Eligible consumers can pay in simple biweekly or monthly payments, with no hidden or late fees

BOUCHERVILLE, Québec & TORONTO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Affirm (NASDAQ: AFRM), the payment network that empowers consumers and helps merchants drive growth, today announced a partnership with RONA inc., one of Canada’s leading home improvement retailers operating and servicing some 425 corporate and affiliated stores. Now, eligible shoppers can use Affirm to purchase their home improvement necessities online.

By selecting Affirm at checkout on rona.ca, approved RONA customers can split eligible purchases into biweekly or monthly payments for terms up to 12 months. Consumers are shown the total cost of their purchase and will never pay more than they agree to upfront as Affirm does not charge any late or hidden fees.

“Canadians have trusted RONA for their home improvement needs since 1939 and, throughout the years, their shopping habits have evolved. Many Canadians now prefer to use online solutions for making their purchases and we wanted to offer them the same payment flexibility we offer customers who shop our stores through other flexible payment solutions, which is exactly what Affirm allows us to do,” said Adam Powell, Chief Digital Officer of RONA inc. “We’re thrilled to offer greater choice at checkout to help our customers bring their projects to life.”

“Tackling home projects can be daunting, but using Affirm can give eligible RONA consumers the clarity and control they need to focus on completing the job at hand without the stress or hassle of hidden fees or junk charges,” said Wayne Pommen, Chief Revenue Officer at Affirm. “We’re proud to work with one of the most iconic retailers in Canada to offer a flexible and transparent way to pay for those important home improvement supplies.”

RONA joins Affirm’s network of 292,000 retailers, including partnerships in Canada with Amazon, Apple, Samsung, Hudson’s Bay, Browns Shoes, CheapOair and more.

About Affirm

Affirm’s mission is to deliver honest financial products that improve lives. By building a new kind of payment network — one based on trust, transparency and putting people first — we empower millions of consumers to spend and save responsibly, and give thousands of businesses the tools to fuel growth. Unlike most credit cards and other pay-over-time options, we show consumers exactly what they will pay up front, never increase that amount, and never charge any late or hidden fees. Follow Affirm on social media: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | X.

About RONA inc.

RONA inc. is one of Canada’s leading home improvement retailers and is headquartered in Boucherville, Québec. The RONA inc. network operates or services some 425 corporate and affiliated dealer stores under the RONA+, RONA, Réno-Dépôt, and Dick’s Lumber banners. With a long and rich history, RONA inc. has supported Canadians in their home improvement and construction projects since 1939. To achieve this, the company relies on a team of 21,000 employees, to whom it strives to provide an inclusive workplace where everyone is invited to contribute. RONA inc. is one of the Montréal region’s Top Employers since 2021. As a result of its ongoing efforts in sustainable development, the company is recognized as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers. To learn more about the company, visit the website www.ronainc.ca.

To share this news on social media, please use @RONAEN (Facebook), @RONA (LinkedIn), and @RONAinc (X, formerly Twitter).

Rates from 0-31.99% APR (subject to provincial regulations). Payment options through Affirm Canada Holdings Ltd. (“Affirm”) are subject to an eligibility check and depend on purchase amount, vary by merchant, and may not be available in all provinces/territories. A down payment (or a payment due today) may be required.

AFRM-A

Contacts

Press Contacts
RONA

media@rona.ca
514 599-5900, ext. 5271

1 866 566-3342

Affirm

Nicholas Fisher

press@affirm.com
(650) 398-2715

ST. LOUIS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Core & Main Inc. (NYSE: CNM), a leader in advancing reliable infrastructure with local service, nationwide, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire substantially all of the assets of HM Pipe Products, Inc. and HM Pipe Products Kitchener Inc. (collectively, HM Pipe Products), a Canadian distributor of water and wastewater products.

“With our expansion into Canada, we will achieve a key milestone for Core & Main. The team at HM Pipe Products has extensive market knowledge, an excellent reputation in the industry and strong customer connections,” said Steve LeClair, chair and CEO of Core & Main. “We plan to utilize our collective resources and combined expertise to address Canada’s water and wastewater infrastructure needs, providing significant future growth opportunities in the multibillion-dollar Canadian market.”

Established in 2010, HM Pipe Products is a trusted provider of a broad array of products to assist contractors and municipalities in Ontario with their waterworks infrastructure projects. Their experienced team operates from two locations in London, Ontario, and Kitchener, Ontario.

“It was important for us to partner with an established industry veteran who has a similar culture and dedication to exceptional service when entering the Canadian market. We found that in HM Pipe Products,” said Jack Schaller, president of Core & Main. “I look forward to welcoming them to Core & Main and collaborating with their team as we build out our presence in Canada.”

“I am very proud of what our team has accomplished since Fraser Metcalf and I founded the company in 2010,” said HM Pipe Products President, Rick Henry. “Fraser and I are excited to enter a new chapter as part of the Core & Main family. We feel a strong alignment of purpose with their team, and this partnership paves the way for us to support the Canadian water and wastewater industry with expanded resources and unmatched excellence.”

