EX-99.2 3 exhibit99-2.htm EXHIBIT 99.2 Points International Ltd. - Exhibit 99.2 - Filed by newsfilecorp.com

POINTS INTERNATIONAL LTD.
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

INTRODUCTION

The following management’s discussion and analysis (‘‘MD&A’’) of the performance and financial condition of Points International Ltd. and its subsidiaries (which are also referred to herein as “Points” or the “Corporation”) should be read in conjunction with the Corporation’s unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements (including the notes thereto) as at and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, the 2015 annual MD&A and the 2015 audited annual consolidated financial statements and notes thereto and other recent filings with Canadian and U.S. securities regulatory authorities, which may be accessed at www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov.

All financial data herein has been prepared in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34, Interim Financial Reporting, as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) and all dollar amounts herein are in thousands of United States dollars unless otherwise specified. This MD&A is dated as of November 2, 2016 and was reviewed by the Audit Committee and approved by the Corporation’s Board of Directors.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This MD&A contains or incorporates forward-looking statements within the meaning of United States securities legislation and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation (collectively, “forward-looking statements”). These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, revenue, earnings, changes in costs and expenses, capital expenditures and other objectives, strategic plans and business development goals, and may also include other statements that are predictive in nature, or that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and can generally be identified by words such as “may”, “will”, “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “estimates” or similar expressions. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements. These statements are not historical facts but instead represent only the Corporation’s expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events. Certain significant forward-looking statements included in this MD&A include statements regarding: revenue growth, the shift in the internal mix of revenue sources and the impact thereof on sustained profitability; the maximization of gross profit and the accretive nature of new deals and products on profitability; enhancing the capabilities of the Corporation’s loyalty commerce platform and its consumer product innovations; development of growth opportunities for the Corporation through access to growing loyalty membership databases; the Corporation’s ability to generate positive returns on its historical and ongoing investments in its loyalty commerce platform and its expansion of new product offerings; the Corporation’s ability to generate cash through normal course operations to fund capital expenditure needs and current operating and working capital requirements, including under current operating leases; and the financial obligations with respect to revenue guarantees.

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Although the Corporation believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Certain material assumptions are applied in making forward-looking statements and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. In particular, the financial outlooks herein assume the Corporation will be able to maintain its existing contractual relationships and products, that such products continue to perform in a manner consistent with the Corporation’s past experience, that the Corporation will be able to generate new business from its pipeline at expected margins, in-market and newly launched products and services will perform in a manner consistent with the Corporation’s past experience and the Corporation will be able to contain costs. The Corporation’s ability to convert its pipeline of prospective partners and product launches is subject to significant risk and there can be no assurance that the Corporation will launch new partners or new products with existing partners as expected or planned nor can there be any assurance that the Corporation will be successful in maintaining its existing contractual relationships or maintaining existing products with existing partners. Other important assumptions, factors, risks and uncertainties are included in the press release announcing the Corporation’s third quarter 2016 financial results, and those described in Points’ other filings with applicable securities regulators, including Points’ AIF, Form 40-F, annual and interim MD&A, and annual consolidated financial statements and interim condensed consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto. These documents are available at www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov.

The forward-looking statements contained in this MD&A are made as at the date of this MD&A and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. Except as required by law, Points does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements made or incorporated in this MD&A, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

USE OF NON-GAAP MEASURES

The Corporation’s financial statements are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). Management uses certain non-GAAP measures, which are defined in the appropriate sections in the body of this MD&A, to better assess the Corporation’s underlying performance. These measures are reviewed regularly by management and the Corporation’s Board of Directors in assessing the Corporation’s performance and in making decisions about ongoing operations. These measures are also used by investors as an indicator of the Corporation’s operating performance. Readers are cautioned that these terms are not recognized GAAP measures and do not have a standardized GAAP meaning under IFRS and should not be construed as alternatives to IFRS terms, such as net income.

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BUSINESS OVERVIEW

Points International Ltd.

Points International Ltd. is the global leader in powering loyalty commerce. The Corporation’s products and services help the world’s leading loyalty programs enhance loyalty member engagement and participation and leverage their online presence in innovative ways. The Corporation delivers e-commerce solutions to loyalty programs on both a privately branded and Points’ branded basis. In addition, the Corporation operates the Points.com website, where millions of members manage their loyalty memberships, learn about new promotions, and exchange points and miles between programs.

Loyalty Programs generate substantial economic benefits and are increasingly seen as strategic marketing and business assets. Points provides products and services which help make loyalty programs more valuable and engaging. Points does not directly compete with loyalty rewards programs and as such operates as a business partner of the loyalty program. Consequently, Points products and services are available to numerous loyalty partners simultaneously to enhance their programs through the Loyalty Commerce Platform (“LCP”), which is the backbone of the Points product and service offerings. The LCP has been designed as an Application Program Interface (“API”) driven transactional platform that provides internal and external product developers easier access to the direct integrations into the Corporation’s technological infrastructure. This approach facilitates loyalty commerce transactions and encourages incremental participation resulting in greater value to a loyalty program partner and their membership base. The LCP offers a consistent interface for developers that is self-serve capable, providing broad access to loyalty transaction capabilities based on the Corporation’s direct integrations with its loyalty program partners. The LCP supports not only the Corporation’s core Buy, Gift and Transfer (“BGT”) products, but also additional loyalty products offered by Points directly or by third party product providers. Additionally, the LCP facilitates the broad distribution of loyalty currencies and loyalty commerce transactions through multiple channels via the newly developed Points Loyalty Wallet.

The Corporation’s business relationships with its Loyalty Partners enable the products and services it offers to be exposed to the vast memberships of these Loyalty Partners. Access to these growing loyalty membership databases provides growth opportunities for the Corporation by increasing the overall level of member engagement with the Corporation’s products in a very cost effective manner. In addition, offering new and innovative products to expand the suite of product offerings on the LCP to existing and new loyalty programs presents an additional growth opportunity for the Corporation. Securing additional Loyalty Partners to utilize our LCP, products and services provides a further growth opportunity for Points. With direct integrations into more than 50 of the world’s leading loyalty programs and access to over 700 million loyalty members, the LCP uniquely positions the Corporation to connect third party channels with highly engaged loyalty program members and the broader loyalty market.

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The Corporation’s e-commerce solutions are utilized by over 50 of the world’s leading loyalty programs, including:

United Airlines MileagePlus InterContinental Hotels Group
Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Amtrak Guest Rewards
British Airways Executive Club Hilton HHonors
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan
AF-KLM Flying Blue Saudi Arabian Airlines Alfursan
Starwood Preferred Guest Delta Air Lines SkyMiles
Hyatt Gold Passport American Airlines AAdvantage
JetBlue TrueBlue Lanpass
La Quinta Returns Miles & More

In 2016, Points expects to deliver over $400 million annually in additional revenue for partners whose loyalty program members number over 700 million. The Corporation’s headquarters are located in Toronto, Canada and its shares are dually listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) as PTS and on the NASDAQ Capital Market (“NASDAQ”) as PCOM.

The Corporation’s revenue is primarily generated by transacting points and miles online. Revenue is principally derived from the sale or transfer of loyalty currencies directly to loyalty program members. The Corporation categorizes its revenue in three ways: principal revenue, other partner revenue and interest income.

Principal Revenue:
Principal revenue includes all principal revenue derived from reseller sales, technology design, development and maintenance revenue, and hosting fees. Under a reseller arrangement, the Corporation takes on a principal role whereby it purchases points and miles from loyalty program partners at wholesale rates and resells them directly to consumers. The Corporation has a substantial level of responsibility with respect to operations, marketing, pricing and commercial transaction support. In addition, the Corporation may assume additional responsibility when assuming a principal role, such as credit and/or inventory risk.

Other Partner Revenue:
Other partner revenue includes transactional revenue that is realized when the Corporation assumes an agency role in the retailing and wholesaling of loyalty currencies for loyalty program partners and other revenue received from partners which is not transactional in nature.

Interest Income:
Lastly, as part of its operating economics, the Corporation earns interest income on the cash flows generated by its products and services.

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The Loyalty Market

Year-over-year, loyalty programs continue to generate a significant source of ancillary revenue and cash flows for program operators. According to the Colloquy group, a leading consulting and research firm focused on the loyalty industry, the number of loyalty memberships in the U.S. increased from 2.6 billion in 2012 to 3.3 billion in 2014, representing an increase of 27%. In addition, the average U.S. household belonged to 29 loyalty programs as of 2014, versus 22 loyalty programs in 2012 (source: 2015 Colloquy Loyalty Census, February 2015). As the number of loyalty memberships continues to increase, the level of diversification in the loyalty landscape is evolving. While the airline, specialty retail, and financial services industries continue to be dominant in loyalty programs in the U.S., smaller verticals, including the restaurant and drug store industries are beginning to see larger growth in their membership base. Further, newer loyalty concepts, such as large e-commerce programs, daily deals, and online travel agencies, are becoming more prevalent. As a result of this changing landscape, loyalty programs must continue to provide innovative value propositions in order to drive activity in their programs.

In light of this environment, the Corporation continues to advance the functionality of its LCP which provides external product developers easy access to the direct integrations with the Corporation’s Loyalty Program partners. The LCP provides a medium to more easily facilitate transactions and provide greater value to a Loyalty Program’s membership base. The Corporation continues to focus on innovation and be highly engaged in a quickly developing loyalty industry. As the Corporation continues to advance the platform’s capabilities, management believes the addressable market opportunity for the Corporation will continue to increase.

QUARTERLY HIGHLIGHTS

Highlights of operating results for the three months ended September 30, 2016 include:

  • Quarterly revenue of $82,442 an increase of $1,309 or 2% from the prior year quarter;

  • Quarterly gross profit of $10,062, which was consistent with the prior year quarter (please refer to ‘Revenue, Direct Costs and Gross Profit’ on page 8 for definition and explanation);

  • Net income of $335, a decrease of $433, or 56% from the prior year quarter;

  • Earnings before taxes, depreciation, amortization, share-based compensation and foreign exchange (“Adjusted EBITDA”) of $2,250, lower by $263 or 10% from the prior year quarter (please refer to ‘Adjusted EBITDA’ on page 11 for definition and explanation); and,

  • As at September 30, 2016, the Corporation had cash and cash equivalents of $47,832 and no debt.

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SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
(All amounts are in thousands of US dollars unless otherwise stated)

The following information is provided to give a context for the broader comments elsewhere in this report.

    For the three months     For the nine months  
    ended     ended  
(In thousands of US dollars, except                        
share and per share amounts)   September     September     September     September  
(unaudited)   30, 2016     30, 2015     30, 2016     30, 2015  
                     
Revenue $ 82,442   $  81,133   $ 239,866   $  216,148  
                         
Gross profit1   10,062     10,080     31,417     32,702  
                         
Ongoing operating costs   8,201     8,078     24,721     23,838  
Adjusted EBITDA2   2,250     2,513     8,443     10,446  
Operating income3   636     1,120     3,076     6,227  
                   
Net income $ 335   $ 768   $ 2,159   $  4,204  
Earnings per share                        
                         
   Basic $  0.02   $  0.05   $  0.14   $  0.27  
                         
   Diluted $  0.02   $  0.05   $  0.14   $  0.27  
Weighted average shares outstanding                        
                       
   Basic   15,222,256     15,528,928     15,261,967     15,602,849  
                       
   Diluted   15,234,597     15,567,440     15,274,083     15,663,486  
                       
Total assets $  97,943   $  85,198   $ 97,943   $  85,198  
                       
Total liabilities $  52,204   $  42,995   $ 52,204   $  42,995  
                       
Shareholders' equity $  45,739   $  42,203   $ 45,739   $  42,203  

1Gross profit is a non-GAAP financial measure. Refer to page 8 for definition and explanation.
2Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. Refer to page 11 for definition and explanation.
3Operating income is an additional GAAP measure presented in the financial statements, and is defined as Net income before Income tax expense. Management presents this additional GAAP measure to provide comparability to companies in different tax jurisdictions.

BUSINESS RESULTS AND DEVELOPMENTS

Year to date financial results for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 reflected the strength of the Corporation’s core business, as revenue grew 11% on a year over year basis. In addition, the Corporation advanced its longer term growth initiatives by continuing to invest in the Points Travel service and Loyalty Wallet offering. In particular, the Points Travel product demonstrated its strong value proposition and market fit in the loyalty space, with several successful launches in the first nine months of 2016.

During the third quarter of 2016, the Corporation experienced a marginal increase in revenues on a year over year basis. Revenues were $82,442 in the third quarter of 2016 which had similar promotional calendars on the core business as the previous year, resulting in relatively flat revenue compared to the same period in 2015. Similarly, gross profit of $10,062 was relatively consistent with the gross profit results in the third quarter of 2015. Adjusted EBITDA decreased 10% from the prior year quarter to $2,250, resulting from increased other operating costs associated with the new head office lease.

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The Corporation continued to invest in its LCP and consumer product innovations in 2016. Leveraging these platform developments and product innovation efforts, the Corporation was successful in executing against its new partner pipeline for the new Points Travel product. In addition, ongoing developments made to the LCP have strengthened the Corporation’s core business offering.

The Points Travel product connects online hotel bookings with loyalty, quickly integrating into a loyalty program’s web and mobile properties to create a unique travel e-commerce offering that is program-branded and leverages the transactional capabilities of the LCP. The third quarter of 2016 continued to demonstrate the product’s unique offering with the successful launch of the Air Miles Travel Hub and the Hawaiian Airlines hotel booking redemption program. These launches add to a growing list of loyalty program partners participating on the new Points Travel Platform, including La Quinta Returns and Air France-KLM’s Flying Blue program, both launched earlier in 2016. Along with Miles & More, which was launched in pilot at the end of 2015 and rolled out in early 2016, these new product launches represent a distinct product offering to the world’s loyalty programs, further increasing the addressable market opportunity for the Corporation by connecting loyalty with the online travel vertical.

Development efforts during the first nine months of 2016 also focused on advancing the Loyalty Wallet, a new product offering which management views as a longer term growth opportunity for the Corporation. The Loyalty Wallet facilitates the broad distribution of loyalty currencies, making it easier for loyalty members to earn and use loyalty currencies in their preferred channels with relevant transactions.

The Corporation’s core retailing business remains strong. In the first quarter of 2016, the Corporation announced multi-year partnership extensions with two of its larger principal partners, Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards and Air France-KLM’s Flying Blue programs. These partnership extensions, combined with existing deals in place at the beginning of the year, represent 75% of 2015 revenue locked into long-term contracts. In addition, in the second quarter of 2016, the Corporation launched the new principal partnership with Shangri-La hotels, a premier hotel network that that operates hotels across North America, Europe, Australia, China, and the Middle East. Through these new contracts and contract extensions, Points will continue to power the BGT and business incentive programs for these loyalty program partners.

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With these multi-year partnerships secured, combined with a positive market demand for newer products including Points Travel and Loyalty Wallet, Management remains optimistic about the Corporation’s longer-term ability to deliver improved profitability. However, the sales ramp associated with these new products to date in 2016 has been slower than the expectations management had for the year. In addition, a large retail incentive program expected during the year was not executed in line with 2016 expectations. The high-margin profile of these new services and one-off initiatives has moderated management’s profitability expectations for this year, resulting in updated financial guidance for the year ending December 31, 2016:

Revenue is expected to grow 10% to 20% over 2015
Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be flat to slightly down over 2015

As previously announced, beginning in 2016, the Company updated its calculation of Adjusted EBITDA to adjust for the impact of share-based compensation, to be more inline with peer and industry standards. Figures for prior periods have been adjusted to reflect this in comparisons.

Lastly, Points reinitiated its Normal Course Issuer Bid (“NCIB”) during the first quarter of 2016 to repurchase and cancel up to 764,930 of its common shares as part of its commitment to creating shareholder value. The Corporation’s balanced capital allocation strategy leverages its strong balance sheet to invest in growth opportunities while returning value to shareholders.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

REVENUE, DIRECT COSTS AND GROSS PROFIT

Gross profit, defined by management as total revenues less direct costs of principal revenue, is a non-GAAP financial measure which does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and is therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. Gross profit is viewed by management to be an integral measure of financial performance as it represents an internal measure of ongoing growth and the amount of revenues retained by the Corporation that are available to fund ongoing operating expenses, including incremental spending that is in line with the long term investment strategy of the Corporation. Management continues to drive a shift in the Corporation’s revenue mix toward reseller relationships (with higher partner engagement) that are expected to lead to sustained profitability for the Corporation. In general, the Corporation seeks to maximize the gross profit dollars generated from each loyalty partner relationship. For this reason, these new deals and products are expected to be accretive to overall profitability.

Direct cost of principal revenue consists of variable direct costs incurred to generate principal revenues earned under the reseller model, which include the wholesale cost of loyalty currency paid to partners for the purchase of such currency, and credit card processing fees.

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    For the three months     For the nine months  
    ended     ended  
(In thousands of US dollars)   September     September     September     September  
(unaudited)   30, 2016     30, 2015     30, 2016     30, 2015  
                     
 Principal revenue $  79,671   $  78,809   $ 230,941   $ 206,364  
 Other partner revenue   2,725     2,301     8,786     9,728  
 Interest revenue   46     23     139     56  
Total revenue   82,442     81,133     239,866     216,148  
                         
Direct cost of principal revenue   72,380     71,053     208,449     183,446  
                   
Gross profit1 $ 10,062   $  10,080   $ 31,417   $ 32,702  
Gross margin2   12%     12%     13%     15%  

1 Gross profit is a non-GAAP financial measure and is defined as Total revenue less Direct cost of principal revenue. Refer to page 8 for definition and explanation.
2 Gross margin is a non-GAAP financial measure and is defined as Gross profit as a percentage of Total revenue.

Revenue and gross profit growth are dependent on various factors, including the timing and size of promotional campaigns that are placed in market by the Corporation, the growth in loyalty program partner’s membership base, and the effectiveness of merchandising and marketing efforts and channels initiated by the Corporation to generate incremental revenues.

The Corporation generated revenues of $82,442 for the three months ended September 30, 2016, an increase of $1,309, or 2% over the third quarter of 2015. The year over year increase in the third quarter was primarily driven by organic growth of approximately 1% from existing partnerships, as the promotional calendar in the third quarter of 2016 was slightly stronger for certain principal partners relative to the prior year quarter. Revenues for the nine month period ended September 30, 2016, increased $23,718 or 11% over the comparable prior year period, due largely to organic growth from the Corporation’s existing partnerships

Principal revenue for the third quarter of 2016 was $79,671, an increase of $862 or 1% over the third quarter of 2015. During the three month period ended September 30, 2016, organic growth across loyalty partners contributed to the increase in principal revenue over the comparable quarter in 2015. On a year to date basis, principal revenue for the nine month period ended September 30, 2016 increased $24,577 or 12% over the comparable prior year period. The year to date increase in principal revenue was driven by strong organic growth from the Corporation’s principal partners.

Other partner revenue for the third quarter of 2016 was $2,725, and increased by $424 or 18%, over the third quarter of 2015. The increase is primarily driven by growth in the core business and to a lesser extent, incremental revenue from the new Points Travel product. Other partner revenue for the nine month period ended September 30, 2016, decreased $942 or 10% over the comparable prior year period. The year over year decrease was primarily due to the departure of the US Airways BGT products at the end of the first quarter of the prior year. Revenues from this partnership were recorded in other partner revenue in the first quarter of 2015.

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Gross profit for the third quarter of 2016 was $10,062, consistent with the prior year quarter. Gross margin of 12% in the third quarter of 2016 was consistent with the prior year quarter. The margin profile was mainly attributed to promotional activities that were more heavily weighted towards large reseller partnerships with a lower gross margin profile. Gross margin for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, was 13% compared to 15% in the comparable prior year period. The decrease was primarily due to the mix of partner and product revenues relative to the prior year period, as well as the departure of US Airways, which was recognized as other partner revenue in the first quarter of 2015.

ONGOING OPERATING COSTS

    For the three months     For the nine months  
    ended     ended  
                         
(In thousands of US dollars)   September     September     September     September  
(unaudited)   30, 2016     30, 2015     30, 2016     30, 2015  
Employment costs $  5,457   $  5,732   $  17,574   $  17,479  
Marketing and communications   460     499     1,247     1,173  
Technology services   446     357     1,236     988  
Operating expenses   1,838     1,490     4,664     4,198  
Total ongoing operating costs $  8,201   $  8,078   $  24,721   $  23,838  

Ongoing operating costs are predominantly cash-based expenditures and include employment costs, marketing and communications expenditures, technology service costs and operating expenses. The majority of ongoing operating costs are predominantly in Canadian dollars, exposing the Corporation to foreign exchange risk. To mitigate the impact of foreign exchange volatility, management enters into foreign exchange forward contracts for the majority of its predictable Canadian dollar expenditures on a rolling 12-month basis.

Ongoing operating costs for the third quarter of 2016 increased by $123 or 2%, compared to the prior year quarter. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, ongoing operating costs increased by $883 or 4% over the comparable prior year period. The change reflects the increase in the office expenses due to the relocation of the corporate head office. Expense increases incurred in Canadian dollars were minimized by foreign exchange benefits, as the Corporation’s CAD/USD exchange rate after the effects of hedging contracts was more favourable in 2016 versus the same period in 2015. Further details of the changes in ongoing operating costs are provided below.

Employment costs

Employment costs, including salaries and bonuses, employee share-based compensation expenses, contract labour charges, recruiting, benefits and other related taxes, are predominantly in Canadian dollars. Employment costs of $5,457 in the third quarter of 2016 decreased by $275 or 5% over the third quarter of 2015. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, employment costs increased $95 or 1% from the comparable prior year period.

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Full-time employees (“FTEs”) in the third quarter of 2016 were 215, an increase of 18, from 197 in the third quarter of 2015. The increase reflects additional resources added over the last twelve months, largely in the areas of technology, product, and marketing. FTEs in the third quarter of 2016 included 20 contract and short term roles. New resource additions were made to the Corporation’s San Francisco office and select hires in the Toronto head office. Personnel in the San Francisco office were predominantly technology and product based and focused on expanding the Corporation’s Loyalty Wallet and Points Travel products.

The incremental employment costs for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 associated with the increased FTEs were largely offset by foreign exchange benefits from the Canadian dollar hedging contracts which were more favourable in the first nine months of 2016 compared to the same period in 2015.

Included in employment costs are share-based compensation costs of $389 and $1,747 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, that are excluded in the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA. The Corporation has two share-based compensation plans for its employees and directors: a share option plan and a share unit plan.

Marketing and communications

Marketing and communications expenditures consist of loyalty program marketing initiatives, placements on contracted loyalty program websites, public relations costs, and other online marketing and promotional activities. Marketing and communication costs for the third quarter of 2016 decreased by $39, or 8%, from the third quarter of 2015 due to the timing of marketing activities. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, marketing and communications costs increased $74 or 6% versus the comparable prior year period. These increases were mainly due to the increased promotional activities, stronger publicity efforts and increased consumer research conducted during 2016.

Technology Services

Technology services include online hosting and managed services, equipment rental, and software license fees. Technology service costs for the third quarter of 2016 increased by $89, or 25%, from the prior year quarter. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, technology services costs increased $248 or 25% versus the comparable prior year period. The year over year increase was primarily attributable to increased cloud-based services, data security costs, software licensing fees and infrastructure costs.

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Operating Expenses

Operating expenses include office overhead, travel expenses, professional fees and other costs associated with operations. Operating expenses for the third quarter of 2016 increased by $348, or 23%, from the prior year quarter. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, operating expenses increased $466 or 11% versus the comparable prior year period. The increases observed were primarily driven by the head office move and the new office lease agreement which reflects current market rates.

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure, which is defined as earnings before income tax expense, depreciation and amortization, share-based compensation and foreign exchange. Management excludes these items because they could potentially distort the analysis of trends in business performance.

Management believes that Adjusted EBITDA is an important indicator of the Corporation’s ability to generate liquidity through operating cash flow to fund future working capital needs and fund future capital expenditures and uses the metric for this purpose. Adjusted EBITDA is also used by investors and analysts for the purpose of valuing an issuer. The presentation of Adjusted EBITDA is to provide additional useful information to investors and analysts and the measure does not have any standardized meaning under IFRS. Adjusted EBITDA should therefore not be considered in isolation or used in substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. Other issuers may calculate Adjusted EBITDA differently.

Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA

    For the three months     For the nine months  
    ended     ended  
                         
(In thousands of US   September     September     September     September  
dollars)(unaudited)   30, 2016     30, 2015     30, 2016     30, 2015  
                   
Net income $ 335   $  768   $ 2,159   $ 4,204  
Income tax expense   301     352     917     2,023  
Depreciation and amortization   1,224     891     3,451     2,651  
Foreign exchange loss (gain)   1     (9 )   169     (14 )
Share-based compensation   389     511     1,747     1,582  
                     
Adjusted EBITDA1 $  2,250   $  2,513   $ 8,443   $ 10,446  
                     
Gross Profit2 $  10,062   $  10,080   $ 31,417   $ 32,702  
Adjusted EBITDA1 as a % of Gross Profit2   22%     25%     27%     32%  

1 Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. Refer to page 11 for definition and explanation.
2 Gross profit is a non-GAAP financial measure. Refer to page 8 for definition and explanation.

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For the quarter ended September 30, 2016, the Corporation’s Adjusted EBITDA was $2,250, a decrease of $263 or 10% from the third quarter of 2015. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, Adjusted EBITDA was $8,443, a decrease of $2,003 or 19% over the comparable prior year period. These decreases were the result of decreased gross profit and increased ongoing operating costs during the nine months ended September 30, 2016.

Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of gross profit is viewed by management as a key internal measure of operating efficiency. This measure demonstrates the Corporation’s ability to generate profitability after it has funded ongoing operating costs and strategic investments. For the quarter ended September 30, 2016, Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of gross profit was 22%, a decrease from 25% in the prior year quarter, which is attributed to increased operating costs related to our new head office lease and technology services. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of gross profit was 27%, down from 32% in the comparable prior year period. The year to date decrease was primarily due to a decrease in gross profit due to the increased cost of promotional activity with the Corporation’s loyalty program partners.

DEPRECIATION, AMORTIZATION AND INCOME TAX EXPENSES

    For the three months     For the nine months  
    ended     ended  
                         
(In thousands of US dollars)   September     September     September     September  
(unaudited)   30, 2016     30, 2015     30, 2016     30, 2015  
                       
Depreciation and amortization $  1,224   $ 891   $  3,451   $  2,651  
Foreign exchange loss (gain)   1     (9 )   169     (14 )
Income tax expense   301     352     917     2,023  
Total $  1,526   $ 1,234   $  4,537   $  4,660  

Depreciation and amortization expense

Depreciation and amortization expense in the third quarter of 2016 increased $333, or 37%, from the third quarter of 2015. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, depreciation and amortization expense increased $800 or 30% over the comparable prior year period. The increase from the prior year periods was due to additional amortization incurred from internally developed systems which became available for use throughout the second half of 2015 and the first half of 2016, and the increased amortization of leasehold improvements due to the revised termination date of the previous head office premises lease.

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Foreign exchange gain / loss

The Corporation is exposed to Foreign Exchange (“FX”) risk as a result of transactions in currencies other than its functional currency, the US dollar. FX gains and losses arise from the translation of the Corporation’s balance sheet and expenses. The Corporation holds balances in foreign currencies (e.g. non-US dollar denominated cash, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, and deposits) that give rise to exposure to foreign exchange risk. At period end, non-US dollar balance sheet accounts are translated at the period-end FX rate. The net effect after translating the balance sheet accounts is recorded in the condensed consolidated interim statement of comprehensive income for the period.

The majority of the Corporation’s revenues in the third quarter of 2016 were transacted in US dollars, EUROs and British Pound. The direct cost of principal revenue is denominated in the same currency as the revenue earned, minimizing the FX exposure related to the EURO and British Pound. Ongoing operating costs are predominantly incurred in Canadian dollars, exposing the Corporation to FX risk.

As part of the risk management strategy of the Corporation, management enters into foreign exchange forward contracts extending out to one year to reduce the foreign exchange risk with respect to the Canadian dollar. These contracts have been designated as cash flow hedges. The Corporation does not use derivative instruments for speculative purposes.

