Aéro Montréal supports the establishment of a fund to promote innovation among Québec aerospace SMEs

MONTREAL, Dec. 4, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Aéro Montréal, Québec's aerospace cluster, today announced its support for the creation of a fund established by Finalta Capital that is dedicated to providing strategic support for research and development (R&D) projects undertaken by innovative companies in Québec's aerospace industry.

Launched as part of Aéro Financement Day at the Aerospace Innovation Forum 2013, organized in collaboration with Finance Montréal, the Fonds de financement des crédits d'impôt à la R-D pour le secteur aérospatial (Fund for financing aerospace sector R&D tax credits) will make available $15 million to reduce the financial pressure on the cash flows of aerospace companies in the process of obtaining of R&D tax credits.

"This fund, which can be described as visionary, will allow SME members of Aéro Montréal to increase their level of innovation and focus their energies on speeding up the commercialization of advanced technologies," says Suzanne Benoît, President, Aéro Montréal. "Innovation and R&D investments are critical to the competitiveness of the aerospace industry worldwide . As such, the fund will provide a significant competitive advantage for companies and ultimately help them to join the supply chains of future aircraft platforms."

The Fund for financing aerospace sector R&D tax credits offers:

• Pre-financing of R&D expenditures, meaning that loan disbursements are accelerated to the first day of each quarter in anticipation of budgeted expenditures.
• Access to 50% more capital than with traditional sources of financing based on the same tax credits.
• A simplified approach means that the financial close is dramatically fast-tracked to be completed in some 15 days.

"These funds will significantly increase the liquidity of SMEs who will benefit from them while reducing their capital costs," notes Maxime-Jean Gérin, President and CEO of Capital Finalta CII-ITC inc. "Finalta Capital is proud to offer strategic support to innovative companies across the entire value chain of the Québec aerospace industry."

"This new strategic collaboration with the financial industry demonstrates the economic importance of aerospace for Québec," says Éric Lemieux, CEO, Finance Montréal. " By adapting financial products to the needs of companies and market trends, we are helping local entrepreneurs increase the success of their companies."

About Aéro Montréal - www.aeromontreal.ca

Aéro Montréal, Québec's aerospace cluster, is a strategic think tank that groups all the major decision makers in Québec's aerospace sector, including companies, educational and research institutions, associations and unions.

Aéro Montréal's mission is to mobilize industry players around common goals and concerted actions to increase the cohesion and optimize competitiveness of Québec's aerospace cluster. It aims to foster the growth and expansion of the cluster so as to ensure that it may continue to create wealth for Montréal, Québec and Canada.

About Finalta Capital

FINALTA CAPITAL offers strategic support to innovative companies through a simplified approach tailored to financing Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) tax credits, CDAE and multimedia title tax credits.

Our clients benefit from three advantages:

• Pre-financing of R&D expenditures before they are incurred
• Financial close in 15 days
• 50% increased liquidity on the basis of the same tax credits

All of this at an institutional rate.

About Finance Montréal
Finance Montréal, Québec's financial cluster, was created in 2010 by major players of the financial services industry at the invitation of the Québec Government. Finance Montréal's mission is to continuously expand Montréal's reputation on the world financial markets, promoting the city as a strong and innovative industrial hub that contributes to Québec's economic development. The organization helps strengthen Québec's financial sector by generating growth in high value-added financial activities strategic to its development. A non-profit organization with 23 Governors, 12 Associate Members and close to 100 volunteer professionals, Finance Montréal fosters cooperation among a vast range of financial sector companies to watch over the industry's common interests while generating higher awareness of the financial specializations found in Montréal. To learn more about Finance Montréal, visit www.finance-montreal.com.

SOURCE: Aéro Montréal

Amélie Hudon
Director, Communications and Strategy
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