Toronto, February 12, 2008 — The winners of the 2007 Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies award, announced today, enjoyed the highest profit and revenues since the program’s inception, boasting combined sales of $8.5 billion and average sales growth of 31%. The Best Managed program celebrates its 15^th anniversary this year, and winning companies continue to raise the bar for Canadian business success by showcasing their adaptability and sustainability.

“This year's winners leveraged their entrepreneurial passion to drive their revenue, profits and value in the face of triple-digit oil prices, a strong Canadian dollar and mixed economic signals south of the border,” commented John Hughes, Deloitte partner and national leader of the Best Managed program.

Best Managed Companies demonstrate that, in every region of the country and across a significant number of industries, Canadian entrepreneurs have been successful in competing globally and overcoming the many and diverse market challenges.

“Since the creation of this program, Canadian private companies, and more precisely, the people who manage them, have consistently demonstrated their keen sense of knowing how to flourish amid adversity,” notes Hughes.

Insights into the 2007 Best Managed Winners
A close look at this year’s crop of Best Managed Companies reveals that many have employed and benefited from the following strategies and tactics:

1. Optimizing revenue and income by understanding where they make money and by streamlining customer channels and product and service strategies.
2. Evaluating alliances, mergers and acquisitions to enhance revenue and cut costs.
3. Focusing on implementing technology and equipment to improve operations.
4. Dealing with the dollar by employing some form of foreign currency hedging strategy and seeking out natural hedges by operating globally, in order to best absorb fluctuations.
5. Optimizing the tax efficiency of their network of companies, by taking advantage of corporate, personal and government incentives.
6. Restructuring operations to unlock potential value and, where appropriate, selling non-core business lines.

For businesses seeking ways to mitigate the effects of recent and possible future economic turbulence, one or more of the strategies and tactics listed above could be considered.

“The 2007 Best Managed Companies have clearly proven their stability in a changing economy,” said Calvin A. Younger, senior vice president, CIBC Commercial Banking, a national sponsor of the program. “They think beyond their own walls and have achieved outstanding results. We are thrilled with their achievements this year.”

2007 Best Managed winners:

2007 Best Managed winners, Platinum Club members, and Requalified members will be honoured at the Best Managed 15^th annual, invitation-only Symposium and Gala on February 25, 2008, in Toronto.

About Canada’s Best Managed Companies
Celebrating its 15th anniversary, Canada's 50 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 three levels: 1) Best Managed winner (one of the 50 new winners selected each year); 2) Requalified member (repeat winners retain the Best Managed designation for two additional years, subject to annual operational and financial review); 3) Platinum Club member (winners that maintain Best Managed status for a minimum of six consecutive years). Program sponsors are Deloitte, CIBC Commercial Banking, National Post, and Queen's School of Business. For further information, visit Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies.