160.107 EF RA 2007 FTQ ANG.indd
Transcription
160.107 EF RA 2007 FTQ ANG.indd
Our capital starts with people 2007 ANNUAL REPORT_solidarity fund qfl S uite 200 545 Crémazie Blvd. E ast Montréal, Qué bec H2 M 2W4 Telephone: 514 383-8383 Fax: 514 383-2502 Toll free: 1 800 361-5017 www.fondsftq.com 2007 ANNUAL REPORT solidarity fund qfl Mission Create, maintain or protect jobs Invest in companies impacting the Québec economy and offer them services to further their development and create, maintain or protect jobs. Train workers Promote economic training for workers so they can increase their influence on the economic development of Québec. Develop the Québec economy Stimulate the Québec economy through strategic investments that benefit both Québec workers and companies alike. Prepare for retirement Make workers aware of the need to save for retirement and encourage them to do so, as well as encourage them to participate in the development of the economy by purchasing Fund shares. Go i n g Carbon- Neutral 1 6 17 89 Highlights Shareholder Base Financial Information 2 10 86 Message from the Chairman of the Board OF DIRECTORS Training glossary Management Committee Special Boards Committees Union 12 88 90 Investments Board of Directors Permanent Employees 4 Message from the President and Chief Executive Officer At the Annual General Meeting and the national local representative meeting preceding it, the Solidarity Fund QFL decided to adhere to the principles of a conference encouraging the reduction of polluting emissions. Therefore, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GGE), we encouraged the participants of these meetings to use public transportation. The Fund also hired Planetair, a not-for-profit organization, to calculate the GGE generated by these two meetings (transportation, meal preparation, etc.). Once the results are final, the Fund will remit to Planetair a compensatory amount in keeping with current practice. This money will be invested in renewable energy or energy efficiency projects that will reduce GGE at their source in developing countries. HIGHLIGHTS Key data 1 For the years ended (in millions of dollars except Class A shares, in thousands) Statement of earnings Revenues Net earnings (net loss) JUNE 30 2003 Balance sheet Net assets Class A shares outstanding Ratio 2 Operating expenses/Average net assets MAY 31 2004 2005 2006 2007 (11 moNTHS) (209.1) (325.5) 347.0 247.3 372.5 271.1 463.3 366.5 588.9 475.0 4,620.2 225,956 5,233.3 243,946 5,955.2 264,845 6,607.1 277,466 7,239.0 284,628 1.8% 1.8% 3 1.5% 1.4% 1.4% 1. Comparative data has been restated to reflect new accounting standards affecting investment companies. 2.The operating expense ratio does not include capital tax. 3.Annualized. As at May 31 (except 2003, as at June 30) Net value per share ( I n d o l l arS ) 2003 2004 2005 2006 200 7 Rate of return of the Fund ( a s a p e rc e nta g e ) 20.36 21.37 22.41 23.74 25.36 2003 2004* 2005 2006 2007 1, 2 (6.9) 5.2 5.0 6.0 7.1 Share issues ( in mi l l i o n s o f d o l l ar s ) 2003 2004* 2005 2006 2007 * (11 months) Average annual return since inception: 5.1% * (11 months) NUMBER OF JOBS CREATED, MAINTAINED OR PROTECTED IN QUÉBEC BY THE FUND AND ITS PARTNERS Number of shareholders Number of partner companies ( F u n d an d n e t w o r k ) 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 91,694 96,000 105,596 116,644 122,460 Redemptions ( in mi l l i o n s o f d o l l ar s ) 2003 2004* 2005 2006 2007 313.0 188.5 255.6 328.7 402.3 550,119 554,796 568,383 573,086 574,794 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 1,666 1,722 1,683 1,681 1,696 FAIR VALUE OF INVESTMENTS IN PARTNER COMPANIES 3 ( in mi l l i o n s o f d o l l ar s ) investments 3 ( in M I LL I O N S o f d o l l arS ) 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2003 2004* 2005 2006 2007 2,633.5 2,695.4 2,900.8 3,342.5 3,741.9 * (11 months) 724.7 554.2 706.5 613.8 570.7 368.5 404.7 492.2 642.8 667.7 * (11 months) 1. Earnings (loss) per share divided by the share price at the beginning of the fiscal year. 2.Return does not take into account tax credits for shareholders. 3.These investments include the funds committed but not disbursed as well as funds for guarantees and suretyships. 2 0 0 7 ann u A l R EPO R T Sustained efforts to create and maintain jobs From left to right LOUISE ST-CYR Chairholder, Chair of Small and Medium-Sized Businesses, HEC Montréal, and President of the Audit Committee of the Fund RENÉ ROY General Secretary, QFL, and Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Fund HENRI MASSÉ President, QFL, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Fund 2 0 0 7 ann u A l R EPO R T ME S S A G E F R OM T H E C H A I R MAN OF T H E BOA R D OF D I R E C T O R S Fiscal 2006-2007 was a remarkable year for the Fund, one in which we fulfilled our role as investor in SMEs and had a major impact on the Québec economy. Our efforts reflect our commitment to build a stronger Québec economy and keep jobs here at home. We must back any worthwhile initiative that will help entrepreneurs in this sector adapt to the current context, which means modernizing, developing new markets, and boosting exports. While wealth creation is necessary, it must be well distributed and focus on employment. For us, investing is part of an approach to create collective wealth by focusing on quality jobs: those we can create and those we must preserve. That’s why we invest throughout Québec. We made this decision from the outset and it has made us pioneers in local and regional development. With our SOLIDE (Sociétés locales d’investissement dans le développement de l’emploi) and regional and specialty funds network, we have invested with our collaborators and partners in projects that are of interest to all the regions. Together, we have created a unique, responsible investment model that is founded on the importance of supporting economic development across Québec. Our collective priority must therefore be the Québec economy. Once again, I do not understand why governments are still not doing everything they can to help entrepreneurs and promote the restructuring and modernization of our industries. Except in the forestry sector, no concrete measure has been implemented to help workers suffering the fallout of the changes in the manufacturing industry. Working together I have always stressed the vital economic role government corporations play and would like to highlight the efforts made by some of them. Although, in my opinion, they could still do more, at least they are becoming more economically focused. In this regard, the work of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, for example, merits acknowledgment. By partnering with other organizations last May and launching the Centre international sur la prospérité des entreprises du Québec, the Caisse was on the right track, since the success of our local companies requires that they adapt their business plans to globalization. I was part of the working group that set up this centre, and now, the Fund’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Yvon Bolduc, has taken the reins to help ensure that all this economic prosperity also translates into quality jobs for Quebecers. As for our companies, we must all work together to help them grow. The tough economic times we are experiencing, particularly in the manufacturing sector, concerns us all. No one is spared. Our manufacturing sector has been permanently weakened: since 2002, more than 100,000 jobs have been swept away by the wave of globalization. Everyone is affected by this disastrous situation, and with a strong Canadian dollar nearing parity with the U.S. dollar, volatile oil prices, a global economic slowdown, unrelenting Asian competition, and a graying population, our problems are far from over. Consequently, we must all join forces and work together: employers, unions, governments, government corporations and all the organizations concerned. A medium- and long-term vision It certainly is no secret that I am against purely speculative investments, particularly those made by U.S. private funds. There is no medium- and long-term vision behind these strategies; the investors are not at all concerned with the survival of the companies in which they invest. Their sole interest is to turn a quick profit. To be sure, we have nothing against seeking out attractive returns to increase wealth, but not to the detriment of our social values or mission to create and protect jobs and help grow the economy. In fact, since 2003, the Fund has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in more than 30 private funds in a variety of sectors. We make these types of investments when they generate concrete economic spin-offs for Québec and help our entrepreneurs build solid businesses, create jobs and take up the challenge of international competition. In closing, I would like to congratulate all the Fund’s employees for their remarkable work, to which we owe this year’s excellent results. I would also like to thank our local representatives for their tremendous contribution. And finally, a very special thanks to you, our shareholders, for your valued trust for which we are extremely grateful. Henri Massé Chairman of the Board of Directors 2 0 0 7 ann u A l R EPO R T Success based on expertise and teamwork From left to right YVON BOLDUC President and Chief Executive Officer GAÉTAN MORIN Executive Vice-President, Investments DENIS LECLERC Executive Vice-President, Shareholder Services 2 0 0 7 ann u A l R EPO R T ME S S A G E f r o m T H E P R E S I DEN T AND C H I EF E X E C U T I VE OFF I C E R As you may recall, last year was a record year for profits and investments. Well, this year we beat those records! Indeed, fiscal 2006-2007, ended May 31, was a great year, and I am extremely pleased to report our results. But first, I would like to highlight the excellent work of the Solidarity Fund QFL’s employees. Their expertise, professionalism and unwavering commitment are the reason we were able to make so many quality investments and why our partners and shareholders are so satisfied with our services. I sincerely thank them. The strength of our networks I would now like to acknowledge the contribution of all those who contribute from near and far to the Fund’s success. Our organization is a group of networks comprising hundreds of thousands of people who subscribe to our values and economic development mission. Firstly, this group consists of our investment network, composed of our multidisciplinary investment teams at headquarters, our specialty funds, and our regional and local investment funds that cover all of Québec. Our share value rose for the ninth consecutive time to $25.36 on July 5. Net earnings amounted to $475 million, which translated into a return of 7.1%, our best in the last seven years, and our net assets reached $7.2 billion. But that’s not all. We set a new record of $668 million in investments! Despite an increasingly competitive environment, our multidisciplinary investment teams put forth colossal efforts which bore fruit. Our investment portfolio generated a gross return of 10.1% for the year. Through these investments, the Fund provides growing support in all the economic sectors of Québec. For example, during the year we invested $20 million in Spectra Premium and $75 million in Van Houtte. These two strategic transactions allowed us, among other things, to set ourselves apart in terms of buyouts and succession planning and to expand our role into new stages of the financing chain for Québec companies. I would also like to point out that 47% of our investments were made in manufacturing companies. Helping to boost the competitiveness of local manufacturers that have been especially hard hit by global competition and the rising Canadian dollar is a priority. Given these additional challenges, we are all the more proud of our performance this year. Next, we have our shareholder network, which as at May 31, boasted 574,794 shareholders. We are particularly proud of their participation: more than half a million Quebecers who band together to help the economy become more competitive so that Québec can thrive. The Fund is also made up of its vast network of 2,127 local representatives (LRs) who volunteer their time to promote the Fund’s mission and RRSP in their workplace. This exceptional and vital network is an integral part of the Fund’s success. I would therefore like to thank all the LRs for their invaluable work. I would like to congratulate Québec’s entrepreneurs for the adaptability, creativity and boldness they have shown these last few years in response to their many challenges, and for converting their good ideas into action to enhance their competitiveness. Lastly, the Fund is a network of entrepreneurs, business leaders and workers who have decided to capitalize on the added value of our approach and services, including our unique economic training program. They have chosen the Fund because it offers more than money: we stand by them as they grow by providing patient capital tailored to their ambitions and projects and by placing all our expertise at their disposal. As they themselves have told us, these are the reasons they chose us as partner in their growth. I am very pleased with the Fund’s performance in 2006-2007 and sincerely thank each and every one of you for contributing to our success. Yvon Bolduc President and Chief Executive Officer 2 0 0 7 ann u A l R EPO R T Jocelyne Bourget Pratt & Whitney employee and Spouse of Claude Bourget “It’s true that the Solidarity Fund provides impeccable customer service, and we’re not just saying that – we’ve experienced it first hand!” Claude Bourget Pratt & Whitney employee and Fund shareholder “Buying a house is a big deal and a little stressful! I’m really happy to have been able to redeem my Fund’s shares to use the Home Buyers’ Plan and make this wonderful purchase. It’s really great, especially since everything went smoothly and quickly.” Daniel Grisé Local Representative of the Fund and Pratt & Whitney employee “I always take a lot of pride in showing my colleagues the advantages of the Fund’s RRSP. It was a real pleasure to help Jocelyne and Claude use their Fund’s shares to take advantage of the Home Buyers’ Plan.” Your contribution creates rewarding opportunities 2 0 0 7 ann u A l R EPO R T S H A R E H O L DE R BA S E The Shareholders’ Booklet turns 10! Introduced in 1997, the shareholders’ booklet is a communication tool that has set itself apart over the years by its quality and personalized information. This tool was a singular success from the start and is increasingly valued by shareholders, who not only pay careful attention to the information it provides on their portfolio’s performance and the growth scenarios for their retirement savings, but also recognize the quality of the booklet itself. As a direct result of the time and effort invested in this special means of communication, the booklet has played a key role in building shareholder loyalty over the last 10 years. “My online account” One of the concerns of the Executive Vice-President, Shareholder Services was to offer shareholders a totally secure website where they could make even more transactions. On April 2, 2007, the Fund launched such a site, and now, besides being able to consult their accounts, shareholders can also sign up for payroll deduction or preauthorized withdrawal, and even change the amount of their contribution online. This is one more way to encourage systematic savings, which accounted for 74% of all subscriptions in 2006-2007. This success pushed us to pursue further efforts to personalize the booklet, which led to the creation of a new generation of fully personalized booklets that now also contain a regional dimension. This newly added element provides an opportunity to remind our shareholders of the Fund’s commitment to their region and reassert how important that commitment is to us. Since most of these transactions are processed electronically, we can make it easier for shareholders to access these contribution methods by cutting down on paper forms and processing time. This also helps us maintain a high standard of service quality. Also, one of the greatest advantages of this new site is that it provides another tool to facilitate our LRs’ work in the field. Also, in the interest of efficiency and economy, we have merged three mailings into one. Now when shareholders receive their booklet, they also receive their Relevé 10 and extracts of the Fund’s most recent financial statements. Shareholder services On May 31, 2007, the Solidarity Fund QFL had 574,794 shareholders. It should be noted that, in the last year, our agents fielded nearly 340,000 calls, including more than 134,000 during the RRSP campaign. This front-line, person-to-person (no automated voice response) service, adapted to our shareholders’ needs, remains a priority for the Fund. Carine Bonnardeaux Fund Shareholder “I was really proud to receive my shareholders’ booklet! I think it is well put together and a great communication tool for personal finances. The information on my transactions and RRSP and non-RRSP portfolio is clear. It also provides different personalized scenarios showing my portfolio’s future growth so I can easily see how much money I will have to iMPROVE my quality of life during retirement. This is truly a helpful tool!” 2 0 0 7 ann u A l R EPO R T S H A R E H O L DE R BA S E Our first network As at May 31, 2007, the Fund had 2,127 local representatives (LRs). This network – our very first – is a tremendous source of pride. And it is thanks to our LRs, who explain the advantages of payroll deduction so well, that so many shareholders enjoy payroll deduction and the immediate tax savings with each pay. Thanks to the LRs’ promotional efforts, thousands of Fund shareholders are not only enjoying a more comfortable retirement, but using the popular Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP) to purchase their first home (see table below). Because they are present in the workplace, the LRs can better inform shareholders about the Fund’s economic mission and the important role its shareholders play in Québec’s economic development. Solidly trained people The LR network was created at the same time as the Solidarity Fund QFL. The Fund’s founders and affiliated unions were right when they insisted that union activists promote the Fund, its mission and RRSP in the workplace. Today, this network is the envy of many financial institutions. LRs acquire solid training and ongoing support to help them execute their mandate as the Fund’s representatives. In addition to the basic training they receive when they join the network, the LRs attend follow-up meetings within six months to review what they learned and clarify certain points. Each year they also participate in three activities designed exclusively for LRs by the Fund as part of a continuous training program. In September 2006, they attended a workshop on the tax impact of retirement savings plans and in January 2007, participated in an in-depth session on the Home Buyers’ Plan and the Lifelong Learning Plan. During regional meetings last spring, our LRs learned about retirement income, more specifically, the Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF). LRs also receive support on a daily basis from their primary source of coaching, the coordinators at the Fund’s Subscription Development Department. And besides the many reference tools we make available to them, they can call LR Services at any time to obtain information or documents. In fact, they have their own dedicated call centre. Solidarity above all The Fund’s LRs are motivated by a sincere desire to heighten their co-workers’ understanding of the importance of saving for retirement. They believe in the Fund’s mission and want to encourage workers to support it. Our LRs can be described as activists with people skills who want to learn and master all the subtleties of the Fund’s shares and RRSP for the benefit of their co-workers. We’re proud to be able to count on them. Redemption breakdown by criterion Shareholder profile For the year ended May 31, 2007 Criteria Retirement and early retirement Access to home ownership Unforeseen events (job loss or other) Death, disability, redemption within 60 days Return to studies Other criteria (capital injection into a business, emigration, redemption of pension credits and ineligibility for tax credits) Total 2 0 0 7 ann u A l R EPO R T NUmbEr As at May 31, 2007 Millions $ % 33,337 4,418 4,816 321 34 16 80 8 4 2,026 399 627 23 2 6 5 1 2 45,623 402 100 N u m b e r o f sh a r e h o l d e rs 574,794 st a t u S Unionized Non-unionized 58% 42% 332,184 242,610 NUMBER OF LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES AT YOUR SERVICE: 2,127 Melvin Marquis LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE “Long Live Systematic Savings! Many years ago, I witnessed some layoffs and saw some of my co-workers retire without enough savings. I said to myself, ‘Never again!’ For more than 15 years now, I’ve been promoting the Fund’s RRSP as an ideal complement to a pension plan. I’m a firm believer in payroll deduction because it makes saving for retirement easy. Not only does it become a habit, but with the immediate tax reduction, people don’t even notice the difference on their net pay!” 2 0 0 7 ann u A l R EPO R T Gabriel Charky President and Chief Executive Officer Allianz Madvac “The Fund’s economic training program is a very effective program that is worth getting to know. Investing in the workforce in this way, we’re investing in the future of the company.” Diane du Tremble Guy Croteau Training Advisor, Solidarity Fund QFL Training Advisor, Solidarity Fund QFL “Many entrepreneurs shared with us extremely positive reactions to the economic training program.” “Economic training gives management and employees a common understanding of the company’s challenges, which allows them to communicate using the same language.” Training: a value-added advantage of the Fund 10 2 0 0 7 ann u A l R EPO R T TRAINING The economic training provided by the Fund is geared toward all the employees of its partner companies, and springs from the Fund’s desire to contribute to their growth. By counting on transparency and good communication practices between management and employees of the companies receiving training, the economic training program seeks, among other things, to establish a common understanding, from a financial perspective, of the issues and challenges the companies face. In this way, everyone “speaks the same language” and is better equipped and mobilized to make suggestions that may help secure the company’s future while maintaining and creating quality jobs. Since 2006, it has truly become a training program, and during the last year the program has been comprehensively applied. It is no longer a question of training sessions, but a real economic training “program” spread over three years and designed in response to the needs of both employers and employees. This past year, in addition to the courses on business plans, financial health analysis and financial communication practices, we added a course on the situation of companies in the context of globalization. Many entrepreneurs have noticed that each time a training session is offered, the participants’ questions become more specific. This is because the courses are well adapted to the experience of the participants and motivate them to take part in the company’s success. Continuous training for LRs During the year, the Fondation de la formation économique, working closely with the Fund’s subscription coordinators, continued to develop ongoing training activities for our LRs (for more details, see page 8). The Fondation also introduced a global evaluation process for LR training aimed at ensuring that the content continues to adequately meet the needs and reflect the experience of our LRs. Training activities Year ended May 31, 2007 ParticipantscoursES Local representatives In the workplace Network members Students 3,111 2,264 570 396 212 132 26 21 Total 6,341 391 Manon Bélec Regional Sales Manager, Eastern Canada, Laura Secord “The Fund’s economic training was well adapted to our employees’ needs and experience. Now everybody has the same level of understanding of the company’s financial issues. They all found the program very interesting and they now have a global picture of Laura Secord, one that goes beyond store sales. They understand that everything we do affects the bottom line. This course was a real catalyst, motivating them to work as a team.” 2 0 0 7 ann u A l R EPO R T 11 Charles Dutil President and Chief Operating Officer, Manac “The Fund’s investment allowed us to reposition our product line in order to maintain our growth pace in the competitive environment of our industry.” Richard Cloutier Senior Marketing Advisor Sonia Lévêque Legal Advisor Two members of the Fund’s multidisciplinary team that worked closely on the company’s repositioning and contributed to its success. Raynald Aubin Portfolio Manager – Investments, Transportation Equipment and Automobile Sector, Solidarity Fund QFL “Manac is a great example of regional economic development and our sectoral teams’ expertise contributed to this success.” Our teams back you at every level 12 2 0 0 7 ann u A l R