PASADENA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#crowncommercialservice—Tetra Tech, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTEK), a leading provider of high-end consulting and engineering services, announced today that it has been awarded a place on Crown Commercial Service’s Construction Professional Services framework.

Crown Commercial Service (CCS) supports the United Kingdom’s public sector to achieve maximum commercial value when procuring common goods and services. In 2020/21 CCS helped the public sector to achieve commercial benefits equal to £2.04 billion—supporting world-class public services that offer best value for taxpayers.

The framework, which has a potential spend of £1.7 billion, will cover multi-discipline environmental, civil and structural engineering, building services engineering, architectural, cost management, and project management services.

Tetra Tech has been awarded a position on all six lots of the new four-year agreement—the only consultancy to do so. The lots are divided by project type and focus on the built environment and general infrastructure, urban regeneration, international, high-rise structures, defense, and environment and sustainability.

This new framework replaces CCS’s previous Project Management and Full Design Team Services framework (RM3741), on which Tetra Tech was a named supplier. Tetra Tech has worked on projects for the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), HMRC Transformation Programme, South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust (SEHSCT), University of Exeter, and numerous local authorities across the UK.

“Public sector organizations across the UK are investing in their infrastructure using frameworks like those offered by CCS to ensure the highest quality and best value are achieved for their communities,” said Dan Batrack, Tetra Tech Chairman and CEO. “Using Tetra Tech’s Leading with Science^® approach, we can continue delivering excellence across vital public sector works and help support the Government’s long-term infrastructure strategies across the UK, including the design of sustainable infrastructure that helps achieve the UK’s net zero emission targets.”

About Crown Commercial Service

Crown Commercial Service (CCS) is an Executive Agency of the Cabinet Office, supporting the public sector to achieve maximum commercial value when procuring common goods and services. To find out more about CCS, visit: www.crowncommercial.gov.uk. Follow us on Twitter: @gov_procurement and LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/2827044

About Tetra Tech

Tetra Tech is a leading provider of high-end consulting and engineering services for projects worldwide. With 21,000 associates working together, Tetra Tech provides clear solutions to complex problems in water, environment, sustainable infrastructure, renewable energy, and international development. We are Leading with Science^® to provide sustainable and resilient solutions for our clients. For more information about Tetra Tech, please visit tetratech.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.

Any statements made in this release that are not based on historical fact are forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements made in this release represent management’s best judgment as to what may occur in the future. However, Tetra Tech’s actual outcome and results are not guaranteed and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions (“Future Factors”), and may differ materially from what is expressed. For a description of Future Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements, see the discussion under the section “Risk Factors” included in the Company’s Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contacts

Jim Wu, Investor Relations

Charlie MacPherson, Media & Public Relations

(626) 470-2844

Not for distribution to U.S. News Wire Services or dissemination in the United States.

TORONTO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#ChoiceProperties–Choice Properties Real Estate Investment Trust (“Choice Properties”) (TSX: CHP.UN) announced today that the trustees of Choice Properties have declared a cash distribution for the month of December, 2021 of $0.061667 per trust unit, representing $0.74 per trust unit on an annualized basis, payable on January 17, 2022 to Unitholders of record at the close of business on December 31, 2021.

About Choice Properties Real Estate Investment Trust

Choice Properties is a leading Real Estate Investment Trust that creates enduring value through the ownership, operation and development of high-quality commercial and residential properties.

We believe that value comes from creating spaces that improve how our tenants and communities come together to live, work, and connect. We strive to understand the needs of our tenants and manage our properties to the highest standard. We aspire to develop healthy, resilient communities through our dedication to social, economic, and environmental sustainability. In everything we do, we are guided by a shared set of values grounded in Care, Ownership, Respect and Excellence.

For more information, visit Choice Properties’ website at www.choicereit.ca and Choice Properties’ issuer profile at www.sedar.com.

Contacts

Mario Barrafato

Chief Financial Officer

Choice Properties REIT

(416) 628-7872

Mario.Barrafato@choicereit.ca

Simply Group’s data also shows surge in essential home upgrades as Canadian homeowners prepare for winter

TORONTO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–As temperatures drop nationwide, Canadians are preparing their homes for winter while overcoming the rising cost of goods and supply chain delays. Simply Group, Canada’s non-bank consumer lender of choice, analyzed the third quarter of 2021 to understand how Canadians are planning their home improvement projects in anticipation of changing seasons and supply chain shortages.

In Q3, Simply Group’s data reported a 10 per cent increase in the total value of loan applications for home renovations and upgrades, when compared to the second quarter of 2021. Although the company saw a slight decrease in the number of loan applications, the total number of approved applications has remained steady (0.3 per cent).

“The rising cost of goods and services due to the supply chain issues has driven an increase in the total value of loans issued this quarter,” said Lawrence Krimker, CEO of Simply Group and owner of SNAP Home Finance. “With our innovative financing solutions, homeowners can better manage the rising costs associated with the products and services they need to modernize or safeguard their properties.”

Canadians prepare for winter with increase in HVAC installations

Although there was a slight decrease in essential renovation financing applications Q3 vs. Q2, Q3 reported a 27 per cent increase in application volume vs. Q1. This points to steady investment in essential home upgrades, such as HVAC, windows and doors, and roofing.

“This continued investment in essential home renovations shows that Canadians are still motivated to complete upgrades on their homes, and I expect to see this trend continue through Q4 and the winter,” added Krimker. “I would advise, that everyone considering these improvements plan ahead to avoid supply chain delays that are expected to continue through the winter.”

Maritime provinces show highest increase in applications

On a provincial level, Simply Group reported that Nova Scotia saw a 77 per cent increase in home renovation loan applications in Q3, compared to Q2 2021. Newfoundland followed with a 24 per cent increase in applications, and New Brunswick with a 6 per cent increase on loan applications in Q3, compared to the previous quarter. This provincial breakdown suggests growth of home-improvement financing in the Maritime Provinces – a trend tied to the record number of Canadians who re-settled on the Atlantic coast throughout the pandemic.

