Crius Announces 2% Distribution Increase and Confirms First Quarter 2017 Distributions

/NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES OR OVER UNITED STATES WIRE SERVICES/

TORONTO, Jan. 11, 2017 /CNW/ - Crius Energy Trust (the "Trust") (TSX: KWH.UN) announced today that the Board of Directors of Crius Energy Administrator Inc., the administrator of the Trust (the "Board") has approved a 2% increase to distributions paid on units of the Trust ("Units"), representing an annualized increase of $0.0152 per Unit and a total annualized distribution of $0.7730 per Unit. Accordingly, distributions on Units for the months of January 2017, February 2017 and March 2017 will be paid at a rate of $0.0644 per Unit, representing a 2% increase over the previous annualized distribution rate of $0.7578 per Unit.

"Based on the positive results we continue to see from our growth strategy in our deregulated energy and solar businesses, Management and the Board are very pleased to begin 2017 with another 2% distribution increase for our investors," commented Michael Fallquist, CEO of Crius Energy. "The company continues to maintain a very conservative payout ratio and the Board is confident that it will be able to continue increasing distributions throughout 2017, with plans to evaluate further distribution increases beyond the end of the year."

Today, the Board declared the Trust's monthly distributions on Units, each in the amount of $0.0644 per Unit, through the first quarter of 2017. Such distributions are payable for each of January 2017, February 2017 and March 2017 to unitholders of the Trust as set forth below.

About Crius Energy Trust

Crius Energy Trust was established to provide investors with a distribution-producing investment through its ownership interest in Crius Energy, LLC (the "Company"). With over 962,000 residential customer equivalents, the Company is a comprehensive energy solutions partner that provides electricity, natural gas and solar products to residential and commercial customers. The Company connects with energy customers through an innovative family-of-brands strategy and multi-channel marketing approach. This unique combination creates multiple access points to a broad suite of energy products and services that make it easier for consumers to make informed decisions about their energy needs. The Company currently sells energy products in 18 states and the District of Columbia with plans to continue expanding its geographic reach.

The Trust intends to continue to qualify as a "mutual fund trust" under the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Tax Act"). The Trust will not be a "SIFT trust" (as defined in the Tax Act), provided that the Trust complies at all times with its investment restriction which preclude the Trust from holding any "non-portfolio property" (as defined in the Tax Act). Material information pertaining to the Crius may be found on SEDAR under the Trust's issuer profile at www.sedar.com or on the Trust's website at www.criusenergytrust.ca.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, and should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results and actual results may differ materially from the conclusion, forecast or projection stated in such forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include but are not limited to, the ability of the Trust to maintain a distribution on Units, the ability of Crius Energy, LLC to continue completing acquisitions and continue its organic growth strategy, Crius Energy, LLC's results of operations, financial position or cash flows, customer revenues and margins, customer additions and renewals, customer attrition, customer consumption levels, general and administrative expenses, treatment under governmental regulatory regimes, the Trust's objectives and status as a mutual fund trust and not a SIFT trust, the Trust's distributable cash and the Trust's expectations and estimates regarding the payment of distributions to Unit holders. Such assumptions, expectations, estimates, risks and uncertainties are discussed under the headings "Risk Factors" and "Special Notes to Reader – Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factors" in the Annual Information Form of the Trust dated March 15, 2016, and under the headings "Financial Instruments and Risk Management" and "Forward-Looking Statements" in the Management's Discussion and Analysis of the Trust dated August 10, 2016. Consequently, we cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statements will materialize. Readers should not place any undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. 

SOURCE Crius Energy Trust