TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Postmedia Network Canada Corp. (“Postmedia” or the “Company”) today released financial information for the three and six months ended February 28, 2021.

“Our second quarter represents continued progress on our strategy with measured optimism for the future,” said Andrew MacLeod, President and Chief Executive Officer, Postmedia. “Across our organization, our teams are working together to accelerate our transformation, grow our audiences and architect new digital models to monetize. The reduction of debt and leverage remains a core focus and management expects to further reduce first lien debt by an additional $17 million through mandatory payments by the end of May. This would result in a decline of over 70% of our first lien debt from $225 million to $67 million since our 2016 recapitalization. It is our collective hope that an end to the global pandemic is closer than further and it is Postmedia’s commitment to continue delivering thought-provoking journalism that Canadians rely upon and strong platform solutions for businesses.”

Updates from the Quarter

• Constraining Costs – In the quarter we realized a 19.7% reduction in operating costs¹, which includes the impact of initiatives implemented in the quarter that are expected to result in approximately $5 million of net annualized cost savings.
• Preserving Liquidity – Cash management, including the impact of cost savings and government assistance, has resulted in an unrestricted cash balance of $52.8 million as at February 28, 2021.
• Maximizing Revenue – Second quarter revenue was down 21.0% from the same period in the prior year with revenue trends showing modest improvement each quarter since the start of the pandemic.

Second Quarter Operating Results

Revenue for the quarter was $106.0 million as compared to $134.2 million in the same period in the prior year, representing a decrease of $28.2 million or 21.0%. The revenue decline was primarily due to decreases in print advertising revenue of $14.7 million or 29.3% and digital revenue of $6.2 million or 20.9%. Print circulation revenue decreased by $5.6 million or 11.6%.

Total operating expenses excluding depreciation, amortization, impairment and restructuring decreased $31.0 million or 24.1% for the quarter, relative to the same period in the prior year. The decrease was a result of lower compensation expense and newspaper circulation volumes as well as the implementation of various cost reduction initiatives. Included in the operating expense decrease is the impact of a compensation expense recovery of $5.7 million related to CEWS, partially offset by a decrease in compensation recovery related to journalism tax credits of $0.3 million.

Operating income before depreciation, amortization, impairment and restructuring of $8.3 million in the quarter represents an increase of $2.9 million relative to the same period in the prior year. The increase is due to a decrease in operating expenses excluding depreciation, amortization, impairment and restructuring partially offset by decreases in total revenue Included in the operating expense decreases is the impact of the compensation expense recoveries related to CEWS and journalism tax credits.

Net earnings in the quarter ended February 28, 2021 were $0.7 million, as compared to a net loss of $12.8 million in the same period in the prior year. The change was primarily the result of gains on derivative financial instruments and foreign exchange in the three months ended February 28, 2021, the increase in operating income before depreciation, amortization, impairment and restructuring as well as decreases in depreciation and amortization expenses partially offset by impairment expense of $7.0 million in the three months ended February 28, 2021, and an increase in interest and restructuring expenses.

Year-to-Date Operating Results

Revenue for the six months ended February 28, 2021 was $222.9 million as compared to $290.8 million in the same period in the prior year, a decrease of $67.9 million or 23.3%. The revenue decline was primarily due to decreases in print advertising revenue of $35.3 million or 30.9% and decreases in digital revenue of 16.9 million or 25.9%. Print circulation revenue declined $11.9 million or 12.0%.

Total operating expenses excluding depreciation, amortization, impairment, settlement gains and restructuring decreased $66.5 million or 25.2% for the six months ended February 28, 2021, relative to the same period in the prior year. The decrease was a result of lower compensation expense and newspaper circulation volumes as well as the implementation of various cost reduction initiatives. Included in the operating expense decrease is the impact of a compensation expense recovery of $12.3 million related to CEWS, partially offset by a decrease in compensation recovery related to journalism tax credits of $1.2 million.

Operating income before depreciation, amortization, impairment and restructuring of $25.5 million in the quarter represents a decrease of $1.3 million or 5.0% relative to the same period in the prior year. The decrease is due to the decrease in total revenue partially offset by decreases in operating expenses. Included in the operating expense decreases is the impact of the compensation expense recoveries related to CEWS and journalism tax credits.

Net earnings in the six months ended February 28, 2021 were $53.5 million, as compared to a net loss of $15.8 million in the same period in the prior year. The change was primarily the result of a non-cash settlement gain related to employee benefit plans of $63.1 million, gains on derivative financial instruments and foreign exchange in the six months ended February 28, 2021, decreases in depreciation, amortization and restructuring expenses partially offset by impairment expense of $20.5 million in the six months ended February 28, 2021, the decrease in operating income depreciation, amortization, impairment, settlement gains and restructuring and an increase in interest expense.

COVID-19 Update

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in governments worldwide enacting emergency measures to combat the spread of the virus including travel bans, self-imposed quarantine periods and social distancing that have caused disruption to businesses resulting in an economic slowdown. The Company is generally exempt from mandates requiring closures of non-essential businesses and therefore has been able to continue operations, however, advertising revenue declines have accelerated as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and related government measures. On April 11, 2020, the Government of Canada passed CEWS to support employers facing financial hardship as measured by certain revenue declines as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. CEWS currently provides a reimbursement of compensation expense to June 5, 2021, provided the applicant has met the applicable criteria. During the three and six months ended February 28, 2021, the Company recognized a recovery of compensation expense of $5.7 million and $13.3 million, respectively, and in total has recognized $52.4 million related to CEWS since the program was announced. As at February 28, 2021, the Company has a receivable related to CEWS in the amount of $4.0 million.

Debt Repayment

Subsequent to February 28, 2021, the Company gave notice to its first-lien noteholders of its intention to redeem $9.6 million of first-lien debt on April 30, 2021 with the proceeds of asset sales. In addition, as required pursuant to the semi-annual excess cash flow requirement contained in the first-lien notes indenture the excess cash flow for the six months ended February 28, 2021 was $7.3 million which is expected to be used to redeem a portion of first-lien debt by May 8, 2021. After these aggregate redemptions of approximately $17 million the Company will have approximately $67 million of first-lien debt outstanding of the original $225.0 million that was issued in October 2016.

Business Transformation Initiatives

During the three months ended February 28, 2021, the Company implemented initiatives related to compensation expense reductions, real estate rationalization, production efficiencies and other transformation programs, which are expected to result in approximately $5 million of net annualized cost savings.

The Company intends to continue to identify and undertake ongoing cost reduction initiatives in an effort to address revenue declination in the legacy print business.

Additional Information

Additional information, including financial statements and management’s discussion and analysis can be found on the Company’s website at www.postmedia.com/investors-governance/quarterly-filings or on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Note: All dollar amounts are expressed in Canadian dollars unless otherwise specified.

About Postmedia Network Canada Corp.

Postmedia Network Canada Corp. (TSX:PNC.A, PNC.B) is the holding company that owns Postmedia Network Inc., a Canadian newsmedia company representing more than 120 brands across multiple print, online, and mobile platforms. Award-winning journalists and innovative product development teams bring engaging content to millions of people every week whenever and wherever they want it. This exceptional content, reach and scope offers advertisers and marketers compelling solutions to effectively reach target audiences. For more information, visit www.postmedia.com.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release may include information that is “forward-looking information” under applicable Canadian securities laws. The Company has tried, where possible, to identify such information and statements by using words such as “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should” and similar expressions and derivations thereof in connection with any discussion of future events, trends or prospects or future operating or financial performance. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements with respect to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s business, the implementation and results of the Company’s transformation initiatives, continued benefits of historical results into future periods, the realization of anticipated cost savings, the receipt of anticipated government assistance and the identification and undertaking of ongoing cost savings initiatives. By their nature, forward-looking information and statements involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future. These risks and uncertainties include, among others: competition from digital and other forms of media; the effect of economic conditions on advertising revenue; the ability of the Company to build out its digital media and online businesses; the failure to maintain current print and online newspaper readership and circulation levels; the realization of anticipated cost savings; possible damage to the reputation of the Company’s brands or trademarks; possible labour disruptions; possible environmental liabilities, litigation and pension plan obligations; fluctuations in foreign exchange rates and the prices of newsprint and other commodities.

