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Priszm adjusts distribution policy as part of long-term objective to fund capital programs, strengthen balance sheet, and fuel

^{Published on 2009-11-19 05:43:45 - Market Wire}
 

TORONTO, Nov. 19 /CNW/ - Priszm Income Fund (TSX: QSR.UN) ("Priszm" or the "Company") today announced that as part of the Company's objective to increase its cash position to fund the capital programs required by its franchise renewals with Yum! Restaurants International (Canada), strengthen its balance sheet and fuel future growth, the Trustees have suspended Priszm's monthly distribution effective immediately.

"Since the launch of Priszm in late 2003, we have returned more than $155 million to our unitholders, approximately two-thirds of which was distributed tax free," said John Bitove, Executive Chairman of Priszm Income Fund. "The decision to modify our capital allocation has been made to ensure that our cash reserves allow us to make necessary capital investments in our restaurants to continue to improve our customers' experience and fuel further growth in our business. The Trustees will continue to assess the status of distributions in the coming years as long term capital commitments are quantified, re-financing options become available and the optimal corporate structure is developed to reflect the income trust legislation taking effect in 2011."

About Priszm Income Fund

Priszm Income Fund (TSX: QSR.UN) holds approximately a 60 per cent interest in Priszm Limited Partnership, which owns and operates more than 400 quick service restaurants in seven provinces across Canada. The KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut restaurants under Priszm serve more than 1 million customers a week and employ approximately 7,400 people. Currently, more than 100 locations are multi-branded, combining two or more of the Fund's restaurant concepts.

To find out more about Priszm Income Fund (TSX: QSR.UN), visit our website at [ http://www.priszm.com ].

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information in this document may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of securities laws that involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, future expectations and other factors with respect to industry sector performance, business plans, activities, trends and events anticipated by the Priszm Income Fund (the "Company") and which may cause the Company's future performance and results to be materially different from those implied by the forward-looking information. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "continue," or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology concerning matters that are not historical facts. Forward-looking information is based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the number of restaurants, the renewal of the franchise agreement, the industry sector performance, business plans, activities, trends and events anticipated by the Company. Although the Company believes that the assumptions underlying such statements are reasonable, any of the assumptions may prove to be inaccurate and, as a result, the forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. The forward-looking information, assumptions and statements reflect the views of the Company's management with respect to future events and outcomes as of the date of this document and there should be no expectation that such information will be updated, revised and/or supplemented whether as a result of new information, changing circumstances, future events or other cause. Actual events or outcomes may be materially different and cause the performance of the Company to differ materially from any forward-looking statement.

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