Montréal, March 16, 2007
– The Solidarity Fund QFL (the “Fund”) today announced an investment in Les Investissements IKE inc., a start-up that produces and markets dairy snacks under the name Kooll Desserts.
Thanks to their nutritional value, the Ste-Hyacinthe company’s snacks, produced from whole milk and cream, are in increasing demand. The Fund’s investment was used to set up a production facility and to introduce three new product lines—Creemm, Mooss and Kooll—already available in supermarkets. The company has been distributing its desserts in Québec and Ontario since last fall.
“Investing in start-ups is part of our economic mission and Kooll Desserts is an excellent example. This company has managed to carve out a niche in the agro industry which is intensely competitive. The Fund commends Kooll Desserts for its dynamic and creative management team and will be there to give them all the backing they need to grow the company,” stated Gaétan Morin, the Fund’s Executive Vice-President, Investments.
About the Solidarity Fund QFLWith net assets of $6.9 billion, the Solidarity Fund QFL is a development capital company that, through its RRSP, channels the savings of Quebecers into investments in all sectors of the economy to help create and maintain jobs and to further Québec's economic growth. Either directly or through its network members, the Fund is a partner in 1,681 companies. It currently has nearly 570,000 shareholders and has helped, on its own or with other financial partners, to create, maintain and support over 116,000 jobs. For more information, visit
www.fondsftq.com.
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Information:
The telephone number provided below is for the exclusive use of journalists and other media representatives.
Source: Josée Lagacé
Senior Advisor, Press Relations and Communications
Solidarity Fund QFL
Telephone: 514 850-4835
E-mail: jlagace@fondsftq.com