Fonds de solidarité FTQ Invests $3 Million to Support the Growth of Québec TV Producer Pixcom

MONTRÉAL, April 13, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - The Fonds de solidarité FTQ today announced a $3-million investment in Pixcom Group, a Montréal-based company founded by Jacquelin Bouchard in 1987. Pixcom will use the funds to expand abroad.

"Pixcom's growth plan shows that Jacquelin Bouchard is serious about future-proofing the company he created almost 30 years ago. Backed by a strong management team consisting of Nicola Merola, Charles Lafortune and Sylvie Desrochers, as well as producers and many craftspeople, Pixcom is well positioned to capitalize on opportunities elsewhere in Canada and in the U.S.," said Janie Béïque, Senior Vice-President of Industries, Entertainment and Consumer Goods at the Fonds de solidarité FTQ.

"Thanks to the financial support of our new partner, the Fonds de solidarité FTQ, we will be able to step up our development as a world-class producer of digital and television content. We will be able to go further and faster. The extraordinary potential of our Québécois creators is a tremendous economic lever that will generate even more jobs," said in turn Pixcom Group president and founder Jacquelin Bouchard.

Pixcom's productions include the French scripted series "Karl et Max" for Club Illico, "Apparences" for Radio-Canada, the hit youth program "Les Argonautes" for Télé-Québec, and "Un tueur si proche" for Canal D. Its international catalogue includes the TV series "Licence to Drill" for Discovery Canada, and "Thrift Hunter"s for Spike USA.

Next year, Pixcom will produce, among others, a dramatic series on the life of Jean Béliveau for Historia, and "Restoration Garage", a TV series for the U.S. channel Velocity.

In addition to its permanent 40-member team, Pixcom employs close to 1,500 people (artists, technicians, production teams) every year in response to client needs.

About the Fonds de solidarité FTQ

The Fonds de solidarité FTQ helps drive our economy. With net assets of $11.2 billion as of November 30, 2015, the Fonds is a development capital fund that channels the savings of Quebecers into investments in all sectors of the economy to help create and maintain jobs and further Québec's development. The Fonds is a partner, either directly or through its network members, in more than 2,550 companies. With over 600,000 shareholder-savers, the Fonds has helped create, maintain and protect more than 176,000 jobs. For more information, visit www.fondsftq.com.

About Pixcom

Pixcom Group is a private Montréal-based communications company founded in 1987. First and foremost a television producer, Pixcom also offers digital production, international distribution, corporate communication, dubbing and technical services. Pixcom is an integrated producer that designs, builds and operates its own production infrastructures. www.pixcom.com

SOURCE Fonds de solidarité FTQ

Press contacts: Patrick McQuilken, Fonds de solidarité FTQ, Phone: [phone], Mobile: [phone], Email: [email protected]; Nicola Merola, Productions Pixcom Inc., Téléphone : 514 931-1188; Fonds de solidarité FTQ shareholders: Shareholder Services, Fonds de solidarité FTQ, Montréal: 514 383-3663, Québec City: 418 628-3663, Toll free: 1 800 567-3663