History
The idea behind LSVCCs was first proposed in the Canadian province of Quebec in 1982. The province was in the midst of a recession and the lack of capital in small and mid-sized companies had caused numerous bankruptcies.
In response, the Quebec Federation of Labour proposed a "solidarity fund" at a provincial economic summit conference in 1982 to help the province create a locally-controlled healthy and sustainable economy. The intention was to lure venture capital to smaller Quebec firms.
This new type of fund slowly began to spread across the rest of Canada during the 1980s. But it wasn't until the late 1990s that LSVCCs became truly noteworthy outside Quebec, thanks in equal part to generous tax breaks from federal and provincial governments and attractive returns to investors. So far in the 2000s, returns have been less impressive, due in part to the bursting of the technology bubble. Unfavourable Government rule changes regarding LSVCCs have also been an important reason for this turn.
Labour-sponsored venture capital corporations, as the name suggests, must be "sponsored" by a labour unions. This sponsor is able to appoint members to the fund's board of directors (but not the investee's board of directors).
Read more about this topic: Labour-sponsored Venture Capital Corporation
Famous quotes containing the word history:
“No one can understand Paris and its history who does not understand that its fierceness is the balance and justification of its frivolity. It is called a city of pleasure; but it may also very specially be called a city of pain. The crown of roses is also a crown of thorns. Its people are too prone to hurt others, but quite ready also to hurt themselves. They are martyrs for religion, they are martyrs for irreligion; they are even martyrs for immorality.”
—Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874–1936)
“American time has stretched around the world. It has become the dominant tempo of modern history, especially of the history of Europe.”
—Harold Rosenberg (1906–1978)
“The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records between the material and the moral nature.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)