In addition, we are subject to the risk and uncertainties related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has resulted in governments worldwide enacting emergency measures to combat the spread of the virus including travel bans, self-imposed quarantine periods and social distancing that have caused disruption to businesses resulting in an economic slowdown. We are generally exempt from mandates requiring closures of non-essential businesses and therefore have been able to continue operations however, advertising revenues have declined as a result of COVID-19 pandemic and related government measures. The outbreak of contagious illness such as this can impact our operations in a number of ways including quarantined employees, travel restrictions, temporary closure of our facilities, a decrease in demand for advertising, as well as interruptions to our supply chain, including temporary closure of supplier facilities. Given the high level of uncertainty surrounding the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic it is difficult to reliably estimate its potential impact on the financial condition and results of our business. We are continuing to address the current challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic and monitoring these challenges as they evolve so as to minimize this risk however it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and cash flow. For a complete list of our risk factors please refer to the section entitled “Risk Factors” contained in our annual management’s discussion and analysis for the years ended August 31, 2020 and 2019. Although the Company bases such information and statements on assumptions believed to be reasonable when made, they are not guarantees of future performance and actual results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and developments in the industry in which the Company operates, may differ materially from any such information and statements in this press release. Given these risks and uncertainties, undue reliance should not be placed on any forward-looking information or forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of such information or statements. Other than as required by law, the Company does not undertake, and specifically declines, any obligation to update such information or statements or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any such information or statements.

Postmedia Network Canada Corp.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(UNAUDITED)

Postmedia Network Canada Corp.
Consolidated Statements of Financial Position
(UNAUDITED)

Postmedia Network Canada Corp.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(UNAUDITED)

¹ Operating expenses excluding depreciation, amortization and restructuring as adjusted for the impact of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (“CEWS”).

Media Contact
Phyllise Gelfand
Vice President, Communications
(647) 273-9287
pgelfand@postmedia.com

Investor Contact
Brian Bidulka
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(416) 383-2325
bbidulka@postmedia.com

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ironshore Pharmaceuticals Inc. (“Ironshore”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Highland Therapeutics Inc. and a leader in the commercialization of novel treatments for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (“ADHD”), today announced the publication of an original paper in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology (“JCAP”) that describes new data showing the effect of JORNAY PM® (methylphenidate HCl) extended-release capsules CII on caregiver strain as measured by the Caregiver Strain Questionnaire (“CGSQ”). The data are derived from a Phase 3 clinical trial in child and adolescent patients with ADHD. The journal article provides the first validation of the CGSQ to measure caregiver strain over a preceding three-week period. JORNAY PM was approved in August 2018 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of ADHD in patients 6 years and older.

The publication, titled Effect of Delayed-Release and Extended-Release Methylphenidate on Caregiver Strain and Validation of Psychometric Properties of the Caregiver Strain Questionnaire: Results from a Phase 3 Trial in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, is available online at https://home.liebertpub.com/publications/journal-of-child-and-adolescent-psychopharmacology/29 and can be accessed by clicking here.

Commenting on the publication, Dr. Bev Incledon, Chief Scientific Officer for Ironshore Pharmaceuticals & Development, Inc. added, “We are delighted to be sharing new clinical data for JORNAY PM with the medical community. Importantly, improvements were seen in CGSQ scores for caregivers of patients being treated with JORNAY PM relative to placebo, but also compared with scores at screening (58.4% of participants were treated with a prior stimulant medication, although it was unknown whether the doses of prior medications were optimized). We believe this reflects the extended duration of effect of JORNAY PM, which has been shown in clinical trials to provide symptom control in the early morning through to the evening, typically the times when family interactions occur.”

Dr. Randy Sallee, Ironshore’s Chief Medical Officer said, “A child’s ADHD, even when treated pharmacologically, has an impact on the entire family and it is caregivers that bear much of the burden associated with their child’s inability to complete routine tasks in the early morning and evenings. In the study, caregivers of children treated with three weeks of JORNAY PM versus placebo reported statistically significant reductions in CGSQ scores (p<0.001), indicating reduced strain. Discussion of caregiver strain related to ADHD can create an opportunity for providers to assess and optimize treatment outcomes that may affect the whole family.”

The clinical trial, HLD200-108, was a phase 3, three-week, randomized, double blind, multicenter, placebo-controlled, forced-dose titration trial of JORNAY PM in children aged 6–12 years with ADHD. Caregiver strain, as measured by the CGSQ was included as a secondary endpoint in the trial. A total of 161 patients were included in the intent-to-treat population.

Further, post hoc psychometric analyses showed CGSQ to be a reliable and valid measure of strain in caregivers of children with ADHD.

JORNAY PM is the first product to leverage the novel DELEXIS^® delayed-release and extended-release drug delivery technology. DELEXIS technology capitalizes upon the slow absorption rate of the colon, which has different absorption qualities relative to the stomach and upper intestine. The DELEXIS technology provides two functional film coatings: the first layer delays the initial release of drug for up to 10 hours while the second layer helps to control the rate of release of the active pharmaceutical ingredient from the time the patient awakens the next morning, throughout the day and into the evening.

JORNAY PM is the first and only stimulant medication that is dosed in the evening and has demonstrated improved ADHD symptom control in the early morning, throughout the day and during the evening time period in two pivotal Phase 3 trials.

About ADHD

ADHD is among the most common childhood psychiatric conditions with behavioral symptoms fluctuating throughout the day. It is usually first diagnosed in childhood and often lasts into adulthood. Children with ADHD may have trouble paying attention, controlling impulsive behaviors, or be overly active. Many home-based difficulties for children and adolescents with ADHD occur during the early morning routine (i.e., before the school day begins).

About JORNAY PM

Developed by Ironshore Pharmaceuticals & Development, Inc., JORNAY PM is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant prescription medicine used for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in people six years of age and older. JORNAY PM may help increase attention and decrease impulsiveness and hyperactivity in people six years of age and older with ADHD. It is not known if JORNAY PM is safe and effective in children under six years of age.

JORNAY PM is dosed once daily in the evening and should be initiated at 8:00 p.m. Timing of administration of JORNAY PM may be adjusted between 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. to optimize the tolerability and the efficacy the next morning and throughout the day. The recommended starting dose for patients 6 years and older is 20 mg once daily in the evening. Dosage may be titrated weekly in increments of 20 mg per day up to maximum daily dose of 100 mg. The mean optimized dose required to improve symptoms from the time the patient wakes up, throughout the day and into the evening in children 6-12 years old was 67 mg in Study 1 and 68.1 mg in Study 2. The relative bioavailability of JORNAY PM (given once a day) compared to the same daily dose of a methylphenidate immediate-release oral product (given 3 times a day) in adults is approximately 74%. JORNAY PM is primarily absorbed in the colon which may contribute to the reduced bioavailability of the drug. JORNAY PM is not interchangeable on a milligram-per-milligram basis with other methylphenidate formulations.

Please see additional dosing information in the full prescribing information for JORNAY PM at http://ironshorepharma.com/labeling.pdf.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

WARNING: ABUSE AND DEPENDENCE

CNS stimulants, including JORNAY PM, other methylphenidate-containing products, and amphetamines, have a high potential for abuse and dependence. Assess the risk of abuse prior to prescribing and monitor for signs of abuse and dependence while on therapy.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

• Known hypersensitivity to methylphenidate or other components of JORNAY PM. Hypersensitivity reactions such as angioedema and anaphylactic reactions have been reported in patients treated with methylphenidate products.
• Concurrent treatment with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), or use of an MAOI within the preceding 14 days because of the risk of hypertensive crisis.

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

• Serious Cardiovascular Reactions: Sudden death, stroke, and myocardial infarction have been reported in adults treated with CNS stimulants at recommended doses. Sudden death has been reported in pediatric patients with structural cardiac abnormalities and other serious heart problems taking CNS stimulants at recommended doses for ADHD. Avoid use in patients with known structural cardiac abnormalities, cardiomyopathy, serious heart arrhythmias, coronary artery disease, and other serious cardiac problems.
• Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Increases: CNS stimulants may cause an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. Monitor all patients for hypertension and tachycardia.
• Psychiatric Adverse Reactions: CNS stimulants may exacerbate symptoms of behavior disturbance and thought disorder in patients with a pre-existing psychiatric disorder and may induce a manic or mixed episode in patients with bipolar disorder. In patients with no prior history of psychotic illness or mania, CNS stimulants, at recommended doses, may cause psychotic or manic symptoms.
• Priapism: Prolonged and painful erections, sometimes requiring intervention, have been reported with methylphenidate products in both pediatric and adult patients. Priapism has also appeared during a period of drug withdrawal. Immediate medical attention should be sought if signs or symptoms of prolonged penile erections or priapism are observed.
• Peripheral Vasculopathy, including Raynaud’s Phenomenon: CNS stimulants used to treat ADHD are associated with peripheral vasculopathy, including Raynaud’s phenomenon. Careful observation for digital changes is necessary during treatment with ADHD stimulants.
• Long-Term Suppression of Growth: CNS stimulants have been associated with weight loss and slowing of growth rate in pediatric patients. Monitor height and weight at appropriate intervals in pediatric patients.

ADVERSE REACTIONS

• Based on accumulated data from other methylphenidate products, the most common (>5% and twice the rate of placebo) adverse reactions for pediatric patients and adults are: appetite decreased, insomnia, nausea, vomiting, dyspepsia, abdominal pain, weight decreased, anxiety, dizziness, irritability, affect lability, tachycardia, and blood pressure increased.
• Additional adverse reactions (≥5% and twice the rate of placebo) in pediatric patients 6 to 12 years treated with JORNAY PM: headache, psychomotor hyperactivity, and mood swings.

PREGNANCY AND LACTATION

• CNS stimulant medications, such as JORNAY PM, can cause vasoconstriction and thereby decrease placental perfusion.
• The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother's clinical need for JORNAY PM and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from JORNAY PM or from the underlying maternal condition. Monitor breastfeeding infants for adverse reactions, such as agitation, insomnia, anorexia, and reduced weight gain.

Please visit http://ironshorepharma.com/labeling.pdf for additional important safety information and the Full Prescribing Information, including Boxed Warning, for JORNAY PM.

About Ironshore Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Ironshore Pharmaceuticals Inc. commercializes innovative, patient-centric treatment options to improve the lives of patients and caregivers. Based in North Carolina, Ironshore Pharmaceuticals Inc. is responsible for the sales, marketing and distribution of pharmaceutical products within the US. Ironshore Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Highland Therapeutics Inc. based in Toronto, Canada.

About Ironshore Pharmaceuticals & Development, Inc.

Ironshore Pharmaceuticals & Development, Inc., based in Grand Cayman, develops novel therapeutics by leveraging its proprietary drug-delivery technology, DELEXIS®. Ironshore Pharmaceuticals & Development, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Highland Therapeutics Inc. based in Toronto, Canada.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking information, which reflects Ironshore’s current expectations regarding future events. Forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Ironshore’s control that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and, except as expressly required by applicable law, Ironshore assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Nelson Isabel
(647) 260-7875

Produced by Atomic Cartoons, Thunderbird Entertainment’s Kids and Family Division, the Interactive Special Starts Streaming April 6, 2021 on Netflix

Graphic Novel from Max Brallier and Penguin Young Readers Debuts April 6, 2021

VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Atomic Cartoons (Atomic), the Kids and Family Division of Thunderbird Entertainment Group (TSXV:TBRD, OTC:THBRF), and Penguin Young Readers, along with Max Brallier, are proud to announce two new milestones in The Last Kids on Earth franchise. An interactive special episode of the Daytime Emmy Award-winning animated series will begin streaming today, April 6, 2021 on Netflix. Also available on store shelves today is The Last Kids on Earth: Thrilling Tales from the Tree House, the first-ever graphic novel in the bestselling series.

In the interactive special, titled “Happy Apocalypse to You,” when Jack, Dirk and Quint try to throw June a birthday party, it turns into an action-packed thrill ride. Viewers will use their remote controls to decide what the gang will do as they encounter angry wretches, ferocious maulers, fearsome octogrutes, zombies and more, on the way to the birthday extravaganza. This is a chance for fans of the series to help make June’s birthday a blast, but not get eaten in the process. To produce the interactive episode, Atomic leveraged interactive Netflix technology that requires viewers to make choices using their remote control to advance the story. To view the interactive special trailer, click here.

“With audiences calling the shots, we can’t wait to see what kind of adventures – and calamities – they’ll cook up for Jack, June, Quint and Dirk in this thrilling interactive special episode of The Last Kids on Earth,” said Matthew Berkowitz, Chief Creative Officer of Thunderbird and Atomic Cartoons, and Series Executive Producer. “We have been so honored by the response our series has received so far, and we’re excited to see how fans of The Last Kids on Earth enjoy having the power – and responsibility – of deciding the fates of their favorite characters on screen!”

In its latest book installment, Thrilling Tales from the Tree House, fans get their first chance to experience The Last Kids on Earth in the form of a graphic novel. The kids and their monster buddies are hanging out in their tree house, when Jack launches into an epic, totally-heroic, super-rad story of one of his many post-apocalyptic adventures. Of course, after he’s finished, everyone’s eager to one-up his tale with a story of their own. Soon, Quint, Dirk, June and Skaelka, and even Globlet, regale the group with sometimes outrageous, often hilarious details of their action-packed escapades during the Monster-Zombie Apocalypse.

This graphic novel includes six brand new The Last Kids on Earth short stories by Max Brallier, featuring full-color art by Anoosha Syed, Xavier Bonet, Lorena Alvarez, Jay Cooper, Christopher Mitten and The Last Kids on Earth series illustrator Douglas Holgate. Their stories are capped off by a special double-length feature, which will finally reveal the mysterious whereabouts of two villainous villains to prep readers for the seventh book in the series, coming Fall 2021.

"The behind-the-scenes journey that brought The Last Kids on Earth to life on screen has been incredible. And now, together with Atomic Cartoons, we’re taking another exciting step forward, giving viewers the power to control the destiny of their favourite characters,” said Max Brallier, author of the book series and creator of the animated series. “And being able to time the streaming premiere of our new interactive episode with the launch of the next book in the series, means we’re able to offer fans a double whammy of excitement, laughter and – of course – zombies and monsters.”

The Last Kids on Earth is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling book series. The IP was acquired by Thunderbird Entertainment in 2017. The animated Netflix series debuted in September 2019 with a special 66-minute episode that went on to win a 2020 Emmy Award in the category of “Outstanding Special Class Program.” Season Two began streaming in April 2020, and Season Three launched in October 2020. The series features a star-studded voice cast, including Mark Hamill, Rosario Dawson, Catherine O’Hara, Keith David, Bruce Campbell, Garland Whitt, Montse Hernandez and Charles Demers, in addition to Nick Wolfhard voicing the lead character Jack Sullivan.

The franchise also has launched a toy and merchandise line based on the series with Jakks Pacific, and a T-Shirt line with Hot Topic. A video game based on the series is currently in production with Outright Games, set to be available in 2021.

ABOUT THUNDERBIRD ENTERTAINMENT GROUP

Thunderbird Entertainment Group is a global award-winning, full-service multiplatform production, distribution and rights management company, headquartered in Vancouver, with additional offices in Los Angeles, Toronto, and Ottawa. Thunderbird creates award-winning scripted, unscripted, and animated programming for the world’s leading digital platforms, as well as Canadian and international broadcasters. Thunderbird’s vision is to produce high quality, socially responsible content that makes the world a better place. The Company develops, produces, and distributes animated, factual, and scripted content through its various divisions, including Thunderbird Kids and Family (Atomic Cartoons), Thunderbird Factual and Scripted (Great Pacific Media), and a division dedicated to global distribution and consumer products. Thunderbird is on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @tbirdent. For more information, visit: www.thunderbird.tv.

ABOUT ATOMIC CARTOONS

Atomic Cartoons, the Kids and Family Division of Thunderbird Entertainment Group (TSXV:TBRD, OTC:THBRF), is an artist-driven, multifaceted studio that includes some of North America's most creative animators, directors, producers, and writers. With studios in Vancouver, Ottawa and Los Angeles, Atomic produces content for partners around the globe, including the Emmy Award-winning series Beat Bugs (2017, 2019) and The Last Kids on Earth (2020), and the Peabody Award and Television Critics Association Award-winning Molly of Denali (2020), which also won a Kidscreen Award for Best Inclusivity (2021). Thunderbird and Atomic also have a division dedicated global distribution and consumer products. Atomic is on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @AtomicCartoons. For more information, visit www.atomiccartoons.com.

ABOUT PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE

Penguin Random House, the world's largest trade book publisher, is dedicated to its mission of nourishing a universal passion for reading by connecting authors and their writing with readers everywhere. The company, which employs more than 10,000 people globally, was formed on July 1, 2013, by Bertelsmann and Pearson. As of April 1, 2020, Bertelsmann is full owner of the company. With more than 300 imprints and brands on six continents, Penguin Random House comprises adult and children's fiction and nonfiction print and digital English- German- and Spanish-language trade book publishing businesses in more than 20 countries worldwide. With over 15,000 new titles, and more than 600 million print, audio and eBooks sold annually, Penguin Random House's publishing lists include more than 80 Nobel Prize laureates and hundreds of the world's most widely read authors.

Thunderbird Entertainment and Atomic Cartoons Media Relations:
Julia Smith, Finch Media
+1 604.803.0897
julia@finchmedia.net

Thunderbird Investor Relations:
Glen Akselrod, Bristol Capital
+1 905.326.1888 ext 1
glen@bristolir.com

Penguin Young Readers Media Relations:
Jennifer Dee, Publicity Manager
+1 212.414.3536
jdee@penguinrandomhouse.com

New findings show the number of videos shared by businesses increased by 135% year-over-year fueled by user-generated videos within sales teams, High Tech firms, Financial Services and Professional Services

KITCHENER, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Vidyard, the leading video platform for businesses, has released its 2021 Video in Business Benchmark Report revealing the latest trends and benchmarks in video content creation, user-generated video, viewer engagement and video performance in business. By analyzing primary data from more than 750,000 videos published by more than 1,500 businesses during 2020, the new report shares insights on how video is being used across different industries, company sizes, and business roles, and how the use and effectiveness of video compares to previous years’ reports.

Findings from the new report show that the move to a digital-first business world accelerated the use of video by marketing, sales and customer experience teams, particularly in industries where in-person customer interactions were previously the norm. The number of videos published overall more than doubled in 2020, up 135% from the previous year, with a significant surge starting in April when businesses began adapting to remote sales and digital-first marketing strategies. Of note, Financial Services organizations increased their video output by 129% while those in Education increased by more than 200% compared to the previous year.

“In today’s remote business world, it’s harder than ever to connect with customers and colleagues in ways that are authentic, personal and truly impactful,” said Tyler Lessard, Chief Video Strategist and VP Marketing at Vidyard. “The exponential growth in the adoption of both produced video content and user generated videos reflects its growing importance as a way to educate audiences, share key messages and build relationships in a digital world.”

User-Generated Videos Soar in Popularity in Sales and Financial Services

While the number of professionally produced videos by businesses increased year-over-year despite production challenges imposed by the pandemic, the most significant area of growth came from the rising adoption of user-generated video (UGV). Most commonly created by client-facing sales and customer service professionals using webcams or screen recordings, UGVs represented 60% of all videos shared by businesses studied in the report. While users in High Tech markets created the most UGVs for the second straight year, customer-facing teams in Financial Services, Professional Services, Entertainment and Education were close followers, representing the greatest year-over-year gains in this area.

"In a world where you have no choice but to communicate digitally, personalization is key to breaking through the clutter. Not just superficial personalization like adding a name to an email, but creating one-of-a-kind, meaningful communication for every customer that is truly personal and human," said Eric Hansen, SVP of Brand and Digital Marketing at Advisor Group, one of the largest networks of independent wealth management firms in the United States.

"Instead of our typical lengthy text-based emails, our sales teams began using Vidyard to send personalized 30-second videos to their clients and prospects,” added Hansen. “As soon as we started using these short videos, our engagement and response rates increased by more than 400%, proving how impactful user generated videos can be."

Key Findings from the 2021 Report

Some of the key findings and year-over-year trends from the 2021 Video-in-Business Benchmark Report include:

• Total number of videos published increased by 135% year-over-year
• 40% of all videos published were produced/uploaded while 60% were user-generated
• Businesses in High Tech were the most prolific video creators for the fourth consecutive year, averaging 583 new videos per business over the 12-month period
• The greatest year-over-year acceleration in the use of video came from Financial Services (129% increase) and Education (209% increase)
• Top industries for the creation of user-generated content were High Tech, Financial Services, Professional Services, Entertainment and Education
• 75% of videos created by companies with less than 200 employees were user-generated, while only 45% of the videos created within organizations with greater than 600 employees were user-generated
• The average length of all videos analyzed was roughly 6 minutes, representing a 50% increase in average length from the previous year

Long-Form Video Returns to the Spotlight

The average length of all videos analyzed increased by roughly 50% year-over-year, from 4 minutes in 2019 to 6 minutes in 2020. This represents the first year since the launch of this report in 2016 that the average video length increased compared to the previous year. While 60.3% of all videos published in 2020 were less than 2 minutes in length (compared to 74% in 2019), 10.5% were more than 20 minutes, a significant jump from just 6% the previous year. This increase in the amount of long-form video content may be the result of a growing number of on-demand webinars and presentation recordings in response to the shift to remote work and online events.

For more insights on video trends and to dive deeper into the data, please download the complete 2021 Video in Business Benchmark Report or refer to the additional resources below.

