Pollard Banknote recognized for its industry-leading printed products

WINNIPEG, Sept. 21, 2017 /CNW/ - Pollard Banknote Limited (TSX: PBL) ("Pollard Banknote") is proud to announce that it is the recipient of several awards from the Printing Industries of America (PIA), which were presented at the 2017 Premier Print Awards Gala in Chicago, Illinois on Sunday, September 10. This recognition is testament to Pollard Banknote's expertise in providing quality products to its lottery customers. Among thousands of submissions from around the world, Pollard Banknote's products were the only lottery tickets selected, demonstrating the company's position in the market as a provider of products recognized for their quality both in the lottery industry and the broader print industry.

The Premier Print Awards Competition, organized by the Printing Industries of America (PIA), recognizes the highest-quality print products in various categories. Each year, only the most worthy pieces receive Awards of Recognition, Certificates of Merit, and Best of Category awards.

Pollard Banknote's €20 Million Calendar ticket printed for Loterie Nationale de Belgique received the "They Said It Couldn't Be Done" Best of Category award. This game marked the first time a ticket was printed with Pollard Banknote's patented Scratch FX^® and Scratch Tab™ innovations in combination, all on an oversize 8" x 11" ticket. This combination of industry-leading innovations demonstrates Pollard Banknote's innovative spirit, which allows the company to offer its lottery customers continued opportunities to stand out in the marketplace.

In addition to doubling up on innovations, Million Calendar doubled up on awards, receiving a Certificate of Merit for "Special Innovation Awards—Other". Two other Pollard Banknote tickets also received Certificate of Merit awards. Western Canada Lottery Corporation's $5Candy Cane Cash Times 10 ticket received a Certificate of Merit in the "Specialty Inks or Coatings, Fragrances, or 'Invisible' Printing Inks" category for its use of peppermint scented ink combined with the sheen of Pollard Banknote's patented Scratch FX^®.

The other Pollard Banknote product recognized with a Certificate of Merit was Veikkaus's (The National Lottery of Finland) 100V Raha-arpa, celebrating Finland's hundred years of independence, which received the award in the "Flexographic Printing" category. The ticket's highly complex flexographic design featured nine unique images depicting Finland's past and present, helping the Lottery usher in a successful €20 ticket launch. "This special game has met with tremendous acceptance and success from Veikkaus' player base," said Riitta Mesilaakso-Lehtola, Product Manager for Veikkaus. "The ticket design had to be exceptional and we knew that we could count on Pollard Banknote to deliver."

Flexographic printing is a widely used process not just for lottery products, but throughout the print industry, and for Pollard Banknote to be recognized among the multitudes of other printers recognizes the company's ability to produce world-class, high-quality products while managing the complexities required for lottery ticket production.

"Pollard Banknote is excited to be recognized for several of our latest innovative tickets," said Murielle Fontaine, Director, Game Management & Design. "Our company has had a reputation for being a leader in the lottery market for decades. Now our products are shining across the greater print industry thanks to the PIA awards, which have honoured us with a Best of Category award, as well as recognized us for our capabilities among thousands of flexographic printers producing products for numerous industries."

About Pollard Banknote

Pollard Banknote is a leading lottery partner to more than 60 lotteries worldwide, providing high quality instant ticket products, licensed games, and strategic marketing and management services for both traditional instant games and the emerging iLottery space of web, mobile and social channels. The company is a proven innovator and has decades of experience helping lotteries to maximize player engagement, sales, and proceeds for good causes. Pollard Banknote also plays a major role in the charitable pull-tab and bingo markets in North America. Established in 1907, Pollard Banknote is owned approximately 73.5% by the Pollard family and 26.5% by public shareholders, and is publicly traded on the TSX (PBL). 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.

SOURCE Pollard Banknote Limited