, Mill Frame Inc. Initially, Luxor is securing visas for experienced high level management personnel. The Company will continue to apply for numerous visas for additional employees to fulfill its construction requirements.

John Hunter, President of Mill Frame Inc. states, “There is a pent up demand for housing in the Seattle area caused by recent events in the housing markets and builders/developers are having a hard time completing or even starting their projects because of the tight labor market”.

Click blow for a Bloomberg Report:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-09-17/labor-shortage-sparks-production-delays-for-u-s-homebuilders.

Additionally, Mill Frame Inc. is manufacturing pre-fabricated walls and pre-cut and packaged engineered floor systems for the US framing contracts which provides for numerous advantages.

SBC Magazine article titled “10 Construction Trends Include Offsite Componentization.” According to the experts the first two out of the top 10 trends to watch in 2016 are:

“1. Skilled labor shortage will continue to plague construction companies. …The labor crisis is not a new issue, and most experts predict it will continue well into 2016 and beyond, as the talent deficit will require multiple years to fill up again… 
2. Prefab/offsite construction methods will become more popular. …Offsite — also known as modular or prefabricated — construction has been gaining ground as an alternative building method that offers the benefits of reduced construction time, less waste and possible cost savings…”

http://www.sbcmag.info/news/2016/jan/top-10-construction-trends-include-offsite-compentization

About Luxor Industrial Corporation

Luxor has vertically integrated through the recent acquisitions of turnkey framing companies in Canada and the United States. The Company now distributes Pre-Fabricated Wall Panels and a complete line of Multi-Family Engineered Lumber. http://www.millframe.com

Luxor is involved in the development, engineering, manufacturing and marketing of engineered wood products. In the industrial sector, it manufactures wood mat products.  In the residential sector it manufactures its patented IBS 2000® engineered floor bridging, fire protected architectural wood products, and FastFrame™ wall components.  For further information, visit Luxor’s website at www.luxorcorp.com.

This news release contains forward looking statements. Although Luxor believes that the expectations reflected in these forward looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because Luxor can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature, they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Additional information may be accessed through the Sedar website: www.sedar.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

CONTACT: Contact:

Luxor Industrial Corporation

Terry Lashman
(800) 665-2454
(604) 684-7929

John Taylor
(877) 496-4355
(604) 864-9601

www.luxorcorp.com

Cypress Files Notice with BLM for Four Drill Holes Targeting Lithium Brines at Clayton Valley Project, Nevada

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 21, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cypress Development Corp. (TSX-V:CYP) (OTCBB:CYDVF) (Frankfurt:C1Z1) (“Cypress” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the Company has filed a Notice of Intent permit with the BLM, Nevada covering a planned four hole drill program targeting lithium brines at the Company’s 1320 acre Clayton Valley Lithium Project located in Esmeralda County, State of Nevada, USA.

Cypress Clayton Valley Lithium Project, Nevada location map:
http://www.cypressdevelopmentcorp.com/i/maps/CYP-Clayton-topo-satalite-small.jpg

Cypress’ Clayton Valley Project is located on the south flank of “Angel Island” and immediately southeast of the Albemarle Silver Peak lithium mine. Cypress’ Clayton Valley claims share their western boundary with placer claims controlled by Pure Energy Minerals. Pure Energy has identified a lithium resource at its northern resource area (see Pure Energy’s news release July 28, 2015), that is located to the immediate west of Cypress’ established boundary.

Cypress Clayton Valley Lithium Project, Nevada claims map:
http://www.cypressdevelopmentcorp.com/i/maps/Clayton-Test-Wells-Plan-Map.jpg

Cypress’ planned Clayton Valley subsurface exploration program is expected to be initiated in either late Q2 or early in Q3, 2016.

The permit application contains four proposed reverse circulation (“R-C”) drill holes targeting lithium brines within the main ash aquifer projected to underlie the west and west-central portion of Cypress’ Clayton Valley project. The main ash aquifer is the primary target of all four R-C holes. Cypress expects to intersect this zone at approximately 500 feet below surface. Additional deeper targets will also be tested including the potential presence of a coarse gravel aquifer near the base of the basin fill evaporite sequence.

Cypress Clayton Valley, Nevada Seismic Cross Section map:
http://www.cypressdevelopmentcorp.com/i/maps/CYP-Clayton-seismic-section-apr.jpg  

  1. R-C hole CYP-1 will target the main ash aquifer immediately east of Pure Energy Minerals hole CV-1 and Rodina hole SPD-9.
     
  2. R-C hole CYP-2 will target the main ash aquifer within a strong NNE trending structural zone which appears to be the major bounding fault along the southeast flank of Angel Island.
     
  3. R-C hole CYP-3 will target the main ash aquifer east of Pure Energy Minerals hole CV-2.
     
  4. R-C hole CYP-4 will target the main ash aquifer in the southwestern portion of the property.

Cypress Clayton Valley Project Proposed Drill Hole Locations:
http://www.cypressdevelopmentcorp.com/i/maps/CYP-Clayton-Drill-Plan-Map-small-apr16.jpg

The permit also contains proposed locations for 25 shallow auger holes targeted to provide initial subsurface data and assays under areas of strongly lithium mineralized salty claystone outcrops.  The auger holes are planned to be approximately 30 feet in depth and will be sampled on composite 5 foot intervals.

A Phase 2 surface sampling program is currently underway at Cypress’ Clayton Valley project which will better define the extent of the high-grade surface lithium mineralization identified in the Phase 1 January 2016 sampling program (see news release April 5, 2016). The first sample group has been submitted to ALS Chemex in Reno, Nevada and Cypress is awaiting the assay results.

The surface sampling and reconnaissance geologic results received by Cypress to date are viewed as being highly encouraging for the presence of lithium rich brines within the subsurface aquifers below the mineralized claystone.

Clayton Valley is located within the Basin and Range Province in southern Nevada and is an internally drained, fault bounded and closed basin. Basin-filling strata compose the aquifer system which hosts and produces the lithium-rich brines.

Robert Marvin, P.Geo, Exploration Manager for Cypress Development Corp. is the Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has approved of the technical information in this release.

About Cypress Development Corp.:

Cypress Development Corp. is a publicly traded lithium and zinc-silver exploration company developing projects in Nevada, U.S.A.

Cypress Development Corp. has approx. 24.1 million shares issued and outstanding.

To find out more about Cypress Development Corp. (TSX-V:CYP), visit our website at www.cypressdevelopmentcorp.com.

CYPRESS DEVELOPMENT CORP.

“Don Huston”
                                                           
DONALD C. HUSTON
President

For further information contact myself or:
Don Myers
Director
Cypress Development Corp.
Telephone: 604-687-3376
Toll Free: 800-567-8181
Facsimile: 604-687-3119
Email: info@cypressdevelopmentcorp.com

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE CONTENT OF THIS NEWS RELEASE.

This release includes certain statements that may be deemed to be “forward-looking statements”. All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that management of the Company expects, are forward-looking statements. Although management believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management’s beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements, include market prices, exploration and development successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Please see the public filings of the Company at www.sedar.com for further information.

Kivuto and Edukinect Increase Access to Education Technology in India

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OTTAWA, April 21, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Higher education organizations in India will have increased access to education technology through a strategic partnership between Kivuto Solutions and Edukinect.

Schools in India will be able to use Texidium by Kivuto, Canada’s most comprehensive digital textbook eReader platform, through Edukinect to simplify the management of digital course materials. With Texidium, schools can improve student success by ensuring students have 100% of their course materials accessible 100% of the time from any device, online and offline. Edukinect will be working closely with Kivuto to provide schools in India with access to Texidium.

Benefits of Texidium include:

  • Significant discounts on digital resources compared to physical.
  • An enhanced learning environment where all students have the same up-to-date resources.
  • Cloud-based eReader with highlighting, in-text search, note-taking and sharing functionality, available online and offline.
  • Better understanding of student performance with advanced analytics for tracking student engagement and usage.
  • Multilingual setup and product support for students, faculty, and staff by toll-free phone and email.

“We’re excited to be working with Edukinect at this pivotal moment in time as India embraces the move to digital,” says Richard White, President of Kivuto. “Edukinect has deep relationships, a great reputation and tremendous knowledge of education in India. They will be a fantastic long term partner for us in India.”
 
Schools in India will also have access to Kivuto’s Electronic License Management System (ELMS) through Edukinect. With ELMS, academic organizations can easily access and manage their own school WebStore where they can distribute licensed software and take advantage of exclusive pricing through Microsoft, Adobe, VMware, and other software publishers.

“Good tools and good training enhance good teaching,” says Phani Krishna, CEO of Edukinect. “Kivuto shares our commitment to hands-on support. We look forward to helping more schools go digital at every step of the way.”

Edukinect provides technology solutions for educational organizations and is one of the largest technical training partners of Microsoft in India. With Edukinect, schools can access services including workshops, lectures on the latest innovations, and products including Texidium by Kivuto. To learn more about working with Edukinect, visit http://edu-kinect.com.

About Kivuto
Kivuto Solutions has been committed to improving student success through education technology for over 17 years. Kivuto is the world’s leading provider of advanced digital distribution and management solutions that enable the secure delivery of digital goods to academic institutions everywhere. Over 60,000 institutions and departments trust Kivuto to manage and distribute software to their students, faculty and staff. The company distributes software in 195 countries and supports 14 languages. Kivuto powers Texidum, an end-to-end eText delivery solution, and OnTheHub, a portal for providing students, faculty and staff with discounted and free academic software. http://kivuto.com | http://texidium.com

CONTACT: Adam Januszkiewicz 
         Marketing Manager
         Kivuto Solutions
         T +1 613.526.3005 x 129

Telesat Holdings Inc. First Quarter 2016 Conference Call

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OTTAWA, April 21, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Telesat has scheduled a conference call on Thursday, April 28, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. ET to discuss its financial results for the three month period ended March 31, 2016, and other recent developments.  The call will be hosted by Daniel S. Goldberg, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Michel Cayouette, Chief Financial Officer, of Telesat. 

Prior to the commencement of the call, Telesat will post a news release containing its financial results on its website (www.telesat.com) under the tab “News & Events” and the heading “News”. 

