Montréal, November 5, 2007 – Remstar Corporation, a Canadian entertainment company that specializes in production and distribution of film and TV products, the Solidarity Fund QFL and Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, have joined forces to invest in Remstar Media Partners. This newly formed Québec company will acquire and exploit the distribution rights of some 25 movies—primarily Canadian—over the next five years.
“We believe there is a tremendous growth opportunities in the Quebec and Canadian film industry. With this new vehicle, we plan to significantly increase our Canadian and international presence by assisting producers in financing, distributing and promoting their movies,” stated Remstar Media Partners President, Maxime Rémillard.
“This is good news for the Québec movie industry and particularly for producers, actors and film makers. Remstar’s presence right from the start of the movie-making process as well as at the distribution and marketing stage provides producers with significant leverage, which is particularly interesting. The Fund is proud to contribute to a structuring sector for Québec, one that creates jobs and is profitable for our shareholders, elements that are key in each of our partnerships,” added Gaétan Morin, Executive Vice-President, Investments at the Solidarity Fund QFL.
“With this investment, the Caisse is supporting a dynamic Québec company that wants to speed up its growth,” commented Normand Provost, the Caisse’s Executive Vice-President, Private Equity.
Remstar Corporation, the parent company of Remstar Media Partners has collaborated in the production of a number of Québec, Canadian films and international films, including
Death Instinct, featuring Vincent Cassel,
Ma Fille, mon ange,
Head in the Clouds starring Penelope Cruz and Charlize Theron,
Battle in Seattle, directed by Stuart Townsend and starring Charlize Theron and Woody Harrelson. It has also marketed several major movies including
Monster,
An American Haunting,
Elles étaient cinq and
Les Triplettes de Belleville.
Solidarity Fund QFL With net assets of over $7.2 billion as at May 31, 2007, 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. The Fund is a partner, either directly or through its network members, in 1,696 companies. It currently has nearly 575,000 shareholders and has helped, on its own or with other financial partners, to create, maintain and protect over 122,000 jobs. For more information, visit
www.fondsftq.com.
Caisse de dépôt et placement du QuébecThe Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec is a financial institution that manages funds primarily for public and private pension and insurance plans. As at December 31, 2006, it held CA$143.5 billion of net assets. One of the leading institutional fund managers in Canada, the Caisse invests in the main financial markets as well as in private equity and real estate. For more information:
www.lacaisse.com.
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Note: The telephone numbers provided below are for the exclusive use of journalists and other media representatives.
Sources : Josée Lagacé
Senior Advisor, Press Relations and Communications
Fonds de solidarité FTQ
Telephone : 514 850-4835
Email : jlagace@fondsftq.com
Brigitte Chabot
Brigitte Chabot Communications
Telephone: 514-861-7870
Email : bchabotcom@sympatico.ca