About Simply Group

With more than $3 billion home improvement loans to over 500,000 Canadians, Simply Group (mysimplygroup.com) provides consumers with industry leading, high-efficiency, home comfort equipment and financing solutions, to modernize their residential properties. Simply Group knows that its people are its greatest asset and is proud to be Great Place to Work-Certified since 2016. In 2020, Simply Group was named Best Business of the Year by the Canadian SME National Business Awards.

Contacts

For further information:

Jake Watson

VP Marketing

(647) 296-5160

Jacob.Watson@mysimplygroup.com

For media queries:

Emily Ellis

Senior Account Coordinator

Kaiser & Partners Inc.

emily.ellis@kaiserpartners.com
(905) 599-6138

TORONTO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Slate Grocery REIT (TSX: SGR.U) (TSX: SGR.UN) (the “REIT”), an owner and operator of U.S. grocery-anchored real estate, announced today that the Board of Trustees has declared a distribution for the month of December 2021 of U.S.$0.072 per class U unit of the REIT (“Class U Units”), or U.S.$0.864 on an annualized basis.

Holders of Class U Units may elect to receive their distribution in Canadian dollars and should contact their broker to make such an election.

Holders of class A units of the REIT (“Class A Units”) will receive a distribution equal to the Canadian dollar equivalent (based on the U.S./Canadian dollar exchange rate at the time of payment of the distribution) of U.S.$0.072 per Class A Unit, unless the unitholder has elected to receive distributions in U.S. dollars. Holders of class I units of the REIT (“Class I Units”) will receive a distribution of U.S.$0.072 per Class I Unit, unless the unitholder has elected to receive distributions in Canadian dollars. Holders of units of subsidiaries of the REIT that are exchangeable into Class U Units (“Exchangeable Units”) will receive a distribution of U.S.$0.072 per unit.

If a holder of Class U Units or Class I Units elects to receive distributions in Canadian dollars, the holder will receive the Canadian dollar equivalent amount of the distribution being paid on the Class U Units or Class I Units, as applicable, based on the U.S./Canadian dollar exchange rate at the time of payment of the distribution.

Distributions on all unit classes of the REIT, and distributions on Exchangeable Units, will be payable on January 17, 2022 to unitholders of record as of the close of business on December 31, 2021.

About Slate Grocery REIT (TSX: SGR.U / SGR.UN)

Slate Grocery REIT is an owner and operator of U.S. grocery-anchored real estate. The REIT owns and operates approximately U.S. $1.9 billion of critical real estate infrastructure across major U.S. metro markets that communities rely upon for their daily needs. The REIT’s resilient grocery-anchored portfolio and strong credit tenants provide unitholders with durable cash flows and the potential for capital appreciation over the longer term. Visit slategroceryreit.com to learn more about the REIT.

About Slate Asset Management

Slate Asset Management is a global alternative investment platform focused on real estate. We focus on fundamentals with the objective of creating long-term value for our investors and partners. Slate’s platform has a range of investment strategies, including opportunistic, value add, core plus and debt investments. We are supported by exceptional people and flexible capital, which enable us to originate and execute on a wide range of compelling investment opportunities. Visit slateam.com to learn more.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information herein constitutes “forward-looking information” as defined under Canadian securities laws which reflect management’s expectations regarding objectives, plans, goals, strategies, future growth, results of operations, performance, business prospects and opportunities of the REIT. The words “plans”, “expects”, “does not expect”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “does not anticipate”, “projects”, “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or statements to the effect that certain actions, events or results “may”, “will”, “could”, “would”, “might”, “occur”, “be achieved”, or “continue” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations.

Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management as of the date hereof, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. When relying on forward-looking statements to make decisions, the REIT cautions readers not to place undue reliance on these statements, as forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties and should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not the times at or by which such performance or results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ, possibly materially, from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Additional information about risks and uncertainties is contained in the filings of the REIT with securities regulators.

SGR-Dist

Contacts

For Further Information
Investor Relations

+1 416 644 4264

ir@slateam.com

TORONTO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Slate Office REIT (TSX: SOT.UN) (the “REIT”), an owner and operator of office real estate, announced today that the Board of Trustees has declared a distribution for the month of December 2021 of C$0.0333 per trust unit of the REIT, representing $0.40 per unit of the REIT on an annualized basis.

The distribution will be payable on January 17, 2022 to unitholders of record as of the close of business on December 31, 2021.

About Slate Office REIT (TSX: SOT.UN)

Slate Office REIT is an owner and operator of office real estate. The REIT owns interests in and operates a portfolio of 32 strategic and well-located real estate assets across Canada’s major population centres and includes two assets in downtown Chicago, Illinois. 61% of the REIT’s portfolio is comprised of government or credit rated tenants. The REIT acquires quality assets at a discount to replacement cost and creates value for unitholders by applying hands-on asset management strategies to grow rental revenue, extend lease term and increase occupancy. Visit slateofficereit.com to learn more.

About Slate Asset Management

Slate Asset Management is a global alternative investment platform focused on real estate. We focus on fundamentals with the objective of creating long-term value for our investors and partners. Slate’s platform has a range of investment strategies, including opportunistic, value add, core plus and debt investments. We are supported by exceptional people and flexible capital, which enable us to originate and execute on a wide range of compelling investment opportunities. Visit slateam.com to learn more.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information herein constitutes “forward-looking information” as defined under Canadian securities laws which reflect management’s expectations regarding objectives, plans, goals, strategies, future growth, results of operations, performance, business prospects and opportunities of the REIT. The words “plans”, “expects”, “does not expect”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “does not anticipate”, “projects”, “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or statements to the effect that certain actions, events or results “may”, “will”, “could”, “would”, “might”, “occur”, “be achieved”, or “continue” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations.

Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management as of the date hereof, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. When relying on forward-looking statements to make decisions, the REIT cautions readers not to place undue reliance on these statements, as forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties and should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not the times at or by which such performance or results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ, possibly materially, from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Additional information about risks and uncertainties is contained in the filings of the REIT with securities regulators.

SOT-Dist

Contacts

Investor Relations

+1 416 644 4264

ir@slateam.com

Move signals Exertis’ intent to expand global technology distribution footprint and accelerate North American expansion plans

PHILADELPHIA & DUBLIN–(BUSINESS WIRE)–DCC Technology, which trades as Exertis and is one of the world’s leading technology distribution and services businesses, has announced its acquisition of Almo Corporation in North America. The acquisition is the biggest yet in the history of parent company DCC plc.

The move signals an ambitious strategy for Exertis, extending its international scale in the Pro AV sector and ramping up its expansion in the North American market. The addition of Almo Corporation builds on other acquisitions in North America such as Stampede, Jam Industries, The Music People and JB&A, adding depth to its consumer portfolio. It expands Exertis’ Pro AV capability to form the largest specialist Pro AV business in North America.

Alongside its Pro AV business, Almo Corporation is the largest distributor of mainstream appliances, delivering a comprehensive portfolio of products including full kitchen packages with essential appliances to small and medium-sized retailers throughout the U.S. In addition, it is the leading distributor of premium appliances, serving retailers and builders designing luxury residential installations for refrigeration, ventilation and cooking in both indoor and outdoor settings. Almo’s thriving business in consumer appliances and lifestyle products will add scale to Exertis North America’s business in the consumer channel.

Almo’s 75-year-old, third-generation, family-owned business brings 660 employees, nine distribution centers and more than 2.5 million square feet of warehousing space across North America. Almo Corporation will benefit from leveraging Exertis’ financial resources and supply-chain logistics, delivering to its vendors and partners a host of improved business opportunities, efficiencies and potential for profit. The acquisition will provide Exertis North America with increased back-end economies of scale allied to the front-end specialization that will add multiple benefits for all its vendors and partners.

Almo will continue to be operated by the Chaiken Family, with Warren Chaiken as President and CEO and Gene Chaiken as Chairman. The combined Exertis and Almo Pro AV divisions will in due course be led by Sam Taylor, current Executive Vice President & COO of Almo Pro AV. Shortly after the completion of the integration, the combined business will be rebranded as Exertis Almo Pro AV.

John Dunne, a long-time senior executive with Exertis, currently leading the Exertis Pro AV team in North America, will join the Almo executive team and help lead the integration. The Premium Appliances and Mainstream Appliances divisions will continue to be led by Steve Terry and Jack Halperin respectively – both industry veterans in those markets.

Exertis’ expanded North American operation becomes a $2.4 billion business overseen by Martin Szpiro, Managing Director of Exertis North America. It forms part of the international expansion strategy of Exertis International, under Managing Director Clive Fitzharris.

Tim Griffin, DCC Technology & Exertis Managing Director says, “The acquisition of Almo Corporation is the largest in DCC’s history and signals our confident and ambitious intent to expand DCC Technology. By integrating Almo with our North American Business, we will form the largest specialist Pro AV business in North America. Almo’s 75-year history of growth and success, combined with its longstanding relationships with industry partners and its ability to continually innovate and expand will be great assets to Exertis. In turn, we will bring significant economies of scale, global supply chain access and other benefits to the customers of Almo Corporation.”

Warren Chaiken, Almo Corporation President & CEO says, “Having just completed a year-long celebration of 75 years of growth and business success, the time is right to give our manufacturer and channel partners a truly global distribution stage so they can operate their businesses at a greater capacity, leverage more buying power and the ability to compete for a more comprehensive position in the global supply chain. We are committed to growing with our partners by remaining their value-added distributor with larger scale and access to more products, more services and more financial support. For them, this transition will be seamless in that we will operate business as usual.”

About Exertis

Exertis is one of the world’s leading technology distributors of consumer, business and enterprise products from pioneering technology brands, playing an integral role in supplying the world with cutting-edge tech. For forty years Exertis has distributed the technology that transforms societies and facilitates the world’s transition to digital. These days Exertis distributes everything from AV solutions to AI-powered smart-tech.

Exertis is powered by the mantra ‘our people, our customers, our business’ and its reach is global. A wholly owned subsidiary of parent company DCC plc, a FTSE 100 company, it has offices in Europe, North America, Middle East and China, representing 2,400 brands. In 2021 it had a turnover of £4.483 billion. As technology evolves, so does Exertis. www.exertis.com.

About Almo Corporation

Since 1946, Almo Corporation has served as the largest independent distributor of appliances, consumer electronics, professional Audio/Video equipment, furniture and housewares in the United States. Meeting the needs of retailers across the country, Almo operates nine regional distribution facilities with over 2.5 million square feet of warehousing. Almo focuses on four major business segments: Major Appliance and Electronics, Premium Appliances, Professional AV and e-Commerce Fulfillment. For more information, go to www.almo.com.

About DCC plc

DCC is a leading international sales, marketing and support services group with a clear focus on performance and growth. DCC is an ambitious and entrepreneurial business operating in 21 countries, supplying products and services used by millions of people every day. Headquartered in Dublin, the Group operates across three markets: energy, healthcare and technology, employing approximately 15,000 people. DCC plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100. In its financial year ended 31 March 2021, DCC generated revenue of £13.4 billion and operating profit of £530.2 million. www.dcc.ie.

Contacts

U.K. & Europe

Dominic Dawes
dominic.dawes@exertis.co.uk

Anna Thorn
anna.thorn@exertis.co.uk

Laura Easton
laura.easton@exertis.co.uk

U.S.

