CDPQ / Capital Régional et Coopératif Desjardins and Emerillon Capital invest in a Montreal company
MONTREAL, March 19, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - The President and founder of lvl, Jean-François Gagnon, is pleased to announce that the company has recently entered into a funding agreement with three major institutions. The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, Capital Régional et Coopératif Desjardins and Emerillon Capital have acquired a stake in lvl with one of the largest transactions in Canada recorded over the past 15 months in the transmedia communications sector.
This first injection of capital from external partners will enable lvl to accelerate the development of customized services that have established its reputation with the television industry. These services extend the television experience into the digital environment through platforms such as smart phones, digital tablets and televisions. This type of enriched experience, also called a "second screen", makes it possible to extend the relationship with television content beyond airtime as it becomes available where and when the viewer wants it. This results in better audience retention and generates additional revenue.
For Jean-François Gagnon, the interest that lvl has received from financial partners of this caliber is a testament to the fact that the company is among the top key players in the worldwide television ecosystem. "lvl's experience makes it a reference for enriching the viewing experience. Our tailored services seamlessly integrate with our customers' technological environments, wherever they are in the world, without disrupting their operations. "
According to Ludovic André, Executive Director of Emerillon Capital, the PURPLE technology developed by lvl puts the company in a strong market position. "The PURPLE platform demonstrates that lvl has a deep understanding of the needs of all the key industry players. It provides instant added value to cable operators as well as broadcasters, producers, advertisers and equipment manufacturers. This feature is important because it allows all stakeholders in the television environment to work in collaboration to build the future of television rather than doing it in isolation."
About lvl
lvl is a private company based in Montreal. It designs and implements customized services that enrich the television experience to redefine and deepen the relationship between viewers and content offered to them. lvl clients include companies in the media, entertainment, telecommunications and health sectors. lvl has developed the Hockey Night in Canada second screen application on behalf of the CBC as well as the Facebook 19-2 Operation anti-gang game. For more information: www.lvlstudio.com
About Capital croissance PME
Capital croissance PME is a $200 million fund. It aims to meet the financing needs of small businesses in Quebec, mainly in the form of subordinated loans of three million dollars or less. Desjardins Capital de risque, a subsidiary of Mouvement Desjardins, is the exclusive manager of this fund sponsored equally by the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec and Capital regional et coopératif Desjardins.
About the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec
The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec is a financial institution that primarily manages funds for retirement plans and public and private insurance policies. Its net assets totaled $176.2 billion as of December 31, 2012. As one of the largest institutional fund managers in Canada, the Caisse invests in the main financial markets as well as in private equity and real estate investments. For more information: www.lacaisse.com
About Capital régional et coopératif Desjardins
Capital régional et coopératif Desjardins is a public company with close to 105,000 shareholders and net assets of nearly $1,360 million. The Company is a driver of economic development by supporting and maintaining the best of entrepreneurship in Quebec. CRCD supports, directly or indirectly through partner funds, the growth of more than 330 companies, cooperatives and funds operating in a number of sectors and from all regions of Quebec. For more information: www.capitalregional.com
About Emerillon Capital
Driven by the Crédit Mutuel - CIC and Mouvement Desjardins, Emerillon Capital is a venture capital investment fund specialized in supporting technologically innovative businesses that are positioned in promising sectors with strong potential for growth. In a transatlantic spirit, Emerillon Capital offers a starting point to support entrepreneurs in their development projects geared to Europe, relying namely on its sponsor, CM-CIC Capital Finance, a leading venture capital fund in France with $ 2.6 billion euros in managed assets and a portfolio of over 600 businesses.
SOURCE: lvl
For further information:
Anne-Sophie Laframboise
Phone: (514) 843-2063
Cell. : Cell : 514-242-9369
[email protected]
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