With over $280 million under management, VentureLink Funds is a diverse group of labour-sponsored funds ("LSIF"). The group was a pioneer in bringing funds focused on mezzanine debt to the LSIF market, a conservative approach that provides investors benefit from the security of debt positions along with the growth potential of participating equity.
VentureLink funds give investors access to well-diversified portfolios of
established companies operating in traditional industries such as financial,
manufacturing and service industries as well as dynamic industries like
alternative energy
Significant Potential
VentureLink Group of Funds give investors access to well-diversified portfolios of established companies operating in traditional industries such as financial, manufacturing and service industries, as well as dynamic industries like alternative energy and technology.
Managed Risk
The fund reduces risk through diversification in various investments, including debt-related securities (such as warrants, debentures and promissory notes), as well as equity holdings.
Experienced Portfolio Management
The portfolio management team at VentureLink has more than 30 years of combined experience in the venture capital industry.
Cost Certainty
We can achieve cost certainty through our continued relationship with CI Investments who performs our client administration and back office.
Our Venture Capital Thinking: Participation with Protection
The management team structures investments to preserve capital while providing current yield as well as upside participation through the use of various investment vehicles including:
- convertible notes
- debt plus warrants & debentures
- coupons that participate in the growth of the business
- equity holdings
This debt-oriented structure is commonly referred to as mezzanine financing and was pioneered among LSIFs by VentureLink.
Investment Advisor
Geoff Horton - Managing Partner
Geoff Horton has been involved in managing the VentureLink Group of Funds since joining the predecessor manager in 2001. From 1995 to 1999, Mr. Horton was an Investment Manager and Senior Investment Analyst at Working Ventures Canadian Fund Inc., a labour sponsored investment fund focusing on early and later stage venture capital investing. While at Working Ventures, Mr. Horton led an array of investment transactions, sat on the boards of several private companies, and was involved in Working Ventures' internal Valuation Review Group. From 1992 to 1995, Mr. Horton was a bond broker at Freedom International, an agent facilitating trade between investment dealers.
John Varghese - Managing Partner
As Managing Partner and one of the co-owners of the manager, Mr. Varghese is responsible for the management and investment activities of the fund as well as actively leading the marketing efforts of the funds. Currently Mr. Varghese is an observer or board member on numerous investee companies, including Chairman of Ventus Energy Inc. Most recently, he was Chairman of Orion Securities Inc. and Chairman of MCCI Communications Inc.
Previously, he was Managing Partner at JV Venture Partners, a firm that specialized in advisory, strategy and corporate restructuring for high growth companies. Prior to this, Mr. Varghese was a partner and Vice President at elab Technology Ventures’ where he was responsible for the venture capital and operational functions of the firm.
Mr. Varghese is a Director of the Board for the CVCA - Canada's Venture Capital & Private Equity Association as well as a member of the University of Toronto's Business Board of Directors.
Mr. Varghese’s professional experience ranges from venture capital and investment banking to senior management and board of director roles in various industries. He has held COO and CFO positions at start-up organizations, as well as senior management roles within multi-national corporations including royal bank Capital Corporation, Midland Walwyn Capital Inc. (Merrill Lynch Canada), Dell Computer Corporation and Jim Pattison Industries Ltd.
Jim Whitaker - Managing Partner
Jim Whitaker joined the predecessor manager of the VentureLink Group of Funds in March 2003 after more than eight years with Working Ventures Canadian Fund Inc. where he led the Information Technology Team and was a member of the Management Investment Committee. While at Working Ventures Jim led investments or acted as Board member in approximately twenty companies. Prior to joining Working Ventures, Mr. Whitaker worked in a number of practice areas at Ernst & Young providing financial advisory services to mid-market companies in a wide range of industries. Mr. Whitaker is a Chartered Accountant and a Chartered Business Valuator.