For a derivative instrument designated as a cash flow hedge, the effective portion of the derivative’s gain or loss is initially reported as a component of other comprehensive income and is subsequently recognized in income when the hedged exposure affects income. Any ineffective portion of the derivative’s gain or loss is recognized in current income. For the quarter ended September 30, 2016, the Corporation reclassified a gain of $20, net of tax, from other comprehensive income into net income (2015 - reclassified loss of $341, net of tax, from other comprehensive loss into net income). The cash flow hedges were effective for accounting purposes during the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Realized losses from the Corporation’s hedging activities, in 2016, were driven by the changes in the relative strength of the U.S. dollar relative to the Canadian dollar.

For the quarter ended September 30, 2016, the Corporation recorded a foreign exchange loss of $1 compared with a foreign exchange gain of $9 in the third quarter of 2015. Foreign exchange gains and losses fluctuate from period to period due to movements in foreign currency rates.

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Income Tax Expense

The Corporation is subject to tax in multiple jurisdictions and assesses its taxable income to ensure eligible tax deductions are fully utilized. The Corporation recorded an income tax expense of $301 for the quarter ended September 30, 2016 compared to $352 in the prior year quarter. Income tax expense was $917 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 compared to $2,023 in the prior year period. This expense largely relates to the recognition of current tax liabilities, as the Corporation generated taxable income in the third quarter of 2016.

NET INCOME AND EARNINGS PER SHARE

    For the three months     For the nine months  
    ended     ended  
(In thousands of US dollars, except   September     September     September     September  
per share amounts) (unaudited)   30, 2016     30,2015     30, 2016     30, 2015  
                       
Net income $  335   $  768   $ 2,159   $  4,204  
Earnings per share                        
                       
   Basic $  0.02   $  0.05   $ 0.14   $  0.27  
                       
   Diluted $  0.02   $  0.05   $ 0.14   $  0.27  

The Corporation reported net income of $335 for the quarter ended September 30, 2016 compared with net income of $768 for the quarter ended September 30, 2015. The decrease from the prior year quarter was largely due to the lower Adjusted EBITDA and increased depreciation and amortization charges, partially offset by decreased income tax expense.

The Corporation's basic earnings per share is calculated on the basis of the weighted average number of outstanding common shares for the period, which amounted to 15,222,256 common shares for the quarter ended September 30, 2016, compared with 15,528,928 common shares for the quarter ended September 30, 2015. The Corporation reported basic earnings per share and diluted earnings per share of $0.02 for the third quarter of 2016 compared with basic earnings per share and diluted earnings per share of $0.05 for the third quarter of 2015.

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BALANCE SHEET VARIANCES

Consolidated Balance Sheet Data as at   September 30,     December 31,  
(In thousands of US dollars)          
(unaudited)   2016     2015  
Cash and cash equivalents $  47,832   $  51,364  
Restricted cash   500     1,000  
Funds receivable from payment processors   7,275     6,588  
Accounts receivable   4,140     2,988  
Prepaid expenses and other assets   2,278     1,256  
Total current assets $  62,025   $  63,196  
Property and equipment   1,647     1,466  
Intangible assets   17,451     18,616  
Goodwill   7,130     7,130  
Deferred tax assets   1,975     1,755  
Long-term investment   5,000     5,000  
Other assets   2,715     2,765  
Total non-current assets $  35,918   $  36,732  
             
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $  6,195   $  5,808  
Payable to loyalty program partners   43,720     49,526  
Current portion of other liabilities   731     1,852  
Total current liabilities $  50,646   $  57,186  
Deferred tax liabilities   765     425  
Other liabilities   793     122  
Total non-current liabilities $  1,558   $  547  
             
Total shareholders’ equity $ 45,739   $  42,195  

Cash and cash equivalents

The Corporation’s cash and cash equivalents balance decreased $3,532 compared to the end of 2015. The decrease in cash and cash equivalents was due to cash outflows related to the Corporation’s NCIB, increased investment in capital assets and intangible assets, and changes in working capital balances, partially offset by Adjusted EBITDA earned during the nine months ended September 30, 2016. The Corporation’s cash and cash equivalents balance is also impacted by the timing of loyalty partner transactions that can vary from period to period.

Funds receivable from payment processors

The Corporation’s funds receivable from payment processors balance increased $687 compared to the end of 2015, which is attributable to the timing of promotional activities. In general, the Corporation will experience a higher balance when promotions are timed towards the end of the period, and when the receivable balances have not been settled in cash by payment processors for the increased credit card transaction activity at period end.

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Prepaid expenses and other assets

The Corporation’s prepaid expenses and other assets balance increased $1,022 compared to the end of 2015. This increase was primarily the result of incremental software licenses, a deposit for the lease on the new head office premises and corporate insurance renewals as well as favourable mark-to-market movements on the Corporation’s foreign exchange forward contracts.

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

The Corporation’s accounts payable and accrued liabilities balance increased $387 compared to the end of 2015, and is primarily due to the timing of payments including the Corporation’s annual employee incentives.

Payable to loyalty program partners

The Corporation’s payable to loyalty program partners balance decreased $5,806 compared to the end of 2015, which is primarily attributable to the timing of payments made to loyalty partners. The Corporation will typically remit funds to loyalty program partners approximately 30 days after the month of loyalty currency sales.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Consolidated Balance Sheet Data as   September 30,     December 31,     September 30,  
(In thousands of US dollars)(unaudited)   2016     2015     2015  
Cash and cash equivalents $  47,832   $  51,364   $  38,847  
Restricted cash   500     1,000     1,282  
Funds receivable from payment processors   7,275     6,588     5,533  
Total funds available   55,607     58,952     45,662  
Payable to loyalty program partners   43,720     49,526     35,632  
NET OPERATING CASH1 $  11,887   $  9,426   $  10,030  
                   
Total current assets $  62,025   $  63,196   $  50,317  
Total current liabilities   50,646     57,186     42,286  
WORKING CAPITAL2 $  11,379   $  6,010   $  8,031  

1 Management defines “Net Operating Cash” as ‘Total Funds Available’ (Cash and cash equivalents, Restricted cash, Funds receivable from payment processors, and Security deposits) less amounts Payable to loyalty program partners. Management believes that this non-GAAP financial measure provides a useful measure of the Corporation’s liquidity. Other issuers may include other items in their definition of ‘Net Operating Cash’ therefore it is unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers.
2 Management defines “Working Capital” as ‘Total current assets’ less ‘Total current liabilities’.

