CIBT Reports Financial Results for Fiscal Year Ended August 31, 2018

November 29^th, 2018, Vancouver, BC: CIBT Education Group Inc. (“CIBT” or the “Company”) (TSX: MBA, OTCQX International: MBAIF) is pleased to report that it has filed on SEDAR its annual audited consolidated financial statements (the “Annual Financial Statements”) and related Management’s Discussion & Analysis (“MD&A”) (collectively, the “2018 Financial Report”) for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2018 (“Fiscal 2018”).  This news release should be read in conjunction with the 2018 Financial Report in its entirety.  To review the 2018 Financial Report, please visit CIBT’s profile at www.sedar.com.

The following table presents selected financial data from the 2018 Financial Report:

(1) Included as part of non-operating income (expense) in the Annual Financial Statements.

(1) Reflects adjustments associated with business combination accounting finalized during measurement period for KGIC assets.

Noteworthy highlights for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2018, are as follows:

• Total revenue increased by 40%
• Combined education revenues of all schools increased by 31%
• Student housing rental income increased by 23%
• Development fee revenues associated with student housing increased by 138%
• Gain on fair value changes in investment properties increased by 315%
• Total assets increased by 104%
• Total non-current liabilities increased by 216%
• EBITDA (Non-IFRS) – Earnings Before Interest Taxes Depreciation Amortization increased by 338%
• Net Income per share attributable to CIBT shareholders increased by 733%
• Cash and cash equivalents increased by 383% to $33.2 million

“During Fiscal 2018, CIBT exceeded expectations and achieved significant milestones that furthered the Company’s position as the leading Canadian private education and student housing provider,” commented Mr. Toby Chu, President, CEO and Chairman of CIBT. “During the second half of Fiscal 2018, the Company completed an average of one major transaction per month, which included the transfer of one GEC® project from one limited partnership to another, as well as the expansion of the GEC® portfolio and footprint. The Company also streamlined its education asset, Sprott Shaw Language College, (previously owned by KGIC Inc. (formerly Loyalist Group Inc.) TSXV: LRN or LOY), while substantially increasing the profitability of its long-held assets, Sprott Shaw College and Vancouver International College.

“The development agreement for Global Education City® (Richmond), along with the rezoning and development of GEC Education Mega Center® in Surrey and GEC® CyberCity in Richmond, allowed us to focus on scaling our operations to fill the rental housing demand in Metro Vancouver, which is growing at a rapid pace,” continued Toby Chu.

“Overall, the Company is well positioned given the substantial growth in its education platform, which will continue to be a driving source of tenants that can supply the housing demand from our student housing platform in fiscal 2019,” commented Toby Chu. “We have realized substantial value in KGIC’s education infrastructure, along with its global network, student pipelines, student housing needs, program contents and talented staffs.

“Going forward, we will continue building our education and student housing platform and are pleased to report that one of our flagships projects, Global Education City® (Richmond), received a development permit and began construction in November 2018. The project site is also known as “Atmosphere Living”, which is located in the heart of Richmond, B.C.” continued Mr. Chu. “The re-zoning application for GEC® CyberCity was submitted to the City of Richmond and is under review. Further,  GEC Education Mega Center® has received four out of five required re-zoning approvals from the City of Surrey.  Construction of both projects is expected to commence in 2019.  In addition to current projects under development, we continue to assess and expand our student housing portfolio in strategic locations.

“According to the Canadian Bureau of International Education, international student enrollment into B.C’s education system has grown by 119% over the seven-year period between 2010 and 2017. The 2017/2018 calendar year experienced a growth rate of over 20%, which far exceeded our initial planning estimates when we initiated  our student housing expansion four years ago.  The continued growth affirms our belief that the student housing sector will experience continued strength, which will help support the double-digit growth rates of our education business.”

“By utilizing the Company’s 24 years’ experience in the international education sector, along with Sprott Shaw College’s 115-year history in the Canadian education market, we have created a well-established education infrastructure in Canada and abroad that provides a steady pipeline of students that reside at GEC® properties.”

“Given the ongoing shortage of rental housing in Vancouver, which has a vacancy rate below 0.7% according to CMHC, management believes the increase in value from its properties will generate solid and significant returns for its shareholders. Since the inception of our student housing business, the estimated appreciation of the eight GEC® projects under management, developed by the Company, including lands and buildings, has exceeded $174 million from the original aggregate purchase cost.  Total portfolio and development budget of projects under the GEC® brand exceeded $1 billion.”

“CIBT will continue to increase the value of its student housing business by structuring each transaction, managing the development of each project, and filling each property with students from our partner schools as well as from our own international and domestic student pipeline. In addition to expanding the GEC® student housing portfolio, CIBT will continue seeking out school acquisition opportunities, both as part of its core education business and to continue filling the student housing properties.”