$165-Million Fund To Attract Investment In High-Growth Companies
TORONTO, Jan. 9 /PRNewswire/ - A new $165-million Ontario
Venture Capital Fund will help create the jobs of the future by boosting
cutting-edge companies in the province.
The Ontario government has signed a letter of intent with leading Canadian
institutional investors -- including OMERS Administration Corporation, RBC
Capital Partners, Business Development Bank of Canada and Manulife Financial
-- to create the new fund.
"I am pleased that successful corporate and institutional investors on the
leading edge of Ontario's economy are working with us to invest in Ontario's
future," said Minister of Research and Innovation John Wilkinson.
"This fund will attract the capital and investment expertise needed to
bring exciting new discoveries to market faster in this province, resulting in
high-value jobs and, ultimately, a higher quality of life for all Ontarians."
Ontario is investing $90 million in this first round of the fund, with the
remaining $75 million coming from the partner investors. In round two, the
government will seek additional private sector investors to grow the fund.
"OMERS is pleased to be an integral part of this initiative and looks
forward to enhancing the market for venture and growth capital investment in
Ontario," said Paul Renaud, CEO of OMERS Capital Partners, the entity
responsible for OMERS's private equity investments.
"As RBC's vehicle for investing in private equity, venture capital and
mezzanine debt, RBC Capital Partners is pleased to provide a financial
commitment to further developing Ontario's venture capital industry in concert
with the Government of Ontario and our other partners," said Gordon Nixon,
president and CEO of RBC. "Strong capital markets from venture capital through
to public markets are critical to the growth of businesses in Ontario and
across Canada."
"BDC is delighted to be an active participant in the creation of this fund
of funds initiative to support the venture capital industry in Ontario," said
Jean-Rene Halde, president and CEO, Business Development Bank of Canada. "By
supporting the development and growth of high-tech companies -- key drivers of
innovation in Canada -- we believe that this fund will have a positive impact
on the economy."
"Canada's Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (CVCA) is pleased
to see the Government of Ontario's plan for stimulating the province's venture
capital sector," said CVCA Executive Director Richard Remillard. "We have
always believed that it is vital that we build a strong venture capital market
in Ontario if we want to build world-class, high-growth companies here, and it
is very encouraging to see that the Government of Ontario recognizes this
reality. We have supported this program since it was first announced in the
March 2006 Budget and we look forward to seeing the capital deployed into
Ontario's venture capital market very soon."
The Ontario Venture Capital fund is just one of the ways the Ontario
government is strengthening the economy and supporting Ontario families. Other
initiatives include:
- Encouraging strong job creation, with over 422,000 net new jobs since
October 2003
- Committing to expand our Next Generation Jobs Fund to $1.15 billion
to support job creation for Ontarians
- Launching the $160 million Ideas-to-Market strategy that supports
emerging companies, which includes the Ontario Venture Capital Fund
- Establishing a six-year, $500-million Advanced Manufacturing
Investment Strategy to help manufacturers invest in innovative new
technologies, and
- Phasing out the capital tax and accelerating a five per cent rate cut
in 2007, while working towards eliminating the tax altogether by
July 1, 2010.
SOURCE Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Trade
Ray Lancashire, Media Relations, Invest Ontario, Ministry of Economic
Development and Trade, Tel: (416) 326-1608, E-mail: ray.lancashire@ontario.ca
