Uni-Select Launches FinishMaster in Canada, Extending its Leadership Position in North America

BOUCHERVILLE, QUÉBEC--(Marketwired - Sept. 13, 2016) - Uni-Select Inc. (TSX:UNS), a leading distributor of automotive parts and paint & related products in Canada and parent company of FinishMaster, Inc., a leading distributor of paint and related products in the United States, is proud to announce today that its FinishMaster brand will be launched in Canada.

As part of its strategy, FinishMaster Canada Inc., a subsidiary of the Corporation, will be opening new FinishMaster stores and converting some of its current corporate stores under the FinishMaster brand, starting with an initial deployment phase in Toronto and Ottawa. The three corporate stores in Ontario are currently in the rebranding process and are set for official unveiling in September.

Managed by the Automotive Canada team, supported by a strong national distribution network and utilizing the same brand and format as used by FinishMaster, Inc. in the United States, the Canadian FinishMaster stores will be offering Uni-Select's complete line-up of well-known premium national brand paint and related products.

"The launch of the FinishMaster brand is part of our strategy to extend our North American leadership position in the automotive and industrial refinish space with the initiative to deploy the FinishMaster brand and model in Canada to provide better service to more customers nationally," stated Henry Buckley, President and Chief Executive Officer of Uni-Select Inc.

"Possessing a strong foundation in the United States, the FinishMaster brand has earned itself an enviable reputation for its quality, professionalism and expertise. The extension of the FinishMaster model to our current Canadian Paint, Body and Equipment (PBE) program will solidify our position to respond to the collision industry's growing demand in terms of paint & refinish products and services. The combination of our current automotive jobbers selling PBE and the launch of the FinishMaster model in Canada will enable us to better serve our customers nationally," said Michel Charbonneau, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, PBE Division, Automotive Canada. "The launch of FinishMaster in Canada reaffirms our objective to be the undisputed leader in the automotive refinish industry and preferred distributor in the automotive aftermarket," added Gary O'Connor, President and Chief Operating Officer of Automotive Canada.

The leading distributor of automotive and industrial paint and related products

FinishMaster was introduced to the American automotive aftermarket in 1968 and joined the Uni-Select family in January 2011. Over the years, FinishMaster has grown from a single outlet to a team of more than 1,600 team members, operating 205 branches and 4 distribution centres and serving over 6,000 collision repair centre customers in 31 states from coast to coast, making it the leading distributor of automotive refinish products in the United States. With the launch of FinishMaster in Canada, the brand will continue to grow and thrive by providing its renowned customer experience to the Canadian market.

ABOUT UNI-SELECT

Uni-Select is a leader in the distribution of automotive refinish and industrial paint and related products across North America, as well as in the automotive aftermarket parts business in Canada. Its over 3,000 team members, spread across a network of 14 distribution centres and over 250 corporate stores, are dedicated to supplying its customers the right products, at the right place, and when they need them. Uni-Select also offers advanced solutions and first-rate service to enable its customers' success. In the United States, FinishMaster, Inc., a subsidiary of Uni-Select operates a network of automotive refinish corporate stores from coast to coast under the FinishMaster banner and supports more than 6,000 collision repair centre customers. Uni-Select's Canadian automotive aftermarket parts and automotive refinish business supports a growing national network of more than 1,150 independent customers and corporate stores, several of which operate under Uni-Select store banner programs including Auto Parts Plus®, Auto-Plus® and Bumper to Bumper®. In Canada, Uni-Select supports over 3,900 shops and stores through its automotive repair/installer shop banners and programs including Auto Select®, Uni-Pro®, and SAX (SelectAutoXpert), as well as through its automotive refinish banner, Carrossier ProColor®. Uni-Select is headquartered in Boucherville, Québec, Canada, and its shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol UNS.

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

The information provided in this press release may include some forward-looking information, which could include certain risks and uncertainties, which may cause the final results to be significantly different from those listed or implied within this news release. For additional information with respect to risks and uncertainties, refer to the Annual Report filed by Uni-Select with the Canadian securities commissions. The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date of this press release, and Uni-Select does not undertake to publicly update such forward-looking information to reflect new information, subsequent or otherwise, unless required by applicable securities laws.