Glossary – A to C

A

Aboriginal Capital Corporation (ACC)

An organization providing loan and business services, including advice, to small and medium-sized Aboriginal firms in various locations across Canada.

Aboriginal Financial Institution (AFI)

An Aboriginal Capital Corporation or an Aboriginal Community Futures Development Corporation or similar purpose Aboriginal-owned and controlled organization providing business and/or financial services exclusively or principally to Aboriginal clients.

Alternate Service Delivery organization (ASD)

An Aboriginal organization in an established partnership agreement with the Government of Canada to deliver the ABC program on behalf of Industry Canada, with funding arrangements in place to allow for local delivery and investment decisions.

Assets

All real or intellectual property owned by an enterprise that has a positive financial value.

B

Bank credit

The borrowing capacity provided to an individual by the banking system, in the form of credit or a loan.

Bridge financing

Financing extended to a person, company, or other entity, using existing assets as collateral in order to acquire new assets. Bridge financing is usually short term.

Business plan

A document that summarizes the operational and financial objectives of a business and contains the detailed plans and budgets showing how the objectives are to be realized. ABC requires this information to gain a full understanding of an applicant’s business opportunity.

Business services

In the context of ABC’s eligible project costs, business services are defined as all forms of business support, advisory services, training and information required for business start-ups, expansions, acquisitions, or modernizations.

C

Capital

1) Financial assets or the financial value of assets such as cash.
2) The factories, machinery, and equipment owned by a business.

Capital costs

The reasonable and direct costs of design, acquisition, construction, expansion, modification, conversion, transportation, installation and insurance (during construction) of fixed assets, as well as the cost of licensing and franchising fees, incurred by an eligible applicant.

Commercial venture

The activity of providing goods and services involving financial, commercial and industrial aspects.

Competitive advantage

An advantage enjoyed by a company with lower costs than a rival, enabling it to sell its products for less or make greater profits when selling them at the same price as its rival.

Contribution

A conditional transfer payment to an individual or organization for a specified purpose, pursuant to a contribution agreement that is subject to being accounted for and audited. Should the individual or organization use the transfer payment in the manner specified by the contribution agreement, the government does not expect to receive any goods or services directly in return, to be repaid or to receive a financial return.

Corporation

A body that is recognized as a separate legal entity having its own rights, privileges, and liabilities distinct from those of its members.

Credit check

The process of evaluating an applicant's request for funding to determine the likelihood that the proponent will live up to his or her obligations.