Dial-in Instructions:
The toll-free dial-in number for the teleconference is +1 (866) 225-0198.  Callers outside of North America should dial +1 (416) 340-2216. The conference reference number is 4227925.  Please allow at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time to connect to the teleconference.

Dial-in Audio Replay:
A replay of the teleconference will be available one hour after the end of the call on April 28, 2016, until 11:59 p.m. ET on May 12, 2016.  To access the replay, please call +1 (800) 408-3053.  Callers outside of North America should dial +1 (905) 694-9451.  The access code is 2632487 followed by the number sign (#).

About Telesat (www.telesat.com)

Telesat is a leading global satellite operator, providing reliable and secure satellite-delivered communications solutions worldwide to broadcast, telecom, corporate and government customers. Headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, with offices and facilities around the world, the company’s state-of-the-art fleet consists of 15 satellites plus the Canadian payload on ViaSat-1 with two new satellites under construction. Telesat also manages the operations of additional satellites for third parties. Privately held, Telesat’s principal shareholders are Canada’s Public Sector Pension Investment Board and Loral Space & Communications Inc. (NASDAQ:LORL). 

CONTACT: For further information: 
Michael Bolitho, Telesat, +1 (613) 748-8700 ext. 2336;  ir@telesat.com

Points International Ltd. to Report First Quarter 2016 Results on Wednesday, May 4, 2016

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TORONTO, April 21, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Points (TSX:PTS) (Nasdaq:PCOM), a global leader in loyalty currency management, announced today that it will report financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2016, on Wednesday, May 4, 2016, after the close of market.

Points management will host a conference call to discuss the results at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time the same day.  To participate in the conference call, investors from the U.S. and Canada should dial (855) 327-6837 ten minutes prior to the scheduled start time. International callers should dial (631) 891-4304.

In addition, the call will be broadcast live over the Internet hosted at the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at investor.points.com and will be archived online upon completion of the conference call.  A telephonic replay of the conference call will also be available until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, May 18, 2016, by dialing (877) 870-5176 in the U.S. and Canada and (858) 384-5517 internationally and entering the passcode 10001083.

About Points
Points, publicly traded as Points International Ltd. (TSX:PTS) (Nasdaq:PCOM), is the global leader in loyalty currency management. Via a state-of-the-art loyalty commerce platform, Points provides loyalty eCommerce and technology solutions to the world’s top brands to enhance their consumer offerings and streamline their back-end operations.

Points’ solutions enhance the management and monetization of loyalty currencies ranging from frequent flyer miles and hotel points to retailer and credit card rewards, for more than 50 partners worldwide. Points also manages Points.com, where more than 4 million consumers use the only industry sanctioned loyalty wallet to not only track all of their loyalty programs but also trade, exchange and redeem their miles and points. In addition to these services, Points’ unique SaaS products allow merchants and businesses to reward their customers with points and miles from the world’s largest loyalty brands.

In 2014, Points acquired PointsHound, a hotel booking engine and loyalty currency aggregator built specifically for frequent travelers. PointsHound enables loyalty program members to earn loyalty points for staying in their favorite hotels and also to earn bonus rewards in the form of airline miles. Members of the free-to-use site have access to over 150,000 hotels worldwide, including boutique and non-chain properties.

Points has been widely recognized among the loyalty and technology communities alike. The Company was named the 8th largest Canadian software company and the 27th largest Canadian technology company by the 2016 Branham300 list. For more information on Points, please visit www.Points.com, follow us on Twitter (@PointsLoyalty) or read the Points company blog. For more information on PointsHound, please visit www.PointsHound.com.

CONTACT: CONTACT:
Points Investor Relations
ICR, Inc.
Garo Toomajanian
ir@points.com 
617-956-6728

Arbutus Announces Planned Executive Departure

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia and DOYLESTOWN, Pa., April 21, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Arbutus Biopharma Corporation (Nasdaq:ABUS), an industry-leading Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) therapeutic solutions company, today announced that Patrick T. Higgins, Arbutus’ Chief Business Officer has decided to leave the company at the end of April 2016. Mr. Higgins will continue to be involved with the company. He remains a shareholder of Arbutus and is committed to seeing Arbutus complete its vision of developing a cure for HBV.  Mr. Higgins was a co-founder and CEO of OnCore BioPharma, which merged with Tekmira Pharmaceuticals in 2015 to form what is now Arbutus Biopharma.

“Patrick remains a friend of Arbutus and I want to thank him for his vision in co-founding OnCore and his leadership to ensure a smooth post-merger integration,” said Dr. Mark J. Murray, Arbutus’ President and CEO. “We value Patrick’s insight and we look forward to his continued involvement with the company.”

About Arbutus
Arbutus Biopharma Corporation is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing and commercializing a cure for patients suffering from chronic hepatitis B infection.  Arbutus is headquartered in Vancouver, BC, Canada with offices in Doylestown, PA, USA. For more information, visit www.arbutusbio.com.

Forward-Looking Statements and Information
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and forward looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws (collectively, “forward-looking statements”). Forward-looking statements in this press release include statements about Patrick T. Higgins leaving the company as Chief Business Officer at the end of April 2016; and Mr. Higgins’ continued involvement with and commitment to the company.

With respect to the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, Arbutus has made numerous assumptions regarding, among other things: the certainty of Arbutus’ and Mr. Higgins’ plans. While Arbutus considers these assumptions to be reasonable, these assumptions are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, market and social uncertainties and contingencies.

Additionally, there are known and unknown risk factors which could cause Arbutus’ actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein. Known risk factors include, among others: Mr. Higgins might not leave the company; and Mr. Higgins may not be willing or able to have continued involvement with the company after leaving.

A more complete discussion of the risks and uncertainties facing Arbutus appears in Arbutus’ Annual Report on Form 10-K and Arbutus’ continuous disclosure filings, which are available at www.sedar.com and at www.sec.gov. All forward-looking statements herein are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and Arbutus disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking statements or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as required by law.

CONTACT: Contact Information 
Investors
Adam Cutler
Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs
Phone: 604.419.3200 
Email: acutler@arbutusbio.com

Helia Baradarani
Manager, Investor Relations
Phone: 604.419.3200
Email: hbaradarani@arbutusbio.com

Media
Please direct all media inquiries to: media@arbutusbio.com

8 Ways Biosolids & Organics Can Contribute to a Healthier Environment

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Attention: Environmental, agricultural & municipal business reporters/editors

CAMBRIDGE, Ontario, April 22, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — On this Earth Day, let us reflect on the importance of recycling naturally occurring resources and explore innovative ideas for the conservation of a healthy, shared environment. Biosolids and organics and the careful management of these valuable resources warrant a closer look.

Historically, biosolids and many organic food “wastes” have been ignored, buried in landfills and/or brushed aside as pesky material, with little to no value. We are proud to be part of a group of dedicated scientists, researchers, engineers and other industry professionals, all of whom are firmly committed to changing this way of thinking.

Here are eight (8) ways that biosolids and organics can contribute to a healthier environment when advanced treatment technologies are utilized and best management practices are followed:

  1. Creation of nutrient rich, pathogen free biofertilizer products – capable of promoting robust plant growth and replenishing the health and productivity of our soils. The many micro and macro nutrients inherent in fully processed biosolids and organics play an essential role in this important practice.
     
  2. Reducing our reliance on depleting resources – It is now common knowledge that our global supplies of mined phosphates are dwindling quickly and will be completely gone by somewhere between 2030 and 2050. On the other hand, when organic matter and nutrients inherent in biosolids and organics are recycled, the practice closes the loop and helps contribute to economic and environmental prosperity.
     
  3. Protection of our natural water courses. Healthy soils are far more effective in retaining, water promoting plant growth, and resisting erosion. Therefore, when biosolids and organics are utilized to build healthy, less porous soils, we reduce the potential for undesired run-off of nutrients (eutrophication) into the rivers and lakes that we rely on for clean drinking water.
     
  4. Reducing our carbon footprint. Biosolids are an organically based material and they typically contain a high percentage of carbon. When treated using advanced technology and utilized following best management practices, (such as sub-surface injection), the carbon stays in the ground. Conversely, when biosolids are not properly recycled, (eg. are dumped into landfills), the carbon eventually decomposes and creates undesirable greenhouse gas emissions, which then contributes to global warming.
     
  5. Diverts “waste” from landfills. Public understanding that landfills cannot contain infinite amounts of waste is growing. As an example, Ontario’s 32 largest landfills are estimated to have less than 25 years of available capacity remaining. Therefore, there is a great environmental benefit to diverting the more than 9 million dry tons of biosolids produced annually in the USA and Canada (alone). In 2014, the City of Toronto was able to achieve a 100% diversion rate in its biosolids management program. Innovative conversion technology and best management practices played a big role in this success. Others can do the same.
     
  6. Job creation. When biosolids and other non-hazardous organic materials are properly treated and managed, the practice generates jobs and revenue for the economy. For example, one study conducted by the Ontario Waste Management Association estimated that Ontario (alone) could improve GDP by $1.5 billion and create 13,000 new jobs by reusing and recycling the resources it already has – including biosolids. These are benefits that can be realized in most jurisdictions throughout North America, and, in fact, many other countries around the world.
     
  7. Production of biogas for green energy. Advanced technology for the treatment of biosolids and organics can also be paired with anaerobic digestion. In this scenario overall volumes are reduced and significant increases in biogas production can be realized. This naturally-based resource can then be further converted into “green” energy and utilized to power wastewater treatment plants, reducing GHG’s and operational costs and converting them into Wastewater Resource Recovery Centers (WRRC’s).
     
  8. Alternative carbon source. In some wastewater treatment plants, biological nutrient removal (BNR) systems are utilized to remove nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater before it is discharged into surface or ground water. Processing technologies are now available that allow treated biosolids to be recycled back into the BNR system as a safe, cost–effective alternative carbon source, thus replacing methanol or glycerol.

    Lystek International Inc. is an organic materials recovery firm that is helping reduce waste, costs, odors and greenhouse gas emissions through its innovative approach to biosolids and organics management. The multi-use Lystek system can be leveraged to optimize digesters and biological nutrient removal systems while also contributing to landfill diversion and agricultural sustainability. This is achieved by transforming non-hazardous, organic materials into nutrient-rich, federally-registered fertilizers and other, multi-purpose products.

