June 3, 1998

This study examines the nature, effectiveness and potential role of financial intermediaries with respect to assisting Atlantic SMEs in accessing from $50,000 to $250,000 in equity investment. It also identifies best practices from case studies of entrepreneur-investor matchmaking initiatives. The report reveals, among other findings, that the equity capital market for Atlantic SMEs operates informally, and that the informal intermediary network is underutilised by entrepreneurs. The study concludes that there are opportunities to make the Atlantic intermediary market function better than it does at present and recommends a number of initiatives be undertaken to assist entrepreneurs in understanding how to raise equity financing and how intermediaries can assist that process.

Study of the Financial Intermediary Market in Atlantic Canada (PDF: 183KB / 75 pages)