Additional Resources:

• Read the key findings blog post for more insights and interpretations
• See the Video in Sales Benchmarks Infographic
• See the Video Marketing Benchmarks Infographic

About Vidyard

Vidyard helps businesses and professionals connect with their audiences in a whole new way through engaging, personalized, and measurable video experiences. Through its global video hosting and analytics platform, Vidyard empowers businesses like LinkedIn, Zycus, League, Stanley Black & Decker, and others to transform their approach to marketing, sales, and corporate communications. Vidyard helps any business professional create and share custom videos to deliver their message in a more personal and impactful way through its free and pro tools. Thousands of businesses and millions of people around the world rely on Vidyard for their video needs. Sign up for Vidyard for free at https://www.vidyard.com/free.

Media Contact:
Joshua Swarz, Big Valley Marketing for Vidyard
press@vidyard.com

VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--#BlueFire--Graffiti Games Ltd. (the “Corporation” or "Graffiti Games"), a leading video game publisher, is pleased to provide a Corporate Update and announces a non-brokered private placement.

Corporate Update

Blue Fire Video Game Release
Graffiti Games, a leading video game publisher, is pleased to provide an update on the Blue Fire video game, which was released in partnership with Argentina-based Robi Studios. The game was released to chart-topping results and much fanfare, propelling the 3D action-adventure platformer to No. 6 in “Best Sellers” in the Nintendo eShop and the No. 1 spot in Steam’s “New and Trending” section.

Subsequent to its release in early February 2021, Blue Fire has earned additional accolades, including:

• No. 6 in “Best Sellers” in the Nintendo eShop
• No. 1 in Steam’s “New Releases”
• Top-4 title in the eShop’s “Featured” section
• No. 1 Steam community recommended game
• Featured release on Nintendo.com
• More than 600,000+ views of the game’s launch trailers
• More than 730 million launch week media and social impressions

Blue Fire is available on the Nintendo Switch™ as a console exclusive and on PC for $19.99 USD. The game will launch on additional consoles and as a physical retail edition in the coming months.

“Robi Studios worked tirelessly to create a high-quality game for the community to enjoy, which is reflected in Blue Fire’s chart-topping success and sales, both of which allowed us to recoup the development costs within the first 24 hours,” said Alex Josef, CEO of Graffiti Games. “It’s great to see our model of backing and partnering with emerging talent in the game development space continue to gain momentum and we look forward to continued success for Blue Fire and our other titles as we move forward.”

In Blue Fire, players embark on an extraordinary adventure through the desolate kingdom of Penumbra to discover the hidden secrets of this long-forgotten land. Explore mystical temples, where players will need to master the art of movement to survive increasingly difficult 3D platforming challenges. Along the adventure, players will slash their way through diverse adversaries, encounter survivors, collect valuable items, take on strange quests and more.

For more information regarding Blue Fire please visit Graffiti’s Twitter page, Robi’s Twitter page or the Blue Fire Discord.

2020 Highlights
Graffiti Games had a strong 2020 and achieved several, major company objectives, including:

• 10 titles released to date (23 SKUs)
• 10 percent year-over-year growth in revenue
• More than 200,000 game units sold across all platforms
• More than 30 global distribution partners, including Steam, Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft, Google Stadia, and Amazon

2021 Highlights and Beyond
Graffiti has achieved several, major objectives already in 2021, including:

• Secured first physical retail distribution deal that will see Blue Fire available in major brick and mortar retailers, including GameStop and Best Buy
• Secured first Asian distribution deal for territories outside of Japan
• Secured two new titles for launch in 2022

Non-Brokered Private Placement

The Corporation announces that it intends to complete a non-brokered private placement of up to 5,000,000 common shares of the Corporation at a price of $0.30 per share for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $1,500,000.

The proceeds of the private placement will be used for general operating purposes and working capital.

Media Assets
Trailer for Blue Fire: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0wPny3_8nQ

About Graffiti Games
Graffiti Games is a North American video game publisher comprised of industry OGs with a powerful, global distribution network encompassing both digital and physical retail partners across the world to maximize sales potential. As of March 2021, Graffiti Games has released 10 titles across 23 SKUs. To find out more about Graffiti and our portfolio please visit www.graffitigames.com.

About Robi Studios
Robi Studios is a game development company based in Cordoba, Argentina. We're a young and very passionate team dedicated to game development on PC and console. To find out more about Robi Studios please visit https://www.robistudios.com/.

Cautionary Statements

Statements in this press release may contain forward-looking. The words "will," "anticipate," believe," "estimate," "expect," "intent," "may," "project," "should," and similar expressions are intended to be among the statements that identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are founded on the basis of expectations and assumptions made by the Corporation. Readers are cautioned that assumption used in the preparation of such information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Corporation. The Corporation does not have any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements except as expressly required by applicable securities laws.

Press: press@graffitigames.com

Investor Relations: Ben Leung
investors@graffitigames.com

VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--#ILS--Lucidea, parent company to a full portfolio of market-leading knowledge management, collections management, and library automation solutions will soon release PrestoWorks and PrestoWorks Publisher—their next generation upgrades for Inmagic DB/TextWorks users, and also two fantastic standalone choices for knowledge management and Web publishing.

DB/TextWorks clients should know that PrestoWorks, based on the award-winning Inmagic Presto platform, delivers the capabilities of the Windows-based DB/TextWorks product exclusively as a Web-based, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) application. With PrestoWorks, DB/TextWorks clients will now be able to leverage the latest technology, and enjoy a new user interface, purpose-built workflows, enhanced security, robust functionality and exciting additional capabilities.

PrestoWorks and PrestoWorks Publisher are robust KM and Web-publishing solutions that all information professionals seeking to upgrade their knowledge management capabilities—and dramatically expand user engagement and their Web presence—need to see.

PrestoWorks features that appeal to everyone include:

• 24/7/365 access from anywhere, via any device, via the Web
• Modern Web-based user interface with support for customization
• Advanced search and discovery—find critical knowledge assets undiscoverable by traditional methods, without searching
• Reporting and analytics—enable evidence-based decisions and strategies

PrestoWorks benefits:

• Eliminate the effort and expense of local updating and maintenance; always run the latest version
• Easily configurable without relying on/waiting for overstretched IT resources
• Enhanced data security, reliable permissions management
• Ability to scale up as and when functional needs and requirements grow

PrestoWorks and PrestoWorks Publisher will be available in early Q3. If you are interested in learning more, or have any other questions about Lucidea’s products, contact them at 604-278-6717 for more information.

About Lucidea:

Lucidea is the market-leading developer of a full portfolio of world class KM and library automation solutions including Inmagic Presto, DB/TextWorks, Sydney Enterprise, and GeniePlus, along with comprehensive museum and archival collections management systems Argus, CuadraSTAR SKCA, Eloquent Archives, and ArchivEra.

Mark Maslowski
Marketing Manager
604-278-6717
mmaslowski@lucidea.com

VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--#CMS--Lucidea, developer of ArchivEra and Argus and leader in innovative heritage institution collections management software, will participate in the DAM Asia-Pacific conference on March 24, 2021.

Lucidea invites you to visit their collections management specialists in their virtual exhibit booth. Learn about capabilities that support digital visitor engagement and expanded curation to delight and educate your audience, as well as innovative options that elevate your strategy of going beyond traditional collections management to showcase your collections online.

See the latest updates to Argus and ArchivEra, chat about your organization’s CMS needs and strategy, download free eBooks from museum and archives experts Rachael Cristine Woody and Margot Note, check out Lucidea’s “Renew & Rebuild” promotion with significant benefits for new and existing clients, and enter to win an iPad.