About Core & Main

Based in St. Louis, Core & Main is a leader in advancing reliable infrastructure™ with local service, nationwide®. As a leading specialized distributor with a focus on water, wastewater, storm drainage and fire protection products and related services, Core & Main provides solutions to municipalities, private water companies and professional contractors across municipal, non-residential and residential end markets, nationwide. With more than 350 locations across the U.S., the company provides its customers local expertise backed by a national supply chain. Core & Main’s nearly 5,500 associates are committed to helping their communities thrive with safe and reliable infrastructure. Visit coreandmain.com to learn more.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Examples of forward-looking statements include information concerning Core & Main’s financial and operating outlook, as well as any other statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “forecasts,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “outlook,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” “preliminary,” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give you no assurance these expectations will prove to have been correct. These forward-looking statements relate to future events or our future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to differ materially from any future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

Additional information concerning these and other factors can be found in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. All such statements speak only as of the date made and, except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Contacts

Investor Relations:
Robyn Bradbury, 314-995-9116

InvestorRelations@CoreandMain.com

Media Relations:
Jennifer Noonan, 314-750-9670

Jennifer.Noonan@CoreandMain.com

TORONTO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Primaris Real Estate Investment Trust (“Primaris” or the “Trust”) (TSX: PMZ.UN) announced today that its Board of Trustees has declared a distribution of $0.07 per unit for the month of July 2024, representing $0.84 per unit on an annualized basis. The distribution will be payable on August 15, 2024 to unitholders of record on July 31, 2024.

About Primaris Real Estate Investment Trust

Primaris is Canada’s only enclosed shopping centre focused REIT, with ownership interests primarily in leading enclosed shopping centres located in growing mid-sized markets. The portfolio totals 39 properties, or 12.5 million square feet valued at approximately $3.8 billion at Primaris’ share. Economies of scale are achieved through its fully internal, vertically integrated, full-service national management platform. Primaris is very well-capitalized and is exceptionally well positioned to take advantage of market opportunities at an extraordinary moment in the evolution of the Canadian retail property landscape.

For more information: TSX: PMZ.UN www.primarisreit.com www.sedarplus.ca

Contacts

Alex Avery

Chief Executive Officer

416-642-7837

aavery@primarisreit.com

Rags Davloor

Chief Financial Officer

416-645-3716

rdavloor@primarisreit.com

Claire Mahaney

VP, Investor Relations & ESG

647-949-3093

cmahaney@primarisreit.com

Timothy Pire

Chair of the Board

chair@primarisreit.com

FAIRFIELD, N.J. & MONTREAL–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#CommunityDevelopment–Live Work Learn Play, a renowned international expert in large-scale community development, and Technogym, a global leader in wellness and fitness, are pleased to announce an innovative strategic partnership to develop and activate healthy communities and thriving placemaking projects across North America. Live Work Learn Play’s dedication to conceiving, planning, and delivering healthy complete communities and vibrant mixed-use real estate projects aligns seamlessly with Technogym’s mission to promote comprehensive health and well-being.

The partnership aims to broaden access to and integrate best-in-class Technogym fitness, health and wellness equipment and technology within Live Work Learn Play’s communities, projects and relationships across North America. This will be achieved by leveraging Technogym’s unique wellness ecosystem to enable physical, mental, and social well-being throughout all stages of community development and operations, helping people lead longer, better, and healthier lives.

“We are thrilled to embark on this journey with Technogym to deliver and cultivate comprehensive and complete mixed-use health and wellness communities across North America,” said Max Reim, Chief Executive Officer, Co-Managing Partner & Founding Principal of Live Work Learn Play. “Technogym’s reputation as a global leader in fitness and wellness resonates deeply with our ethos and is 100% aligned with our mission at Live Work Learn Play. We have always recognized that our iconic projects must foster enduring community well-being for generations. This North America-wide collaboration empowers us to continue elevating, differentiating, and catalyzing our communities.”

Technogym is a global leader and brand in fitness, sport and health with a global presence in over 120 countries, including extensive presence in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Every day over 70 million people train with Technogym all over the world. Live Work Learn Play specializes in fully integrated mixed-use wellness-based real estate and placemaking projects that incorporate a mix of housing, healthcare, education, sports and recreation, nutrition, life sciences, hotel and hospitality, arts and culture, and immersive retail and food & beverage experiences, with diversified economies and a range of employment opportunities.

“We are excited to collaborate with Live Work Learn Play and their stakeholders to deliver comprehensive, immersive and enduring wellness-focused communities and real estate projects throughout North America,” said Fabrizio Catania, Managing Director for Technogym. “This strategic partnership underscores Technogym’s dedication to increasing human performance and enhancing people’s lives through regular physical exercise, which perfectly aligns with Live Work Learn Play’s vision and mission. Together, we have a unique opportunity to expand our impact and deliver healthier, more vibrant communities, projects, and places.”

ABOUT LIVE WORK LEARN PLAY

Live Work Learn Play is a mission-based international real estate development and advisory firm on the cutting edge of conceiving, planning, developing, and activating dynamic, large-scale mixed-use projects, complete community developments and very special places across North America and the world. With over 100 years of collective experience, Live Work Learn Play creates communities that become sustainable destinations and thriving economies for generations.

https://lwlp.com/

ABOUT TECHNOGYM INC.