    A photo accompanying this release is available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=39959

    CONTACT: For more information please contact Kevin Litwiller, Director of Business Development.
             Cell: 519.584.5437 | Office: 226.444.0186 x 106 | kevinl@lystek.com

    QLT Inc. Completes Enrollment in its Natural History Study

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    VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 22, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — QLT Inc. (NASDAQ:QLTI); (TSX:QLT) (“QLT” or the “Company”) announced today completion of enrollment in its retrospective, uncontrolled, multicenter Natural History Study in subjects with Inherited Retinal Disease (IRD) phenotypically diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) or Leber Congenital Amaurosis (LCA) due to underlying Retinal Pigment Epithelial 65 protein (RPE65) or Lecithin:Retinol Acyltransferase (LRAT) gene mutations. The objective of the retrospective, open label study is to gather data on the natural progression of the disease in subjects over time, including from childhood through to adulthood.  The study included both subjects who had previously received treatment in QLT-sponsored clinical trials with QLT’s synthetic oral retinoid product, QLT091001, as well as subjects who had not received any prior therapeutic treatment.  For subjects who had received prior treatment with QLT091001, the study included a retrospective review of subjects’ medical records prior to and after treatment with QLT091001.

    “We are very pleased to have completed on schedule the collection of the data from what we believe to be the first retrospective natural history clinical study conducted specifically in RP and LCA patients due to underlying RPE65 or LRAT gene mutations,” said Geoffrey F. Cox Ph.D., QLT’s Interim Chief Executive Officer.  “We sincerely thank our participating physicians, all of whom are noted leaders in the field of Inherited Retinal Disease, along with their corresponding sites for their contributions to this study.  Although the deterioration over time of both visual field and visual acuity and various other visual functions in these patients, has, for a long time, been the assumption of treating physicians of these patients, we believe this study will provide important comparative data for the future treatment and care of these patients.  This study is also expected to provide important data to support the ongoing development program for QLT091001, including our planned future submissions for regulatory approval in Europe and the U.S.  Following our planned discussions with regulatory authorities, we look forward to publicly reporting the final results from the Natural History Study.”

    Historically, it has been generally accepted that subjects born with  IRD  due to RPE65 or LRAT  gene mutations would be expected to demonstrate an overall decline in visual field and visual acuity, but at varying rates and over varying periods of time (years).  In addition, these patients may also demonstrate increasing retinal atrophy as the disease progresses.  The intention of this study was to collect data from these patients retrospectively, but under a formal protocol, thereby providing an opportunity to better observe and understand the long term natural disease progression of untreated patients, and to provide comparative data to further assess the extent to which treatment with QLT091001 may prolong or improve visual function relative to the underlying natural disease progression in these subjects.  The study was a multi-site study intended to enroll up to 60 subjects from established IRD patient populations at 10 clinical study sites in Europe, the U.S. and Canada.  In total, 59 patients were enrolled in the study, 25 of whom had participated in previous clinical studies with QLT091001, and 34 of whom were treatment naive.  Data was collected from patient records for a variety of visual outcome measures, with particular reference to changes in visual field and visual acuity for individual subjects over multiple years, and in some cases, decades, often starting in childhood.

    The Company has completed its preliminary analysis and believes that the data suggests that these patients, without other interventions, demonstrate a continuing decline in visual field and eventually visual acuity over time.

    The Company intends to present the results for discussion with selected national European Agencies and later with the U.S. FDA.  As a follow-up to previous meetings held with European regulatory authorities in the first quarter of 2015 to discuss the potential for conditional approval of QLT091001 on the basis of existing clinical data, a meeting with selected national European Agencies is scheduled to take place during the second quarter of 2016.  The purpose of the meeting is to present the results of the Natural History Study and discuss whether the results may support a potential filing of a marketing authorization application (MAA) to the EMA for conditional approval in the second half of this year.

    In addition, the Company is working towards initiating a pivotal, Phase III multi-center, placebo-controlled, double-masked clinical study for this indication potentially in the third quarter of 2016.  The objective of this study will be to further evaluate the efficacy (with particular reference to changes in visual field and visual acuity) and safety of QLT091001,  with a goal of supporting future application for full approval of QLT091001 for this indication to the EMA and the U.S. FDA.  The pivotal trial is expected to enroll 48 patients at approximately 12 sites in the EU, U.S. and Canada.

    About Synthetic Retinoid Drugs

    Inherited retinal diseases in the eye such as Leber Congenital Amaurosis (LCA) and Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) arise from gene mutations of enzymes or proteins required in the biochemistry of vision. QLT091001 is a replacement for 11-cis-retinal, which is an essential component of the retinoid-rhodopsin cycle and visual function, and is under investigation for the treatment of Inherited Retinal Disease (IRD) in subjects phenotypically diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) or Leber Congenital Amaurosis (LCA) due to underlying gene mutations in RPE65 or LRAT. QLT091001 has received orphan drug designations for the treatment of LCA and RP (all mutations) by the European Medicines Agency, and for the treatment of RP (all mutations) and LCA (due to inherited mutations in the LRAT and RPE65 genes) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  The drug has also been granted two Fast Track designations by the FDA for the treatment of the LRAT and RPE65 genetic mutations in both LCA and autosomal recessive RP.

    About Leber Congenital Amaurosis (LCA) Due to RPE65 and LRAT Mutations

    LCA is an inherited degenerative retinal disease characterized by abnormalities such as roving eye movements and sensitivity to light, and manifesting in severe vision loss from birth. Both rod and cone photoreceptors are affected in LCA. Eye examinations of infants with LCA reveal normal appearing retinas. However, a low level of retinal activity, measured by electroretinography, indicates very little visual function. According to current epidemiological estimates, LCA affects approximately one in 81,000 newborns worldwide, of which approximately 10% carry the inherited deficiencies of either RPE65 or LRAT.

    About Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) Due to RPE65 and LRAT Mutations

    RP is a set of hereditary retinal diseases demonstrating clinical features similar to LCA. RP is also characterized by degeneration of rod and cone photoreceptors, but it presents with a more variable loss of vision in late childhood to adulthood. Deficits in dark adaptation and peripheral vision are particular hallmarks of RP. RP is currently estimated to affect at least 300,000 individuals worldwide, of which approximately 20%-30% are autosomal recessive (arRP). It is currently estimated that less than 3% of autosomal recessive RP patients carry the inherited deficiencies of either RPE65 or LRAT.

    About QLT

    QLT is a biotechnology company dedicated to the development and commercialization of innovative ocular products that address the unmet medical needs of patients and clinicians worldwide. We are focused on developing our synthetic retinoid program for the treatment of certain inherited retinal diseases.

    QLT’s head office is based in Vancouver, Canada and the Company is publicly traded on NASDAQ Stock Market (symbol: QLTI) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (symbol: QLT). For more information about the Company’s products and developments, please visit our web site at www.qltinc.com.

    Certain statements in this press release constitute “forward-looking statements” of QLT within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and constitute “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws.  Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: our statements concerning the potential efficacy, safety and market potential for QLT091001; statements concerning the potential results and utility of the Natural History Study, and the expected timing to complete the final data analysis and potential discussions with the regulatory authorities; statements concerning our ability to and anticipated timing to make submissions to the regulatory authorities concerning QLT091001, including potentially for conditional approval with the EMA and potentially for full approval with the EMA and FDA; statements concerning our plans to and expected timing to commence a pivotal trial in QLT091001; and statements which contain language such as: “assuming,” “prospects,” “goal,” “future” “projects,” “potential,” “could,” “believes,” “expects”; “hopes” and “outlook.” Forward-looking statements are predictions only which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed in such statements. Many such risks, uncertainties and other factors are taken into account as part of our assumptions underlying these forward-looking statements and include, among others, the following risks, uncertainties and other factors: the effect that QLT’s announcements and actions will have on the market price of our securities; QLT’s development plans, timing and results of the clinical development of our synthetic retinoid program are uncertain; the risk that it may take longer and cost more than anticipated to complete data analyses, complete preparatory work, meet with regulators and commence trials (including a pivotal trial) for numerous reasons both within and outside of our control; assumptions related to the associated costs of our synthetic retinoid program may prove incorrect; the risk that outcomes for our clinical trials may not be favorable or may be less favorable than interim/preliminary results disclosed and/or previous trials; the possibility that interpretations of data produced by one or more of our clinical trials will vary, including by the regulatory authorities;  the timing, expense and uncertainty associated with the regulatory approval process for products to advance through development stages; risks and uncertainties associated with the safety and effectiveness of our synthetic retinoid program; risks and uncertainties related to the scope, validity, and enforceability of our intellectual property rights and the impact of patents and other intellectual property of third parties; the Company’s future operating results, which are uncertain and likely to fluctuate; currency fluctuations; and general economic conditions and other factors described in detail in QLT’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian securities regulatory authorities. Forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations of QLT and QLT does not assume any obligation to update such information to reflect later events or developments except as required by law.

    CONTACT: QLT Inc. Contacts:
    
    Investor Relations
    Andrea Rabney or David Pitts
    Argot Partners
    212-600-1902
    andrea@argotpartners.com 
    david@argotpartners.com

    Arbutus Presents Data from Combination Activity Studies of HBV Drug Candidates

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    Additional Preclinical Combination Data to be Presented This Year
    Clinical Combination Studies to Begin in 2017

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia and DOYLESTOWN, Pa., April 22, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Arbutus Biopharma Corporation (Nasdaq:ABUS), an industry-leading Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) therapeutic solutions company, today announced presentations this week by Dr. Michael Sofia, Arbutus’ Chief Scientific Officer, on results of several preclinical HBV drug combination studies at the 29th International Conference on Antiviral Research held April 17-21, and Cambridge Healthtech Institute’s 11th Annual Drug Discovery Chemistry conference held April 19-22, 2016, both in San Diego.