Traci Schaefer
tschaefer@tlscommunications.com

LADERA RANCH, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. (“SmartStop” or the “Company”), a self-managed and fully-integrated self storage company, today announced that H. Michael Schwartz, the Company’s Chairman and CEO, will participate in a panel presentation at the Jefferies Inaugural Real Estate Conference in a panel titled: Self-Storage: Migration, Movement & M&A…Secular Growth or When Will it Slow. The panel will be webcast live on December 15, 2021 at approximately 2:30 pm Eastern Time to registered conference attendees. Mr. Schwartz, along with other representatives of the Company, will also be hosting meetings with registered investors at the conference.

About SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. (SmartStop)

SmartStop is a self-managed REIT with a fully integrated operations team of approximately 400 self storage professionals focused on growing the SmartStop® Self Storage brand. SmartStop, through its indirect subsidiary SmartStop REIT Advisors, LLC, also sponsors other self storage programs. As of December 13, 2021, SmartStop is one of the largest self storage companies in North America, with an owned and managed portfolio of 160 properties in 19 states and Ontario, Canada and comprising approximately 109,000 units and 12.3 million rentable square feet. SmartStop and its affiliates own or manage 19 operating self storage properties in the Greater Toronto Area, which total approximately 16,200 units and 1.7 million rentable square feet. Additional information regarding SmartStop is available at www.smartstopselfstorage.com.

Contacts

David Corak
VP of Corporate Finance

SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc.

949-542-3331

IR@smartstop.com

MADRID–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#BathroomTaps–H.I.G. Capital (“H.I.G.”), a leading global alternative investment firm with over $45 billion of equity capital under management, announced that one of its affiliates acquired Standard Hidraulica (“STH” or the “Company”), an international industrial group with a leading presence in the plumbing supplies category, previously part of industrial technology company Aalberts N.V. which is listed at the Euronext stock exchange in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. H.I.G. plans to accelerate the Company’s growth and lead a consolidation in its core markets.

STH is headquartered in Montcada i Reixac (Barcelona, Spain), and operates subsidiaries in Pinto (Madrid, Spain), United Kingdom (Leigh, Greater Manchester), South Africa (Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town), and Greece (Acharnes, Athens).

Jaime Bergel, Managing Director of H.I.G. Spain, said: “We are committed to supporting the senior leadership team of STH in achieving their ambitious business plan which should translate in substantial growth over the coming years. As part of the transaction, H.I.G. will support STH in its transition to an independent company while accelerating its customer-focused expansion in the local and international markets.”

Jaume Llacuna, CEO of STH said: “The investment by H.I.G. is great news for STH and its stakeholders. STH is recognised as one of the market leaders across many of our businesses and the categories that we operate in. I am very excited to work with the team at H.I.G. to capitalise on the enormous potential for growth we have within our local and international geographies. We are well positioned to push forward with our plans for organic and inorganic growth. Our collective commitment, energy and passion will be at the heart of our future success. Together with H.I.G., we look forward to building an even stronger business in the coming years.”

About Standard Hidraulica

STH was founded in 1975 in Montcada i Reixac (Barcelona). With a philosophy based on product quality, customer service, constant technological research and respect for the environment, STH has become a reference partner in the water and gas connection and control, kitchen and bathroom taps in both residential and non-residential areas, and civil works such as water and gas distribution networks. STH is certified with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. For more information, please refer to the STH website: https://www.standardhidraulica.com.

About H.I.G. Capital

H.I.G. is a leading global alternative assets investment firm with over $45 billion of equity capital under management.* Based in Miami, and with offices in New York, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Atlanta in the U.S., as well as international affiliate offices in London, Hamburg, Madrid, Milan, Paris, Bogotá, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, H.I.G. specializes in providing both debt and equity capital to small and mid-sized companies, utilizing a flexible and operationally focused/value-added approach:

1. H.I.G.’s equity funds invest in management buyouts, recapitalizations and corporate carve-outs of both profitable as well as underperforming manufacturing and service businesses.
2. H.I.G.’s debt funds invest in senior, unitranche and junior debt financing to companies across the size spectrum, both on a primary (direct origination) basis, as well as in the secondary markets. H.I.G. is also a leading CLO manager, through its WhiteHorse family of vehicles, and manages a publicly traded BDC, WhiteHorse Finance.
3. H.I.G.’s real estate funds invest in value-added properties, which can benefit from improved asset management practices.
4. H.I.G. Infrastructure focuses on making value-add and core plus investments in the infrastructure sector.

Since its founding in 1993, H.I.G. has invested in and managed more than 300 companies worldwide. The firm’s current portfolio includes more than 100 companies with combined sales in excess of $30 billion. For more information, please refer to the H.I.G. website at www.higcapital.com.

H.I.G. European Capital Partners Spain is a legally independent advisor to H.I.G. Capital LLC, H.I.G. Europe Capital Partners, L.P., H.I.G. Europe Capital Partners II, L.P. and H.I.G. Europe Capital Partners III, L.P.

^{* Based on total capital commitments managed by H.I.G. Capital and affiliates.}

Contacts

Jaime Bergel

Managing Director

jbergel@higcapital.com

H.I.G. Capital

Antonio Maura 4 – 4^th Floor

28014 Madrid

P +34 91 737 50 50

www.higcapital.com

The organization has been acknowledged as part of the BC Transportation Contractor of the Year Awards of Excellence

VANCOUVER, British Columbia–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Each year, the Province celebrates organizations that have made outstanding contributions to British Columbia’s transportation system. This year, due to the pandemic, the Ministry presented awards for both 2020 and 2021, with Lafarge Canada Inc. nominated four times for Contractor of the Year for the two-year period.

“We’re thrilled with these nominations and the recognition it gives to our teams across the province,” shares Lincoln Kyne, Vice President & General Manager, BC. “The Ministry of Transportation & Infrastructure builds infrastructure that needs to last decades and our commitment as a contractor is to deliver high quality value projects for our Province. These awards reflect that commitment.”

