Raising Equity Capital

Before a small business can raise funds from investors it must obtain an approval under section 28.3 of the Small Business Venture Capital Act from the administrator. Prior to granting this approval, the eligible business corporation (EBC) must satisfy the administrator that the shares or convertible right it plans to issue to investors complies with the Act.

Before issuing share capital to investors an EBC should understand the following requirements of the Act:

• The investors must acquire voting or non-voting shares or a convertible right of the EBC for cash consideration (the voting interest of the investor and their associates and affiliates is restricted to less than 50%)
• The shares issued to the investors must be treasury shares issued to raise new equity capital
• If the shares or a convertible right carries retraction or redemption rights, such rights must be exercisable at least five years from the share issue date
• The investors must be at arm’s length from the EBC and must not have disposed of any “eligible business” shares or convertible rights in the past two years (ensures investors won’t sell and then reacquire shares to obtain tax credits)
• The investors must hold the EBC shares or convertible right for at least five years. An investor will be liable to repay the tax credit if the shares or convertible rights are redeemed prior to five years
• The EBC must not redeem or register a transfer of shares or a convertible right on which tax credits were paid for at least five years.

Click here for a list of the prohibited share rights and restrictions.

The maximum equity capital that an EBC can raise under the Venture Capital Programs is $10 million.

Upon registration, the EBC will receive an equity authorization specifying the amount of tax credit supported investment it can raise, between the dates stated on their Equity Authorization approval letter, under the program for the current tax budget year. 

EBCs can only raise tax credit supported investment up to the authorized amount, between the dates stated in their Equity Authorization approval letter. The EBC's equity authorization ends on its expiry date.

EBCs must immediately claim tax credits through the electronic Tax Credit Application (eTCA) system as soon as investment has been raised, and share purchase reports and tax credit application requirements have been met.

EBCs are encouraged to apply to raise additional equity capital each tax budget year online via the electronic Tax Credit Application (eTCA) system. Alternately, a completed Additional Equity Application (PDF, 203 KB) form may be sent electronically to their Portfolio Manager or to the Venture Capital Tax Credit Program at InvestmentCapital@gov.bc.ca.

When raising equity capital, the EBC must ensure that each individual or corporate investor completes and signs a Share Purchase Report (PDF, 639 KB).

Read the Investment Capital Program Guidelines (PDF, 3.1 MB)

The Investment Capital Branch maintains a register of EBCs that are actively raising investment. The register is made available to VCCs and other investors who are seeking investment opportunities and want to know which companies are actively raising investment.

Note that not all EBCs registered in the program show on the register, as only EBCs that have agreed to be included are on the register. EBCs on the register may or may not have a current pre-approved authorization to raise tax credit supported investment. Potential investors should request a copy of the EBCs pre-approved authorization for confirmation that the EBC is currently permitted to raise tax credit supported investment.

View the Public Register of EBCs (PDF, 170 KB)