HOMEQ reminds shareholders of May 23 deadline to vote their shares for Birch Hill Arrangement Agreement

TORONTO, May 22, 2012 /CNW/ - HOMEQ Corporation ("HOMEQ" or the "Company") (TSX: HEQ), reminds shareholders that the deadline to vote shares in favour of the Birch Hill Arrangement is as early as tomorrow, May 23 for most shareholders. To ensure that your vote is recorded, please complete the voter information form sent to you by Broadridge Communications Solutions, Canada or Computershare Trust Company of Canada and return it by the deadline, whether or not you plan to attend the Meeting.

"This is an important decision for HOMEQ shareholders, and I urge all shareholders to vote their shares as soon as possible," said Gary Samuel, Chairman of the HOMEQ Board of Directors. "Every vote is important, regardless of how many common shares a shareholder owns."

HOMEQ shareholders are faced with a decision to approve the Arrangement Agreement and receive significant and immediate value for their shares or continue as a standalone public company and face the substantial risk and uncertainty associated with attempting to secure access to affordable, non-dilutive capital to fund the Company's future growth.

The HOMEQ Board of Directors does not believe the latter option is a desirable one for shareholders, particularly when compared to the cash premium on offer. Accordingly, the HOMEQ Board (with the interested directors abstaining) unanimously recommends that shareholders accept the proposed transaction and vote their shares in favour of the Arrangement Resolution. Leading independent corporate governance and analysis firms Institutional Shareholder Services and Glass Lewis & Co., LLC have also recommended that shareholders vote FOR the Arrangement Agreement.

If you have any questions or require more information with regard to voting your HOMEQ shares, please contact the Company's proxy solicitation agent, Georgeson Shareholder Communications Canada Inc., at its toll-free number: 1-866-656-4104 or by email at [email protected]

The potential transaction remains subject to approval under the Bank Act.

About HOMEQ

HOMEQ's wholly owned subsidiary HomEquity Bank is the only national provider of reverse mortgages to homeowners aged 55 and over, Canada's fastest growing demographic segment. HomEquity Bank originates and administers Canada's largest portfolio of reverse mortgages under the CHIP Home Income Plan brand. As of March 31, 2012, the mortgage portfolio comprised approximately 9,100 reverse mortgages with an accrued value of $1.2 billion, secured by residential properties across Canada worth approximately $3.3 billion. HomEquity Bank has been the main underwriter of reverse mortgages in Canada since its predecessor, Canadian Home Income Plan, pioneered the concept in 1986.

HOMEQ's shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol HEQ.  Additional information on HOMEQ, including annual and quarterly reports can be viewed at www.homeq.ca.

About Birch Hill

With $2 billion in capital under management, 20 partner companies and 30 fully realized investments since 1994; Birch Hill is the leader in long-term value creation in the Canadian mid market. For more information about Birch Hill Equity Partners, please visit www.birchhillequity.com.

Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements included herein constitute "forward-looking statements". All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this release that address future activities, events, developments or financial performance are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "may", "should", "will", "could", "expect", "intend", "plan", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "future" or "continue" or the negative thereof or similar variations. In particular, statements about the proposed Arrangement between Birch Hill and HOMEQ, including the expected timetable for completing the Transaction, the receipt of Shareholder and regulatory approvals and any other statements regarding HOMEQ's future expectations, beliefs, goals or prospects are or involve forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by HOMEQ and its management, in light of their experiences and their perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors they believe are appropriate in the circumstances. Shareholders are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are not a guarantee of performance and are subject to a number of uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, many of which are outside the control of Birch Hill and HOMEQ, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements include, among other things, the parties' ability to consummate the Arrangement; the parties' ability to satisfy the conditions to the completion of the Arrangement, including that the receipt of Shareholder approval, court approval, or regulatory approval for the Arrangement may not be obtained, or may not be obtained on the terms expected or on the anticipated schedule; general economic and market factors (including changes in global, national or regional financial, credit, currency or securities markets), changes or developments in global, national or regional political conditions (including any act of terrorism or war), changes in government laws or regulations (including tax laws) and changes in GAAP or regulatory accounting requirements. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing lists are not exhaustive.

Such forward-looking statements should, therefore, be construed in light of such factors. If any of these risks or uncertainties were to materialize, or if the factors and assumptions underlying the forward-looking information were to prove incorrect, actual results could vary materially from those that are expressed or implied by the forward-looking information contained herein. All forward-looking statements attributable to HOMEQ, or persons acting on its behalf, are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements set forth above. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained herein, which reflect the analyses of the management of Birch Hill or HOMEQ, as appropriate, only as of the date of this release.

For more information regarding these and other risks, readers should consult HOMEQ's reports on file with applicable securities regulatory authorities accessible online by going to SEDAR at www.sedar.com or by going to the HOMEQ website at www.homeq.ca. HOMEQ is under no obligation, and HOMEQ expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

Shareholders
Georgeson Shareholder Communications Canada Inc.
1-866-656-4104
[email protected]

Media
Longview Communications
Joel Shaffer
416-649-8006
David Ryan
416-649-8007