STACKT, a proudly Canadian company redefining the boundaries of innovation, stands as this year’s sole Canadian honouree in Fast Company’s Economic Development Category.

TORONTO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–STACKT is proud to have been named to Fast Company’s prestigious list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies of 2025. This year’s list shines a spotlight on businesses that are shaping industry and culture through their innovations to set new standards and achieve remarkable milestones in all sectors of the economy. Alongside the World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies, Fast Company recognizes 609 organizations across 58 sectors and regions.

STACKT has secured an impressive #4 ranking in Fast Company’s Economic Development category, the only Canadian company to land on this year’s list, a recognition of its groundbreaking role in creative placemaking. This transformative moment marks a pivotal milestone as STACKT starts the expansion beyond its Toronto flagship, launching STACKTˣ across Canada, a small business accelerator platform that’s reshaping the future of commerce and empowering Canadian small businesses.

STACKTˣ empowers entrepreneurs by tackling key challenges like access to retail space and professional networks. Through monthly storefront grants, exclusive networking events, partner perks, and educational resources, the platform equips businesses with the tools they need to thrive. With over 11,000 entrepreneurs on the horizon, STACKTˣ is fueling innovation that strengthens the Canadian economy. Since its inception, the platform has awarded 30 small business grants, helping diverse businesses take their first step into physical retail and amplifying its impact across Canada.

“We’re thrilled to be recognized on Fast Company’s list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies of 2025 as a testament to our pursuit of innovating urban spaces and amplifying local voices,” said Matt Rubinoff, founder and president of STACKT. “This recognition comes after exciting growth for STACKT, highlighted by the launch of our Canadian expansion with STACKTˣ and the addition of new events, businesses, and partnerships at our Toronto flagship. STACKT isn’t just about making use of empty city spaces, it’s creating spaces that amplify commerce and the community for the greater good.”

Beyond the launch of STACKTˣ, STACKT market continues to strengthen its ecosystem with purpose, hosting over 300 events in 2024 and welcoming over 1,000 businesses to its flagship location in the heart of downtown Toronto. The company also secured a 10-year lease with the City of Toronto last year, solidifying its role in supporting Canadian businesses and celebrating diverse cultures. Through these initiatives, STACKT demonstrates its ongoing dedication to community engagement, inclusivity, and local business development.

The World’s Most Innovative Companies stands as one of Fast Company’s most anticipated editorial efforts of the year. To determine honourees, Fast Company’s editors and writers review companies driving progress around the world and across industries, evaluating thousands of submissions through a competitive application process. The result is a globe-spanning guide to innovation today, from early-stage startups to some of the most valuable companies in the world.

The full list of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies honourees can now be found at fastcompany.com. It will also be available on newsstands beginning March 25.

ABOUT STACKT

STACKT creates innovative ecosystems that drive a new way of thinking. From large-scale public spaces to satellite pop-ups, STACKT designs concepts that provide inspiration, opportunity and connection. The community is made up of innovators, entrepreneurs, creators, collaborators, and consumers alike. STACKT’s award-winning Toronto flagship, STACKT market, animates over 100,000 square feet with art, retail, events and public space. The dynamic space shifts alongside the brands and experiences within it. More than a market, STACKT is a SPACE FOR US. For more information, visit www.stacktmarket.com.

ABOUT FAST COMPANY

Fast Company is the only media brand fully dedicated to the vital intersection of business, innovation, and design, engaging the most influential leaders, companies, and thinkers on the future of business. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with fellow business publication Inc. For more information, please visit fastcompany.com.

Contacts

Media Contact (Canada):

Samantha Berdini

Senior Account Manager, Category Communications

samantha@categorycomms.com
647-238-5256

 Nominations open for 2025 North American Female Roofing Professional of the Year

HERNDON, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–$becn #Ambition2025—Beacon (Nasdaq: BECN), the leading publicly-traded specialty wholesale distributor of roofing, waterproofing and related exterior products, announced today the launch of its fifth annual North American Female Roofing Professional of the Year campaign. This campaign celebrates women across the U.S. and Canada who are raising the bar in the roofing industry—whether on the job site, in the office, or out in the community.

Beacon invites the public to nominate outstanding female roofing professionals who demonstrate excellence, a commitment to putting people first, making safety a priority, doing the right thing, and building for her customers, her coworkers, and her community. Whether they work in operations, accounting, sales, ownership, estimating, or other key roles, every woman making an impact in the industry deserves recognition. Nominations can be submitted through April 18^th by visiting the campaign website. In May, five finalists will be announced, and the public will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite finalist. The winner and runners-up will be announced in June, with all five honorees receiving funding for professional growth, such as attending the International Roofing Expo.

“Women in roofing are making their mark on the roofing industry in incredible ways as trailblazers, problem-solvers, and leaders, and we’re proud to celebrate their contributions,” said Elizabeth Fenbert, Beacon’s Vice President of Sales. “This program goes beyond individual recognition to elevate the women in our industry who are driving innovation and inspiring future generations.”

Last year’s winner, Brooke Laizure, Owner of Whirlwind Roofing & Construction (Whirlwind) in Bixby, Oklahoma, was recognized as the 2024 North American Female Roofing Professional of the Year for her exceptional work ethic and commitment to empowering other women.

“It has been an incredible honor to be recognized among so many hardworking and talented women in the roofing industry,” said Laizure. “Roofing has allowed me to support my community and work alongside incredible women who are making a difference every day. I’m grateful to Beacon for recognizing the impact of women in our industry and supporting their continued growth and success.”

Through April 18^th, 2025, the public can nominate a female roofing professional by visiting the campaign website or emailing FemaleRoofingContest@becn.com. Nominations should include the nominee’s name, role, accomplishments, and a brief biography, along with a photo.

To learn more about the campaign and read the official rules, visit go.becn.com/femaleroofpro/rules.

About Beacon

Founded in 1928, Beacon is a publicly-traded Fortune 500 company that distributes specialty building products, including roofing materials and complementary products, such as waterproofing. The company operates over 580 branches throughout all 50 states in the U.S. and 7 provinces in Canada. Beacon serves an extensive base of approximately 110,000 customers, utilizing its vast branch network and service capabilities to provide high-quality products and support throughout the entire project lifecycle. Beacon offers its own private label brand, TRI-BUILT^®, and has a proprietary digital account management suite, Beacon PRO+^®, which allows customers to manage their businesses online. Beacon’s stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol BECN. To learn more about Beacon, please visit www.beacon-canada.com.

Contacts

INVESTOR CONTACT
Binit Sanghvi

VP, Capital Markets and Treasurer

Binit.Sanghvi@becn.com
972-369-8005

MEDIA CONTACT
Jennifer Lewis

VP, Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility

Jennifer.Lewis@becn.com
571-752-1048

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 March 2025 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 April 15, 2025, to unitholders of record as of the close of business on March 31, 2025.

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. $2.4 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 are expected to 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 investor and manager focused on essential real estate and infrastructure assets. We focus on fundamentals with the objective of creating long-term value for our investors and partners across the real assets space. 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, and follow Slate Asset Management on LinkedIn, X (Twitter), and Instagram.

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

MIAMI–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Trivest Partners LP (“Trivest” or “Firm”), a leading private equity firm focused on investing in founder and family-owned businesses, today announced that Trivest Discovery Fund I has completed the sale of its portfolio company HighGround Restoration Group, Inc. (“HighGround” or “Company”) to Knox Lane. Terms of the sale were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Dallas, TX, HighGround is a leading national platform offering water damage mitigation and restoration services to homeowners. HighGround works hand in hand with homeowners in response to water damage events, with a relentless focus on customer service, responsiveness, and superior results, helping to return homes to their original state with speed and quality. The company was initially formed in February of 2020 with the acquisition of Dry Force, a Texas-based water loss mitigation and restoration leader. In 2022, the company launched the HighGround brand to represent the platform with national scale and resources to serve and support local brand execution. Since the initial investment in Dry Force, HighGround has completed 13 add-on acquisitions, increased its revenue by over 12x, and grown its employee base from 68 to nearly 700. The Company currently operates in thirteen states across the country.

“HighGround was an exciting investment for Trivest from day one. Over our five-year investment period, we had the opportunity to bring 14 terrific family-owned businesses into the HighGround/Trivest family. Each acquired company was a leader in its geographic market, and, by bringing these businesses together, we have built a unique platform in the water damage mitigation and restoration space. Ben Balsley and the entire HighGround team have worked tirelessly to successfully integrate these brands and create an exceptional business,” said Trivest Managing Partner Forest Wester, who led the HighGround investment.

The sale of HighGround represents a signature transaction for Trivest and is a testament to the Firm’s commitment to helping founder-led and family-owned businesses transition and grow. HighGround was the first platform investment in Trivest Discovery Fund I and represents the first Discovery Fund sale as well. Throughout its ownership period, Trivest leveraged numerous elements of its long-term value creation strategy, the “Path to 3x.” Trivest created a true Category of One by helping rebrand the entity as HighGround Restoration Group, driving its customer service-centric value proposition throughout the organization using the unified theme of “We Turn Chaos Into Calm.” Trivest also worked diligently to Topgrade the rapidly growing organization, filling out a best-in-class management team lead by Ben Balsley as CEO. The exemplary performance of this team was key to successfully integrating the numerous acquisitions, growing the Company’s profitability and ultimately the outstanding exit outcome achieved by Trivest.

“The growth we’ve experienced over the past five years has been nothing short of amazing and has culminated in this exciting new partnership with Knox Lane. We would like to thank the entire team from Trivest. From their original investment in Dry Force through the exit process, Trivest showed an incredible commitment to investing in our company and our people to help HighGround maximize its potential,” said HighGround CEO Ben Balsley.

Harris Williams served as exclusive financial advisor and Akerman LLP served as legal advisor to both HighGround and Trivest.

ABOUT HIGHGROUND

HighGround is a leading residential restoration services platform combining national scale with local brand execution. HighGround helps customers who have suffered water or fire damage by providing drying and clean up services coupled with restoration and repair contracting. With a proven track record of growth and focus on people, HighGround was built by partnering with like-minded companies that share a track record of doing the right thing for customers, employees, and partners. To learn more, visit www.highgroundnow.com

ABOUT TRIVEST

Trivest Partners is a leading private equity firm with more than $6 billion of capital under management across four unique investment funds that focus exclusively on the support and growth of founder-led and family-owned businesses with both control and non-control transactions across the United States and Canada. Headquartered in Miami, with a presence in Charlotte, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and Toronto, the Firm has more than 50 portfolio companies as of January 2025. To learn more, visit www.trivest.com

Contacts

Forest Wester

305-858-2200