Founded in 1983, Technogym is a world-leading brand in fitness, wellness, sport, and health. Technogym provides a complete ecosystem made of connected smart fitness equipment, digital services, and training content. Thanks to the Mywellness Cloud Platform people can connect to their personal training experience anywhere, both on Technogym equipment and mobile devices. Technogym has over 2,500 employees and is present in over 120 countries. More than 85,000 wellness centers and 400,000 private homes in the world are equipped with Technogym. Technogym has been appointed Official Supplier to the Paris 2024 Olympics, the ninth time after Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, Turin 2006, Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016, Pyeongchang 2018 and Tokyo 2020, and it’s the reference brand for the training of worldwide champions.

https://www.technogym.com/

Contacts

MEDIA

Nadia Stolfi
Director, Communications & Community Development

Live Work Learn Play

519-993-6350

nadia@lwlp.com

Technogym Press Office
pressoffice@technogym.com

OLNEY, England–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Traka, an ASSA ABLOY company and a global leader in intelligent key management solutions, is pleased to be recognized as a winner of the prestigious Red Dot Award for Product Design. This honour is a testament to Traka’s commitment to innovation and excellence in design.

The Red Dot Award is a globally recognized competition that celebrates innovative products that significantly impact their respective fields. A panel of expert judges worldwide evaluates each submission, selecting only the most outstanding products demonstrating exceptional design quality. This year, 18,000 entries were reviewed, and only a select number of designers and manufacturers were bestowed this prestigious award as a badge of honour that recognizes excellence in design.

Traka’s Touch Pro line of intelligent key cabinet systems has been recognized for its design excellence. The latest design features a sleek, modern build that makes it easy to assemble, install, and configure in almost any space. Traka’s engineers have prioritized sustainability, creating a more robust, reliable, and secure solution that sets a new standard for the industry. The updated design offers extra depth and height, providing more room for organizing keys and access cards.

Perla Munhoz, Global Head of Product Design at ASSA ABLOY Group commented, “Winning the Red Dot award for our Traka Touch Pro fills us with immense joy, confirming we’re on the right path. In a market of similar boxy designs, our intelligent key cabinet stands out with its functional and elegant design, respecting both its environment and users. This success highlights our team’s talent, innovation, and dedication, transforming a mundane design into something extraordinary.”

Further commenting on the achievement, Mike Rimmington, Senior Vice President & Head of Key and Asset Management, ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions, said, “I am thrilled that our Touch Pro series has been recognized as a 2024 Red Dot Winner for innovation. This award reflects our team’s dedication and expertise at Traka, making a significant impact in the industry. I am grateful for our customers’ trust as this recognition validates our mission to provide innovative solutions that improve lives. This award reaffirms our commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction, and we will continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible with our technology. My heartfelt congratulations to our entire team. I look forward to seeing what the future holds for Traka.”

Wayne Stant, Product Director for Traka added, “We knew following in the footsteps of the popular Traka Touch key cabinet range was going to be no small feat. Designing the Traka Touch Pro required a monumental team effort, involving insight from right across the business, ASSA ABLOY Group, our partners and most importantly, our customers. Accomplishing this in the middle of a pandemic was amazing to be part of and is now being rewarded with market success. We’re delighted to receive the prestigious Red Dot award as an extra validation of all our hard work.”

About Traka:

Traka is part of ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions, which provides safe and sustainable cutting-edge technology solutions for physical and digital access management control. As a full solutions provider, ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions is part of the wider ASSA ABLOY Group. Being a global leader in access solutions, the Group operates worldwide with 61,000 employees and holds leading positions in areas such as efficient door opening, trusted identities, and entrance automation.

Traka is the global leader in intelligent management solutions for keys and equipment. Their solutions help organizations better control their important assets, improving productivity and accountability, and reducing risk in critical processes. Traka continuously invests in the development of technology to provide leading, innovative, secure, and effective real-world solutions to the challenges that organizations face in managing keys and equipment. Their solutions are tailored to customer needs and requirements, providing the most value and impact on their business.

Traka is a global organization with local support working to define processes, being local when you need us and global when it counts.

Learn more about Traka and its full line of key and asset management solutions for nearly every industry sector at www.traka.com.

Contacts

cobarski@daltonagency.com

Firm’s First Dedicated Team in Canada Includes Research Head Fred Blondeau and Six News Reporters Covering the Country

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#GreenStreet—Green Street, the preeminent provider of commercial real estate intelligence, is expanding its near 40 years of trusted expertise and unbiased insights into Canada. Green Street’s new Canada coverage will include exclusive News as well as Research and Data/Analytics, initially focused on the public market with a plan for private market data and insights to follow.

The Canada Research offering will ultimately include coverage of approximately 15 REITs operating in five property sectors – Apartment, Industrial, Senior Housing, Office, and Retail – with a report suite comparable to the U.S. and Europe models within Green Street’s SaaS platform. REIT data will include weekly pricing sheets, Buy/Hold/Sell recommendations, detailed NAV models, and data downloads with 75+ portfolio earnings and valuation metrics including 5-year earnings forecasts. The research and data product will ultimately expand to cover 10 private markets as well.

“We’re thrilled to have on board Fred Blondeau and Gaurav Mathur to lead our Canadian research, bringing their 30+ years of commercial real estate experience in Canada to further enhance our industry leading global research team,” said Cedrik Lachance, Director of Research. “Combining the analysts’ deep market expertise with Green Street’s independence, proprietary methodologies, and a proven track record – enables us to launch a differentiated product that adds value to the growing market and helps our clients generate alpha.”

Green Street News – Canada Edition delivers comprehensive bulletins with exclusive scoops and market intelligence from an esteemed team of journalists located across Canada reporting on all key property sectors and asset classes. T.J. Foderaro, Editor-in-Chief of Green Street’s News division, will oversee the firm’s 50+ global editorial team including: Jenna Cocullo (Montreal/Quebec all sectors), Zoe Demarco (Toronto Office & Hotels), Rahul Gupta (Toronto Industrial, Data Centres & Self-Storage), Laura Hanrahan (Toronto Multifamily & Retail), Matt Lamers (Toronto Financing & Industrial), and Jeremy Nuttall (Vancouver, Calgary & Edmonton all sectors).

Jeffry Stuek, Jr., Chief Executive Officer, said, “Our presence in Canada is an exciting milestone for Green Street’s global expansion strategy. Our added insight, innovation, and capabilities will help us deliver on our mission to empower the global commercial real estate industry and expand our industry leading insight to continue providing value to our growing customer base.”

For additional information on Green Street’s new Canada coverage, click here for more product details or watch this brief clip to hear from Chief Revenue Officer, Kris Hoffman.

About Green Street

Green Street is the preeminent provider of actionable commercial real estate research, news, data, analytics, and advisory services in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. For nearly 40 years, Green Street has delivered unparalleled intelligence and trusted data on the public and private real estate markets, helping investors, banks, lenders, and other industry participants optimize investment and strategic decisions. The firm delivers exclusive market information, conclusion-driven insights, and predictive analytics through a SaaS platform. To learn more, please visit www.greenstreet.com.

Contacts

Media Contact
media@greenstreet.com
(949) 640-8780

• The SMART Buildings Division, an evolution of Schneider’s Digital Buildings business, offers comprehensive solutions to accelerate decarbonization and sustainability goals for building owners and operators.
• Strengthening Schneider Electric’s leadership in commercial and industrial buildings, the division will shape the future of building design, operation, and maintenance.

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Schneider Electric, the global leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, is transforming its Digital Buildings business in Canada with the launch of the SMART Buildings Division. This evolution marks a strategic move to deliver comprehensive solutions and services that support building owners and operators in achieving their decarbonization and sustainability goals.

The demand for smart buildings is surging, driven by a global shift toward sustainability, digitization, and energy efficiency. Canada’s real estate industry is actively transforming as the nation commits to net-zero emissions by 2050. With buildings consuming approximately 30 per cent of the world’s energy and accounting for almost 40 per cent of annual CO2 emissions, urgent action is needed to intensify efforts toward sustainable building practices.

“Through our SMART Buildings division in Canada, we’re set to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and occupant comfort,” says Emily Heitman, President of Schneider Electric Canada. “Our goal is to empower building owners and operators to create smarter, more efficient spaces for a sustainable future.”

The SMART Buildings division will provide:

• Enhanced Energy Efficiency: Optimizing energy consumption intelligently to achieve significant cost savings and reduce environmental impact.
• Seamless Automation: Creating harmonious environments where lighting, HVAC, security systems, and more work together to optimize comfort and efficiency.
• Proactive Maintenance: Leveraging predictive analytics and remote monitoring to ensure proactive maintenance, minimize downtime, and extend the lifespan of building systems.
• Occupant Well-being: Prioritizing occupant comfort with personalized settings, indoor air quality monitoring, and intuitive interfaces that enhance overall experience.
• Data-Driven Insights: Providing valuable data analytics for informed decision-making and continuous improvement of building performance.

Schneider Electric’s SMART Buildings Division is committed to shaping the future of intelligent buildings. By implementing smart building technology, commercial real estate owners can optimize energy use, elevate tenant experience, and enhance asset value. The division offers comprehensive tools, guidance, and expertise to improve building efficiency and achieve sustainability objectives.

For more information, visit here.

About Schneider Electric

Schneider’s purpose is to create Impact by empowering all to make the most of our energy and resources, bridging progress and sustainability for all. At Schneider, we call this Life Is On.

Our mission is to be the trusted partner in Sustainability and Efficiency.

We are a global industrial technology leader bringing world-leading expertise in electrification, automation and digitization to smart industries, resilient infrastructure, future-proof data centers, intelligent buildings, and intuitive homes. Anchored by our deep domain expertise, we provide integrated end-to-end lifecycle AI enabled Industrial IoT solutions with connected products, automation, software and services, delivering digital twins to enable profitable growth for our customers.

We are a people company with an ecosystem of 150,000 colleagues and more than a million partners operating in over 100 countries to ensure proximity to our customers and stakeholders. We embrace diversity and inclusion in everything we do, guided by our meaningful purpose of a sustainable future for all.

www.se.com/ca

Discover Life Is On Follow us on: Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram | Blog

Discover the newest perspectives shaping sustainability, electricity 4.0, and next generation automation on Schneider Electric Insights

Hashtags: #LifeIsOn #Sustainability #SchneiderElectric #LocalGlobal #NetZero

Contacts

Media Relations – Edelman on behalf of Schneider Electric, Juan Pablo Guerrero

Phone: +1 416 875 7173, Email: juan.guerrero@edelman.com

NASHVILLE, Tenn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–LP Building Solutions (LP), a leading manufacturer of high-performance building products, has been recognized on USA Today’s America’s Climate Leaders list for 2024.

“At LP, environmental responsibility is a fundamental aspect of our operations,” said LP Chair and CEO Brad Southern. “We strive to manage our environmental impact across all stages of the product lifecycle, from sourcing and manufacturing to installation and final use. Our dedication to efficiency and sustainability is reflected in our carbon-negative products, which not only benefit the environment but also contribute to a lower-carbon economy. Being named one of America’s Climate Leaders underscores our commitment to ‘Do the Right Thing Always’ and our mission to provide sustainable solutions for resilient homes.”

USA Today collaborated with Statista, a leading market research firm, to compile the second annual America’s Climate Leaders list. The assessment focused on companies that demonstrated significant reductions in emissions intensity relative to revenue between 2020 and 2022. Only emissions reported using the widely accepted Greenhouse Gas Protocols (Scopes 1 and 2) were considered for evaluation.

LP consistently assesses its operations to pinpoint opportunities for emission reduction and efficiency enhancement, recognizing the significance of even minor adjustments. The company’s use of residual biomass, a renewable energy source, for energy production highlights its sustainability commitment. In 2022, biomass accounted for approximately 80% of total energy consumption, significantly offsetting the use of fossil fuels.

For more information on LP’s sustainability initiatives, see the company’s latest Sustainability Report.

To access the complete list of America’s Climate Leaders 2024, visit USA Today.

About LP Building Solutions

As a leader in high-performance building solutions, Louisiana-Pacific Corporation (LP Building Solutions, NYSE: LPX) manufactures engineered wood products that meet the demands of builders, remodelers and homeowners worldwide. LP’s extensive portfolio of innovative and dependable products includes Siding Solutions (LP® SmartSide® Trim & Siding, LP® SmartSide® ExpertFinish® Trim & Siding, LP BuilderSeries® Lap Siding and LP® Outdoor Building Solutions™), LP® Structural Solutions (LP® TechShield® Radiant Barrier, LP WeatherLogic® Air & Water Barrier, LP Legacy® Premium Sub-Flooring, LP® FlameBlock® Fire-Rated Sheathing, LP NovaCore® Thermal Insulated Sheathing and LP® TopNotch® 350 Durable Sub-Flooring) and oriented strand board (OSB). In addition to product solutions, LP provides industry-leading customer service and warranties. Since its founding in 1972, LP has been Building a Better World™ by helping customers construct beautiful, durable homes while shareholders build lasting value. Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, LP operates 22 plants across the U.S., Canada, Chile and Brazil. For more information, visit LPCorp.com.

Contacts

Media Contact
615-986-5886

Media.Relations@lpcorp.com

HOUSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Westlake Royal Building Products^™ (“Westlake Royal”), a Westlake company (NYSE:WLK), has announced the introduction of four new, on-trend colors to the Mid-America^® shutters line.

Complementing current trends in siding colors, the four new, on trend colors—Treated Cedar, Platinum, French Roast and Storm Cloud—enhance the Mid-America shutters line, including open louver, raised panel, board & batten and louver/panel combo shutters.

“Shutters give homes a distinctive appearance, elevating their curb appeal and charm through accurate architectural designs and vibrant colors. Beyond simply complementing windows, they contribute an additional layer of beauty and vibrancy to a home’s overall aesthetic,” said Steve Booz, vice president, marketing, Westlake Royal Building Products. “We’re proud to expand Mid-America’s comprehensive selection of shutters through the addition of four new colors that cater to the rising demand for darker accessories.”

Mid-America offers a diverse range of colors, sizes, and styles, making it effortless to find the perfect accents to complement any home. These shutters are not only visually appealing but also easy to install as they are equipped with hardware suitable for any siding system or home exterior, including vinyl, poly-ash, fiber cement, wood, brick, stucco and stone. Additionally, all Mid-America exterior shutters feature SolidThru™ Colors, ensuring enduring vibrancy and guaranteeing that even in the event of scratches or impacts, the chosen color remains unchanged.

For more information about Mid-America, visit https://midamericacomponents.com. For Mid-America warranty details, please see here. The warranty found there is the sole warranty applicable to Mid-America products.

About Westlake Royal Building Products

Westlake Royal Building Products USA Inc., a Westlake company (NYSE:WLK), is a leader throughout North America in the innovation, design, and production of a broad and diverse range of exterior and interior building products, including Siding and Accessories, Trim and Mouldings, Roofing, Stone, Windows and Outdoor Living. Westlake Royal Building Products manufactures high quality, low maintenance products to meet the specifications and needs of building professionals, homeowners, architects, engineers and distributors, while providing stunning curb appeal with an unmatched array of colors, styles, and accessories.

For more information, please visit WestlakeRoyalBuildingProducts.com. Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram and “Like” us on Facebook.

Contacts

Kriss Swint

Westlake Royal Building Products

1-614-754-3455

Kswint@Westlake.com

The new exhibit opens June 23 and celebrates the rich heritage of Hastings Street

VANCOUVER, British Columbia–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Chinatown Storytelling Centre, an initiative by the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation, is opening a new exhibit titled Neighbours: From Pender to Hastings. The exhibit coincides with the opening of the Foundation’s innovative community housing development Bob & Michael’s Place (formerly known as 58 West Hastings), and celebrates the rich heritage of Hastings Street and its close ties to Chinatown. The exhibit will be held in the lobby of the Chinatown Storytelling Centre from June 23, 2024 to March 2025.

Neighbours: From Pender to Hastings features inspiring stories and rare archival photographs showcasing the unique intercultural relationships and resilient community spirit that once thrived between Pender and Hastings Streets. Iconic businesses such as Woodwards, Army & Navy, M. Furuya Company, Odeon Hastings Theatre, and Wosk’s will be highlighted, along with their role in welcoming their “Chinese friends.”

“The exhibit is a celebration of the launch of Bob & Michael’s Place. We wanted an exhibit that situated this project within the rich history of the neighbourhood, with a particular focus on the community’s resilient spirit and diversity,” said Carol Lee, Chair of the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation. “The goal of the exhibit is to shine a light on the important cultural legacy of Hastings Street and to envision its bright future, especially with the opening of Bob & Michael’s Place as a transformative moment for the neighbourhood.”

Visitors will get an exclusive look at Bob & Michael’s Place, which provides 231 new affordable housing units and brings together multiple levels of government support, including BC Housing, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and the City of Vancouver. It will also house the Lily Lee Community Health Centre, a 50,000-square-foot integrated health centre operated by Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) that will provide critical resources and accessible health care to support the unique needs of Chinatown and DTES residents.

The exhibit will also feature celebrated Vancouver artist Stan Douglas’ Every Building on 100 West Hastings. Douglas photographed each building on the 100 block of West Hastings Street and composited the individual prints to merge the perspectives into one monumental panorama. The piece retains the memory of the vibrant and diverse neighbourhood surrounding Bob & Michael’s Place, informing the artist’s decision to donate this work to the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation’s 58WH Art Project to support the groundbreaking housing project.

Neighbours: From Pender to Hastings is lovingly supported by Lily Lee and Yoshi Karasawa, the wives of Bob & Michael.

For more information on Neighbours: From Pender to Hastings, visit www.chinatownstorytellingcentre.org

About Vancouver Chinatown Foundation:

The Vancouver Chinatown Foundation is a registered charity dedicated to the revitalization of Chinatown, one of Canada’s most iconic neighbourhoods. The Foundation aims to build resilient and inclusive communities by promoting the well-being of those in need while preserving Chinatown’s irreplaceable cultural heritage. Learn more at chinatownfoundation.org.

About the Chinatown Storytelling Centre:

The Chinatown Storytelling Centre, a project of the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation, celebrates the power of stories in building community and understanding. Through storytelling, the Centre honours the sacrifices made by previous generations and encourages intergenerational dialogue to inspire resolve in current and future challenges.

Call for Exhibit Sponsorship:

The Chinatown Storytelling Centre is seeking a presenting sponsor for this unique exhibition. For a contribution of $35,000, the sponsor will receive name/logo recognition on the exhibit wall and all marketing materials, as well as a few minutes to provide remarks at the opening event.

Media Assets

Folder here.

Contacts

Media
Emily Larman

Talk Shop Media

emily.larman@talkshopmedia.com

Survey Also Finds Increasing Adoption of Generative AI Among Real Estate Agents

TORONTO & NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Real Brokerage Inc. (NASDAQ: REAX, “Real”), the fastest-growing, publicly traded real estate brokerage, today released results from its May 2024 Agent Survey. The survey indicates agents’ continued optimism despite a predicted decline in North American home sale transactions during the month of May.

“While affordability challenges persist, it is promising to see our Agent Optimism Index remain in positive territory, reflecting agents’ confidence in the future,” said Tamir Poleg, Chairman and CEO of Real. “Real is committed to equipping our agents with advanced technology, comprehensive resources and a collaborative culture to thrive in any market condition.”

“As one of the first real estate technology companies to deploy a proprietary artificial intelligence (AI) layer for agents, we are excited that over 80% of agents are actively using AI to power their businesses or planning to learn,” remarked Sharran Srivatsaa, President of Real. “We will continue to lead the industry with cutting-edge technology solutions to make our agents’ lives easier and to deliver differentiated value to their clients.”

