Meritas' SRI Funds makes investment in InvestEco to promote healthy and sustainable food production

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VANCOUVER, Oct. 31, 2016 /CNW/ - OceanRock Investments Inc., manager of Meritas SRI Funds, is proud to announce its investment in InvestEco Capital Corp., a firm focussed on investing in high-growth sustainable companies.

Meritas SRI Funds is making an investment in the InvestEco Sustainable Food Fund II, L.P. The investment is part of the Meritas fund family's new, broader Impact Investing mandate, which includes building healthier, sustainable communities close to home in Canada, the U.S. and around the world. 

The InvestEco Sustainable Food Fund II focuses on high-growth, expansion-stage private companies in North America that are promoting health and sustainability in the food and agricultural sector. The Fund is managed by InvestEco Capital, a leader in impact investing in Canada.

InvestEco's investments include companies such as Toronto-based Mama Earth Organics, an organic food delivery service; Maple Hill Creamery, based in upper New York state, a leader in 100-per-cent grass-fed whole-milk dairy products; and Toronto-based local food distributor 100km Foods. The Fund is only marketed to Canadian Accredited Investors.

"As part of our commitment to impact investing, Meritas SRI Funds is always looking for investments that create social and environmental benefits for communities, while also offering financial returns for investors," says OceanRock CEO Fred Pinto. "Our investment in InvestEco meets this investment criteria by helping to support sustainable farming that is focussed on growing and raising food that is healthy for consumers, promotes animal welfare and helps to protect the environment. It's also a high impact way to support family farms that continue to play a critical role in the global food industry."

"We are excited to have Meritas SRI Funds as an investor in our Fund," said Andrew Heintzman, CEO and co-founder of InvestEco Capital Corp. "We share a similar goal of generating strong financial returns for investors, while at the same time investing in companies that promote health and sustainability of the food and agricultural sector."

Since their launch more than 15 years ago, Meritas SRI Funds have allocated a portion of their portfolios to Community Development Investments (CDI), which provide micro-loans to entrepreneurs living in developing countries. Meritas SRI Funds is the only nationally distributed retail investment fund family in Canada with an ongoing commitment to CDI.

OceanRock recently expanded its scope to include a wider range of Impact Investing opportunities both in Canada and abroad. InvestEco represents the second investment for Meritas SRI Funds under this new Impact Investing umbrella. The first was a recent investment in New Market Funds and its inaugural affordable rental housing fund, which aims to deliver affordable rental housing units in Canada's largest cities.

OceanRock expects to announce more Impact Investments for the Meritas SRI Funds in the near future.

Note for editors:

Interviews are available with Fred Pinto, CEO of OceanRock Investments Inc. and Andrew Heintzman, co-founder and CEO of InvestEco Capital Corp.

About OceanRock Investments Inc.

OceanRock Investments Inc. is one of Canada's fastest-growing investment-management organizations, managing $1.6 billion on behalf of Canadian investors. OceanRock offers a comprehensive range of managed portfolio solutions and individual funds to meet the needs of individual and institutional investors. OceanRock is dedicated to offering disciplined, risk-controlled and diversified investment solutions to Canadian individual and institutional investors and has a core commitment to Responsible Investing through its Meritas SRI Funds. OceanRock Investments Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Qtrade Financial Group, which is a member of Desjardins Group, the leading cooperative financial group in Canada and the sixth largest cooperative financial group in the world. OceanRock is a Sustaining Member of the Responsible Investment Association. www.oceanrock.ca

About InvestEco Capital Corp.

InvestEco Capital Corp. is a Toronto-based venture capital investment firm focused on high-growth sustainable companies. Since its inception in 2002, InvestEco has invested in eighteen private companies. These range from companies that are developing renewable energy, water technologies, resource productivity technologies and efficient transportation solutions, to companies that promote health and sustainability in the food and agriculture sector. Today, InvestEco is primarily focused on sustainable food and agriculture, funding many leading food and agriculture brands across North America. For more information visit www.investeco.com.

Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with mutual fund investments. Please read the prospectus before investing. Mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated.

The securities referred to in this news release have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from the U.S. registration requirements. This news release does not constitute an offer of securities for sale, nor a solicitation for offers to buy any securities. Any public offering of securities in the United States must be made by means of a prospectus containing detailed information about the company and management, as well as financial statements.

SOURCE OceanRock Investments Inc.

please contact: Qtrade Financial Group, Sean Kelly, Senior Communications Specialist, 778.328.7583, [email protected]; InvestEco Capital, Andrew Heintzman, Co-founder and CEO, 416.304.1750, [email protected]