Canada's Best Managed Companies Continue to Thrive Despite Fluctuating Economy

TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - March 09, 2016) - Deloitte is proud to announce the winners of the 2015 Canada's Best Managed Companies awards program. This recognition is awarded to Canadian privately-owned and managed companies that demonstrate continual excellence in innovative management and business performance. Despite a fluctuating economy, winners thrived this year by leveraging their understanding of today's market and investing aggressively in technology and talent to inspire growth and maintain their long term success.

Best Managed winners are resilient as seen by their sustained growth year over year. Trends common to Best Managed companies, enabling their success, include:

• Attention to the changing market and preparing for potential swings;
• Adaptation of corporate strategy based on market conditions;
• Investment in technology, creating competitive advantage with new developments;
• Focus on leadership and success planning

"With many unknowns surrounding today's economic outlook, keeping a close eye on market conditions is critical for all Canadian businesses, but especially for privately owned enterprises," said Peter E. Brown, National Co-Leader of Canada's Best Managed Companies program and Partner, Deloitte Private. "Best Managed companies identify and prepare for potential swings in the market ahead of time. This allows them to adapt their business models and shift investment strategies to areas that are still important to the business, while simultaneously being shielded from adverse market consequences."

"CIBC celebrates the accomplishments of this year's Best Managed companies," said Jon Hountalas, Executive Vice-President, Business Banking at CIBC, a proud program sponsor. "These enterprises demonstrate the significant impact Canadian private companies are making by pursuing innovation, adapting to change, and maintaining a sharp focus on their clients. We're proud to recognize these private companies as leaders in their industries."

2015 winners are characterized as flexible, innovative, forward-thinking, and technology-focused. Over the last two decades the combination of these qualities has contributed to the success, resilience and longevity of Best Managed winners. This year over 150 companies reached Platinum Club status, having maintained their Best Managed designation for seven years or more. Among its five award categories, the Best Managed program has grown to recognize 406 companies currently, offering a strong network that will support the 50 new winners' continued success.

 "The Best Managed network represents the highest class of Canadian business, and truly the backbone of the Canadian economy. Best Managed companies understand the challenges that face private businesses and are worthy examples that companies of all size and scale can learn from," said Mike Runia, National Co-Leader of Canada's Best Managed Companies program and Ontario Managing Partner, Deloitte. "Joining the Best Managed network provides new winners with a substantial network of exceptionally successful private companies that are willing and eager to share insights and help Canadian business owners succeed."

The 2015 Best Managed recipients include:

A complete list of Best Managed winners, Requalified winners, Gold Standard winners, Gold Standard requalified winners and Platinum Club winners is available here:
https://www.bestmanagedcompanies.ca/en/meetourwinners/Pages/Home.aspx

About Canada's Best Managed Companies
Canada's Best Managed Companies continues to be the mark of excellence for Canadian-owned and managed companies with revenues over $10 million. Every year since the launch of the program in 1993, hundreds of entrepreneurial companies have competed for this designation in a rigorous and independent process that evaluates their management skills and practices. The awards are granted on five levels: 1) Best Managed winner (one of the new winners selected each year); 2) Requalified winner (award recipients that have re-applied and successfully retained their Best Managed designation for two additional years, subject to annual operational and financial review); 3) Gold Standard winner (After three consecutive years of maintaining their Best Managed status, these winners have demonstrated their commitment to the program and successfully retained their award for their 4th consecutive year); 4) Gold Standard requalified winner (Award recipients that have applied and successfully retained their Gold Standard designation for two additional years, subject to annual operational and financial review); 5) Platinum Club member (Winners have maintained their Best Managed status for seven years or more). Program sponsors are Deloitte, CIBC, National Post, Smith School of Business and MacKay CEO Forums. For further information, visit www.bestmanagedcompanies.ca.

About Deloitte
Deloitte, one of Canada's leading professional services firms, provides audit, tax, consulting, and financial advisory services. Deloitte LLP, an Ontario limited liability partnership, is the Canadian member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited.

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee, and its network of member firms, each of which is a legally separate and independent entity. Please see www.deloitte.com/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited and its member firms.