For further information about ArchivEra and Argus, visit https://lucidea.com, phone 604 278 6717, or email sales@lucidea.com.

Mark Maslowski
Marketing Manager
604-278-6717
mmaslowski@lucidea.com

VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--#CILConnect--Lucidea will present their market-leading ILS and KM solutions during this year’s virtual CIL conference. CIL Connect is a premier North American conference covering all aspects of library and information delivery technology.

Lucidea is proud to once again participate, and stands ready to help resilient libraries reset with their Web-based, flexible, extensible, and easily configurable library automation and knowledge management software. Lucidea’s products are purpose-built to suit the unique needs of libraries and information centers as they adapt and change, and their development and updates are always client-driven.

Lucidea’s SydneyEnterprise, GeniePlus, and Inmagic Presto team members look forward to meeting attendees in their Virtual Exhibit Booth on March 23^rd through 25th.

When you visit the booth, download free eBooks from KM guru Stan Garfield and library expert and advocate Stephen Abram, or watch webinars of interest to special librarians and knowledge managers. Get product demonstrations and chat with Lucidea’s experts about your ILS and KM system challenges. They are also having a drawing to win an iPad.

For further information about Lucidea’s ILS and KM products, visit https://lucidea.com, phone 604 278 6717, or email sales@lucidea.com.

Mark Maslowski
Marketing Manager
604-278-6717
mmaslowski@lucidea.com

VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--#ILS--Lucidea is bringing SydneyEnterprise, GeniePlus, and Inmagic Presto to the CILIP Library and Information Supplier Showcase on 25^th March.

Visit the Lucidea team at their Virtual Exhibit Booth. When you do, their ILS and KM experts will demonstrate market-leading knowledge management and library automation software and chat with you about your organization’s needs. While in their booth, download free eBooks written by KM expert and author Stan Garfield and library advocate and consultant Stephen Abram, and watch webinars covering topics of importance to special librarians and knowledge managers today.

Ask about the latest updates to:

• SydneyEnterprise—the unified KM and ILS application for progressive special libraries .
• GeniePlus—delivers essential KM and ILS capabilities for agile libraries of all sizes and budgets.
• Inmagic Presto—the ultimate corporate intelligence solution with combined KM, social sharing and collaboration tools.

About Lucidea:

Lucidea offers a full portfolio of market leading solutions including Inmagic Presto, GeniePlus and SydneyEnterprise, offering KM and library automation applications that deliver improved access to organizational knowledge, with solutions for libraries in corporations, law firms, museums, archives, nonprofits and government agencies of all sizes, worldwide. www.lucidea.com

Mark Maslowski
Marketing Manager
604-278-6717
mmaslowski@lucidea.com

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--News Media Canada is inviting news media organizations to submit applications for the Local Journalism Initiative, which provides funding to hire reporters to cover civic issues and institutions in underserved communities across Canada.

Created by the Government of Canada, the Local Journalism Initiative is a five-year program that supports the creation of original civic journalism relevant to the diverse needs of people living in news deserts and areas of news poverty in Canada.

Print and digital news media organizations may to apply to News Media Canada, including French-language media in Quebec, English-language media in the rest of Canada, and Indigenous media across the country. Applications may be submitted for new project proposals, as well as renewal of existing projects previously funded under News Media Canada.

The call for applications follows the Government of Canada’s renewal of News Media Canada’s role as an administrator organization for the Local Journalism Initiative for the remaining three years of the Initiative.

In 2021-2022, News Media Canada intends to provide funding for a minimum of 97 LJI reporters on contracts with terms of up to 12 months. Of these, 88 reporters will be allocated on a regional model based on population, and 9 reporters to Indigenous media.

LJI reporters will cover civic institutions such as courthouses, city halls, band councils, school boards, Parliament or provincial legislatures. Their stories will help citizens know what is going on where they live and will be shared with accredited media organizations across the country.

Applications will be accepted until March 26, 2021, via email.

For more information on eligibility criteria and to download the application form and guidelines, visit the Local Journalism Initiative website at www.localjournalisminitiative.ca.

About News Media Canada

News Media Canada is the voice of the print and digital news media industry in Canada and represents hundreds of trusted titles in every province and territory. News Media Canada is an advocate in public policy for daily and community media outlets and contributes to the ongoing evolution of the news media industry by raising awareness and promoting the benefits of news media across all platforms. Visit our website at www.newsmediacanada.ca or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

Tina Ongkeko, Director, Local Journalism Initiative
News Media Canada
tongkeko@newsmediacanada.ca

Christian Dognon, Program Officer
News Media Canada
lji@newsmediacanada.ca

VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--$TBRD--Thunderbird Entertainment Group Inc. (TSXV: TBRD, OTCQX: THBRF) (Thunderbird or the Company), a global award-winning, full service multiplatform production, distribution and rights management company, today announced that Thunderbird’s President and CEO, Jennifer Twiner McCarron, along with senior management, will participate virtually in the following investment conferences in March.

Thunderbird’s senior management will also be available for one-on-one meetings at designated conferences. Webcasts, when available and where applicable, can be viewed through the events section on the Company’s website.

LD Micro Conference
Date: March 9, 2021
Time: 8:00 a.m. PT/11:00 a.m. ET
Webcast: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_AFQakUImRaiMjk1EwQHwgg
Website: www.ldmicro.com/

The Virtual 33rd Annual Roth Conference
Date: March 15-17, 2021
Time: Flexible (pre-recorded presentation)
Webcast: https://wsw.com/webcast/roth35/tbrd/1825596
Website: www.roth.com/Page/Corporate-Access-Conferences

International Investment Afternoon - Women in Leadership
Date: March 17, 2021
Time: 7:00 a.m. PT/10:00 a.m. ET
Webcast: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_H6yKtvRKTACu3tyvdFYiKQ
Website: www.dealgateway.com/events/

The Lytham Partners Spring 2021 Investor Conference
Date: March 30 – April 1, 2021
Webcast: https://thunderbird.tv/events/
Website: https://lythampartners.com/virtual/spring2021/

Thunderbird’s Jennifer Twiner McCarron will also be participating in the following events in honour of International Women’s Day:

OTCQX Market Open on International Women's Day
Ms. Twiner McCarron will join inspiring female leaders of OTCQX traded companies, such as Janet Silveria (CEO of Community Bank of Santa Maria), Melinda Rombouts (CEO of Eve & Co), and Janet Lee-Sheriff (CEO of Golden Predator Mining) to celebrate the Market Open.
Date: March 8, 2021
Time: Market Open (6:30 a.m. PT/9:30 a.m. E T)
Website: www.otcmarkets.com/

The C-Suite at The Open (TSX, TSXV)
Ms. Twiner McCarron will be featured in a March video series intended to shine a spotlight on female leaders on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV).
Date: March 2021
Website: www.tsx.com/listings/tsx-and-tsxv-issuer-resources/c-suite-at-the-open

About Thunderbird Entertainment Group

Thunderbird Entertainment Group is a global award-winning, full-service multiplatform production, distribution and rights management company, headquartered in Vancouver, with additional offices in Los Angeles, Toronto, and Ottawa. Thunderbird creates award-winning scripted, unscripted, and animated programming for the world’s leading digital platforms, as well as Canadian and international broadcasters. Thunderbird’s vision is to produce high quality, socially responsible content that makes the world a better place. The Company develops, produces, and distributes animated, factual, and scripted content through its various divisions, including Thunderbird Kids and Family (Atomic Cartoons), and Thunderbird Factual and Scripted (Great Pacific Media). The Company also has a division dedicated to global distribution and consumer products. Thunderbird is on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @tbirdent. For more information, visit: www.thunderbird.tv.