Reflecting the organization’s desire to put health and safety at the forefront of all operations, Lafarge was the 2020 Workplace Health and Safety Award Winner. “The perimeter lighting was a game changer,” shares Kyne. “Now it doesn’t matter where our teams are working, or what the weather conditions are – they’re safe, continually.” Lafarge won for their perimeter lighting system, which provides a distinctive red line of light, 10 feet around asphalt paving rollers to create an operator-only safe workspace. As well, Lafarge’s new personal hard hat lighting system for asphalt paving technicians was acknowledged in the award.

Lafarge was also a winner in the 2021 Grading category for the Lower Lynn Creek Connectivity Project. “The site is incredibly busy,” says Kyne. “There are more than 120,000 vehicles passing through every day. It took a lot for us to not only coordinate construction phases, but to make sure that everyone involved stayed safe, that highly sensitive environmental considerations were managed and risks mitigated, and that we stuck to the schedule with the least amount of disruption for the community.”

Lafarge Canada was also nominated as the 2020 Runner Up for the massive Mountain Highway Interchange Project and the 2021 Runner Up for asphalt resurfacing at Hwy 97 Vernon Arterial and Old Kamloops Road. Both projects involved complex traffic rerouting and stakeholder engagement strategies, and were completed on schedule. “We work across the Province,” explains Kyne. “We are familiar with the challenges that come with these projects and specifically in the communities they impact. We are fully committed to helping the industry keep improving and innovating.”

The awards were presented to Lafarge Canada at MoTI’s awards ceremony on December 3, 2021. “It’s an honor to accept these awards,” says Kyne, “and it’s a great push for us to keep on being the best we can be.”

About the B.C. Transportation Contractor of the Year Awards of Excellence

2020 Workplace Health and Safety – 2020 – WINNER

Lafarge GVA Construction – James Silver, Mark O’Callaghan, Shaun Marsden, Mike Darby

Lafarge Canada Inc. introduced the red perimeter lighting system and ILLUMAGEAR Halo SL, which increases the visibility of both ground personnel and equipment. The red perimeter lighting system provides a distinctive red line of light, 10 feet around asphalt paving rollers to creating an operator-only safe workspace. The red light provides other ground personnel and members of the public with early indication that they are in an unsafe position. The lights are mounted on the equipment, which allows the illuminated workspace to move with the equipment. Lafarge Canada Inc. also mandated use of the ILLUMAGEAR Halo SL, a personal hard hat lighting system for asphalt paving on-site quality control technicians. This system provides a 360-degree ring of light that attaches to hardhats, is visible for up to 400 metres away and provides supplementary task lighting to the user.

Grading – 2020 – Runner Up

Lafarge GVA Infrastructure – Project Manager – Gord Bird

Mountain Highway Interchange Project – This $36M project included removing and replacing the existing two lane underpass to a five lane underpass. The improvements included new on and off ramps to Highway 1, two soil nail walls (up to 12m high), three cast in place concrete retaining walls, pedestrian tunnel, capacity improvements to Keith Road and Mountain Highway, pedestrian and cyclist improvements through the construction of multi-use pathways, as well as major drainage and utility upgrades and environmental enhancements. Lafarge introduced several sustainable options including the use of Aggneo on one of the first major highway infrastructure projects in the province.

Grading – 2021 – WINNER

Lafarge GVA Infrastructure – Project Manager – Paulo Perez

Lower Lynn Creek Connectivity Project – This $64M project included the reconstruction of the existing Highway 1 at Keith Road Interchange and new westbound collector lanes. Construction included a new five-lane Keith Road underpass, realignment of Keith Road, reconstruction of ramps, reconstruction of the Lillooet/Seymour Parkway intersection, two new Highway 1 westbound collector lanes, two new Highway 1 Lynn Creek Bridges, new Mountain Highway eastbound on-ramp and the relocation of Keith Creek. Over 120,000 vehicles passed through the site each day. There were extensive utility relocations and upgrades, complex construction staging and traffic management and nearby sensitive environmental habitat, all within a densely populated and constrained area. Lafarge worked with stakeholders to address challenges that arose on this complex project through innovation and collaboration.

Paving – 2021 – Runner Up

Vernon Paving (a division of Lafarge Canada Inc.) – Jody Bridge, Scott Horsfield

Asphalt Surfacing Hwy 97 Vernon Arterial and Old Kamloops Road – The $4M project consisted of a section of Highway 97 from north of 43rd Avenue to College Way and approximately six kilometers along Old Kamloops Road was assessed as requiring resurfacing and road repairs. The project also included the construction of approximately 185 meters of right-turn lane on Highway 97 onto 43rd Avenue and median extension at 37th Avenue. The road repairs and resurfacing resulted in a smoother riding surface and improved dust control. This project improved safety and efficiency of the roadway and increased corridor capacity, mobility and reliability. Vernon Paving (Lafarge) took a proactive approach to protect the environment and effectively addressed environmental concerns that arose.

About Lafarge Canada Inc.

Lafarge is Canada’s largest provider of sustainable construction materials and a member of the global group, Holcim. With 6,000 employees and 350 sites across Canada, our mission is to provide construction solutions that build better cities and communities. The cities where Canadians live, work and raise their families along with the community’s infrastructure benefit from the solutions provided by Lafarge consisting of aggregates, asphalt and paving, cement, precast concrete, ready-mix concrete, and road construction. www.lafarge.ca

Contacts

Media

Jill Truscott

Manager, Communications – Western Canada

Lafarge Canada Inc.

300, 115 Quarry Park Road SE

Calgary, AB T2C 5G9

Mobile: 403.354.5063

jill.truscott@lafarge.com

Company will add 72MW of IT capacity in Frankfurt and Berlin

DENVER & LUXEMBOURG–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Vantage Data Centers, a leading global provider of hyperscale data center campuses, today announced the development of additional campuses in two of its existing strategic EMEA markets. With the continued increase in customer demand for premium hyperscale data center space across Europe, Vantage has broken ground on second campuses in both Frankfurt and Berlin. In addition, the company opened its first campus in Zurich.

In the most sought-after data center market in Europe, Vantage has begun construction of a second Frankfurt campus. This five-acre (two-hectare) campus, located in Raunheim, will provide 40MW of critical IT capacity and total more than 355,000 square feet (33,000 square meters) once complete. The initial phase of this five-story facility is scheduled for delivery in the fall of 2022. Vantage is also continuing to develop its flagship Frankfurt campus, located in Offenbach, approximately 30 kilometers from Raunheim. Once fully developed, both campuses will offer hyperscalers, cloud providers and large enterprise customers a total of 95MW of IT capacity in the Frankfurt region.

Vantage has also begun construction of a second campus in Berlin. Located only 20 kilometers from its first Berlin campus and 10 kilometers from the Brandenburg International Airport, the two-building campus will sit on 12 acres (five hectares) and provide 32MW of critical IT capacity. Both facilities will consist of two stories and feature more than 260,000 square feet (24,000 square meters) combined. The initial phase is scheduled to be operational in the summer of 2022. Development continues at the company’s first Berlin campus as well. Once fully developed, both campuses will offer 64MW of IT capacity.

Like all of Vantage’s data centers, these new developments will prioritize reliability, sustainability and environmental responsibility and will follow the company’s standardized building design, which allows for rapid time to market to meet customer demand. The campuses will employ hyper-efficient cooling with outside air economization using minimal water. This approach, along with other design features, enables Vantage to achieve industry-leading power usage effectiveness (PUE) and a water usage efficiency (WUE) of virtually zero. Both new campuses will offer customers renewable energy options and include electric vehicle charging stations, drought-resistant landscaping and motion-sensor LED lighting. Vantage has committed to reaching net zero carbon by 2030 through its comprehensive sustainability program.

“Our new developments in Frankfurt and Berlin are testaments to our significant growth throughout EMEA in less than 24 months in the market,” said Antoine Boniface, president, Vantage EMEA. “Our portfolio now consists of nine campuses throughout EMEA, including our recently announced development in South Africa. Demand from our customers continues to increase in these major economic centers, and our ability to scale quickly ensures our sustainable, state-of-the-art facilities will be ready to meet our customers’ business needs.”

In addition, Vantage recently opened the first of four data centers on its growing Swiss campus sited in Winterthur just 25 kilometers northeast of downtown Zurich. Once fully developed, the seven-acre (three-hectare) campus will offer 40MW of IT capacity to customers.

For more information on Vantage Data Centers’ campuses, please visit: https://vantage-dc.com/data-centers/.

About Vantage Data Centers

Vantage Data Centers powers, cools, protects and connects the technology of the world’s well-known hyperscalers, cloud providers and large enterprises. Developing and operating across five continents in North America, EMEA and Asia Pacific, Vantage has evolved data center design in innovative ways to deliver dramatic gains in reliability, efficiency and sustainability in flexible environments that can scale as quickly as the market demands.

For more information, visit https://vantage-dc.com/.

Contacts

Press Contacts
Mark Freeman

Vantage Data Centers

mfreeman@vantage-dc.com
+1 202-680-4243

Nigel Parker

Fulfil Communications (U.K.)

nigelp@fulfilcom.com
+44 (0) 7778 872 457

Li-Cycle to Increase Hub Facility’s Input Processing Capacity by Over 40%, to Meet Increasing Market Demand

Li-Cycle and LG Enter into non-binding Letter of Intent for “Closed-Loop” Commercial Agreements to Recycle their Battery Materials and Offtake Battery-Grade Nickel over 10 Years

LG to make a $50 million Equity Investment in Li-Cycle upon Completion of Commercial Agreements

Completed Hub Expected to Position Li-Cycle as a Leading Producer of Battery Grade Nickel, Cobalt, and Lithium in North America

TORONTO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Li-Cycle Holdings Corp. (NYSE: LICY) (“Li-Cycle” or “the Company”), a North American leader in lithium-ion battery resource recovery, today announced that it will proceed with the construction of its first commercial Hub facility, which is being developed within the Eastman Business Park near Rochester, New York (the “Hub”).

In view of rapidly growing demand for lithium-ion battery recycling, Li-Cycle will increase the input processing capacity of the Hub by over 40%, from 25,000 tonnes to 35,000 tonnes of “black mass” annually (equivalent to approximately 90,000 tonnes of lithium-ion battery equivalent feed annually). With its increased capacity, the Hub will be able to process battery material that is equivalent to approximately 225,000 electric vehicles (“EVs”) per year.

The Company estimates that the Hub will require a total capital investment of approximately $485 million (+/-15%), which can be funded from existing balance sheet cash. Li-Cycle also expects to explore various opportunities to optimize its capital structure, for example, with potential credit from government-related institutions.

The Hub will be fully integrated with Li-Cycle’s existing network of Spoke facilities across North America. Li-Cycle’s Spoke facilities take in end-of-life batteries and battery manufacturing scrap to produce “black mass”, an intermediate product containing valuable metals such as nickel, cobalt and lithium. The Hub will transform that black mass into critical battery grade materials to be returned back to the lithium-ion battery supply chain. Li-Cycle’s Spoke facilities will be the primary suppliers of feedstock for the Hub. Once the Hub is fully operational, Li-Cycle expects to be the #1 or #2 domestic U.S. based supplier of battery grade advanced materials.

The total addressable market for lithium-ion battery recycling in North America continues to accelerate as battery manufacturers are investing to build the supply chain to support electrification. Megafactory investments are now projected to surpass 500 GWh capacity by 2025, approximately 11x the current capacity. Based on independent industry forecasts (including from Benchmark Mineral Intelligence) and Li-Cycle’s internal analysis, Li-Cycle estimates that there could be nearly 250,000 tonnes of lithium-ion batteries available for recycling from manufacturing scrap in North America alone by 2025. Upsizing the Hub enhances the Company’s ability to meet the increasing commercial needs of leading global customers within the lithium-ion battery supply chain.

“We believe the upsizing of our commercial Hub facility is timely, to capture growth from heightened demand with the mainstreaming of electrification in North America driving significant new battery megafactory deployments. Even with the increased capital investment, we expect the Hub project to deliver highly accretive returns,” said Li-Cycle’s President, CEO, and co-founder, Ajay Kochhar. “This is an exciting time for Li-Cycle as we advance the strategic execution on our integrated Spoke & Hub network and enable critical commercial solutions to the growing needs for domestic supply of battery materials in North America.”

Multi-Year Strategic Collaboration with LG

Li-Cycle, LG Chem, Ltd. (“LGC”) and LG Energy Solution, Ltd. (“LGES”) entered into a manufacturing scrap supply and nickel sulphate off-take agreement non-binding letter of intent. With this proposed collaboration, LGES and Li-Cycle intend to cooperate on recycling nickel-bearing lithium-ion battery scrap and certain other lithium-ion battery materials to create a closed-loop ecosystem. Over a ten-year period, beginning in 2023, Li-Cycle will supply LGES and LGC with 20,000 tonnes of nickel contained in nickel sulphate from our Rochester Hub facility.

Concurrently with the entering into of definitive commercial agreements for such collaboration, LGC and LGES together will make a $50 million equity investment in Li-Cycle at a price of $11.32/per common share, upon completion of the commercial agreements by March 13, 2022. These proposed commercial arrangements and the investment represent a strong validation of Li-Cycle’s business model by one of the premier global strategic players in the lithium-ion battery space.

Project Highlights

Through close collaboration with customers on their demand and product needs, Li-Cycle has finalized and approved the Definitive Feasibility Study for the Hub, including a fully-loaded estimated capital investment of approximately $485 million (+/-15%). The larger Hub optimizes project economics and capital intensity and includes best-in-class environmental improvements.

Key design and cost changes relative to a June 2020 preliminary feasibility study largely include, but are not limited to: 1) higher material costs due to increased size and supply chain inflationary impacts; 2) scope alterations responding to contracted feed supplies and implementing best-in-class environmental practices; and 3) up-sizing of nameplate output capacity of the Hub, resulting in¹ ~250% higher Hub output capacity of nickel sulphate (~42,000 to 48,000 tonnes per annum), ~160% higher output capacity of lithium carbonate (~7,500 to 8,500 tonnes per annum), and ~65% lower output capacity of cobalt sulphate (~6,500 to 7,500 tonnes per annum).

The Company has engaged Hatch Ltd. as its engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) contractor for the project and is in the process of selecting its general contractor. Procurement has commenced on long-lead items and firm-price competitive quotes have been obtained for 80% of the required equipment for the Hub. Li-Cycle is on path to begin the Hub construction by year-end 2021 and to reach mechanical completion, commissioning and start-up in 2023, subject to receipt of remaining regulatory and other approvals.

Conference Call/Webcast Details:

Li-Cycle management will provide an update on the LG strategic collaboration and Hub upsizing during a conference call and audio-only webcast scheduled for today Tuesday, December 14, 2021 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Investors may listen to the conference call live via telephone by dialing 1 (800) 909 5202 (domestic) or 1 (785) 830 -1914 (international) and use the participant code LICY1214.

An audio-only live webcast of the conference call and presentation materials can be accessed through the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at https://investors.li-cycle.com. A replay of the conference call/webcast will be made available on the Company’s website at https://investors.li-cycle.com.

About Li-Cycle Holdings Corp.

Li-Cycle (NYSE: LICY) is on a mission to leverage its innovative Spoke & Hub Technologies™ to provide a customer-centric, end-of-life solution for lithium-ion batteries, while creating a secondary supply of critical battery materials. Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries are increasingly powering our world in automotive, energy storage, consumer electronics, and other industrial and household applications. The world needs improved technology and supply chain innovations to better manage battery manufacturing waste and end-of-life batteries and to meet the rapidly growing demand for critical and scarce battery-grade raw materials through a closed-loop solution. For more information, visit https://li-cycle.com/.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this communication may be considered “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1993, as amended, Section 21 of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements may generally be identified by the use of words such as “may”, “will”, “plan”, “potential”, “future”, “target” or other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. Forward-looking statements may include, for example, statements about the development of the Hub including the related capital investment and anticipated timing for construction and commissioning, the output capacity of the Hub, the future financial performance of Li-Cycle and performance vis-à-vis its competitors, and the anticipated benefits from the proposed collaboration with LG. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this communication, which Li-Cycle believe are reasonable in the circumstances. There can be no assurance that such estimates or assumptions will prove to be correct and, as a result, actual results or events may differ materially from expectations expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of assisting readers in understanding certain key elements of Li-Cycle’s current objectives, goals, targets, strategic priorities, expectations and plans, and in obtaining a better understanding of Li-Cycle’s business and anticipated operating environment. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes and is not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on, by any investor as a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability.

Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of Li-Cycle, and are not guarantees of future performance. Li-Cycle believes that these risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: Li-Cycle’s Hub, Arizona Spoke, Alabama Spoke and other future projects are subject to development risks, including with respect to engineering, permitting, procurement, construction, materials and labor costs, commissioning and ramp-up; Li-Cycle’s inability to develop the Hub in a timely manner or on budget, which would be expected to result in a significantly greater estimated capital investment than that set forth in the definitive feasibility study; the Hub not meeting expectations with respect to its productivity or the specifications of its end products; market developments (such as increasing EV battery manufacturing volumes in North America and trends around battery chemistries in EV applications); Li-Cycle’s failure to materially increase recycling capacity and efficiency; Li-Cycle’s inability to economically and efficiently source, recover and recycle lithium-ion batteries and lithium-ion battery manufacturing scrap, as well as third party black mass, and to meet the market demand for an environmentally sound, closed-loop solution for manufacturing waste and end-of-life lithium-ion batteries; Li-Cycle’s inability to successfully implement its global growth strategy, on a timely basis or at all; Li-Cycle’s inability to manage future global growth effectively; Li-Cycle may engage in strategic transactions, including acquisitions, that could disrupt its business, cause dilution to its shareholders, reduce its financial resources, result in incurrence of debt, or prove not to be successful; one or more of Li-Cycle’s current or future facilities becoming inoperative, capacity constrained or if its operations are disrupted; additional funds required to meet Li-Cycle’s capital requirements in the future not being available to Li-Cycle on commercially reasonable terms or at all when it needs them; Li-Cycle expects to incur significant expenses and may not achieve or sustain profitability; problems with the handling of lithium-ion battery cells that result in less usage of lithium-ion batteries or affect Li-Cycle’s operations; Li-Cycle’s inability to maintain and increase feedstock supply commitments as well as securing new customers and off-take agreements; a decline in the adoption rate of EVs, or a decline in the support by governments for “green” energy technologies; decreases in benchmark prices for the metals contained in Li-Cycle’s products; changes in the volume or composition of feedstock materials processed at Li-Cycle’s facilities; the development of an alternative chemical make-up of lithium-ion batteries or battery alternatives; Li-Cycle’s revenues for the Hub are expected to be derived significantly from a single customer; Li-Cycle’s insurance may not cover all liabilities and damages it incurs in the operation of its business; Li-Cycle’s heavy reliance on the experience and expertise of its management; Li-Cycle’s reliance on third-party consultants for its regulatory compliance; Li-Cycle’s inability to complete its recycling and recovery processes as quickly as customers may require; Li-Cycle’s inability to compete successfully; increases in income tax rates, changes in income tax laws or disagreements with tax authorities; significant variance in Li-Cycle’s operating and financial results from period to period due to fluctuations in its operating costs and other factors; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates which could result in declines in reported sales and net earnings; unfavorable economic conditions, such as consequences of the global COVID-19 pandemic; natural disasters, unusually adverse weather, epidemic or pandemic outbreaks, boycotts and geo-political events; failure to protect Li-Cycle’s intellectual property; Li-Cycle may be subject to intellectual property rights claims by third parties; Li-Cycle’s failure to effectively remediate the material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting that it has identified or if it fails to develop and maintain a proper and effective internal control over financial reporting. These and other risks and uncertainties related to Li-Cycle’s business are described in greater detail in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in its final prospectus dated August 10, 2021 filed with the Ontario Securities Commission in Canada and the Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Because of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, readers should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement.

<sup>____________________________________________

1</sup> Percentage changes based on the mid-point of the Definitive Feasibility Study basis divided by the Preliminary Feasibility Study basis.

Contacts

Investor Relations
Nahla A. Azmy

investors@li-cycle.com

Press
Sarah Miller

media@li-cycle.com

HILLIARD, Ohio–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (ADS) (NYSE: WMS), a leading provider of innovative water management solutions, today released the Nyloplast 12-inch universal inline drain solution designed for contractors seeking a durable and water-tight pipe fitting for stormwater inlets. Common applications include commercial settings, academic institutions, sports and turf fields, big box retail and grocery, multi-family and mixed-use development projects, warehouses, and large manufacturing plants.

The product, which easily connects to round, dome and square grates of various designs, comes standard with a six-inch hole designed to match the grate inlet capacity and allowing the end user to install without any additional effort. Need a larger opening and bigger grate, no big deal with the universal inline which can be easily adjusted on site and connects with all commonly used types of plastic pipes up to 12-inch diameter. Brian King, executive vice president of product management, marketing and sustainability, Advanced Drainage Systems, noted that the drain fitting shouldn’t be complicated to install and maintain.

“It became quickly apparent in our discussions with contractors and engineers that a gap existed for a universal inline drain product that was readily available, easy to install and reliable beyond a handful of years,” said King. “We are pleased to meet the market need with a Nyloplast solution delivering an easy, clean and speedy installation experience that can accelerate a project timeline and preclude additional cost associated with delays and repairs.”

The lightweight product uses high-quality injection molded consistency to enhance performance and lifecycle compared to alternatives. It has 100-year service life, maintains an H20 load rating, provides a water-tight connection, and features a sloped bottom to promote positive drainage flow. Installation does not require use of grout and long curing times. An oscillating saw is recommended for coring of the 6-inch hole to either eight or 10 inches when connecting to larger inlet grates. This product is easy to stock because of its versatility and they are readily available for purchase at local distributors throughout the United States.

King added, “This inline drain provides distributors with a universal solution that brings their customers project flexibility and reliable performance for stormwater management. The product’s versatility reduces SKUs while advancing distributors’ value to contractors seeking a quality and quick, hassle-free inlet connection for same day pick up.”

Advanced Drainage Systems provides various levels of training and continuous education opportunities for engineers specifying and contactors using the Nyloplast universal inline drain and other ADS stormwater solutions. Local product specialists will be on-site as necessary to ensure your project runs smoothly. To learn more about the Nyloplast universal inline drain, visit https://www.adspipe.com/nylo-universal.

About the Company

Advanced Drainage Systems is a leading provider of innovative water management solutions in the stormwater and on-site septic wastewater industries, providing superior drainage solutions for use in the construction and agriculture marketplace. For over 50 years, the Company has been manufacturing a variety of innovative and environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional materials. Its innovative products are used across a broad range of end markets and applications, including non-residential, residential, infrastructure and agriculture applications. The Company has established a leading position in many of these end markets by leveraging its national sales and distribution platform, overall product breadth and scale and manufacturing excellence. Founded in 1966, the Company operates a global network of 63 manufacturing plants and 32 distribution centers. To learn more about the ADS, please visit the Company’s website at www.adspipe.com.

Contacts

Tori Durliat

Director of Marketing

E tori.durliat@adspipe.com
P 419-424-8275

Michael Higgins

VP, Corporate Strategy & Investor Relations

E mike.higgins@adspipe.com
P 614-658-0050