    “We are excited to present this intriguing data from our preclinical drug combination studies. These data show additive or synergistic activity in in vitro and in vivo studies that evaluate different HBV disease markers such as cccDNA synthesis and expression, HBV rcDNA synthesis, HBsAg production and serum HBV DNA. We believe that combination therapy will enable an HBV cure with a finite treatment duration, and we have built a diverse pipeline of HBV product candidates at Arbutus to support this strategy,” said Dr. Sofia. “Our thorough preclinical evaluation of combinations of HBV candidates with different direct acting anti-viral mechanisms of action will inform our proprietary clinical combination studies, which will begin in 2017.”

    These initial preclinical combination studies have established the following:

    • Our drug candidates ARB-1467, AB-423, and AB-199 are potent and selective inhibitors of their respective targets.
    • These drug candidates can be used in combination with the ‘nuc’ standard of care without any antagonism of drug activity.
    • These drug candidates when used in combination with the ‘nuc’ standard of care demonstrate at least additive and in some cases synergistic activity.
    • That our first proprietary drug combination, RNAi plus capsid formation inhibitor, also demonstrates additive activity.
    • These results support Arbutus’ combination strategy.

    Summary of the Studies Presented: 

    Combination Study(ies)
    AB-423 (core protein/capsid inhibitor) with entecavir (EVT) In vitro and in vivo
    AB-423 (core protein/capsid inhibitor) with ARB-1467 (RNAi) In vitro and in vivo
    ARB-1467 (RNAi) with EVT In vitro
    ARB-199 (cccDNA formation inhibitor) with EVT In vitro
    ARB-199 (cccDNA formation inhibitor) with lamivudine In vitro
       

    The presentation can be accessed by visiting the Investor sections of www.arbutusbio.com and selecting Events and Presentations.

    About Arbutus

    Arbutus Biopharma Corporation is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing and commercializing a cure for patients suffering from chronic hepatitis B infection.  Arbutus is headquartered in Vancouver, BC, Canada with offices in Doylestown, PA, USA. For more information, visit www.arbutusbio.com.

    Forward Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and forward looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws (collectively, “forward-looking statements”). Forward-looking statements in this press release include statements about using a combination therapy to enable an HBV cure with a finite treatment duration; beginning proprietary clinical combination studies in 2017; the effectiveness of HBV candidates; and developing and commercializing a cure for patients suffering from chronic HBV infection using a three-pillar strategy.

    With respect to the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, Arbutus has made numerous assumptions regarding, among other things: the effectiveness and timeliness of preclinical and clinical trials, and the usefulness of the data; the continued demand for Arbutus’ assets; and the stability of economic and market conditions. While Arbutus considers these assumptions to be reasonable, these assumptions are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, market and social uncertainties and contingencies.

    Additionally, there are known and unknown risk factors which could cause Arbutus’ actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein. Known risk factors include, among others: anticipated pre-clinical and clinical trials may be more costly or take longer to complete than anticipated, and may never be initiated or completed, or may not generate results that warrant future development of the tested drug candidate; Arbutus may not receive the necessary regulatory approvals for the clinical development of Arbutus’ products; economic and market conditions may worsen; and market shifts may require a change in strategic focus.

    A more complete discussion of the risks and uncertainties facing Arbutus appears in Arbutus’ Annual Report on Form 10-K and Arbutus’ continuous disclosure filings, which are available at www.sedar.com and at www.sec.gov. All forward-looking statements herein are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and Arbutus disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking statements or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as required by law.

    CONTACT: Contact Information
    Investors
    Adam Cutler
    Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs
    Phone: 604.419.3200
    Email: acutler@arbutusbio.com
    
    Helia Baradarani
    Manager, Investor Relations
    Phone: 604.419.3200
    Email: hbaradarani@arbutusbio.com
    
    Media
    Please direct all media inquiries to: media@arbutusbio.com

    Points Named One of Canada’s Best Workplaces, Again

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    TORONTO, April 22, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Global leader in loyalty currency management Points (TSX:PTS) (Nasdaq:PCOM) is honored to announce their recognition as one of Canada’s Best Places to Work in 2016 and one of the 50 Best Workplaces for Women. Presented by the Great Places to Work Institute®, the award identifies organizations that foster exceptional work environments and cultures that value the growth and development of their team members.

    Points ranked #17 as one of Canada’s Best Places to Work and also received the recognition as one of the 50 Best Workplaces for Women where the company ranked #19. This is the second year in a row that Points has been recognized by Great Places to Work Institute®.

    “A dynamic company culture is not something that simply manifests overnight. It takes the right people with the right attitude, fierce passion and unyielding energy to create something extraordinary together,” said Rob MacLean, CEO of Points. “We are honored to be recognized as one of Canada’s Best Workplaces and one of the Best Workplaces for Women, for the second year in a row. This is a testament to our team who, day in and day out, work to uphold all that Points is and stands for.”

    In addition to fostering a vibrant and people-centric workplace, Points continues to drive new innovations across industries and partners in loyalty management and mobile engagement. Using the Points Loyalty Commerce Platform, the company’s flagship technology, Points remains at the forefront of customer interactions, making rewards programs more valuable and engaging. They have recently grown their product portfolio to include an industry-first luxury hotel redemption partnership with La Quinta Inns & Suites and a redesigned Delta SkyMiles Experience auction site where members can bid using loyalty currency. Last month, Points was also named one of Canada’s Top Small & Medium Employers.

    “Over the years, we’ve worked to build a collaborative and innovative culture that sparks ideas and inspires relationships,” said Christopher Barnard, President of Points. “And that all comes to life through our brilliant team who make our company something special – this award goes to them.”

    Compiled by Great Place to Work® Institute Canada, the “Best Workplaces in Canada” list ranks organizations based on how well they embody the five trust-building dimensions of a great place to work: credibility, respect, fairness, pride and camaraderie. Organizations are evaluated through an employee survey and an in-depth review of the organization’s culture, business processes and HR policies.  This year, more than 300 nominations were received yielding input from more than 60,000 employees.

    A complete list of the 2016 finalists can be found in a Special National Report in The Globe and Mail and on the Great Places to Work Institute’s website. For more information on the Great Places to Work Institute, visit http://www.greatplacetowork.ca/.
     
    About Points

    Points, publicly traded as Points International Ltd. (TSX:PTS) (Nasdaq:PCOM), is the global leader in loyalty currency management. Via a state-of-the-art loyalty commerce platform, Points provides loyalty eCommerce and technology solutions to the world’s top brands to enhance their consumer offerings and streamline their back-end operations.

    Points’ solutions enhance the management and monetization of loyalty currencies ranging from frequent flyer miles and hotel points to retailer and credit card rewards, for more than 50 partners worldwide. Points also manages Points.com, where more than 4 million consumers use the only industry sanctioned loyalty wallet to not only track all of their loyalty programs but also trade, exchange and redeem their miles and points. In addition to these services, Points’ unique SaaS products allow merchants and businesses to reward their customers with points and miles from the world’s largest loyalty brands.

    In 2014, Points acquired PointsHound, a hotel booking engine and loyalty currency aggregator built specifically for frequent travelers. PointsHound enables loyalty program members to earn loyalty points for staying in their favorite hotels and also to earn bonus rewards in the form of airline miles. Members of the free-to-use site have access to over 150,000 hotels worldwide, including boutique and non-chain properties.

    Points has been widely recognized among the loyalty and technology communities alike. The Company was named the 7th largest Canadian software company and the 30th largest Canadian technology company by the 2015 Branham300 list. For more information on Points, please visit www.Points.com, follow us on Twitter (@PointsLoyalty) or read the Points company blog. For more information on PointsHound, please visit www.PointsHound.com.

    About Great Place to Work®

    Great Place to Work® is the global authority on high-trust, high-performance workplace cultures. Through proprietary assessment tools, advisory services, and certification programs, including Best Workplaces lists and workplace reviews, Great Place to Work® provides the benchmarks, framework, and expertise needed to create, sustain, and recognize outstanding workplace cultures. In the United States, Great Place to Work® produces the annual Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® list and a series of Great Place to Work® Best Workplaces lists including lists for Millennials, Women, Diversity, Small and Medium Companies and over a half dozen different industry lists.

    CONTACT: CONTACT: 
    
    Points Investor Relations
    ICR
    Garo Toomajanian
    Garo.toomajanian@icrinc.com 
    617-956-6728
    
    Points Media Relations
    Walker Sands Communications
    Meghan Spork
    Meghan.spork@walkersands.com 
    312-241-1474

    Energate and WattTime.org Partner to Enable Smart Thermostat to Maximize Use of Environmentally Friendly Resources

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    OTTAWA, April 22, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Energate Inc., a leader in interactive energy management solutions, announced today that it is piloting the use of innovative secure smart grid technology that will make its thermostats capable of prioritizing use of electricity from environmentally-friendly power plants.

    Beginning in May, select Chicago residents will receive Energate’s HōlHōm smart thermostat with a new feature – the ability to selectively use clean energy. Clean Power Mode deliberately synchronizes air conditioning and heating cycles to correspond to availability of clean power reducing, and someday eliminating, any unused green resources.

    The WattTime-HōlHōm solution is available to Chicago residents who can apply to participate at www.WattTime.org. The upgrade to a HōlHōm smart thermostat is free, effortless, and has no “catch” – it minimizes the impact on comfort, will not increase energy bills or wear out equipment. No one will be forced to upgrade their thermostat as the focus of the project is to give consumers control over how the energy they consume is made.

    “This is something fundamentally new,” said WattTime Executive Director Gavin McCormick. “For more than 100 years, electricity has been primarily fossil fueled. Power plants, unlike almost any other industry, could actually force you to use their product whether you liked it or not. But with this new technology, the game has changed. If you’d rather your energy use didn’t support, say, a coal plant, you can just say no. Every time Energate’s thermostat takes action it effectively casts an economic vote for clean power.” McCormick notes that this timing-based approach ensures that users are directly reducing pollution from dirty plants, not just freeing up the dirty power to be used to power someone else’s home.  

    “Energate built its Consumer Connected Demand Response™ platform to support a wide variety of needs,” said Steve Dodds, CEO of Energate. “Responding directly to environmental signals demonstrates the amazing flexibility of the platform and of our HōlHōm thermostat at focusing energy where it counts. I can’t think of a better use for this capability than protecting the environment for future generations.”

