Picking the best for you.IT'S RRSP See Registered Retirement Savings Plan. RRSP See registered retirement savings plan (RRSP). SEASON AGAIN, AND INVESTORS ARE FACED WITH SCORES OF OPTIONS. The abundance of choices this time of year can be daunting daunt tr.v. daunt·ed, daunt·ing, daunts To abate the courage of; discourage. See Synonyms at dismay. [Middle English daunten, from Old French danter, from Latin for even the savviest of investors. The scenario can be much like walking into the produce section of your local grocery store. While staring at bin upon bin filled with seemingly indifferent choices, you are faced with the formidable task of finding the perfect pieces to add to your basket. Which of them may have hidden bruises, or be on the brink of spoiling? Which are the sweetest, tastiest and juiciest? Which have the potential to be the longest lasting? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] If only there was a way to weed out the less desirable investment options to leave only the cream of the crop at your disposal. Come to think of it, there is--a homegrown Labour-sponsored Investment Fund by the name of Golden Opportunities Fund. In the produce section, Golden Opportunities Fund would be that rare choice that is labeled "locally grown." It's like they have taken the time to pick the best Saskatchewan companies and put them all in one basket. And they are handing that basket to you to invest in. The scenario is very much a win-win; not only is the mind of the investor put at ease thanks to the selective basket, but the investor is provided with a 35 per cent tax credit. Furthermore, Golden Opportunities Fund stimulates the Saskatchewan economy by keeping investment dollars right here at home. "Labour-sponsored Funds have made substantial equity investments in small and medium-sized businesses and helped employees of those firms create and preserve hundreds of jobs," said then Economic and Co-operative Development Minister Janice MacKinnon Janice MacKinnon, FRSC (born January 30 1947) is a Canadian historian and former Minister of Finance for the Province of Saskatchewan under NDP Premier Roy Romanow. She is currently a professor in the Department of History at the University of Saskatchewan. , when she announced the registration of Golden Opportunities Fund Inc. in November of 1998. "This new pool fund of Golden Opportunities will provide new sources of investment capital for a wider range of businesses and give Saskatchewan residents yet another way to help grow the economy." And grow it they have. When it was officially launched eight years ago, Golden Opportunities Fund was introduced as the first Labour-sponsored Investment Fund in Saskatchewan. Newspaper headlines read, "New Fund Investing Capital in Saskatchewan," "Keeping Money at Home" and "Tax Incentives Now Benefiting Saskatchewan," That was then. Today, Golden Opportunities Fund is still making headlines, only now they state "Number-One Selling Labour-sponsored Investment Fund in Saskatchewan," "Investing over $37 Million at Home in 2006" and "Providing $29 Million in Tax Savings to Saskatchewan Residents." This is now. "My clients have been invested in Golden Opportunities Fund since it launched in 1999 and this year have matured units that are eligible for rollover A graphic element in an application or on a Web page that changes its color or shape when the pointer is moved (rolled) over it. See JavaScript rollover. See also n-key rollover. ," says investment advisor Investment Advisor 1. A person making investment recommendations in return for a flat fee or percentage of assets managed, known as a commission. 2. For mutual fund companies, it is the individual who has the day-to-day responsibility of investing and monitoring the cash and Don Bristow of Brian Mallard mallard: see duck. mallard Abundant “wild duck” (Anas platyrhynchos, family Anatidae) of the Northern Hemisphere, ancestor of most domestic ducks. The mallard is a typical dabbling duck in its general habits and courtship display. and Associates in Saskatoon Saskatoon (săskət  n`), city (1991 pop. 186,058), S central Sask., Canada, on the South Saskatchewan River. . "I have seen firsthand
the impact that Golden has had on the province of Saskatchewan and some
of the incredible companies in its investment portfolio. This year many
of my clients will be reinvesting their matured shares to receive
additional tax credits of 35 per cent."