Thunderbird’s Investor Relations Contact:
Glen Akselrod, Bristol Capital
Phone: + 1 905 326 1888 ext 1
Email: glen@bristolir.com

Thunderbird’s Media Relations Contact:
Julia Smith, Finch Media
Phone: +1 604 803 0897
Email: julia@finchmedia.net

RenovationFind has extended its campaign on FrontFundr to accommodate interested investors who missed the last deadline

EDMONTON, Alberta--(BUSINESS WIRE)--With a vision to scale their business across the country, the Edmonton-based tech start-up RenovationFind offered private investment and ownership opportunities through a Front Fundr campaign. The initial goal was to raise $750,000 to assist with their growth.

"We reached our initial goal to raise $750,000 for our first campaign on FrontFundr but had a lot of contractors and homeowners that are involved with RenovationFind interested in investing, and they had missed the deadline," said Keith Riley, Founder and CEO of RenovationFind. "We decided to run a second campaign to give them that opportunity to invest and become part owners of the company."

The second campaign launched today March 4, 2021.

RenovationFind.com is a directory of home improvement contractors that have gone through a third-party certification process.

For homeowners, the directory provides trusted and qualified companies for their home projects. With the background checks complete, homeowners can find a contractor without the worry of being scammed.

For contractors, RenovationFind offers a certification program that allows them to build a brand of trust. They also receive digital marketing services to help them promote their business and grow an online presence.

"We created RenovationFind to fill a major gap in the home improvement industry. We wanted to help protect homeowners from bad contractors and promote the good companies that deserve the business. Most directories online are based on consumer reviews, which are not always reliable. RenovationFind is a data-driven website that is win-win for both parties," said Riley.

The business model has proved successful. RenovationFind has had steady growth since its launch in 2014. It saw growth in 2020, despite the economic downturn caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The funds raised will go towards sales, marketing, and development. RenovationFind has passed the $1 million annual recurring revenue (ARR). The tech company’s ambition is to reach $70-$100 million ARR in the Canadian market. The $750,000 and additional funds raised during the second campaign will help achieve this goal.

"The excitement and interest in being a part of our company are very encouraging. We really appreciate the support from our RenovationFind Certified contractors and homeowners, and we're looking forward to the journey that lies ahead," said Riley.

For an investment as little as $500, anyone can become a shareholder in RenovationFind.com through the FrontFundr campaign - https://www.frontfundr.com/renovationfind

Details of the offering can be found in the offering document at FrontFundr.com. This communication is for informational purposes only.

RenovationFind.com is a free online directory of trades, contractors, and renovation companies that have passed a stringent screening and certification process. All companies listed on RenovationFind's directory have been vetted and are continually monitored on seven essential criteria, including legal background checks, credit background checks, Better Business Bureau (BBB) membership, business license, business insurance, and Workers Compensation Board (WCB) Coverage.

FrontFundr is Canada's leading online private markets investing platform and an exempt market dealer. It provides startups and growth companies access to capital and gives investors access to private companies they believe in and want to support. It provides a community of over 20,000 investors with the ability to review and complete private placements on one digital platform. The company's revolutionary technology allows users across Canada to invest in innovative growth businesses in under 12 minutes, starting from as little as $250. To date, it has helped more than 50 companies raise over $50 million.

Keith Riley
Phone: 1-800-576-8998 Email: info@renovationfind.com

Canada’s General Counsel of the Year and Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers Strengthens Distinguished Board Roster

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--#advisoryboard--Alexa Translations, a leader in translation services for the legal and financial industries, today announced the addition of Simon A. Fish to its Board of Advisors. Simon is one of Canada’s most esteemed legal professionals with over 30 years of international experience that spans corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, securities, transaction structuring and ESG.

Simon is currently Special Advisor to the CEO of BMO Financial Group where he is responsible for leading the development of the bank’s sustainability and climate change strategy and advising on the bank’s environmental and social risk management, external disclosure, engagement, and environmental, social and governance matters. He first joined BMO in 2008 as Executive Vice President and General Counsel and previously served as General Counsel at Vale and Royal Dutch Shell. He has also practiced corporate and securities law with Dechert LLP.

Among many other notable achievements, Simon has been named Canada’s General Counsel of the Year, has been listed among Canada’s Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers and is included among the Legal 500’s GC PowerList. He has also been recognized as a Catalyst Canada Honours Champion for his work in advancing the role of women in the workplace. Simon is also on the board of SSR Mining Inc., where he chairs the Nominating & Governance Committee and serves on the Compensation Committee. He also serves as director of the Chicago based environmental advocacy think-tank Environmental Law & Policy Centre and is a former director of the Canadian Centre for Ethics & Corporate Policy. Simon is a graduate of the University of Cape Town, the Washington College of Law and Harvard Business School.

“We could not be more delighted to have Simon join our advisory board. He brings a breadth of knowledge and experience that aligns perfectly with our corporate strategic objectives,” said Gary Kalaci, CEO of Alexa Translations. “As one of Canada’s most pre-eminent legal experts, he will undoubtedly play an important role in guiding the growth of Alexa Translations for 2021 and beyond.”

“Alexa Translations’ market leadership position and strong focus on growth makes it an exciting time to join the company,” said Fish. “I look forward to bringing my experience in the legal, financial and resources sectors to the board.”

For more information on Alexa Translations’ Board of Advisors, please visit: alexatranslations.com/board-of-advisors

About Alexa Translations
Alexa Translations provides award-winning translation services and artificial intelligence language solutions for the world’s largest and most prestigious legal and financial industries. Since its founding, Alexa Translations has been a trusted translation partner that provides consistent, quality translation services to help clients meet their business goals. Alexa's translators are professional and certified subject matter experts with specific expertise and in-depth industry knowledge.

For media inquiries:
Mark Vecchiarelli
Vice President of Marketing
mark.vecchiarelli@alexatranslations.com

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--82% of Canadians believe it’s time for the federal government to take action and force social media giants Google and Facebook to pay Canadian news publishers for their content, and ensure fair negotiations so that publishers get their fair share of online advertising revenue. As well, according to the poll, 70% of Canadians now believe Google and Facebook have become too powerful.

The finding comes from a new poll conducted by Leger Opinion for News Media Canada.¹

The poll also shows that support for tough action spans the political spectrum. More than 80% of supporters of the Liberals, Conservatives, NDP and the BQ believe it’s time for the federal government to act.

The broad support for action is driven by a concern that Canada’s news industry is in a precarious state. According to the poll, 62% of Canadians are worried about the loss of Canadian news publishers. Asked why they are so concerned, 73% fear a loss of reliable national news, while 63% worry about a loss of reliable news and information about their community.

News Media Canada has issued a report, “Levelling the Digital Playing Field,” urging the Canadian government to act, using Australian legislation as the model. It would allow Canadian publishers to band together and negotiate collectively with Google and Facebook and would level penalties on the web giants if they don’t comply.

The poll indicates a strong majority agree that it’s time for the federal government to act.

https://www.levellingthedigitalplayingfield.ca/

About News Media Canada

News Media Canada is the voice of the print and digital news media industry in Canada and represents hundreds of trusted titles in every province and territory. News Media Canada is an advocate in public policy for daily and community media outlets and contributes to the ongoing evolution of the news media industry by raising awareness and promoting the benefits of news media across all platforms. For more information, visit our website at www.newsmediacanada.ca or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

__________________
¹ The poll was conducted by Leger Opinion between January 22-24. The online poll surveyed 1,000 Canadians and is accurate +/- 3.5%, 19 times out of 20.

