Advantage is a venture capital corporation that invests in early-stage life science, technology and clean tech companies located in British Columbia. Our investors receive a 30% refundable tax credit from the BC Government on investments of up to $200,000 per year and the ability to redeem their shares at their net asset value five years after we invest their funds into eligible small businesses.

Advantage is the largest venture capital corporation in British Columbia.

In 2006, Advanatge received the Canadian Venture Capital Association 'Deal of the Year' Award for achieving the highest realized return on a single investment (23.4X return on our investment in Aspreva Pharmaceuticals) of any venture capital firm in Canada. Furthermore, over the last five years, the Advantage Life Science Fund I has provided the highest returns of any retail fund in Canada.

Advantage currently has over $75,000,000 under management and the BC government has provided Advantage with an annual $20,000,000 tax credit allocation. To date, Advantage has sold out its entire tax credit allocation every year since our inception.

The Advantage Venture Fund - The Advantage Venture Fund is our largest investment fund. The Venture Fund invests in early stage life science, technology and clean tech companies. Its portfolio includes companies in biotech and medical devices, as well as software, telecom, manufacturing and clean technology companies.

The Venture Fund typically invests between $500,000 and $2 million as a first investment into a company and seeks to invest approximately $5 million in aggregate into each portfolio company. However, the fund will invest more or less where the opportunity warrants it. The Fund's portfolio includes private and public companies, as well as companies from the seed stage through to revenue generating companies..

The Venture Fund is one of our two funds open to investors for purchase. The Venture Fund has an allocation of $13 million in tax credits for 2008. Please check with your financial advisor for an update on available allocation.

The Advantage Life Science Fund II - The management agreement for the Advantage Life Science Fund II, formerly known as Pender NDI Life Sciences Fund, was acquired by Lions Capital on October 3, 2007. Advantage Life Science Fund II invests in early stage therapeutics, diagnostic and nedical device life science companies located in British Columbia.

Lions Capital is building the portfolio of the Advantage Life Science Funds II by following the same investment strategies it used in building and developing the portfolio of the original Advantage Life Science Fund I.

The Advantage Life Science Fund II is currently one of two Advantage funds open to investors for purchase. The Advantage Life Science Fund II has an allocation of $7 million in tax credits for 2008. Please check with your financial advisor for an update on available allocation.

The Advantage Life Science Fund I - The Advantage Life Science Fund I is the first fund managed by our team. It was formed in 2001 and invested its monies into several life science companies located in British Columbia.

Through this fund we invested in companies like Protox Therapeutics, that we built from the ground up and in companies, like Aspreva Pharmaceuticals, where we participated in the development of the company through the involvement of our Mentors. The Advantage Life Science Fund I is the top performing retail venture capital funds in Canada over the last five years.

The Advantage Life Science Fund I is currently in the redemption phase of its life cycle and is not making new investments or currently offered for sale. 

For more information on any or all of the funds listed above, visit the BC Advantage Funds website at www.bcadvantagefunds.com

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