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The Corporation’s financial strength is reflected in its balance sheet. As at September 30, 2016, the Corporation continues to remain debt free with $11,887 of net operating cash. Net operating cash increased $2,461 from December 31, 2015. The increase is primarily due to Adjusted EBITDA of $8,443 generated in the nine month period ended September 30, 2016, partially offset by capital and intangible asset additions in the amount of $2,467, cash used for NCIB share repurchases in the amount of $1,153, the deposit of $325 for the new head office lease, and changes in other working capital balances.

The Corporation’s working capital (defined as current assets minus current liabilities) was $11,379 at September 30, 2016 compared to working capital of $6,010 as at December 31, 2015. Working capital increased primarily due to Adjusted EBITDA generated during the nine month period ended September 30, 2016, slightly offset by investing and financing activities during the period. Management believes the Corporation is able to generate sufficient cash through normal course operations to fund anticipated capital expenditure needs and current operating and working capital requirements, including the payment of amounts due under current operating leases.

On June 23, 2016, the Corporation amended its bank credit facility agreement with Royal Bank of Canada. As at September 30, 2016, the following two facilities are available until May 31, 2017. The first facility is a revolving operating facility in the amount of $8,500. The second facility is a term loan facility of $5,000 to be used solely for the purposes of financing the cash consideration relating to acquisitions made by the Corporation. The term loan facility of $7,000 to fund repurchases of the Corporation’s common shares expired unutilized on March 8, 2016 and was not renewed. No amounts have been drawn to date under these facilities.

Sources and Uses of Cash

    For the three months ended     For the nine months ended  
(In thousands of US dollars)   September     September     September     September  
(unaudited)   30, 2016     30, 2015     30, 2016     30, 2015  
Operating activities $  (5,938 ) $  763   $  (868 ) $  8,068  
Investing activities   (1,037 )   (968 )   (1,967 )   (2,245 )
Financing activities   (478 )   (1,810 )   (1,148 )   (4,608 )
Effects of exchange rates   (86 )   327     451     764  
Change in cash and cash equivalents $  (7,539 ) $  (1,688 ) $  (3,532 ) $  1,979  

Operating Activities

Cash flows from operating activities are primarily generated from funds collected from miles and points transacted from the various products and services offered by the Corporation and are reduced by cash payments to loyalty partners and payment of operating expenses. Cash flows from operating activities can fluctuate depending on the timing of promotional activity and partner payments. The Corporation experienced a

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decrease in cash from operating activities on a quarterly basis primarily due to the timing of payments to loyalty program partners.

Investing Activities

Cash used in investing activities during the third quarter of 2016 included internally developed systems and the purchase of capital assets. Development efforts in the second quarter included additional development features to enable the technological scalability of the LCP and the advancement of the Loyalty Wallet and Points Travel products. For the remainder of 2016, the Corporation will continue to focus a significant amount of its development resources on adding new capabilities to the LCP and its consumer product innovations.

Financing Activities

Cash flows used in financing activities for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2016 were primarily related to the NCIB share repurchases which was reinitiated in March 2016.

Contractual Obligations and Commitments

    Total     Year 1(3)     Year 2     Year 3     Year 4     Year  
                                  5+  
Operating leases(1) $  7,505   $  1,070   $  1,359   $  1,350   $  1,174   $  2,552  
Principal revenue(2)   507,033     29,853     169,825     171,381     135,937     37  
$  514,538   $  30,923   $  171,184   $  172,731   $  137,111   $  2,589  

(1) The Corporation is obligated under various non-cancellable operating leases for premises and equipment and service agreements for web hosting services.

(2) For certain loyalty partners, the Corporation guarantees a minimum level purchase of points/miles, for each contract year, over the duration of the contract term between the Corporation and Loyalty Partner. Management evaluates each guarantee at each interim reporting date and at the end of each contract year, to determine if the guarantee will be met for that respective contract year.

(3) The guarantees and commitments schedule is prepared on a rolling 12-month basis. Principal revenue contract guarantees are excluded from the commitments table once the minimum threshold is surpassed as the Corporation’s contractual commitment is satisfied.

Operating lease and principal revenue obligations will continue to be funded through working capital. The Corporation has made contractual commitments on the minimum value of transactions processed over the term of its agreements with certain loyalty program partners. Under this type of guarantee, in the event that the sale of loyalty program currencies are less than the guaranteed amounts, the Corporation would be obligated to purchase mileage from the loyalty program partner equal to the value of the revenue commitment shortfall. The Corporation has a balance in prepaid and other assets of $2,891 on the consolidated balance sheet representing mileage reward currencies held for future resale.

Transactions with Related Parties

Certain members of the Board of Directors, or their related parties, hold positions in other companies that result in them having control or significant influence within those companies. Two of these companies transacted with the Corporation during the year. The terms and conditions of these transactions are consistent with those conducted with third parties at arm’s length. The amounts owing are unsecured, interest-free and due for payment under normal payment terms from the date of the transaction.

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The Corporation incurred the following amounts relating to these transactions as follows:

    Transaction values for the three     Transaction values for the nine  
    months ended September 30,     months ended September 30,  
    2016     2015     2016     2015  
Marketing expenses $  22   $  25   $  67   $  75  
Technology services expenses $  -   $  -   $  3   $  -  

The Corporation has an investment in China Rewards which allows it to elect one member of the Board of Directors. As at September 30, 2016, the Corporation had a receivable of $93 from China Rewards (December 31, 2015: $93). The transactions are in the normal course of operations and are measured at the exchange amount, which is the amount of consideration established and agreed to by the related parties.