Key Findings:

• Agent Optimism Index Declines but Remains Positive: At the end of May 2024, agents were asked, “Compared to one month ago, are you more optimistic or pessimistic about the outlook for your primary market over the next 12 months?” Among the respondents, 39% felt more optimistic and an additional 9% felt significantly more optimistic, outweighing the 16% who felt more pessimistic and 3% who felt significantly more so.

  The average response resulted in a weighted index reading of 59.0 on a 0-100 scale, with scores above 50 reflecting a positive outlook. This compares to 63.6 in April, indicating a month-over-month decline in optimism. The decline was more pronounced in the U.S. (down 4.9 points to 57.9) than in Canada (down 2.5 points to 68.9).
  

• Sellers Losing Negotiating Power as More Agents View Market Dynamics in Balance: When asked “Would you consider your primary market to be a buyer’s market, seller’s market or balanced market?”, approximately half (49%) of agents noted sellers have the upper hand, a 12 point month-over-month decline from the April survey. One third (33%) of agents viewed their markets as balanced, with neither buyers nor sellers having an advantage, up from 23% of agents in April. Approximately 18% of agents believed buyers hold the upper hand in their markets, up from 16% in April.

• Total North American Home Sale Industry Transactions Expected to Decline Year-over-Year in May: Agents were asked, “In your primary market, how would you describe the number of transactions closed in May 2024 compared to May 2023?” The average response resulted in a weighted index reading of 45.7 on a 0-100 scale, suggesting an aggregate decline in industry transactions across the U.S. and Canada in May 2024 compared to May 2023. The U.S. home sales market saw a decrease, offset by an increase in Canada. May’s index reading of 45.7 compares to April’s 49.9 level, and marked the lowest monthly index reading so far in 2024.
  • U.S. Agents Notice a Pullback in Transactions During May: Agents observed a decline in the total number of U.S. home sale transactions in May 2024 compared to May 2023, as May’s U.S. index reading of 44.8 declined from 50.2 in April.

  • Canada Activity Rebounded in May: Agents in Canada signaled modest year-over-year growth in their respective regions, with the overall Canadian weighted index rebounding to 54.4 in May from 46.4 in April.
    

• Affordability Challenges More Impactful than Inventory Constraints: The majority of agents surveyed (59%) cited affordability/mortgage rates as the biggest challenge for prospective home buyers, followed by a lack of inventory (25%), economic uncertainty (8%) and buyer competition (6%). Notably, May marked the lowest month for “Inventory” as a percent of responses so far this year, and the highest month for “Affordability”.

• Majority of Agents Expect Home Prices to Continue to Rise Over the Next 12 Months: Over half (58%) of agents expect home prices to rise over the next 12 months, compared to 28% who expect home prices to remain stable, and 14% who expect home prices to decline.
  

• Half of Agents Using Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) With Advertising the Most Common Use Case: Approximately 50% of agents reported using generative AI in their daily business activities, compared to 18% who do not use AI, and 31% who do not utilize AI but would like to learn. Among those who currently use generative AI tools, the most common use case is writing text copy for listings and advertisements (86%), followed by the creation of marketing assets (70%), technical support (34%), responding to client inquiries (31%), managing client relationships via customer relationship management systems (30%), and analyzing real estate market trends (22%). Notably, only 9% of agents currently use AI to aid in pricing strategies and predictive analytics, suggesting an opportunity to develop more AI-powered real estate pricing tools.

An infographic including key survey takeaways can be found on Real’s investor relations website or by following the link here.

About the Survey

The Real Brokerage May 2024 Agent Survey included responses from over 400 real estate agents across the United States and Canada and was launched in the last week of May 2024. Responses to questions regarding transaction growth and agent optimism were calibrated on a 0-100 point index scale, with readings above 50 indicating an improving trend, whereas readings below 50 indicate a declining trend. Responses are meant to capture industry-level information and are not meant to serve as an indication of Real’s company-specific growth trends. Additionally, given the smaller sample size, there can be greater variability in Canada index results on a month-to-month basis.

About Real

Real (NASDAQ: REAX) is a real estate experience company working to make life’s most complex transaction simple. The fast-growing company combines essential real estate, mortgage and closing services with powerful technology to deliver a single seamless end-to-end consumer experience, guided by trusted agents. With a presence in all 50 states throughout the U.S. and Canada, Real supports over 19,000 agents who use its digital brokerage platform and tight-knit professional community to power their own forward-thinking businesses.

Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as “seek”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “plan”, “estimate”, “expect”, “likely” and “intend” and statements that an event or result “may”, “will”, “should”, “could” or “might” occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. These statements reflect management’s current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management as of the date hereof. Forward-looking information in this press release includes, without limiting the foregoing, expectations regarding the residential real estate market in the U.S. and Canada, as well as expectations regarding the use and deployment of artificial intelligence technology products.