The tax credit is only part of the story, however. Any savvy investor knows that there must be a return on an investment to generate any thoughts of reinvestment, notes Grant Kook, CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. and Chairman of Golden Opportunities Fund. "When we began, the story was really the opportunity to participate in the 35 per cent tax credit on your investment," says Kook. "Now we have a proven track record of providing returns to our shareholders over and above the tax credit. The story now is really the investment opportunities available in Saskatchewan." Golden Opportunities Fund has made a name for itself not only in the Saskatchewan market but as one of the leading labour funds in Canada. The Fund was chosen from 122 labour funds in Canada with $9 billion in assets under management Assets Under Management (AUM) is a term used by financial services companies in the mutual fund and money management or investment management business to gauge how much money they are managing. as the inaugural recipient of Canadian Labour Fund of the Year at the Canadian Investment Awards in 2004. But how does an investment fund from Saskatchewan generate this kind of success? Well, take a look at the Fund's portfolio and it seems clear. You just pick top management teams in high-growth sectors and create a high-value portfolio of incredible investment opportunities to offer your shareholders. Simple. "Golden Opportunities Fund has built a portfolio of companies that are on the leading edge of their fields," says Kook. "The Fund has been built on a steadfast commitment to diversity regardless of the temptation to become overweighted in one investment sector." That one sector Kook speaks of might well be oil and gas, which has experienced unprecedented growth in recent years. Golden Opportunities has also benefited from its investments in this sector. In fact the Fund's investments in oil and gas have produced annualized annualized Of or relating to a variable that has been mathematically converted to a yearly rate. Inflation and interest rates are generally annualized since it is on this basis that these two variables are ordinarily stated and compared. returns of approximately 43 per cent on an annualized basis. Golden's oil and gas investments include traditional exploration and development companies but also those that are developing new technologies in the industry in both services and extraction. "One of the new companies that we have added to our portfolio this year is BOS Rentals," offers Kook. "These guys have developed a sumpless dewatering Dewatering (dē′wöd·ər·iŋ) is the removal of water from solid material or soil by wet classification, centrifugation, filtration, or similar solid-liquid separation processes. system that reduces environmental costs by up to 70 per cent and rig up rig up Verb to set up or build temporarily: they rigged up a loudspeaker system Verb 1. rig up - erect or construct, especially as a temporary measure; "Can he rig up a P.A. costs by up to 60 per cent for exploration companies." "Oil and gas will continue to be a driving force in the Saskatchewan economy, with an estimated 85 per cent of provincial reserves still untapped," Kook continues. "Approximately 20 per cent of our investment portfolio remains in this sector. But we have maintained our commitment to develop a diversified investment portfolio for our shareholders that includes other industry sectors with as much and more potential to create value for our shareholders." Recent volatility in the oil and gas market has demonstrated the importance of the Fund's diversified approach. Overall the Fund is invested in 12 industry sectors in Saskatchewan. Nineteen per cent of its portfolio is in biotechnology investments. In fact, Golden Opportunities Fund is one of the leading biotechnology investors in Saskatchewan and as Kook explains, there is good reason for this. "Activity in the biotechnology sector has exploded over the past decade with private investment increasing six-fold to more than $18.4 billion. Saskatchewan is leading the country in biotechnology developments and has built the largest ag biotech hub in Canada. Golden Opportunities Fund's biotechnology portfolio offers a unique opportunity for Saskatchewan investors to participate in this explosive sector." When you look at the milestones achieved by companies in Golden's biotechnology portfolio, it is easy to see why Kook is so excited. Companies like Performance Plants Inc., voted the most promising early stage biotech company in Canada last year, received $12 million this year, which represents the largest private round of investment into an ag biotech company in Canadian history. Golden Opportunities Fund was one of the first institutional investors in Performance Plants more than four years ago. Golden Opportunities Fund was also one of the first institutional investors into Phenomenome Discoveries Inc., a world-leader in metabolic profiling technology, filing six patents in 2006 in oncology and neurology. Phenomenome's CFO See Chief Financial Officer. John Hyshka has repeatedly credited Golden's investment with keeping the company in Saskatchewan. "The investment from Golden Opportunities Fund allowed us to stay in Saskatchewan where costs are low and we can access highly skilled people at reasonable rates," affirms Hyshka. Cevena Bioproducts Inc., a new investment in 2005, recently completed clinical trials to prove the effectiveness of its cholesterol-reducing product called Viscofiber[R]. Prairie Plant Systems Prairie Plant Systems is a Saskatoon, Saskatchewan-based company established in 1988. It specializes in biosecure underground growth chambers used for plant-made pharmaceuticals . Inc., known best for a contract with Health Canada Health Canada (French: Santé Canada) is the department of the government of Canada with responsibility for national public health. Health Canada's goal is to improve Canadian life by improving Canadian longevity, lifestyle and use of public healthcare. to grow medicinal marijuana in biosecure underground growth chambers, has become a leader in the plant-made pharmaceuticals market. They recently partnered with Saskatoon's Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization The Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization is a non-profit organization owned by the University of Saskatchewan and operates with financial support from the governments of Saskatchewan and Alberta as well as Government of Canada and industry competitive grants. (VIDO VIDO Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (US) ) to produce an antibody that will be used in the world's first vaccine for Hepatitis C Hepatitis C Definition Hepatitis C is a form of liver inflammation that causes primarily a long-lasting (chronic) disease. Acute (newly developed) hepatitis C is rarely observed as the early disease is generally quite mild. . "Golden's biotechnology portfolio holds tremendous value for our shareholders," Kook says. "Milestones, such as the ones that our investee companies continue to achieve, are indicative of their growth. These milestones will translate into unit value increases for our shareholders when these companies go public, merge or are acquired by larger industry players." Golden Opportunities Fund has also kickstarted the province's development of the ethanol industry. Ethanol burns more efficiently than traditional fossil fuels and is progressively being blended into the gasoline that you buy at the pump. "Saskatchewan is poised to become the Canadian leader in ethanol production," offers Kook. "Golden has invested more than $10.6 million into this industry in the past 24 months." In addition to these top three sectors, the Fund has a tremendous supporting cast of industries, confirming the diversity of the portfolio and Golden Opportunities Fund's investment strategy. "We're invested in the technology sector," Kook explains, "in companies like Solido Design Automation Inc., which has relocated a proven management team back to Saskatchewan because of the investment capital now available through Golden Opportunities Fund." Solido develops software that is used by large microchip manufacturers to significantly reduce their manufacturing rework rates and save them money. Investing in strong management teams has taken Golden Opportunities Fund into the agricultural sector this year as well with a $5-million investment into Big Sky Farms Inc. Big Sky is Canada's third-largest hog producer, which annually produces in excess of one million hogs. Putting it into perspective, this production figure eclipses the population of Saskatchewan. There has never been a better time to invest in Golden Opportunities Fund according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Kook. "To drive future unit value you need a portfolio of companies that are building and creating real value through earnings growth, and the development of new technologies, processes or scientific findings. Our portfolio offers Saskatchewan shareholders an opportunity to invest in companies that are world leaders For a list of heads of state, see . World leaders is a MMORPG. The game involves creating a state, joining an alliance and going into war. It is mostly played by players from Israel, China, USA, Britain, Brazil and Saudi-Arabia. in their fields." Golden Opportunities Fund is ripe for picking that perfect piece of produce, and Saskatchewan residents are the only ones with access. To find out more about Golden Opportunities Fund and how you can invest, contact your investment advisor--and tell them you want the pick of the crop--Golden Opportunities Fund. PHOTOS BY Stuart Kasdorf Photographics RELATED ARTICLE: Sample of Golden Opportunities Fund's Recent Investments TERRA GRAIN FUELS INC. Canada's largest wheat-based ethanol facility, currently under construction near Belle Plaine, Saskatchewan Belle Plaine is a village in the rural municipality of Pense No. 160, in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Belle Plaine is located on Highway 1 or the Trans Canada Highway 21 kilometers east of Moose Jaw in south central Saskatchewan. , recently acquired by Universal Energy Group Ltd., a publicly traded company publicly traded company A company whose shares of common stock are held by the public and are available for purchase by investors. The shares of publicly traded firms are bought and sold on the organized exchanges or in the over-the-counter market. on the Toronto Stock Exchange Toronto Stock Exchange (TSE) Canada's largest stock exchange, trading approximately 1,200 company stocks and 33 options. . SOLIDO DESIGN AUTOMATION INC. A Saskatoon-based electronic design automation (EDA (1) (Electronic Design Automation) Using the computer to design, lay out, verify and simulate the performance of electronic circuits on a chip or printed circuit board. ) company located at Innovation Place pioneering transistor-level tools to address emerging challenges for analog/mixed signal, custom digital and memory designers. BOS RENTALS W3 LTD. One of Western Canada's premier rental services companies that has developed proprietary technology that reduces costs and environmental impact of operations in the oil and gas industry. BIG SKY FARMS INC. A leading Canadian farrow-to-finish hog producer, and the third-largest pork producer in Canada, headquartered in Humboldt, Saskatchewan Humboldt is a small Saskatchewan city located 113 km east of Saskatoon at the junction of Highway 5 and Highway 20. The province's newest city, it received its city charter in 2000. According to the Canada 2006 Census: PEARL EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION LTD. (ACQUIRED ATLAS ENERGY LTD.) A publicly held Canadian oil and gas company listed on the TSX TSX Toronto Stock Exchange (TSE before April, 2002) TSX Transfer from Stack Pointer to Index TSX True Space Extension under the symbol "PXX." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WESTERN BUILDING CENTRES LIMITED A privately held company privately held company A firm whose shares are held within a relatively small circle of owners and are not traded publicly. specializing in the consolidation of companies within the building materials Building materials used in the construction industry to create . These categories of materials and products are used by and construction project managers to specify the materials and methods used for . industry. WRITTEN BY Keith Moen |
|
||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion