BC Advantage Funds
885 W Georgia St Ste 1280, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 3E8, Canada
Overview
BC Advantage Funds is a venture capital firm that caters to early stage life science, technology, and clean tech companies. In 2006, the company 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, in the three years prior to its redemption (2006,2007, 2008), its Advantage Life Science Fund I provided the highest 5-year returns of any retail fund in Canada (Source: GlobeFund). Advantage most recent venture capital fund, the Advantage Structured Fund, was primarily raised and invested in the robust pre financial-crisis environment of 2004 – 2007. Since the financial crisis and recession of 2008 – 2009, we have had the challenging task of growing these businesses, keeping them financed despite difficult capital markets, and seeking profitable exits from the investments in a post financial-crisis environment characterized by few (if any) initial public offerings (IPOs), depressed activity in merger and acquisition (M&A) markets, and weakened valuations for emerging technology companies. In July, 2016, Advantage announced that its Board of Directors had concluded a review of strategic alternatives and determined that a liquidation and dissolution of the Company is the best alternative for maximizing shareholder value. The Board subsequently called an annual and special meeting of shareholders of the Company to approve a number of items, including the voluntary dissolution of the Company under Division 2 of Part 10 of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia), the settlement of all of the assets of the Company on the Liquidation Trustee (as defined in the information circular in respect of the Meeting) on trust that the Trustee assume and pay all of the liabilities of the Company, and distribute all remaining assets of the Trust rateably to the shareholders of record. The Dissolution Resolution was approved by way of an ordinary and special resolution passed by a majority and at least two-thirds, respectively, of the votes cast by the Company’s shareholders the Meeting.
- Total investments
- 2
- Lead investments
- 0
- Investments · 12mo
- 0
- Active investors
- 0
Sector focus
- Financial Services
- FinTech
- Venture Capital
Investment portfolio
- MSI Methylation Sciences
Participated · Series A · Sep 2011
Methylation Sciences Inc. is a Vancouver, BC-based clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing Strada™ (MSI-195), an oral small-molecule therapy for adjunctive treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Strada (MSI-195) is based on S-adenosyl methionine, a naturally occurring molecule involved in the one-carbon cycle. Detailed analysis from the MSI Horizon Phase 2 Trial showed support for clinically significant efficacy for MSI-195 in adjunctive treatment of MDD in a select group of patients. MSI-195 showed no serious adverse events and an overall favourable side effect profile relative to marketed antidepressant therapy. The company intends to use the US$30M funding to advance development of the therapy. Methylation Sciences is led by President Nancy Harrison. MSI Methylation Sciences focuses on developing S‑Adenosyl Methionine (SAMe), described in the article as a prescription drug used as a dietary supplement, for the treatment of depression. The company is based in Vancouver, British Columbia and was founded in 2007. It is led by CEO and President Barry Guld. MSI intends to use new funding to take its SAMe formulation into formal clinical development. The article reports a Series A financing of €13.5m (CDN$19m). In conjunction with the financing, Gunnar Weikert of Inventages joined MSI’s board.
- Aquinox Pharmaceuticals
Participated · Series B · Jun 2010
Aquinox Pharmaceuticals, based in Vancouver, BC, Canada, develops small‑molecule therapeutics targeting inflammatory disease and cancer. The company closed a US$25M Series B financing to advance its programs. Proceeds will move its lead SH2‑containing inositol‑5′‑phosphatase (SHIP1) agonist candidate, AQX‑1125, into Phase I and Phase II clinical studies. Aquinox will also continue drug discovery to nominate a second clinical candidate and additional pipeline candidates from its SHIP1 program. The company’s work centers on its SHIP1 agonist platform and clinical development of AQX‑1125.
Team
No current team members are available.