WINNIPEG, Sept. 5, 2014 /CNW/ - Exchange Income Corporation (EIC) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a long-term strategic alliance agreement with Sakku Investments Corporation (Sakku). Sakku is the business arm of the Kivalliq Inuit Association whose mission is to invest in viable businesses for the betterment of the Inuit of the Kivalliq Region. The strategic alliance will allow EIC's operating subsidiaries, including Calm Air International LP and Keewatin Airlines LP, to leverage Sakku's local knowledge, area representation, community feedback and direct relationship with the Kivalliq people to more effectively provide aviation services to the communities in the Kivalliq Region.
As part of the strategic alliance, Calm Air has entered into a long-term lease of an aircraft hangar in Rankin Inlet owned and recently constructed by Sakku. The hangar will allow Calm Air to better service customers in the Kivalliq Region, improve operational reliability, and provide a facility from which to expand its northern operations as opportunities are realized as a result of its new relationship with Sakku. The strategic alliance represents a significant investment on the part of EIC and its operating subsidiaries in the Nunavut economy.
Mike Pyle, Chief Executive Officer of Exchange Income Corporation, said, "We have developed similar strategic alliances in our other geographic operating areas, particularly in Northern Manitoba, which have been tremendously successful and have allowed us to give back to the communities while enhancing our market share. Having a long-term relationship with such a respected and professional organization such as Sakku was something we have wanted for a long time. This alliance is in keeping with EIC's goals of partnering with and investing in the communities we serve."
"Calm Air has been a scheduled carrier in our region for over 30 years, and Keewatin Airlines has been doing air ambulance flights in the Kivalliq for over 40 years, so partnering with EIC just made sense," said Mr. Airo Pameolik, Chairman of Sakku. "The strategic alliance will allow Sakku to participate financially from essential services that both carriers provide to the region, and will allow the beneficiaries of the region to benefit from increase aviation activity in the Kivalliq including resource development."
About Sakku Investments Corporation
Sakku Investments Corporation is the business arm of the Kivalliq Inuit Association. The Mission of Sakku is to build a viable and healthy economy for the Inuit of the Kivalliq region. Incorporated in 1989, Sakku has a diversified portfolio with investments in mining, transportation, health, professional services, and real estate.
About Exchange Income Corporation
Exchange Income Corporation is a diversified acquisition-oriented company, focused in three sectors: aviation services and equipment, metal manufacturing, and infrastructure services. The Corporation uses a disciplined acquisition strategy to identify already profitable, well-established companies that have strong management teams, generate steady cash flow, operate in niche markets and have opportunities for organic growth.
The Corporation currently operates three segments: Aviation, Manufacturing and Infrastructure. The Aviation segment consists of the operations by Perimeter Aviation, Keewatin Air, Calm Air International, Bearskin Lake Air Service, Custom Helicopters and Regional One. The Manufacturing segment consists of the operations by Jasper Tank, Overlanders Manufacturing, Water Blast Manufacturing, and Stainless Fabrication. The Infrastructure segment consists of the operation of WesTower Communications. For more information on the Corporation, please visit www.ExchangeIncomeCorp.ca. Additional information relating to the Corporation, including all public filings, is available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com).
Caution concerning forward-looking statements
The statements contained in this news release that are forward-looking are based on current expectations and are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks, and actual results may differ materially. These uncertainties and risks include, but are not limited to, the dependence of Exchange Income Corporation on the operations and assets currently owned by it, the degree to which its subsidiaries are leveraged, the fact that cash distributions are not guaranteed and will fluctuate with the Corporation's financial performance, dilution, restrictions on potential future growth, the risk of shareholder liability, competitive pressures (including price competition), changes in market activity, the cyclicality of the industries, seasonality of the businesses, poor weather conditions, and foreign currency fluctuations, legal proceedings, commodity prices and raw material exposure, dependence on key personnel, and environmental, health and safety and other regulatory requirements. Further information about these and other risks and uncertainties can be found in the disclosure documents filed by Exchange Income Corporation with the securities regulatory authorities, available at www.sedar.com.
SOURCE Exchange Income Corporation
Mike Pyle, CEO, Exchange Income Corporation, (204) 982-1850, MPyle@eig.ca; Joe Racanelli, Investor Relations, The Equicom Group Inc., (416) 815-0700 or 1-800-385-5451 ext. 243, JRacanelli@tmxequicom.comCopyright CNW Group 2014