    The technology provides consumers with the choice to use renewable energy sources and is widely compatible with smart devices, and is already in use in select electric vehicles. Energate is the first company to apply it to smart thermostats, and the project team expects the technology will soon become widespread across Internet of Things applications. WattTime’s technology is made possible through years of research and development, mentorship and funding from tech nonprofit accelerator, Fast Forward, and funding from the Great Lakes Protection Fund and Google.org. Energate and WattTime’s work is supported by a broad research coalition of scientists from the University of California, Berkeley, Wayne State University, Delta Institute, Rocky Mountain Institute, and the National Wildlife Federation.

    About Energate

    Energate Inc. provides interactive energy management solutions that enable next-generation energy management and the connected home. Energate’s vertically integrated Consumer Connected Demand Response™ platform provides management of two-way communication and demand response events through a flexible solution that includes devices, middleware, and applications. Energate’s Internet of Things solution is an interoperable architecture that has been proven in the homes of more than 40 North American utilities’ customers.

    About WattTime

    WattTime is an environmental non-profit built on cutting edge research by University of California, Berkeley PhDs. WattTime’s “environmental demand response” platform makes it possible to actually choose which power plants your devices rely on. With a simple software update, smart device owners can instantly and permanently reduce their carbon footprint and other pollution, and help clean and renewable power plants compete on the grid. Forward-looking companies partner with WattTime to empower their users to make a real difference for the environment that is as easy as pushing a button. For more information, please visit www.WattTime.org.

    CONTACT: Jacqueline Hudson
    Marketing Manager
    Energate Inc.
    jhudson@energateinc.com
    613-482-7928 x232

    FCT Named a “Great Place to Work” for the Second Year in a Row

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    OAKVILLE, Ontario, April 22, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Great Place to Work® Institute has named FCT one of the “Top 50 Best Workplaces” in Canada for the second consecutive year as part of its 2016 Best Workplaces list. FCT remains the first and only title insurance company to make the “Top 50 Best Workplaces” list. In addition, FCT was named one of the “Top 50 Best Workplaces for Women” in Canada.

    I am very proud of this recognition. But, I’m most proud of what it represents – the endorsement by our employees that we are one of Canada’s Best Workplaces,” said Michael LeBlanc, chief executive officer, FCT. “We strive to create an environment that makes people feel engaged, appreciated and motivated to succeed. The fact that we’ve made this list two years in a row and we’ve now been named a Best Workplace for Women indicates our people feel we’re delivering on our commitment to them.
     
    FCT was selected among hundreds of companies vying for a place on the list this year. Applicant companies must participate in an employee survey and respond to an in-depth questionnaire about their programs and company practices that is closely evaluated by the Great Place to Work Institute.
     
    FCT has been recognized as one of the “Top 50 Best Workplaces” in Canada under the Large and Multinational category and a “Top 50 Best Workplace for Women” because of its commitment to building an environment where all employees have the opportunity to excel in their work. FCT’s employee benefits and recognition programs, along with its dedication to communities through its FCT Charitable Foundation across Canada, are just some of the ways in which it demonstrates that commitment. 
     
    This is the 11th year that the Great Place to Work® Institute has announced its Best Workplaces list in Canada.
     
    About Great Place to Work

    Great Place to Work® is the global authority on high-trust, high-performance workplace cultures. We are a research and consulting firm whose mission is to build a better society by helping companies transform their workplaces. Through proprietary assessment tools, advisory services, and employer branding programs, including workplace certification and Best Workplaces lists, Great Place to Work® provides the benchmarks, framework, and expertise needed to create, sustain, and recognize outstanding workplace cultures.
     
    In Canada, Great Place to Work® produces the annual 100 Best Workplaces list, released in a national feature in the Globe and Mail. This is part of the world’s largest annual workplace study, which culminates in a series of national lists in almost 50 countries, including the study’s flagship list of 100 Best companies published annually in Fortune magazine.
     
    Globally, this survey represents the voices of 11 million employees, including approximately 300,000 from Canada alone. It’s what makes this study so credible: the primary determinant used in selecting winners is an employee survey. There’s only one way to get on this list – and that’s if your employees put you there.
     
    About FCT

    Founded in 1991, the FCT group of companies is based in Oakville, Ontario, and has over 800 employees across the country. The group provides industry-leading title insurance, default solutions and other real-estate-related products and services to approximately 1,250 lenders, 43,000 legal professionals and 5,000 recovery professionals, as well as real estate agents, mortgage brokers and builders, nationwide.
     
    The Great Place to Work® Institute has named FCT one of Canada’s Top 50 Best Workplaces by for two consecutive years (2015, 2016) and certified FCT as a Great Place to Work. FCT’s parent company, First American Financial Corporation, was named by Fortune® magazine as one of the 100 best companies to work for in America in 2016.
     
    For more information on FCT, please visit the company website at www.fct.ca.
     
    † The FCT group of companies includes FCT Insurance Company Ltd., which provides title and valuation insurance with the exception of commercial policies, which are provided jointly by FCT Insurance Company Ltd. and First American Title Insurance Company. Services by First Canadian Title Company Limited.

    CONTACT: Michelle Antunes
             FCT
             (905) 287-3165
             mantunes@fct.ca
             
             Jean-Claude Roy
             FCT
             (514) 744-1210
             jeroy@fct.ca

    Fort Garry Veterinary Hospital Reminds Pet Owners About the Importance of Dental Care

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    WINNIPEG, Manitoba, April 24, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Fort Garry Veterinary Hospital in Winnipeg is reminding local dog and cat owners about the importance of pet dental care.

    While most people are aware of the importance of scheduling regular dental appointments for themselves, they often forget that their furry companions need proper oral care too. This is why Winnipeg’s Fort Garry Veterinary Hospital is working to educate dog and cat owners on the importance of regular checkups and cleanings.

    According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, nearly 70 percent of cats and 80 percent of dogs exhibit some form of gum disease.

    “This type of ailment has been shown to later cause damage to other organs, including the liver, heart and kidneys,” states the clinic’s Dr. Pushpinder Mander. “Just like with humans, poor dental hygiene really has a major effect on the health of the rest of the body.”

    But, according to him, the prevention is simple.

    “The process of getting an in-office dental cleaning for your pet is fairly easy,” explains Dr. Mander. “Generally, it can be completed during a regular checkup or grooming session. There is very little discomfort for the animal and it only takes a few minutes.”

    In all companion animal dentistry, the dog or cat is put under anesthesia during the treatment. This is a regular practice that is done after a blood test to determine whether the pet will handle the medication. “Some pets are a little more sensitive to having a human work with their teeth. And that’s okay, but it is also why we have special procedures in place.”

    The Fort Garry Veterinary Hospital Technologists and Assistants work to show pet owners a variety of techniques they can use at home to combat dental issues, such as daily brushing. “These methods really help with any breath issues an animal may have and leaves them feeling healthier and happier.”

    Fort Garry Veterinary Hospital’s dental services go beyond cleanings and prevention. The clinic also works with pets who need treatment for serious dental conditions. “We have done extractions and other necessary procedures on cats and dogs,” says Mander. “Sometimes this is necessary to help prevent an infection or allow the pet to eat properly.”

    For more information on Fort Garry Veterinary Hospital or to schedule an appointment, you can contact them directly at 204-452-9010.

    About Fort Garry Veterinary Hospital

    Fort Garry Veterinary Hospital offers a full range of animal care services to residents of Winnipeg and surrounding areas. They handle routine examinations, spay/neuter surgeries, microchipping, vaccinations, emergency care, and much more. In addition, they also have a full grooming center. Schedule your pet’s appointment by calling 204-452-9010 or visit http://fortgarryvethospital.ca/ for more information.

     

    CONTACT: Fort Garry Veterinary Hospital, 204-452-9010

    Hydrogenics Announces First Quarter Conference Call and Annual Meeting on May 11, 2016

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    MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, April 25, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hydrogenics Corporation (NASDAQ:HYGS) (TSX:HYG) (“Hydrogenics” or “the Company”), a leading developer and manufacturer of hydrogen generation and hydrogen-based power modules, today announced that the Company will host a conference call at 1:00 p.m. Eastern on May 11, 2016 to review the fiscal first quarter ended March 31, 2016, following the Company’s Annual Shareholder Meeting at 10 a.m. that same day. Earnings will be issued before the market opens, and the filing of the company’s results with the appropriate regulatory bodies will follow.  

    The Annual Meeting will take place at Hydrogenics’ corporate headquarters, at 220 Admiral Boulevard, Mississauga, Ontario.

    During the earnings call, at 1:00 p.m., Daryl Wilson, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Bob Motz, Chief Financial Officer, will review the company’s first quarter financial results. The telephone number for the earnings conference call is 877-307-1373 or, for international callers, 678-224-7873. A live webcast of the call will be available on the Company’s website.

    About Hydrogenics
    Hydrogenics Corporation is a world leader in engineering and building the technologies required to enable the acceleration of a global power shift. Headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, Hydrogenics provides hydrogen generation, energy storage and hydrogen power modules to its customers and partners around the world. Hydrogenics has manufacturing sites in Germany, Belgium and Canada and service centers in Russia, China, India, Europe, the US and Canada.

     

    CONTACT: Hydrogenics Contacts:
    
    Chris Witty
    Hydrogenics Investor Relations
    (646) 438-9385
    cwitty@darrowir.com
    
    Bob Motz, Chief Financial Officer
    Hydrogenics Corporation
    (905) 361-3660
    investors@hydrogenics.com

    Tucows First Quarter Investment Community Conference Call is Monday, May 9, 2016 at 5:00 P.M. (ET)

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    TORONTO, April 25, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Tucows Inc. (NASDAQ:TCX) (TSX:TC) plans to report its first quarter fiscal 2016 financial results via news release on Monday, May 9, 2016 at approximately 4:05 p.m. (ET). Tucows management will host a conference call on the same day at 5:00 p.m. (ET) to discuss the results and the outlook for the company.

    Participants can join the call by dialing 1-888-231-8191 or 647-427-7450. Participants can also access the conference call via the Internet at http://www.tucows.com/investors.

