Pollard Banknote’s Margaret R. DeFrancisco Inducted Into Lottery Industry Hall of Fame

WINNIPEG, Manitoba, October 3, 2013 /CNW/ – Pollard Banknote Limited (TSX: PBL) (“Pollard Banknote”) is pleased to announce that Margaret R. DeFrancisco, the company’s Senior Vice President, Corporate Development, has been inducted into the Public Gaming Research Institute (“PGRI”)’s Lottery Industry Hall of Fame for 2013. Known and respected throughout the lottery industry as a dynamic and effective leader, DeFrancisco has nearly 15 years of experience working with lotteries in the United States. This marks the third year in a row that a member of Pollard Banknote’s team has been honored at the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries’ annual conference (“NASPL”), following Jennifer Westbury, Executive Vice President, Sales & Customer Development, a PGRI Lottery Industry Hall of Fame inductee for 2012, and Greg Hoelk, Sales Manager, Licensed Products, winner of the 2011 NASPL Powers Award for Marketing.

Before joining Pollard Banknote in February 2013, DeFrancisco served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Georgia Lottery Corporation for nearly nine years, where she oversaw sales growth from $2.6 billion in 2003 to a record $3.8 billion in 2012. Prior to that, DeFrancisco was the Director of the New York Lottery. Under her leadership, lottery sales in New York increased from $3.6 billion to $5.4 billion in just four years, making it the largest lottery in the United States. She also actively participates in national initiatives concerning the future of the lottery industry and has served as President of NASPL. 

“This prestigious honor recognizes Margaret’s key role as a visionary leader and agent of change,” said Doug Pollard, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Pollard Banknote. “Her vision, drive, and enthusiasm are invaluable assets to Pollard Banknote and the lottery industry as a whole, and we look forward to her continued valuable contributions in the future.”    

DeFrancisco has also been the winner of two Emmy® Awards for her television work for the Georgia Lottery; the recipient of the Major Peter O’Connell Lottery Lifetime Achievement Award; the winner of the Women in Leadership Award from LaFleurs; and has been cited on the “Most Influential Atlantans” and “Most Influential Georgians” lists, as determined by the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Georgia Trend Magazine, and James Magazine. 

The Lottery Industry Hall of Fame was established by the PGRI in 2005 to recognize exceptional professionals who have made a significant contribution to the lottery industry’s success worldwide.  Every year, former inductees nominate and vote on the final recipients.

About Pollard Banknote Limited

Pollard Banknote Limited is one of the world’s leading full-service lottery vendors and is a major supplier to North America’s charitable gaming industry. The company manufactures instant lottery tickets and provides related programming, design, and marketing support. As well, Pollard Banknote manufactures pull-tab tickets and bingo paper, and supplies lottery management services (including warehousing and distribution). Established in 1907, Pollard Banknote is owned approximately 73.5% by the Pollard family and 26.5% by public shareholders and currently serves more than 50 lotteries worldwide, including some of the largest and most respected lotteries in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and Central and South America. For more information, please visit our website at www.pollardbanknote.com.

Forward-looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release may constitute “forward-looking” statements and information, which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. When used in this document, such statements include such words as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “believe,” “plan,” and other similar terminology. These statements reflect management’s current expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date of this document. There should not be an expectation that such information will in all circumstances be updated, supplemented, or revised whether as a result of new information, changing circumstances, future events, or otherwise.

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