Cash from Exercise of Options

Certain options are due to expire within 12 months from the date of this MD&A. If exercised in full, issued and outstanding common shares will increase by 88,702 shares.

Securities with Near-Term Expiry Dates – Outstanding Amounts as at November 2, 2016 (figures in CAD$).

Security Type Expiry date Number Exercise Price
Option December 2, 2016 1,000 9.02
Option March 19, 2017 85,217 9.74
Option August 17, 2017 607 12.27
Option September 28, 2017 1,878 11.00
Total   88,702  

OUTSTANDING SHARE DATA

As of November 2, 2016, the Corporation has 15,167,074 common shares outstanding.

As of the date hereof, the Corporation has outstanding options to acquire up to 724,995 common shares. The options have exercise prices ranging from $9.02 to $30.84 with a weighted average exercise price of $15.24. The expiration dates of the options range from December 2, 2016 to August 22, 2021.

The following table lists the common shares issued and outstanding as at November 2, 2016 and the securities that are currently convertible into common shares along with the maximum number of common shares issuable on conversion or exercise.

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  Common Shares Proceeds
Common Shares Issued & Outstanding 15,167,074  
   Convertible Securities: Share options 724,995 CAD$ 11,049,184
Common Shares Issued & Potentially Issuable 15,892,069 CAD$ 11,049,184
Securities Excluded from Calculation:    
     Options Available to grant from ESOP(1) 804,865  

(1)   “ESOP” is defined as the Employee Stock Option Plan. The number of options available to grant is calculated as the total share option pool less the number outstanding share options.

SUMMARY OF QUARTERLY RESULTS

(in thousands of US dollars, except per share amounts)

Three month period Total   Basic earnings Diluted earnings
ended Revenue Net income   per share  per share
September 30, 2016 $ 82,442 $ 335 $ 0.02 $ 0.02
June 30, 2016 83,864 931 0.06 0.06
March 31, 2016 73,560 893 0.06 0.06
December 31, 2015 80,228 961 0.06 0.06
September 30, 2015 81,133 768 0.05 0.05
June 30, 2015 67,898 1,721 0.11 0.11
March 31, 2015 67,117 1,715 0.11 0.11
December 31, 2014     0.10 0.09
  64,841 1,468    

Through years of successfully building and expanding partnerships with loyalty programs around the world, and deepening its understanding of loyalty program membership bases, the Corporation has built a reputation of being a leading provider of e-commerce solutions for the global loyalty rewards industry. Since inception, the Corporation has worked to gain the trust of loyalty rewards programs of leading businesses in many industries. In its earlier years, the Corporation focused its attention on developing relationships with companies in the airline industry in the US and in Europe. In more recent years, the Corporation has focused on diversifying its loyalty program partnership base, and has placed attention on other industries which are growing and include the hotel loyalty industry, financial services industry, and the speciality retail sector. Through the addition of new partnerships year after year, the Corporation has been able to generate increased revenues on a consistent basis. In addition to this, the Corporation has been able to grow revenues with existing partnerships year over year, as it increases its understanding of loyalty program members through the use of direct marketing techniques and effective consumer analytics. In addition, revenue growth has come from the ability to sell additional loyalty products and services to existing partners. Generally, increases in transaction levels, revenues and gross profit will drive higher overall profitability.

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The Corporation’s revenues are primarily impacted by retention of existing partnerships and products, new partnerships and products launched during the year, and the level and type of promotional activity offered to loyalty program members during the year. In the absence of any new partner or products launched, quarterly revenues will be impacted by the level of marketing and promotional activity carried out with loyalty program members which will vary quarter over quarter. Historically, revenues are highest in the fourth quarter in each year as redemption volumes and promotional activity typically peak at this time, however this is dependent on changes in the Corporation’s partnership base and effectiveness of promotional activity.

The Corporation’s net income will reflect the growth in gross profit relative to the growth in expenses. Since 2013, the Corporation has gradually increased investments intended to advance its LCP. Beginning in 2014, additional investments were made, including the acquisition of Accruity Inc., that have focused on expanding the new product offerings, such as Points Travel and the Loyalty Wallet. These increased investment levels have resulted in increased ongoing operating costs, however the Corporation anticipates these investments will generate positive return to the Corporation in future periods.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND JUDGMENTS

For the Corporation’s accounting policies and critical accounting estimates and judgments, refer to the Corporation’s MD&A and consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2015. The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS, requires management to make judgments, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of policies and the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, income and expenses. Significant changes in these assumptions, including those related to our future business plans and cash flows, could materially change the amounts we record. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The IASB has issued new standards and amendments to existing standards. These changes have not yet been adopted by Corporation and could have an impact on future periods.

IFRS 15, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (effective January 1, 2018);
IFRS 9, Financial Instruments (effective January 1, 2018); and
IFRS 16, Leases (effective January 1, 2019).

These changes are described in detail in the Corporation’s 2015 annual report. The Corporation is assessing the impacts of the above standards on its condensed consolidated interim financial statements. In addition, the Corporation intends to adopt the amendments to IFRS 2 in its financial statements for the annual period beginning on January 1, 2018. The Company does not expect the standard to have a material impact on the financial statements.

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RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

The results of operations and financial condition of the Corporation are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, and are affected by a number of factors outside of the control of management. For a detailed discussion regarding the relevant risks and uncertainties, see the Corporation’s annual MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2015. There have been no changes to the risks and uncertainties during the quarter ended September 30, 2016.

MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND INTERNAL
CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

Management of the Corporation is responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting, as those terms are defined in National Instrument 52-109 Certification of Disclosure in Issuers’ Annual and Interim Filings. There have been no changes in the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended September 30, 2016 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting.

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