    For those unable to participate in the conference call at the scheduled time, it will be archived for replay both by telephone and via the Internet beginning approximately one hour following completion of the call. To access the archived conference call by telephone, dial 416-849-0833 or 1-855-859-2056 and enter the pass code 90777474 followed by the pound key.  The telephone replay will be available until Monday, May 16, 2016 at midnight. To access the archived conference call as an MP3 via the Internet, go to http://www.tucows.com/investors.

    About Tucows

    Tucows is a provider of network access, domain names and other Internet services. Ting (https://ting.com) delivers mobile phone service and fixed Internet access with outstanding customer support. OpenSRS (http://opensrs.com) manages over thirteen million domain names and millions of value-added services through a global reseller network of over 13,000 web hosts and ISPs. Hover (http://hover.com) makes it easy for individuals and small businesses to manage their domain names and email addresses. More information can be found on Tucows’ corporate website (http://tucows.com).

    TUCOWS is a registered trademark of Tucows Inc. or its subsidiaries. All other trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners.

    CONTACT: Contact: 
    Lawrence Chamberlain 
    NATIONAL Equicom
    (416) 848-1457 
    lchamberlain@national.ca

    Points Announces Partnership with Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts To Power Buy-Gift Rewards Options for Members

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    TORONTO, April 25, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Points (TSX:PTS)(Nasdaq:PCOM), the global leader in loyalty currency management, announced a partnership with the luxury hospitality brand Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts to power the Buy and Gift functionality of its Golden Circle loyalty program, enhancing the value, revenue and engagement opportunities for Golden Circle members.

    Under terms of the partnership, Shangri-La’s Golden Circle members will now be able to buy and gift Golden Circle Award Points for themselves and others, allowing them to reach rewards thresholds faster. By leveraging Points’ Loyalty Commerce Platform, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts will enable its Golden Circle members to buy additional Golden Circle Award Points, solving the challenge of loyalty program members who want flexibility and additional avenues for earning points and rewards quickly.

    “Our goal is to make Golden Circle one of the most attractive and meaningful hotel rewards programs, and we are thrilled to partner with Points and offer Golden Circle members more choice and flexibility in how they earn and interact with their rewards,” said Wee Kee Ng, vice president of loyalty and partner marketing for Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts. “We are proud to provide additional incentives to our guests and further our focus on delivering excellent value to our global membership base.”

    “The partnership with Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts brings a globally recognized, luxury hospitality brand with strong foothold in Asia onto the Points Loyalty Commerce Platform, helping us further expand our footprint around the world,” said Rob MacLean, CEO of Points. “It also reflects Shangri-La’s pursuit of partner solutions that will attract new customers and deepen loyalty and engagement opportunities with existing guests. We are excited to leverage our platform to power new features and offer more flexibility to Golden Circle members.”

    With its leading Loyalty Commerce Platform, Points provides loyalty eCommerce and technology solutions to the world’s top brands to power innovative products and services to drive increased revenue and member engagement in loyalty programs. Points leverages its platform to efficiently deliver great products, including the Buy, Gift and Transfer functionality, to more than 50 loyalty program partners worldwide.

    Shangri-La operates five-star hotels and resorts across Asia Pacific, the Middle East, North America, and Europe. For more information, visit www.shangri-la.com.

    For more about Points’ Loyalty Commerce Platform, visit www.points.com.

    About Points
    Points, publicly traded as Points International Ltd. (TSX: PTS) (NASDAQ: PCOM), is the global leader in loyalty currency management. Via a state-of-the-art loyalty commerce platform, Points provides loyalty eCommerce and technology solutions to the world’s top brands to enhance their consumer offerings and streamline their back-end operations.

    Points’ solutions enhance the management and monetization of loyalty currencies ranging from frequent flyer miles and hotel points to retailer and credit card rewards, for more than 50 partners worldwide. Points also manages Points.com, where more than 4 million consumers use the only industry sanctioned loyalty wallet to not only track all of their loyalty programs but also trade, exchange and redeem their miles and points. In addition to these services, Points’ unique SaaS products allow merchants and businesses to reward their customers with points and miles from the world’s largest loyalty brands.

    In 2014, Points acquired PointsHound, a hotel booking engine and loyalty currency aggregator built specifically for frequent travelers. PointsHound enables loyalty program members to earn loyalty points for staying in their favorite hotels and also to earn bonus rewards in the form of airline miles. Members of the free-to-use site have access to over 150,000 hotels worldwide, including boutique and non-chain properties.

    Points has been widely recognized among the loyalty and technology communities alike. The Company was named the 8th largest Canadian software company and the 27th largest Canadian technology company by the 2016 Branham300 list. For more information on Points, please visit www.Points.com, follow us on Twitter (@PointsLoyalty) or read the Points company blog. For more information on PointsHound, please visit www.PointsHound.com.

    About Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts
    Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, one of the world’s premier hotel companies, currently owns and/or manages over 95 hotels under the Shangri-La brand with a room inventory of over 39,000.  Over four decades the group has established its brand hallmark of ‘hospitality from the heart.’   The group has a substantial development pipeline with upcoming projects in mainland China, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Myanmar, Philippines, Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka.  For more information, please access the website at www.shangri-la.com.

    For digitised pictures of the group’s hotels, please go to www.shangri-la.com/imagelibrary.

    CONTACT: Points Investor Relations
    Garo Toomajanian
    ir@points.com 
    Mobile: +1 617-956-6728
    Points Investor Relations
    ICR
    
    Points Media Relations
    Meghan Spork
    Meghan.spork@walkersands.com   
    Mobile: +1 312-241-1474
    Points Media Relations
    Walker Sands Communications

    PIZZA NOVA SIGNS ENDORSEMENT DEAL WITH TORONTO BLUE JAY JOSH DONALDSON

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    TORONTO, April 25, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Pizza Nova has kicked off its third season as the Official Pizza of the Toronto Blue Jays by picking up third-baseman Josh Donaldson.

    “We are thrilled to have a player like Josh Donaldson represent our brand, on and off the field,” said Pizza Nova President Domenic Primucci. “Josh exemplifies all the qualities of an exceptional athlete, teammate and individual.”

    “I am honored to be part of the Pizza Nova family,” said Donaldson. “When this opportunity came up, I was truly humbled because I know what it means to be associated with the Pizza Nova brand.”

    Donaldson hit 41 home runs in the 2015 season, and was instrumental in the team’s run to the American League Championship Series. He was named the American League’s MVP for his 2015 performance.

    The Toronto Blue Jays will play their next series at the Rogers Centre, starting tonight at 7:07pm.

    About Pizza Nova

    Founded in 1963, Toronto-based Pizza Nova is a family-operated business and has over 140 locations in Southern Ontario. Lauded for their community work, they specialize in fresh toppings, serving over 4 million pizzas annually. Pizza Nova recently introduced pepperoni sourced from animals that are raised without the use of antibiotics or hormones, Canadian raised and vegetable grain-fed. They offer a wide range of menu items including salads, lasagna, panzerotti, Italian sandwiches, chicken wings, FOCACCIA BARESE™ and a specialty line of Primucci Branded Products featuring Italian Peeled Tomatoes, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Homestyle Tomato Sauce, Italian Hot Peppers and Spicy Green Olives. Pizza Nova locations offer delivery, pickup, online ordering and some sit-down service. Visit www.pizzanova.com

    A photo accompanying this release is available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=39972

    CONTACT: For further information contact Jena Mackie at (416)439-0051 or jena@pizzanova.com

    Green Hygienics Signs LOI to Acquire Vertical Farming Technology Intellectual Property

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    LAS VEGAS, April 25, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Green Hygienics Holdings Inc. (OTC:GRYN).

    Green Hygienics is currently positioning to become one of the world leaders in both the home-based retail, as well as, the commercial Vertical Farming Industry.

    We are pleased to announce that in addition to considering several acquisition opportunities and Management Consultant prospects, we are pleased to announce the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) with a company based out of Kelowna, BC called CJH Ventures, Inc. Of interest to Green Hygienics are the prototypes that the Director of CJH Ventures, Inc. (Mr. Calum Hughes) holds. Mr. Calum Hughes and his Intellectual Property are the target for negotiation to move towards a possible agreement. Mr. Hughes past service as the Canadian Regional Manager for the Global Non-profit Association of Vertical Farming (https://vertical-farming.net/about-us/#board) has positioned Mr. Hughes intellectual property to be very much aligned with serving Green Hygienic’s recent vertical farming strategy.

    Vertical farming offers a practical solution to the global food crisis, bringing more food into the world while requiring very little additional land.

    Safe Harbor Statements

    Certain information contained in this news release constitutes “forward-looking statements” as such term is used in applicable United States and Canadian laws. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “expects” or “does not expect,” “is expected,” “anticipates” or “does not anticipate,” “plans,” “estimates,” “intends” or “believes,” or that certain actions, events or results “may,” “could,” “would,” “might” or “will be taken,” “occur,” or “be achieved.” Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made, and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Many of these factors are beyond the Company’s ability to control or predict. Important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially and that could impact the Company and the statements contained in this news release can be found in the Company’s filings with the SEC. Such risks and other factors include, among others, the ability to locate and acquire suitable interests in alternative medicine manufacturing operations on terms acceptable to the Company, the availability of financing on acceptable terms, accidents, labor disputes, acts of God and other risks of the alternative medicine industry including, without limitation, delays in obtaining governmental approvals or permits, title disputes or claims limitations on insurance coverage. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements included in this news release are reasonable; however, no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct, and such forward-looking statements should not be unduly relied upon. The Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    CONTACT: Contact: info@greenhygienics.com
    Phone: 1-888-700 GRYN(4796)

    H&M Canada is being recognized as a Great Place to Work(R)

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    TORONTO, April 25, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — H &M is being recognized as one of this year’s Best Workplaces in Canada. This prestigious award has now been provided to H &M Canada for two years running. New for H &M this year was also making the list of top employers in the country for women.

    H &M Canada’s commitment to a Great Place to Work is possible by listening to our employee feedback to make positive impacts to our organization. H &M’s values come together to form a workplace where everyone can work together at a fast pace and rely on each individual’s unique knowledge and capabilities. H &M believes in early responsibility and from day one fosters an environment where it is possible to grow internally in a career in retail based on each employee’s individual strengths.

    “At H &M we believe that our people are one of our greatest strengths. We owe much of our success and growth to our colleagues. We truly believe that working at H &M is not just a job but a long term career,” says Toni Galli, Country Manager H &M Canada. “We are honoured to once again be recognized as part of this prestigious list” she adds.

    This list of “Best Workplaces in Canada” is compiled by Great Place to Work® Institute Canada.  The competition process is based on two criteria: two-thirds of the total score comes from a 58-statement survey completed by a random selection of employees, along with their open-ended comments about their organization; the remaining one-third of the score comes from an in-depth review of the organization’s culture, including an evaluation of HR policies and procedures. This offers a rigorous representation of the organization from an employee perspective, and an overall portrait of the workplace culture. Together, they provide crucial data relative to the five trust-building dimensions of a great place to work®: credibility, respect, fairness, pride, and camaraderie.

    This year’s list received over 300 nominations and over 60,000 employees participated in the 2016 “Best Workplaces in Canada” survey. 

    About the Great Place to WorkInstitute: Great Place to Work® is the global authority on high-trust, high-performance workplace cultures. We are a research and consulting firm whose mission is to build a better society by helping companies transform their workplaces. Through proprietary assessment tools, advisory services, and employer branding programs, including workplace certification and Best Workplaces lists, Great Place to Work® provides the benchmarks, framework, and expertise needed to create, sustain, and recognize outstanding workplace cultures. In Canada, Great Place to Work® produces the annual 100 Best Workplaces list, released in a national feature in the Globe and Mail. This is part of the world’s largest annual workplace study, which culminates in a series of national lists in almost 50 countries, including the study’s flagship list of 100 Best companies published annually in Fortune magazine. Globally, this survey represents the voices of 11 million employees, including approximately 300,000 from Canada alone. It’s what makes this study so credible: the primary determinant used in selecting winners is an employee survey. There’s only one way to get on this list – and that’s if your employees put you there.

    For information on Great Place to Work® Institute please visit: www.greatplacetowork.ca 
     
    H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB (publ) was founded in Sweden in 1947 and is quoted on Nasdaq Stockholm. H &M’s business idea is to offer fashion and quality at the best price in a sustainable way. In addition to H &M, the group includes the brands & Other Stories, Cheap Monday, COS, Monki and Weekday as well as H &M Home. The H &M Group has more than 3,700 stores in 61 markets including franchise markets. In 2014, sales including VAT were SEK 177billion and the number of employees is more than 132,000. For further information, visit hm.com.                                          

    CONTACT: Emily Scarlett - H &M Canada
             Email: Emily.Scarlett@hm.com
             Cell: 416.898.4807

    Colliers International reports strong first quarter results

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    Operating highlights:

            Three months ended  
          March 31    
    (in millions of US$, except Adjusted EPS)     2016   2015    
                       
    Revenues     $ 376.1   $ 335.8      
    Adjusted EBITDA (note 1)       22.2     14.6      
    Adjusted EPS (note 2)       0.19     0.10  
                     

    TORONTO, April 26, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Colliers International Group Inc. (NASDAQ:CIGI) (TSX:CIG) today reported operating and financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2016. All amounts are in US dollars.

    Revenues for the first quarter were $376.1 million, a 12% increase (17% in local currency) relative to the same quarter in the prior year, Adjusted EBITDA (note 1) was $22.2 million, up 52% (60% in local currency) and Adjusted EPS (note 2) was $0.19, a 90% increase versus the prior year quarter. GAAP EPS from continuing operations was a loss of $0.19 per share for the quarter, versus $0.22 per share for the same quarter a year ago. First quarter adjusted EPS and GAAP EPS would have been approximately $0.02 higher excluding foreign exchange impacts.

    “Colliers reported strong results in the seasonally slower first quarter, with solid growth both internally and from acquisitions. Our revenue pipelines continue to reflect considerable activity across our various service lines, with generally stable conditions in most major markets,” said Jay S. Hennick, Chairman and CEO of Colliers International. “During the first quarter, we completed another four strategic acquisitions, expanding our presence in Florida and strengthening our existing businesses in the UK, Netherlands and Canada. With our disciplined growth strategy, well established track record of success and strong balance sheet, Colliers International is better positioned than ever to continue building our global platform in the years to come,” he concluded.

    About Colliers International Group Inc.
    Colliers International Group Inc. (NASDAQ:CIGI) (TSX:CIG) is an industry leading global real estate services company with more than 16,000 skilled professionals operating in 66 countries. With an enterprising culture and significant employee ownership, Colliers professionals provide a full range of services to real estate occupiers, owners and investors worldwide. Services include strategic advice and execution for property sales, leasing and finance; global corporate solutions; property, facility and project management; workplace solutions; appraisal, valuation and tax consulting; customized research; and thought leadership consulting.

    Colliers professionals think differently, share great ideas and offer thoughtful and innovative advice that help clients accelerate their success. Colliers has been ranked among the top 100 outsourcing firms by the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals’ Global Outsourcing for 11 consecutive years, more than any other real estate services firm.

    For the latest news from Colliers, visit Colliers.com or follow us on Twitter: @Colliers and LinkedIn.

    Consolidated Revenues by Line of Service

              Three months ended  
      (in thousands of US$)       March 31   Growth
      (LC = local currency)         2016   2015   in LC %
                           
      Outsourcing & Advisory       $ 159,818   $ 132,524   26 %
      Lease Brokerage         112,885     104,614   11 %
      Sales Brokerage         103,405     98,624   10 %
                           
      Total revenues         $ 376,108   $ 335,762   17 %
                               

    Consolidated revenues for the first quarter grew 17% on a local currency basis, led by significant revenue increases in Outsourcing & Advisory services as a result of strong internal growth in workplace solutions, project management and property management. Consolidated internal revenue growth in local currencies was 7%. Outsourcing & Advisory services represented 42% of total revenues for the period, up from 39% in the prior year period.

    Segmented Quarterly Results
    Americas region revenues totalled $210.5 million for the first quarter compared to $183.7 million in the prior year quarter, up 15% (18% on a local currency basis). Local currency revenue growth was comprised of 4% internal growth and 14% growth from recent acquisitions. Adjusted EBITDA was $21.6 million, up 62% from the prior year quarter as a result of operating leverage in Outsourcing & Advisory services and the favorable impact of acquisitions.

    EMEA region revenues totalled $98.9 million for the first quarter compared to $81.7 million in the prior year quarter, up 21% (26% on a local currency basis). Local currency revenue growth was comprised of 19% internal growth and 7% growth from recent acquisitions. Internal growth was driven by (i) Outsourcing & Advisory services activity, particularly in France where several large project management assignments commenced in the quarter; such projects, which involve the supply and installation of materials resulting in lower margins than other revenue types and (ii) increased Sales Brokerage revenues in Germany. Adjusted EBITDA was a loss of $0.6 million, versus break-even in the prior year quarter, due to the timing of expenses as well as changes in revenue mix.

    Asia Pacific region revenues totalled $66.4 million for the first quarter compared to $70.1 million in the prior year quarter, down 5% (up 2% on a local currency basis, entirely from internal growth with significant foreign exchange headwinds impacting results in the US dollar reporting currency). Adjusted EBITDA was $3.3 million versus $5.9 million in the prior year quarter, and was impacted by the reduction in revenue as well as changes in revenue mix.

    Global corporate costs were $2.2 million in the first quarter, relative to $4.7 million in the prior year period, and were positively impacted by lower compensation costs due to reduced headcount and lower variable expenses.

    Conference Call
    Colliers will be holding a conference call on Tuesday, April 26, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the quarter’s results. The call, as well as a supplemental slide presentation, will be simultaneously web cast and can be accessed live or after the call at www.colliers.com in the “Shareholders / Newsroom” section.

    Forward-looking Statements
    This press release includes or may include forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include the Company’s financial performance outlook and statements regarding goals, beliefs, strategies, objectives, plans or current expectations. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements contemplated in the forward-looking statements. Such factors include: economic conditions, especially as they relate to commercial and consumer credit conditions and consumer spending, particularly in regions where our business may be concentrated; commercial real estate property values, vacancy rates and general conditions of financial liquidity for real estate transactions; trends in pricing and risk assumption for commercial real estate services; the effect of significant movements in average cap rates across different property types; a reduction by companies in their reliance on outsourcing for their commercial real estate needs, which would affect revenues and operating performance; competition in the markets served by the Company; the ability to attract new clients and to retain major clients and renew related contracts; the ability to retain and incentivize producers; increases in wage and benefit costs; the effects of changes in interest rates on the cost of borrowing; unexpected increases in operating costs, such as insurance, workers’ compensation and health care; changes in the frequency or severity of insurance incidents relative to historical experience; the effects of changes in foreign exchange rates in relation to the US dollar on the Company’s Canadian dollar, Australian dollar, UK pound and Euro denominated revenues and expenses; the ability to identify and make acquisitions at reasonable prices and successfully integrate acquired operations; the ability to execute on, and adapt to, information technology strategies and trends; the ability to comply with laws and regulations related to our global operations, including real estate licensure, labour and employment laws and regulations, as well as the anti-corruption laws and trade sanctions; political conditions, including political instability and any outbreak or escalation of terrorism or hostilities and the impact thereof on our business; and changes in government laws and policies at the federal, state/provincial or local level that may adversely impact the business.

    Additional information and factors are identified in the Company’s Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2015 under the heading “Risk Factors” (which factors are adopted herein and a copy of which can be obtained at www.sedar.com) and other periodic filings with Canadian and US securities regulators. Forward looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and are subject to change. All forward-looking statements in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. Except as required by applicable law, Colliers undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    Summary financial information is provided in this press release. This press release should be read in conjunction with the Company’s quarterly financial statements and MD&A to be made available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

    Notes
    1. Reconciliation of net earnings (loss) from continuing operations to adjusted EBITDA:

    Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net earnings from continuing operations, adjusted to exclude: (i) income tax; (ii) other expense (income); (iii) interest expense; (iv) depreciation and amortization; (v) acquisition-related items; (vi) corporate costs allocated to spin-off and (vii) stock-based compensation expense. We use adjusted EBITDA to evaluate our own operating performance and our ability to service debt, as well as an integral part of our planning and reporting systems. Additionally, we use this measure in conjunction with discounted cash flow models to determine the Company’s overall enterprise valuation and to evaluate acquisition targets. We present adjusted EBITDA as a supplemental measure because we believe such measure is useful to investors as a reasonable indicator of operating performance because of the low capital intensity of the Company’s service operations. We believe this measure is a financial metric used by many investors to compare companies, especially in the services industry. This measure is not a recognized measure of financial performance under GAAP in the United States, and should not be considered as a substitute for operating earnings, net earnings from continuing operations or cash flow from operating activities, as determined in accordance with GAAP. Our method of calculating adjusted EBITDA may differ from other issuers and accordingly, this measure may not be comparable to measures used by other issuers. A reconciliation of net earnings (loss) from continuing operations to adjusted EBITDA appears below.

             
            Three months ended
    (in thousands of US$)     March 31
                2016   2015
                             
    Net earnings from continuing operations             $   4,032     $   40  
    Income tax                 3,071         (516 )
    Other income, net                 (600 )       484  
    Interest expense, net                 2,364         2,335  
    Operating earnings                 8,867         2,343  
    Depreciation and amortization                 11,034         8,591  
    Acquisition-related items                 1,071         871  
    Corporate costs allocated to spin-off                 -         1,283  
    Stock-based compensation expense                 1,212         1,495  
    Adjusted EBITDA             $   22,184     $   14,583  
                                   

    2. Reconciliation of net earnings (loss) from continuing operations and diluted net earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations to adjusted net earnings and adjusted earnings per share:

    Adjusted earnings per share is defined as diluted net earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations, adjusted for the effect, after income tax, of: (i) the non-controlling interest redemption increment; (ii) amortization expense related to intangible assets recognized in connection with acquisitions; (iii) acquisition-related items; (iv) corporate costs allocated to spin-off and (v) stock-based compensation expense. We believe this measure is useful to investors because it provides a supplemental way to understand the underlying operating performance of the Company and enhances the comparability of operating results from period to period. Adjusted earnings per share is not a recognized measure of financial performance under GAAP, and should not be considered as a substitute for diluted net earnings per share from continuing operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP. Our method of calculating this non-GAAP measure may differ from other issuers and, accordingly, this measure may not be comparable to measures used by other issuers. A reconciliation of net earnings (loss) from continuing operations to adjusted net earnings and of diluted net earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations to adjusted earnings per share appears below.

             
            Three months ended
    (in thousands of US$)     March 31
                2016   2015
                             
    Net earnings from continuing operations             $   4,032     $   40  
    Non-controlling interest share of earnings                 (2,414 )       (1,399 )
    Amortization of intangible assets                 5,637         3,427  
    Acquisition-related items                 1,071         871  
    Corporate costs allocated to spin-off                 -         1,307  
    Stock-based compensation expense                 1,212         1,495  
    Income tax on adjustments                 (1,691 )       (2,008 )
    Non-controlling interest on adjustments                 (502 )       (164 )
    Adjusted net earnings             $   7,345     $   3,569  
                             
            Three months ended
    (in US$)     March 31
                2016   2015
                             
    Diluted net earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations             $   (0.19 )   $   0.22  
    Non-controlling interest redemption increment                 0.23         (0.25 )
    Amortization of intangible assets, net of tax                 0.09         0.06  
    Acquisition-related items                 0.03         0.02  
    Corporate costs allocated to spin-off, net of tax                 -         0.02  
    Stock-based compensation expense, net of tax                 0.03         0.03  
    Adjusted earnings per share             $   0.19     $   0.10  

    COLLIERS INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC.
    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Loss)
    (in thousands of US dollars, except per share amounts)
                    Three months
                    ended March 31
    (unaudited)                   2016         2015  
                                 
    Revenues               $   376,108     $   335,762  
                                         
    Cost of revenues                   236,867         208,121  
    Selling, general and administrative expenses                   118,269         115,836  
    Depreciation                   5,397         5,164  
    Amortization of intangible assets                   5,637         3,427  
    Acquisition-related items (1)                   1,071         871  
    Operating earnings                   8,867         2,343  
    Interest expense, net                   2,364         2,335  
    Other (income) expense, net                   (600 )       484  
    Earnings (loss) before income tax                   7,103         (476 )
    Income tax expense (recovery)                   3,071         (516 )
    Net earnings from continuing operations                   4,032         40  
    Discontinued operations, net of income tax (2)                   -         (1,938 )
    Net earnings (loss)                   4,032         (1,898 )
    Non-controlling interest share of earnings                   2,414         1,399  
    Non-controlling interest redemption increment                   8,814         (9,341 )
    Net earnings (loss) attributable to Company               $   (7,196 )   $   6,044  
                                         
    Net earnings (loss) per common share                                
      Basic                                
        Continuing operations               $   (0.19 )   $   0.22  
        Discontinued operations                   -         (0.05 )
                      $   (0.19 )   $   0.17  
                                         
      Diluted                                
        Continuing operations               $   (0.19 )   $   0.22  
        Discontinued operations                   -         (0.05 )
                      $   (0.19 )   $   0.17  
                                         
    Adjusted earnings per share (3)               $   0.19     $   0.10  
                                         
    Weighted average common shares (thousands)                                
        Basic                   38,558         35,871  
        Diluted                   38,825         36,263  
                                         

    Notes to Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Loss)
    (1) Acquisition-related items include transaction costs, contingent acquisition consideration fair value adjustments, and contingent acquisition consideration-related compensation expense.
    (2) Discontinued operations is comprised of FirstService, which was spun off on June 1, 2015.
    (3) See definition and reconciliation above.

               
    Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
    (in thousands of US dollars)
               
                 
    (unaudited) March 31, 2016   December 31, 2015
                 
    Assets          
    Cash and cash equivalents $ 107,468   $ 116,150
    Accounts receivable   260,635     298,466
    Prepaid expenses and other assets   101,702     81,363
      Current assets   469,805     495,979
    Other non-current assets   31,398     23,209
    Fixed assets   63,937     62,553
    Deferred income tax   81,493     84,038
    Goodwill and intangible assets   476,574     426,642
      Total assets $ 1,123,207   $ 1,092,421
                 
                 
    Liabilities and shareholders’ equity          
    Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 381,455   $ 455,243
    Other current liabilities   18,701     20,698
    Long-term debt – current   2,763     3,200
      Current liabilities   402,919     479,141
    Long-term debt – non-current   346,132     257,747
    Other liabilities   56,108     48,034
    Deferred income tax   19,373     18,414
    Redeemable non-controlling interests   145,153     139,592
    Shareholders’ equity   153,522     149,493
      Total liabilities and equity $ 1,123,207   $ 1,092,421
                 
                 
    Supplemental balance sheet information          
    Total debt $ 348,895   $ 260,947
    Total debt, net of cash   241,427     144,797
    Net debt / pro forma adjusted EBITDA ratio   1.2     0.8

    Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows              
    (in thousands of US dollars)
                  Three months ended
                  March 31
    (unaudited)                   2016         2015  
                               
    Cash provided by (used in)                        
                               
    Operating activities                        
    Net earnings from continuing operations               $   4,032     $   40  
    Items not affecting cash:                                
      Depreciation and amortization                   11,034         8,591  
      Deferred income tax                   657         (1,331 )
      Other                   1,329         70  
                          17,052         7,370  
                                       
    Net changes from assets / liabilities                                
      Accounts receivable                   49,308         43,686  
      Payables and accruals                   (101,194 )       (126,242 )
      Other                   (8,306 )       (18,572 )
      Contingent acquisition consideration paid                   -         (1,032 )
    Discontinued operations                   -         20,043  
    Net cash used in operating activities                   (43,140 )       (74,747 )
                                       
    Investing activities                                
    Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired                   (36,575 )       (490 )
    Purchases of fixed assets                   (4,187 )       (1,550 )
    Other investing activities                   (6,142 )       (144 )
    Discontinued operations                   -         (6,847 )
    Net cash used in investing activities                   (46,904 )       (9,031 )
                                       
    Financing activities                                
    Increase in long-term debt, net                   86,467         53,123  
    Sale of subsidiary shares to non-controlling interests, net                   620         1,384  
    Dividends paid to common shareholders                   (1,541 )       (3,581 )
    Distributions paid to non-controlling interests                   (5,116 )       (5,641 )
    Other financing activities                   1,190         1,577  
    Net cash provided by financing activities                   81,620         46,862  
                                       
    Effect of exchange rate changes on cash                   (258 )       825  
                                       
    Decrease in cash and cash equivalents                   (8,682 )       (36,091 )
                                       
    Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period                   116,150         156,793  
                                       
    Cash and cash equivalents, end of period               $   107,468     $   120,702  
                                       
                                       
    Cash flows excluding discontinued operations                                
      Operating activities               $   (43,140 )   $   (94,790 )
      Investing activities                   (46,904 )       (2,184 )

    Segmented Results
    (in thousands of US dollars)
                                   
                Asia        
    (unaudited) Americas   EMEA   Pacific   Corporate   Consolidated
                                   
    Three months ended March 31                        
                                   
    2016                            
      Revenues $ 210,545   $   98,915     $ 66,441   $   207     $ 376,108
      Adjusted EBITDA   21,613       (561 )     3,282       (2,150 )     22,184
      Operating earnings (loss)   16,959       (5,889 )     1,934       (4,137 )     8,867
                                           
    2015                                    
      Revenues $ 183,726   $   81,711     $ 70,104   $   221     $ 335,762
      Adjusted EBITDA   13,336       22       5,886       (4,661 )     14,583
      Operating earnings (loss) (1)   9,673       (3,376 )     4,469       (8,423 )     2,343

    (1) Operating loss of Corporate for the three months ended March 31, 2015 includes $1,307 of corporate costs allocated to spin-off.

     

    CONTACT: COMPANY CONTACTS:
    
    Jay S. Hennick
    Chairman & CEO
                            
    John B. Friedrichsen
    Senior Vice President & CFO
    
    (416) 960-9500
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