Southern Ontario Businesses Will Have Greater Access to Venture Capital Money Through a New Investment From FedDev Ontario

Small and medium-sized enterprises in Southern Ontario will have greater access to venture capital money, thanks to an new investment announced today by the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).

"This investment will give new and growing businesses the opportunity to expand and create jobs," said Minister of State Goodyear. "As Canada emerges from the global recession, providing firms with more access to venture capital money will also help lead to greater prosperity in Southern Ontario."

"Canada needs entrepreneurs who can turn new ideas and technology into attractive products and successful companies," said Jacques Simoneau, Executive Vice President, Investments, at the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC). "The funding that is being made available today by the Government of Canada will strengthen the BDC's efforts to help deserving Canadian high-tech ventures in Southern Ontario in the current economy."

FedDev Ontario will provide $50 million to the BDC, including $35 millionin capital to place direct investments in early-stage firms in Southern Ontario and $15 million to invest in Ontario-based venture capital funds focused on Ontario-based opportunities.

As part of its decision-making process, the BDC will collaborate with the Ontario Venture Capital Fund, which is a partnership between the Ontario government, the BDC, the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System Capital Partners, RBC Capital Partners, Manulife Financial, and TD Bank Financial Group and is managed by TD Capital Private Equity Investors.

The BDC's venture capital investments support the development ofhigh-potential Canadian technology companies and help cultivate them intoglobally focused, growth-oriented companies. The BDC's specialized equityinvestments cover every stage of a company's development cycle, from pre-seedthrough expansion. Investments target multiple sectors: Information and Communication Technologies (IT and Telecommunications), Life Sciences (DrugDiscovery and Medical Technologies), and Energy (Environment, Electronics andMaterials).

The BDC is Canada's business development bank. From more than 100 offices across the country, the BDC promotes entrepreneurship by providing highly tailored financing, venture capital and consulting services to entrepreneurs. To learn more, please visit the BDC website.

Backgrounder
Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

In Canada's Economic Action Plan, the Government of Canada committed to providing short-term stimulus to communities hard-hit by the recession while delivering long-term funding designed to promote economic growth, job creationand innovation. Budget 2009 provided $1 billion over five years for a new economic development agency for Southern Ontario.

On August 13, 2009, Prime Minister Stephen Harper formally launched theFederal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).This new agency is charged with delivering federal government economic development programs tailored to the specific priorities of workers, businesses and communities in Southern Ontario.

The Prime Minister announced that the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Ministerof State (Science and Technology) (Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario) has assumed responsibility for the Agency and that B.A.(Bruce) Archibald is serving as its first President.

In its first year of operation, FedDev Ontario will focus on putting economic development programs into action. The Agency will assess immediate opportunities and needs, then bridge into broader program initiatives once itis fully operational.

FedDev Ontario and Industry Canada will work with community stakeholders to identify and support projects that address current economic challenges.

The Agency will initially use existing programs and partnerships toexpedite the provision of funds. This will start money flowing immediatelyinto Southern Ontario communities and businesses.

Funding in 2009-10 will be approximately $206 million, includingoperating costs, focused on three priority areas: economic development,diversification and community development.

The Southern Ontario Development Program has been established to promoteeconomic development, economic diversification and job creation. As a coreprogram, it will deliver close to $100 million in funding over 2009-10.

FedDev Ontario will help Southern Ontario communities diversify theirlocal economies and expand into a wider range of value-added andtechnology-driven products and services. It will provide the tools for itspartners in the region to build on their strengths, positioning Southern Ontario to succeed in the knowledge-based economy.

PROGRAMS TO BE ADMINISTERED BY FEDDEV ONTARIO

Southern Ontario programs to be administered by, or in conjunction with, FedDev Ontario include:

Community Adjustment Fund in Ontario

The Community Adjustment Fund (CAF) is a short-term economic stimulus forcommunities impacted by the global recession. Part of Canada's Economic ActionPlan, the fund supports projects that create jobs and maintain employment inand around the communities that have been most severely affected by theeconomic downturn. Funding is available for eligible projects that can be completed before March 31, 2010. Applications for 2010-11 CAF project funds will be accepted by FedDev Ontario later this year.

National Research Council - Industrial Research Assistance Program

National Research Council Canada's Industrial Research Assistance Program(NRC-IRAP) stimulates wealth creation for Canada through technologicalinnovation. It provides financial and technological assistance to small andmedium-sized enterprises, targeting those engaged in the research,development, adaptation, adoption, or commercialization of innovativeproducts, services or processes.

NRC-IRAP already has $67.3 million in funds available, and will receivean additional $27.5 million to further build the innovative capacities ofSouthern Ontario's small and medium-sized enterprises.

Community Futures Program

Ontario's Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs) will receivean additional $30 million from the Community Adjustment Fund in 2009-10. TheCommunity Futures Program assists rural and northern communities to strengthenand diversify their economies.

The Program is implemented through CFDCs located in communities acrossthe province, including 37 in rural Southern Ontario. Small and medium-sizedenterprises, as well as non-profit organizations, can receive repayablefinancing and important support services.

Business Development Bank of Canada

The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) will invest a total of $50million in Southern Ontario through direct investments in firms and throughinvestments in venture capital funds. These investments support thedevelopment of high-potential Canadian technology companies and will helpdevelop a high-performing, sustainable venture capital industry in the region.

Backgrounder
Business Development Bank of Canada

The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) aims to accelerate thesuccess of entrepreneurs and help develop Canadian businesses by providingfinancing, venture capital and consulting services with a focus on small andmedium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The BDC does not offer grants or subsidies;rather, it seeks to earn a return from the business financing it provideswhile extending financing into market niches that would not otherwise beserved.

The BDC is mandated to be a complementary lender in the market, offeringloans and investments that supplement or complete services already availablefrom commercial financial institutions. Its financial activities includesecured and unsecured loans; subordinate financing, which incorporateselements of debt and equity financing; direct and indirect venture capital investments with a focus on early-stage high-technology ventures; andcustomized business consulting services.

The BDC's role is magnified during economic slowdowns. Since the start of the credit crisis, the BDC has introduced a number of remedial measures. It has:

• increased overall financing activity;
• extended repayment terms on new authorizations;
• offered postponement of capital repayment;
• increased support to manufacturers and dedicated a team to help  Ontario auto parts manufacturers in particular;
• introduced the Operating Line of Credit Guarantee;
• seen a significant increase in referrals from financial institutions;  and
• launched a new working capital loan for expansion projects abroad.

In fiscal 2008-09, the BDC authorized $3.1 billion in new loans. It has also conducted approximately $1.3 billion in activity under the Business Credit Availability Program, as part of Canada's Economic Action Plan.

The BDC holds a loan portfolio of about $11 billion. Broken down byindustry sector, this translates into 30.4 percent of its loans for themanufacturing sector, 21 percent for wholesale and retail trade, 12.5 percentfor tourism, 7 percent for construction, 5.1 percent for transportation andstorage, 7.4 percent for commercial properties, 4.5 percent for business services, and 12.1 percent for other industries.

The BDC has both a physical and a virtual pan-Canadian presence, servingover 28 000 Canadian entrepreneurs through 100 branches in all regions of thecountry. It provides advice and financing to entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds, venture capital for start-ups, and working capital to help small exporters bridge the gap between the Canadian market in which they operate andtheir targeted international market. The BDC is well positioned to help its clients and will continue to support Canadian entrepreneurs as a whole.