Forward-looking information is based on assumptions that may prove to be incorrect, including but not limited to Real’s business objectives, expected growth, results of operations, performance, business projects and opportunities and financial results. Real considers these assumptions to be reasonable in the circumstances. However, forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Important factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to, slowdowns in real estate markets and economic and industry downturns. These factors should be carefully considered and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, Real cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and Real assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.

Contacts

Investor inquiries, please contact:

Ravi Jani

Vice President, Investor Relations and Financial Planning & Analysis

investors@therealbrokerage.com
908.280.2515

For media inquiries, please contact:

Elisabeth Warrick

Senior Director, Marketing, Communications & Brand

press@therealbrokerage.com
201.564.4221

DALLAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–AECOM (NYSE:ACM), the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, today announced it will serve as Lead Designer for the Washington State Department of Transportation’s (WSDOT) SR 520 Portage Bay Bridge and Roanoke Lid Project, as part of a design-build team led by Skanska. The project calls for replacing the existing Portage Bay Bridge and creating a landscaped lidded segment in Seattle’s North Capitol Hill neighborhood. Once complete, commuters across Lake Washington and through the SR 520 corridor will have access to new ramps, seismically resilient structures and improved connections to transit, local streets, and local and regional shared-use trails.

“We are excited to continue building on our decades-long relationship with the WSDOT, supporting the critical infrastructure needs of one of the Puget Sound region’s busiest highway corridors,” said Matt Crane, chief executive of AECOM’s U.S. West region. “Our industry-leading experience spans every type of highway and bridge project, including several of the world’s largest design-build projects. AECOM is committed to support the program’s goal of creating safer travel and improving mobility, aligning with our core mission of delivering a better world.”

In this role, AECOM will oversee the technical design of two new parallel bridges – one for eastbound traffic and the other for westbound – that replace the 1960s-era Portage Bay Bridge with a seismically stronger structure. The project also will build a landscaped lid over SR 520 between 10th Avenue East and Delmar Drive East and improve regional mobility by completing the SR 520 Program’s transit & HOV enhancements between Redmond and Seattle.

“This vital project will not only improve mobility along one of Washington State’s most congested routes but support new, vibrant public spaces thanks to its innovative lid design,” said Mark Southwell, chief executive of AECOM’s global Transportation business. “Our team will leverage their integrated expertise across the built environment to meet the project’s holistic objectives, supporting both improved mobility and a connected, livable local community.”

The eastbound bridge will extend the regional bicycle and pedestrian SR 520 Trail across Portage Bay, connecting to the city of Seattle’s non-motorized trail network. Construction of the landscaped lid over the highway will create nearly three-acres of recreational open space and reconnect communities that were severed by the original construction of SR 520.

About AECOM

AECOM (NYSE: ACM) is the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. On projects spanning transportation, buildings, water, new energy, and the environment, our public- and private-sector clients trust us to solve their most complex challenges. Our teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world through our unrivaled technical and digital expertise, a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion, and a commitment to environmental, social and governance priorities. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm and its Professional Services business had revenue of $14.4 billion in fiscal year 2023. See how we are delivering sustainable legacies for generations to come at aecom.com and @AECOM.

Forward-Looking Statements

All statements in this communication other than statements of historical fact are “forward-looking statements” for purposes of federal and state securities laws, including any statements of the plans, strategies and objectives for future operations, profitability, strategic value creation, risk profile and investment strategies, and any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance, and the expected financial and operational results of AECOM. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results could differ materially from those projected or assumed in any of our forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results, performance and achievements, or industry results to differ materially from estimates or projections contained in our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following: our business is cyclical and vulnerable to economic downturns and client spending reductions; potential government shutdowns or other funding circumstances that may cause governmental agencies to modify, curtail or terminate our contracts; losses under fixed-price contracts; limited control over operations that run through our joint venture entities; liability for misconduct by our employees or consultants; failure to comply with laws or regulations applicable to our business; maintaining adequate surety and financial capacity; potential high leverage and inability to service our debt and guarantees; ability to continue payment of dividends; exposure to political and economic risks in different countries, including tariffs, geopolitical events, and conflicts; currency exchange rate and interest fluctuations; retaining and recruiting key technical and management personnel; legal claims; inadequate insurance coverage; environmental law compliance and adequate nuclear indemnification; unexpected adjustments and cancellations related to our backlog; partners and third parties who may fail to satisfy their legal obligations; managing pension costs; AECOM Capital real estate development projects; cybersecurity issues, IT outages and data privacy; risks associated with the benefits and costs of the sale of our Management Services and self-perform at-risk civil infrastructure, power construction and oil and gas businesses, including the risk that any purchase adjustments from those transactions could be unfavorable and result in any future proceeds owed to us as part of the transactions could be lower than we expect; as well as other additional risks and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements set forth in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof. We do not intend, and undertake no obligation, to update any forward-looking statement.

Contacts

Media Contact:

Brendan Ranson-Walsh

Senior Vice President, Global Communications

1.213.996.2367

Brendan.Ranson-Walsh@aecom.com

Investor Contact:

Will Gabrielski

Senior Vice President, Finance, Treasurer

1.213.593.8208

William.Gabrielski@aecom.com