WINNIPEG, Manitoba, February 10, 2014 /CNW/ – Pollard Banknote Limited (TSX: PBL) (Pollard Banknote) is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a five-year contract extension by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (“BCLC”) for the supply of instant ticket games and related services. Under this new agreement, which commenced February 1, 2014, Pollard Banknote will continue to be the primary supplier of instant ticket games for BCLC. The value of the contract over the five-year term is estimated to be approximately $30 million in revenues.
Since 1986, Pollard Banknote has supplied a range of products and services to BCLC—from game design and instant ticket production to marketing support and strategic planning. The Lottery has also launched many of Pollard Banknote’s patented and exclusive product innovations over the years, including Scratch FX®, Spectrum Scratch FX®, PlayBook®, and other Fusion® games.
This new contract will also give Pollard Banknote the opportunity to provide a number of value-added services to the Lottery, including professional development seminars and the company’s SureTrack™ lottery management system. This increased knowledge and efficiency, combined with the introduction of new innovations over the next five years, will help BCLC continue to drive sales growth and expand its consumer base.
“Pollard Banknote is very proud of our 28-year partnership with BCLC,” said Doug Pollard, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Pollard Banknote. “BCLC is a long-valued customer, and we have worked hard to increase sales and offer the Lottery an expanding selection of innovative products and services to meet the consumer behavior of its jurisdiction. We embrace this opportunity to help BCLC continue its impressive growth in its instant ticket category to maximize revenues that support health care, education, and communities in British Columbia.”
“We’re excited to build upon our relationship with Pollard Banknote and grow the partnership that has been forged over nearly three decades,” said Kevin Gass, BCLC’s Vice-President of Lottery Gaming. “The company is known for driving sales and providing leading-edge product innovations and we look forward to bringing some of those new, innovative products that will engage and entertain our customers to the market.”
BCLC is a provincial Crown Corporation offering socially responsible gaming entertainment while generating income to benefit all British Columbians through health care, education, and important community programs.
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.
-30-
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Doug Pollard
Co-Chief Executive Officer
Telephone: (204) 474-2323
E-mail: dpollard@pbl.ca
John Pollard
Co-Chief Executive Officer
Telephone: (204) 474-2323
E-mail: jpollard@pbl.ca
Rob Rose
Chief Financial Officer
Telephone: (204) 474-2323
E-mail: rrose@pbl.ca