John Hinds, President and CEO, News Media Canada, jhinds@newsmediacanada.ca

Morneau Shepell’s Mental Health Index™ shows that Britons’ mental health score continues to be challenged almost a year into the pandemic

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Morneau Shepell, a leading provider of total wellbeing, mental health and digital mental health services, today released its monthly Mental Health Index™ report, revealing a negative mental health score among Britons for the tenth consecutive month. The Mental Health Index™ score for January is -13.3, indicating a continuation of the decline in mental health compared to the pre-2020 benchmark and a moderate decrease from December (-12.8).

Britons’ low mental health score is due in part to continued struggles with psychological health. The sub-score for psychological health recently reached its lowest point since the inception of the Index™. This indicates that people are starting to see themselves as less mentally healthy, not just having a temporary feeling of anxiety or distress.

“Prolonged nationwide lockdowns continue to amplify the stressors that individuals are facing across the United Kingdom,” said Philip Mullen, managing director, U.K. and Europe. “While we have seen periods of both improvements and declines in mental wellbeing throughout the year, it’s clear that a mental health crisis is still underway as the national mental health score is now approaching the lowest scores observed at the outset of the pandemic. A persistent decline in psychological health has the potential to significantly impact organisations’ bottom line in the short and longer term, and it is imperative that employers focus resources and communications on employees’ wellbeing to ensure they feel supported, engaged and well-equipped to cope with the pandemic-driven fatigue.”

Similarly, financial stress and economic uncertainty continue to threaten the mental health of Britons, with stable employment critical to offsetting poorer mental wellbeing. The research found that individuals with reduced salaries during the pandemic reported the lowest mental health score (-23.3), followed by those who reported fewer hours when compared to the prior month (-20.9) and those not currently employed (-18.1).

Young Britons changing priorities to focus on mental health

As Britons continue to manage their daily lives and establish new routines to stay well through the pandemic, many are rethinking their priorities. Nearly one third (31 per cent) of working Britons collectively reported wanting to focus on their mental health, indicating a heightened awareness of the importance of a healthy mindset. Priorities vary across generations, however, with individuals between the ages of 20 and 29 nearly twice as likely to report wanting to focus on their mental health when compared to those over the age of 60.

“Almost one year in, the pandemic has shown minimal signs of slowing down and one of the main challenges for the U.K. population has been maintaining mental wellbeing,” said Paula Allen, global leader and senior vice president, research and total wellbeing. “Thirty-three per cent of working Britons are concerned about the mental health of a co-worker. This reinforces that we still have a problem, but it is encouraging in that we are able to connect enough to recognise the need in others. It is important for us not to ignore when we see someone in distress. Show you care, tell them what you have seen that is causing concern and let them know about the support available through an employee assistance program or other resources for counselling.”

About the Mental Health Index™

The monthly survey by Morneau Shepell was conducted through an online survey from December 14 to December 23, 2020, with 2,000 respondents in the United Kingdom. All respondents reside in the United Kingdom and were employed within the last six months. The data has been statistically weighted to ensure the regional and gender composition of the sample reflect this population. The Mental Health Index™ is published monthly, beginning April 2020, and compares against benchmark data collected in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Click here to read the U.K. Mental Health Index™ report.

The Mental Health Index™ is owned by Morneau Shepell – the wellbeing company that acquired LifeWorks in 2018.

About Morneau Shepell

Morneau Shepell is a leading provider of technology-enabled HR services that deliver an integrated approach to employee wellbeing through our cloud-based platform. Our focus is providing world-class solutions to our clients to support the mental, physical, social and financial wellbeing of their people. By improving lives, we improve business. Our approach spans services in employee and family assistance, health and wellness, recognition, pension and benefits administration, retirement consulting, actuarial and investment services. Morneau Shepell employs approximately 6,000 employees who work with some 24,000 client organizations that use our services in 162 countries.

Heather MacDonald
Morneau Shepell
media@morneaushepell.com
00-1-855-622-3327

Angela Pinzon
Kaiser & Partners
angela.pinzon@kaiserpartners.com
00-1-647-295-0517

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Postmedia Network Canada Corp. (“Postmedia” or the “Company”) is pleased to report that at its annual meeting of shareholders, held in Toronto on February 10, 2021, each of the directors listed as nominees in the management proxy circular dated December 17, 2020 were elected as directors of the Company. Directors have been appointed to serve until the close of the next annual meeting of shareholders.

Appointment of Auditors – Approved

Election of Directors – Approved

*As a vote for each motion was taken by a show of hands, the number of votes disclosed reflects only those proxies received by management in advance of the meeting.

About Postmedia Network Canada Corp.

Postmedia Network Canada Corp. (TSX:PNC.A, PNC.B) is the holding company that owns Postmedia Network Inc., a Canadian newsmedia company representing more than 120 brands across multiple print, online, and mobile platforms. Award-winning journalists and innovative product development teams bring engaging content to millions of people every week whenever and wherever they want it. This exceptional content, reach and scope offers advertisers and marketers compelling solutions to effectively reach target audiences. For more information, visit www.postmedia.com.

Phyllise Gelfand
Vice President, Communications
(647) 273-9287
pgelfand@postmedia.com

SUSSEX, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Quad (NYSE: QUAD) will hold a conference call at 10 a.m. ET on Wednesday, February 24, to discuss fourth quarter and full-year 2020 results. The call will be hosted by Joel Quadracci, Quad Chairman, President & CEO, and Dave Honan, Quad Executive Vice President & CFO.

The full earnings release and slide presentation will be concurrently available on the Investors section of Quad’s website at www.quad.com/investors. As part of the conference call, Quad will conduct a question and answer session. Investors are invited to email their questions in advance to IR@quad.com.

Participants may pre-register for the webcast by navigating to https://dpregister.com/sreg/10151732/e153def91c. Participants will be given a unique PIN to gain immediate access to the call on February 24, bypassing the live operator. Participants may pre-register at any time, including up to and after the call start time.

Alternatively, participants without internet access may dial in on the day of the call as follows:

• U.S. Toll-Free: 1-877-328-5508
• International Toll: 1-412-317-5424

An audio replay of the call will be posted on the Investors section of Quad’s website shortly after the conference call ends. In addition, telephone playback will also be available until March 24, 2021, accessible as follows:

• U.S. Toll-Free: 1-877-344-7529
• International Toll: 1-412-317-0088
• Replay Access Code: 10151732

About Quad

Quad (NYSE: QUAD) is a worldwide marketing solutions partner that leverages its 50-year heritage of platform excellence, innovation and strong culture and social purpose to create a better way for its clients, employees and communities. The Company’s integrated marketing platform helps brands and marketers reduce complexity, increase efficiency and enhance marketing spend effectiveness. Quad provides its clients with unmatched scale for client on-site services and expanded subject expertise in marketing strategy, creative solutions, media deployment (which includes a strong foundation in print) and marketing management services. With a client-centric approach that drives the Company to continuously evolve its offering, combined with leading-edge technology and single-source simplicity, the Company has the resources and knowledge to help a wide variety of clients in multiple vertical industries, including retail, publishing, consumer packaged goods, financial services, insurance, healthcare and direct-to-consumer. Quad has multiple locations throughout North America, South America and Europe, and strategic partnerships in Asia and other parts of the world. For additional information visit www.QUAD.com.

Investor Relations Contact
Katie Krebsbach
Investor Relations Lead, Quad
414-566-4247 / kkrebsbach@quad.com

Media Contact
Claire Ho
Director of Corporate Communications, Quad
414-566-2955 / cho@quad.com