CDPQ reinvests in Lemay's growth

MONTRÉAL, June 22, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ - Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) announced an investment of $ 8,7M in the form of a loan to Lemay, one of Canada's leading architecture and design firms, which shapes and reinvents living environments in Québec and around the world. This financing will enable Lemay to pursue its growth plan, which is focused on bolstering its capacity for innovation and its enviable position in the field of sustainable design.

Over the years, Lemay has stood out through its Net Positive program, which entails systematically assessing the impact of every project on health, the environment and carbon reduction, with a view to improving the quality of urban spaces. The investment announced today will help the firm continue to fulfil this commitment and to pursue its technology-based innovations. These will include using virtual and augmented reality and optimizing workspaces with data sensors and state-of-the-art analysis tools.

"CDPQ's past investments have enabled us to complete key acquisitions in Canada in order to consolidate our national platform," said Louis T. Lemay, President of Lemay. "We're delighted to have been able to solidify our presence in new markets with CDPQ's support. This new investment will strengthen our leadership position in technology and sustainability while allowing us to continue assessing potential acquisitions."

"With their expansion into new markets, cutting-edge technological practices and consideration of ESG factors in their project designs, Lemay meets CDPQ's pillars for generating long-term growth. This refinancing is testament to the support CDPQ offers businesses when development opportunities present themselves," added Kim Thomassin, Executive Vice-President and Head of Investments in Québec and Stewardship Investing at CDPQ.

Lemay continues to capitalize on its wide-ranging, multidisciplinary expertise to benefit users and local residents through innovative projects, such as the Bellechasse transport centre, the redevelopment of Espace 67 on Ile-Ste-Hélène, the Humaniti Vertical Community project and the Quartier des lumières on the site of the Radio-Canada tower in Montréal, as well as the renovation of the Grand Théâtre de Québec and a number of corporate spaces, such as the Ray-Mont Logistics head office in Montréal, the Soprema plant in Woodstock, Ontario and ATB Financial branches in Alberta.

The firm also has distinguished itself on the international scene through projects such as the seaside promenade for Casablanca's Hassan II Mosque and the artistic direction of three unique digital pieces displayed on giant screens against the iconic building at One Times Square in New York City.

About Lemay

Founded in 1957 as an architectural practice, Lemay is a leading provider of integrated design services for the built environment. Its unique blend of creativity, large-firm capacity and transdisciplinary service offering brings client aspirations to life, while its unique Net Positive approach creates sustainable value for users and communities around the world. The firm's commitment to design excellence, supported by over 400 awards and distinctions, also translates into the LemayLab, an instrument of research and innovation in all aspects of design.

Lemay brings together some 450 professionals, earning it a world ranking of 45th largest (2020 World Architecture 100). A winner of Deloitte's Canada's Best Managed Companies program since 2013, it became a Platinum Club member in 2020. Creative Thinking. Collective Value. lemay.com

About Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ)
Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) is a long-term institutional investor that manages funds primarily for public and parapublic pension and insurance plans. As at December 31, 2019, it held CAN$340.1 billion in net assets. As one of Canada's leading institutional fund managers, CDPQ invests globally in major financial markets, private equity, infrastructure, real estate and private debt. For more information, visit cdpq.com, follow us on Twitter @LaCDPQ or consult our Facebook or LinkedIn pages.

SOURCE Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec