HORIZONS ETFs AND NATIONAL BANK DIRECT BROKERAGE LAUNCH 11th BIGGEST WINNER TRADING COMPETITION

$21,000 in cash prizes up for grabs through Canada's leading ETF trading contest

TORONTO, May 16, 2022 /CNW/ - Horizons ETFs Management (Canada) Inc. ("Horizons ETFs") and National Bank Direct Brokerage ("NBDB") are pleased to announce today's launch of the 11^th edition of the Biggest Winner trading competition (the "Biggest Winner"), a simulated exchange traded fund ("ETF") investment contest of ETFs listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX").

The Biggest Winner allows eligible Canadian investors to learn about trading in a simulated risk-free environment while competing for real cash prizes. Participants open a simulated online brokerage account that starts with a balance of $100,000 virtual Canadian dollars (no actual money will be traded). They can then use these fantasy funds to virtually trade any ETF listed on the TSX. Entry and participation in the contest are free, with no purchase necessary.

"We're celebrating the launch of our 11^th edition of the Biggest Winner – Canada's biggest ETF trading competition – by raising the stakes with our biggest amount of cash prizes available up for grabs: $21,000," said Steve Hawkins, President & CEO of Horizons ETFs. "This year, in addition to our founding partner, National Bank Direct Brokerage, I am pleased to welcome the Toronto Stock Exchange, the largest equity exchange in Canada, as a supporting sponsor of the Biggest Winner."

The Biggest Winner starts today and runs for six weeks, ending at 4 p.m. (Eastern) on June 24, 2022. The prizes include a first place prize of $10,000 awarded to the contestant with the highest six-week cumulative return, while the runner-up will receive $5,000. In addition, six weekly prizes of $1,000 will be awarded to the contestants with the best single-week return.

"Today, investors have access to a wide range of Canadian-listed ETFs and the Biggest Winner competition offers a great opportunity to test strategies and learn about trading ETFs in a simulated environment," said Claude-Frédéric Robert, President of National Bank Direct Brokerage. "This aligns with the role we play in training future investors."

Through its previous 10 editions, Biggest Winner competitions have hosted approximately 20,000 participants and awarded over $100,000 in cash prizes.

"As a proud supporter of the Canadian ETF ecosystem, the Toronto Stock Exchange is continuously looking at ways to innovate for our clients and investors alike," said Graham Mackenzie, Head of Exchange Traded Products of TMX Group. "We are pleased to support Horizons ETFs in the Biggest Winner trading competition, as they continue to drive ETF adoption and education.''

To register for the Biggest Winner, for full contest rules, and to access ETF educational materials, please visit www.TheBiggestWinner.ca.

National Bank Direct Brokerage (NBDB) is a division of National Bank Financial Inc. (NBF), as well as a trademark owned by National Bank of Canada (NBC) that is used under licence by NBF. NBF is a member of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada, the Canadian Investor Protection Fund, and is a subsidiary of NBC, a public company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: NA). NBDB provides order execution only services and makes no investment recommendations.

With $367 billion in assets as at January 31, 2022, National Bank of Canada, together with its subsidiaries, forms one of Canada's leading integrated financial groups. It has more than 27,000 employees in knowledge-intensive positions and has been recognized numerous times as a top employer and for its commitment to diversity. Its securities are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: NA). Follow the Bank's activities at nbc.ca or via social media such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Horizons ETFs Management (Canada) Inc. is an innovative financial services company and offers one of the largest suites of exchange traded funds in Canada. The Horizons ETFs product family includes a broadly diversified range of solutions for investors of all experience levels to meet their investment objectives in a variety of market conditions. Horizons ETFs has over $22 billion of assets under management and 104 ETFs listed on major Canadian stock exchanges.

Commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with an investment in exchange traded products (the "Horizons Exchange Traded Products") managed by Horizons ETFs Management (Canada) Inc. The Horizons Exchange Traded Products are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. The prospectus contains important detailed information about the Horizons Exchange Traded Products. Please read the relevant prospectus before investing.

Certain statements may constitute a forward-looking statement, including those identified by the expression "expect" and similar expressions (including grammatical variations thereof). The forward-looking statements are not historical facts but reflect the author's current expectations regarding future results or events. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations. These and other factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on such forward looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the authors do not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that is contained herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable law.

National Bank Direct Brokerage makes no representation or guarantee, whether explicit or implicit, as to the suitability of investing in exchange-traded funds, or does it endorse Horizons ETFs Management (Canada) Inc. or its products.

SOURCE Horizons ETFs Management (Canada) Inc.