EPO R T i n v e st m e n ts Our success is based on expertise and patient capital To help our partner companies meet the numerous challenges they face, we provide patient capital – capital that will truly allow them to carry out modernization or expansion projects and to boost their competitiveness. Our advisors all have solid investment expertise and are competent business people who speak the same language as entrepreneurs. Indeed, the figures bear this out: for the year ended May 31, 2007, the Fund alone invested $668 million, setting yet another annual record. Including the investments made by our regional funds, we backed 145 companies, including 92 new ones. Our investment portfolio generated a gross return of 10.1% over the last year. As we can see, our achievements this past year clearly show that our capital is not only patient but also profitable. We also set ourselves apart on the SME private equity market here at home, where we are one of the leaders. The Fund alone accounted for nearly one third of all venture and development capital investments in Québec. And thanks to our patient capital approach and unique positioning, Québec entrepreneurs are now fully aware of the Fund’s advantages. They choose to partner with us because of our large investment capacity and our extensive knowledge of SMEs and of Québec’s economic fabric. For these reasons the Fund is increasingly becoming the partner of choice for entrepreneurs. The Fund’s specialized Investment teams and the impressive resources of its multidisciplinary teams (market analysis, business valuation, taxation, legal support, marketable securities, due diligence and social audit) are well known by our partners. They also know that in order to modernize their equipment, conquer new markets, develop and launch new products, or innovate, grow and make acquisitions, they need a solid backer whose financial products and financing offer can be tailored to their needs. And that is exactly what we do. Moreover, because of our mission and size, we can stand by our partners through tough times when they need the most support to carve out a competitive position or to grow. According to a study conducted by SECOR,1 jobs increased 31% in companies in which the Fund invested, compared to 23% in other businesses, our partner companies export three times more than the Canadian average and invest nearly four times as much in research and development as their competitors. Successful partners The Fund’s success is first and foremost our partners’ success. In this regard, the testimonials are clear: thanks to the Fund, “we were able to make acquisitions” (CVTech), “we succeeded in penetrating the U.S. market” (Allianz Madvac), “we built a business network, designed new products and conquered new markets” (Manac). Some business owners have also told us that we were a big help in improving their succession plan (Labrie Environmental Group). 1. SECOR and Regional Data Corporation, February 2005. Gilles Fradette and Dany Dumont co-prEsidents, Glendyne, Saint-Marc-du-Lac-Long “Glendyne had a tough start. In 1995, slate extraction did not exist in Québec and since no one really had the right training, the trade had to be learned. Many were sceptical, but the Fund believed in us, and because of their backing, we’ve been able to surpass every target we set. It’s clear that, thanks to their patience, we’ve been able to grow and become leaders in our market.” 2 0 0 7 ann u A l R EPO R T 13 i n v e st m e n ts Others point out how we helped them structure their company or set up their board of directors. These are the types of value-added services that convinced them to choose the Fund as a financial partner. Major transactions Backing start-ups, enabling larger acquisitions and stimulating SME growth are all vital to building a stronger Québec economy. In 2006-2007, we positioned ourselves as an important economic player in a number of major transactions, such as the $20 million investment in Spectra Premium, the support that allowed Kruger to acquire Maison des Futailles, and more recently, the $75 million investment in coffee giant Van Houtte. Among other things, these investments have allowed some of our Québec flagship companies to keep their operations in Québec, preserve jobs or even to take a step further in their growth. As well, to ensure Québec has a healthy, diversified and vibrant venture capital industry, we invested in specialty private funds both here and internationally. These investments not only stimulated the Québec venture capital industry by spawning new funds (MSBI II and GO Capital, for example) and attracting foreign funds to Québec, they also provided access to capital for businesses in the seed or start-up stage. Moreover, these investments give our partner companies access to specialized expertise and to a network of contacts that will facilitate their expansion in foreign markets. We also invest directly in companies targeting high-potential niches such as Cellfish Media, Bluestreak Network, Oz Communications, Trellia Networks, Envivio and Coveo Solutions. We are proud of how well our focus on patient capital has paid off, particularly in the biotech sector. In the last 10 years, we have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in this cutting-edge sector, where we have over 50 partners, of which 18 are publicly traded. Québec has become a major life sciences hub in North America, and this sector is responsible for thousands of quality jobs here at home. We meet all types of financing needs (seed, start-up, consolidation, expansion, export, IPO) and are present in all spheres of activity. Moreover, because of our size, we play a fundamental role in the regions: as at March 31, our network of regional funds had 261 partner companies in Québec. No matter the sector we invest in, our strategy is the same: to help our partner companies grow. And as this year’s results show, it is a winning strategy. FROM LEFT TO RIGHT Oz Communications Sk u li M o g en son MethylGene D ona l d f. Corcoran CVTech M onia C ôt é 14 2 0 0 7 ann u A l R EPO R T INVESTMENTS FOR THE YEAR: $668 M Jean Bourgeois Chief Executive Officer Labrie Environmental Group saint-nicolas “In addition to greatly facilitating our succession process, the Fund’s financial backing also allowed us to make a major acquisition in the U.S. We were the first to introduce selective waste collection trucks on the market, and our product line revolutionized the industry. By focusing on innovation and growth, we are now among the leaders in our industry.” 2 0 0 7 ann u A l R EPO R T 15 i n v e st m e n ts 122,460 jobs created, maintained or protected in Québec by the Fund and its partners As at May 31, 2007 Distri b u ti o n INDIRECT JOBS DIRECT JOBS INDUCED JOBS Solidarity Fund QFL Regional and local funds Specialty funds 4 1,657 20,395 2,742 64,7941 31,016 64,794 26,650 1.With its partners, the Fund has helped create, maintain or protect more than 102,000 direct jobs since inception. Change in investments (at cost) 2006-2007 1 REgions 3 Western Québec Montréal Region Central Québec Québec City Region Eastern Québec All of Québec Outside Québec Total Balance as at May 31, 2006 2 No. Millions $ % Investments No. Millions $ % Disinvestments Balance as at May 31, 2007 No. Millions $ % No. Millions $ % 15 138 17 32 31 43 34 310 82 1,222 112 363 215 869 264 3,127 3 39 3 12 7 28 8 100 3 47 8 5 2 8 12 85 2 313 25 12 19 143 154 668 0 47 4 2 3 21 23 100 4 39 7 14 11 16 14 105 10 142 9 32 98 79 120 490 2 29 2 6 20 16 25 100 14 146 17 28 29 45 37 316 74 1,393 128 343 137 933 297 3,305 2 42 4 11 4 28 9 100 9 29 295 377 9 12 3 1 43 17 6 3 2 3 23 7 5 1 10 23 315 386 9 12 146 1,530 49 46 474 71 66 376 77 157 1,628 49 126 310 925 3,127 30 100 35 85 134 668 20 100 34 105 84 490 17 100 126 316 976 3,305 30 100 SectOrs Real estate Regional development 4 Industries, services, natural resources and consumer Technology investments 5 Total 1. Excludes stock held in Entreprises publiques québécoises à faible capitalisation and includes the funds committed but not disbursed as well as funds for guarantees and suretyships. 2. The breakdown by regions and sectors as at May 31, 2006 has changed to account for reorganizations undergone by companies in the portfolio. 3. Regional groupings: Western Québec: Abitibi-Témiscamingue/Outaouais. Montréal Region: Montréal/Laval/Laurentides/Montérégie/Lanaudière. Central Québec: Estrie/Mauricie/Centre-du-Québec. Québec City Region: Capitale-Nationale/Chaudière-Appalaches. Eastern Québec: Bas-Saint-Laurent/Saguenay–Lac-SaintJean/Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine/Côte-Nord/Nord-du-Québec. All of Québec: Investments impacting more than one region. Outside Québec: Investments in companies headquartered outside Québec. 4. Regional funds, local funds and regional investment companies. 5. Life sciences, information technologies, telecommunications, industrial innovations, and bio-food. 16 2 0 0 7 ann u A l R EPO R T FINANCIAL INFORMATION Fonds d e s o li da rité d e s tr ava ill e u rs d u q u é b e c ( f. t. q . ) Fondation de la formation économique du fonds de solidarité des travailleurs du québec ( f. t. q . ) 19 Financial Statements as at May 31, 2007 AND 2006 MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS 80 Auditors’ Report Financial Statements as at May 31, 2007 AND 2006 33 81 Statements OF FINANCIAL POSITION Management’s Report and Auditors’ Report 82 34 83 Balance Sheets 35 Statements of Changes in Net Assets Statements of Earnings 84 36 Notes to Financial Statements Statements of Changes in Net Assets Statements OF OPERATIONS 37 Statements of Cash Flows 38 Notes to Financial Statements investments made as at may 31, 2007 54 Auditors’ Report 55 Schedule of Investments at Cost INVESTMENTS made by the Specialty Funds as at may 31, 2007 62 List of Investments at Cost made by the specialty funds (unaudited) 2 0 0 7 ann u A l R EPO R T 17 Finance: a strategic role in the organization From left to right MICHEL PONTBRIAND Executive Vice-President, Finance ANDRÉ McDONALD Director, Financial Services SYLVAIN PARÉ Vice-President, Financial Management and Strategy 18 2 0 0 7 ann u A l R EPO R T M A N AG E M ENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS F O R T H E YEAR ENDED MAY 31, 2007 This Management’s Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”) is intended to help the reader to assess the Fund’s financial position and any material changes that occurred therein during the year ended May 31, 2007. To have a thorough understanding of events and uncertainties, this MD&A should be read together with our financial statements and the notes thereto. This MD&A contains forward-looking statements about the Fund’s activities, results, and strategies. Because forward-looking statements involve assumptions, uncertainties and risks, it is possible that a number of factors may cause forecasts not to materialize. For example, legislative or regulatory changes, economic and business conditions and the level of competition are just a few of the major factors that could influence the accuracy of the forward-looking statements in this report. This MD&A is dated June 21, 2007. A N A LY S I S O F R E S U LT S The 2006 results presented in this section were restated to reflect the new accounting standards affecting investment companies. Accordingly, interests in investment companies are measured and presented at the fair value and are no longer consolidated. This change does not affect net earnings, earnings per share, or net share value but does result in some reclassifications in the financial statements. Ov e r a l l Re s ults Solid performance characterized the year ended May 31, 2007, during which the Fund recorded net earnings of $475 million, an increase of $109 million or 30% over last year’s record net earnings of $366 million. With these solid results the Fund generated a return of 7.1% for the year, higher than the 6.0% return generated the previous year and above the forecasts that were made last year. These results mark the Fund’s best performance since the technology bubble burst at the beginning of this decade. The two main sectors of the Fund, investments and other investments, were both major contributors to the excellent results posted for the year. The assets managed by the investments sector are essentially mission-driven investments in public and private partner companies in the form of shares, units or loans. The 2006-2007 gross return for this sector reached 10.1%, a higher return than the 8.2% generated the previous year. The average assets in this sector represented $2.5 billion or 36% of the Fund’s average assets under management. The other investments sector manages the remaining assets not invested in partner companies, which consists of bonds, money market securities, sector-based shares, funds of hedge funds and a portfolio of high-revenue securities. 1 The gross return for this sector for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2007 was 7.9%, which was also higher than last year’s return of 7.1%. The average assets of this sector amounted to $4.3 billion, or 64% of the Fund’s average assets under management. Our concern with operational efficiency and controlling our operating expenses also significantly contributed to our results, as evidenced by the ratio of operating expenses to average net assets of 1.4% for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2007, which equals last year’s ratio. Including income and capital taxes, the ratio of expenses to average net assets is 1.7%. This slight increase compared to the 1.6% ratio posted for fiscal 2005-2006 is the result of a higher income tax expense compared to the previous year. Return by sector Years ended May 31 2007 Average Weight Return Contribution Average assets underassets undER managemenT management $M % % % $M Investments 2,452 36.2 Other investments 4,327 63.8 6,779 100.0 Operating expenses Income and capital taxes Fund return 10.1 7.9 8.8 (1.4) (0.3) 7.1 2006 (restated) Weight Return Contribution % % 3. 7 2,21 7 35.7 5.1 3,986 64.3 8.8 6,203 100.0 (1.4) (0.3) 7.1 8.2 7.1 7.6 (1.4) (0.2) 6.0 % 3.0 4.6 7.6 (1.4) (0.2) 6.0 1. The portfolio of high-revenue securities is comprised of preferred shares, high-dividend shares, and income trust units. 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 19 S e c to r Re s u lts The performance of the investments sector is influenced by various factors, including the behaviour of the financial markets, the economic and business conditions in which our partner companies operate, and active management of our investments. The 10.1% return of the investment sector for fiscal 2007 is largely explained by the following: • Significant improvement of the results of our portfolio of private securities and specialty funds, which continued to improve during fiscal 2007, generating a 9.9% return on an average portfolio of $1.7 billion, compared to a return of 2.8% recorded the previous year. With a 14.6% return, compared to 5.2% in fiscal 2006, the private securities portfolio was largely responsible for the investment sector’s performance this past year. Taking into consideration the continuous increase in the annual investment volume over the last four years, these results are evidence of our efforts and rigor in managing our portfolio over the years; • The stock market’s solid performance over the last year, which led the portfolio of listed securities of our investment sector to achieve a return of 10.4% on average assets of $736 million. This outstanding performance follows the exceptional return of 21.6% generated by the portfolio in last year’s bull market. The strategies adopted, combined with the evolution of the interest rates and the performance of the stock markets, are the determining factors in analyzing the performance of the other investments sector. Accordingly, the results achieved by this sector are influenced by the behaviour of the financial markets and the conditions affecting the economic environment in which the Fund operates. The return of 7.9% of the other investments sector for the year ended May 31, 2007 is largely explained by the following: • The performance of the stock markets magnified the results of the sector-based strategy implemented three years ago to convert our large-cap stocks into publicly traded securities in four specific sectors 2, thereby resulting in a return of 18.3% on average assets of $1.0 billion. This strategy, implemented to reduce our overall portfolio’s volatility, delivered the expected results, and the solid performance of the stock markets helped generate a higher than expected return. This performance follows returns of 21.0% and 20.3% recorded for the years ended May 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively; • A return of 4.4% earned on our portfolio of fixed-income securities during the last year on outstanding assets of $3.2 billion in a Canadian financial market characterized by volatility in interest rates, which were lowered in the first half of the fiscal year, followed by a sharper increase in the second half of the fiscal year. The hedging strategy implemented to mitigate the anticipated interest rate hike was fruitful, notably at the end of the fiscal year, allowing us to reduce the impact of the depreciation of the bond portfolio caused by the increase in interest rates. The 4.4% return for the year represents an improvement over the 3.0% generated last year in an environment characterized by rising interest rates. Return by asset class Years ended May 31 2007 2006 (restated) Average Weight Return Contribution Average assets under assets under managemeNT management $M % % % $M Investments Private securities and specialty funds Listed securities Other investments Fixed-income securities Sector-based shares 2 and other investments 3 Weight Return Contribution % % % 1,716 736 25.3 10.9 9.9 10.4 2.6 1. 1 1,578 639 25.4 10.3 2.8 21.6 0.7 2.3 3,186 47.0 4.4 2.1 3,036 49.0 3.0 1.5 1,141 6,779 16.8 100.0 17.8 8.8 3.0 8.8 950 6,203 15.3 100.0 20.0 7.6 3.1 7.6 2. Sectors are materials, energy, consumer staples and utilities. 3. Other investments include funds of hedge funds and the portfolio of high-revenue securities (including preferred shares, high-dividend shares, and income trust units). 20 2007 ANNUAL REPORT A N A LY S I S O F C A S H F L O W S , B A L A N C E S H E E T , AND OFF-BAL ANCE SHEET ITEMS Cash flows from operating and financing activities totalled $355 million in 2006-2007, down from the $433 million recorded a year earlier. This decrease stems primarily from the combined effect of a reduction in shares issued to $571 million during the year to comply with the lower contribution limit in effect, and an increase in shares redeemed, which reached $400 million for the year, on a cash flow basis. In 2005-2006, shares issued and shares redeemed totalled $614 million and $324 million, respectively. The Fund’s direct investments in partner companies reached $668 million for the year, representing an increase over last year’s record investments of $643 million. Once again, the investment sector outperformed its historic records and the goals set at the beginning of the year. Including the regional fund network, investments were made in 145 partner companies, of which 92 were new partners. The 2006-2007 proceeds from the disinvestment of direct investments amounted to $459 million, a higher amount than the $248 million recorded the previous year. This increase is largely the result of the sale of our three joint-interests with Hydro-Québec International, which accounted for $126 million of the disinvestments for the year. Balance sheet investments increased from $2.7 billion as at May 31, 2006 to $3.1 billion as at May 31, 2007. This increase is the result not only of net investments made during the year (investments made less disinvestments), but also of the equally important appreciation recorded by the portfolio over the year. Canada’s Venture Capital & Private Equity Association (CVCA) proposes classifying private equity investments into three categories: buyout capital, venture capital and mezzanine capital investments.4 Applying this definition to our $2.3 billion investment portfolio5, at cost, as at May 31, 2007, 37.8% of the portfolio was invested in buyout capital, 26.6% was invested in venture capital, and mezzanine capital represented 35.6% of the portfolio. Breakdown of investment portfolio5 by category (at cost) As at May 31, 2007 buyout Capital 37.8% Mezzanine capital 35.6% Venture Capital 26.6% Other investments increased by some $300 million over the year to reach $4.5 billion as at May 31, 2007. This rise is principally the result of net cash inflows (share issues less redemptions) as well as interest and dividends earned on Fund assets and the appreciation of shares resulting from the solid performance of the stock market. Thus, net assets rose by $632 million to reach $7.2 billion as at May 31, 2007. The net value per outstanding Class A share continued its rise this year, increasing by $1.62 to $25.36. 4. Based on the classification proposed by the CVCA, a buyout capital investment is made by purchasing shares of an established private or public company looking to grow organically or through acquisition. A venture capital investment is made by purchasing shares of a company that is generally unlisted and is in the start-up or the early development stage. Mezzanine capital consists of subordinated debt or preferred shares with or without a variable portion in equity warrants. 5. On a fund disbursement basis, excluding investments in real estate funds and in listed shares acquired on the secondary market. 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 21 Change in net value per Class A share Years ended May 31 (in dollars) 2007 2006 (restated) Net value at beginning 23.7 4 Change in accounting policy (0.04) Increase due to operations 0.85 Interest and dividends 0.87 Gains on investments and other investments 0.61 0.04 Change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation 0.60 0.82 Operating expenses (0.33) (0.33) Income and capital taxes (0.07) 1.68 (0.03) (0.02) Variance due to share issues and redemptions Net value at end 25.36 22.41 – 1.35 (0.02) 23.74 VALUAT I O N o f Finan c ial Assets Investments and other investments are recorded on the balance sheet at their fair value. The fair value of other investments was established as at May 31, 2007 based on the closing bid price on the stock and bond markets, or, in the case of unlisted financial instruments, by professional valuators using appropriate and acknowledged pricing models. With regards to investments, listed securities were also valued based on their bid price at market close as at May 31, 2007. The value of private securities and listed securities for which the market price exceptionnally is not representative of their fair value, was established using recognized valuation techniques by specialized business valuators who possess the necessary expertise and experience. These valuation techniques are based on international guidelines that ensure that fair value 6 is established in a reliable manner. The specialized valuators report to the Executive Vice-President, Finance, and follow a structured process comprising several verification and validation steps to ensure the quality, uniformity and integrity of the work performed and of the resulting fair value. The fair value of our investments in specialty funds is established based on the latest audited financial statements of those funds. The fair value may be adjusted by the specialized valuators employed by the Fund to incorporate more recently available financial information. ACCO U N T I N G PO L I C I ES New accounting standards issued by the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accounts (CICA) resulted in changes to the Fund’s accounting policies, as described in Note 3 of the financial statements. Effective June 1, 2006, the Fund modified the valuation basis of financial instruments to use the bid price instead of the closing price. The effect of this change was a reduction of $11.5 million of the investment and other investment portfolio and net assets. This change does not affect the comparison between the years ended May 31, 2006 and May 31, 2007, even if the comparative figures are not restated, as the impact on net earnings and earnings per share for those years and net value per share as at May 31, 2007 is not material. The Fund early adopted the new standards published by the CICA in March 2007 regarding investment companies. Interests in investment companies are therefore presented at the fair value under Investments and are no longer consolidated. For comparability purposes, the previous year was restated. This change did not affect net earnings and earnings per share for the years ended May 31, 2006 and 2007, or net value per share as at May 31, 2006 and 2007. The Fund does not anticipate adopting any new accounting policies that would materially affect next year’s net earnings or the value of its net assets as at May 31, 2008. CONTRIBUTION TO QUÉBEC’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT The economy did not improve much in 2006-2007, especially for companies in the manufacturing sector. In fact, Québec’s small and medium-sized businesses (“SMEs”) must reposition themselves and streamline their operations to remain competitive in the face of a weaker U.S. dollar and U.S. demand, continuously climbing raw material and energy costs, and ever present foreign competition. 6. Using fair value is a best practice recognized by venture capital firms and private equity funds. Fair value is defined as the amount of the consideration that would be agreed upon in an arm’s length transaction between knowledgeable, willing parties who are under no compulsion to act. 22 2007 ANNUAL REPORT On the other hand, a wave of mergers and acquisitions is happening across the world, fuelled by money from certain large funds that specialize in these activities. These funds often initiate these transactions and are playing an increasingly important role in the financial market. Some of our best companies are at risk of being acquired unless they can manage to become acquirers. The Fund remains sensitive to such structural changes of our economy, which strongly affect companies in the manufacturing sector. This sensitivity significantly contributed to generating record investments of $668 million in 2006-2007. Of that amount, 47%, or $314 million, was used to support the development of our Québec-based SMEs in the manufacturing sector. The Fund is always concerned with supporting entrepreneurial efforts in Québec and continues to support companies in the start-up phase with $119 million invested in 2006-2007, for a total of more than $550 million invested over the last four years. The support provided by the Fund to funds specializing in start-ups significantly increased access to financing sources and expertise for our Québec-based entrepreneurs. In the context of its strategic investment program 7, the Fund intends to inject new momentum into our larger SMEs by supporting the major players in their market or those operating in sectors that are strategic for our economy, or those wishing to improve their productivity. A $75 million investment was authorized in April 2007 to support the officers of Van Houtte Inc. in the transaction to privatize the company and allow it to implement an expansion strategy that would encourage job preservation and creation in Québec. In addition, a new investment of $20 million allowed the privatization of Les Industries Spectra Premium Inc., an automobile parts manufacturer. Its acquisition by members of management assured the preservation of these jobs in Québec, and also helped the company implement a strategy to increase its competitive position in a sector with fierce international competition. Over the years the Fund’s investments under the Policy for investment outside Québec8 have had large economic benefits for Québec, in compliance with the requirements of the Policy. In terms of investments in companies impacting on the economy, during fiscal 2006-2007 the Fund spent an amount equivalent to CA$88 million through five investments that have sizeable and immediate economic benefits for Québec. The Fund also sold its interest in three companies jointly held with Hydro-Québec International this year. These investments generated notable economic spin-offs for Québec while contributing to the Fund’s return. In fiscal 2005-2006, the Policy for investment outside Québec was amended to include two new categories of eligible foreign investments: investments in certain private funds outside Québec that invest in Québec and investments in large-scale projects in Québec executed by certain companies outside Québec. The Fund’s investments in foreign private funds are conditional on reinvestment in Québec companies of an amount at least equal to the amount invested by the Fund. The foreign private funds should also provide their partner companies specific expertise and an international business network necessary for their development. During the past year the Fund has invested an amount equivalent to CA$57 million in four private funds outside Québec and anticipates that each of these funds, in addition to supporting the Fund’s efforts in developing the Québec economy, will invest in Québec companies at least the same amount as they received. In terms of the second new category of eligible investments, the Fund has not yet made an investment in companies outside Québec that execute large-scale projects in Québec. T h e F u n d N e t wo rk Since its inception in 1983, the Fund has built a solid investment network that provides entrepreneurs who follow their ambitions with patient capital based on their needs. A veritable business hub brimming with ideas, talent and knowledge, this network offers the Fund’s partner companies the opportunity to share common concerns with other SMEs, learn from past experiences and forge new business ties. The Fund’s investment network revolves around four levels of investment: • The Solidarity Fund QFL offers $2 million and up for large companies. • The 16 Regional Solidarity Funds QFL offer $100,000 to $2 million per company to meet the needs of Québec’s regional companies. The Equity Loan and the Growth Loan are the two main products offered by the regional funds. 7. The 2003-2004 Québec budget allowed the Fund the opportunity to move forward with strategic investments in large Québec companies with assets under $500 million or equity less than $200 million. 8. Since 1998, the Fund has been authorized by the Québec Minister of Finance to invest outside Québec provided certain clearly defined conditions are met, particularly with regards to economic spin-offs. The main group of eligible investments are companies impacting on the economy, private funds and large-scale investment projects (expansion financing, modernization, productivity improvement). 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 23 • The 84 SOLIDEs created by the Fund and the Fédération québécoise des municipalités offer $5,000 to $100,000 to small businesses. • The specialty funds form an investment network in Québec and abroad in many industries. The Fund’s commitment to this network continued in 2006-2007, resulting in strengthening its various networks and facilitating Québec SMEs’ access to capital in all their stages of development. The Fund’s investments in specialty funds cover all the main sectors of the economy, with a preponderance in the sectors of information technology, telecommunications and life sciences. The following graph presents the breakdown of the Fund’s investments by each component of its network: Breakdown of investments by network (at cost) As at May 31, 2007 solidarity fund qfl 79.1% Regional AND local funds (including the SOLIDEs) 11.4% Specialty Funds 9.5% de v elo p ment C A P I TA L I N D U S T R Y , T R E N D S A N D C O M P E T I T I O N The recovery that began in 2005 now seems largely confirmed. Indeed, 2006 and the beginning of 2007 were characterized by a clear rise in activity in Québec’s development capital industry. Numbers indicate a 9% increase of investments from 2005 to 2006. The increase in activity in the first quarter of 2007 was even larger than the increase seen in the first quarter of 2006. In accordance with what statistics show, 2006 and the beginning of 2007 were characterized by an upsurge in activity in the Québec development capital market. The main Québec players have now completed reorienting their investment targets and are expected to continue investing heavily. In terms of fundraising, it can be seen that development capital funds established in Québec have attracted close to two-thirds of the funds raised at the national level. The Fund’s fundraising campaigns largely contributed to positioning Québec as the provincial leader in this area in Canada. The heightened presence of specialty funds and particularly foreign funds – a presence supported and encouraged by the Fund’s investments in many of these foreign funds – is also an important fact worth noting for 2006. As such, foreign investors increased their investments in Québec by 63% between 2005 and 2006, demonstrating their interest in Québec companies. The presence of these funds allows the Québec companies they finance access to a network and to expertise that can assist in their growth on the international economic scene. On the national level we see a large rise in buyout capital activity, partly to the detriment of venture capital. This situation is explained by the actions of a few very large U.S. funds having completed transactions with unit values in the billions. This progression is also partly explained by the increase in available funds for this type of activity. Lately, numerous pension funds significantly increased the percentage of their assets dedicated to private placement activities, and more specifically to buyout capital activities that have recently provided better returns than venture capital activities. Unless there is a significant change in the return outlook of the various asset classes that are accessible to pension funds, there is every reason to believe that the trend will continue. Since the Fund also invests a large part of its assets in buyout capital, thereby supporting our Québec companies and contributing to their business development, this trend amounts to heightened competition in this market segment for the coming years. Overall, the strength of investment activity and the importance of available capital are both positive elements for our Québec entrepreneurs in need of capital to satisfy their needs, from start-up to expansion or acquisition. 24 2007 ANNUAL REPORT ECONOMIC CONDITIONS AND FINANCIAL MARKETS 2 0 0 6 - 2 0 0 7 R e v iew Economic growth for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2007 was anticipated with some apprehension. At least that is what the North American monetary authorities were expecting after having increased interest rates and having established more rigid credit conditions in 2005. In retrospect, the growth continued, although at a slower rate. There was definitely a slowdown, but it was less pronounced than anticipated and occurred later than expected. The real estate market correction, which should have eroded household optimism and dampened consumption, was slow to materialize on a large scale. Even though companies saw their earnings grow by 12% in 2006 compared to 22% the previous year, they were high enough to justify an increase in capital spending to the tune of 4.3%. With economic growth not slowing as much as expected and price increases in some areas of the energy and food sectors, inflation could only rise in 2006, most pointedly in the later months of the year. This is what led the North American monetary authorities to consider potential interest rate hikes and question the synchronization and magnitude of the downturn. It is not surprising that, in the face of choosing between stimulating the economy or containing inflation, the Federal Reserve and the Bank of Canada opted for stability in their respective monetary policies. Accordingly, over the twelve-month period ended May 31, 2007, discount rates moved from 5.0% to 5.25% in the United States and were held constant at 4.25% in Canada. Anticipating that central banks would hike interest rates, short-term bond rates increased more than long term bond rates. Two-year Canadian rates moved from 4.18% to 4.58% while ten-year rates moved from 4.45% to 4.49% as at May 31, 2007. Canada has always possessed an abundance of natural resources, making it the envy of many countries. This situation has become all the more pronounced as emerging countries have inexhaustible demand for raw materials, placing a good number of Canadian companies in the sights of international investors with significant capital at their disposal. Aside from the rampantly climbing prices of these acquisitions and the decreasing number of Canadian companies making up the S&P/TSX index, the most dramatic consequence of this hunt for Canadian assets is the spectacular rise of the Canadian dollar. However, the appreciation of our currency affects the competitive strength of Canadian companies trying to remain competitive in an international context. The strength of the Canadian dollar can then be interpreted as an involuntary restrictive measure of the monetary policy. We can add to this fact that stock markets generated exceptional returns in the course of the fiscal year ended May 31, 2007. More specifically, the Canadian stock market took advantage of the global trend of mergers and acquisitions. In this context, the Canadian stock market (S&P/TSX composite) recorded a performance of 22.7%, US technology stocks (NASDAQ composite) generated a return of 16.0% (19.5% in local currency) and the world stock market (MSCI World) increased by 20.8% in Canadian dollars (23.3% in local currency). Translating the short-term interest rate hike and long-term interest stability, the Canadian bond market underperformed the Canadian stock market, as it generated a return of 4.6% for the 12-month period ended May 31, 2007. E c ono mi c a n d Financ ial Outl oo k While global economic growth should be up in 2007, growth in the United States could slow down after a period prosperous for both consumers and businesses. The ripple effect such a slowdown could have on other economies is no longer what it used to be. There is no doubt that the weight of the United States’ population and economy has only diminished over the last 20 years and this broad trend should only strengthen over the next decades. As such, a slowing of the United States’ economy is expected in 2007 since the interest rate hikes implemented by the monetary authorities over the last few years have just started to slow growth. Over the next few months U.S. consumers will face tighter credit conditions, higher food and energy costs, and in some cases, lower property values. However, conditions in Canada are different as Canadian households are in healthier financial positions than their U.S. counterparts and are not suffering a correction in the housing market. In addition, while Canadian companies face fierce international competition, a dollar that remains strong and higher production costs, their capacity to increase productivity should not be underestimated. As a consequence, it is expected that North American growth will continue at a lower rate in 2007, around 2.0% for the United States and 2.5% for Canada. The combination of hikes in some energy and food costs, higher rents (influenced by a strong housing market), and a low unemployment rate from an historical standpoint (justifying higher hourly wages) saw Canadian inflation increase from an average of 2.0% for 2005 to 2.8% during 2006. The upward trend seen over the first quarter of 2007 put the Canadian monetary authorities on high alert and in a precarious position since they want to avoid declining economic conditions while making sure that inflation is well and truly under control. However, the Bank of Canada and the Federal Reserve could still wait a few months before taking necessary action, which would then likely amount to preventative interest rate hikes to avoid climbing inflation. Conditions are more critical in the United States since the economy is slowing. Inflation in Canada and the United States should hover around 2.5% in 2007. 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 25 On the Canadian bond market, long-term rates should remain relatively stable and settle at around 4.45% in May 2008. Credit spreads (provincial and corporate) are at historically low levels as many investors have a big appetite for these securities which generate higher yields than Federal bonds. With a slowdown in the United States and an increasing number of mergers and acquisitions (notably those financed in large part by debt), an increase in the credit risk premium can be expected. Over the last two years the Canadian stock market has been driven by mergers and acquisitions, as well as the energy and materials sectors, and is now overvalued. Taking into consideration the current level of valuations, an expected increase in corporate earnings of around 5% and higher short-term interest rates, the stock market will likely only provide an anaemic return for the fiscal year ending in May 2008. However, the wave of mergers and acquisitions could result in higher prices for the stocks targeted directly or indirectly by these transactions. Given this, the Canadian stock market would be artificially held at high levels for several more months, increasing the risk of a future and more severe correction. Two elements could modify this main scenario. First, the collapse of the real estate market could turn out to be more drastic and more painful for the overall U.S. economy, specifically in the area of household spending and the effect on indirect employment. Second, the monetary authorities could overestimate the economic slowdown, therefore underestimating the expected inflation. In such a case, additional interest rate hikes may be necessary to contain inflationary pressures. 2007-2008 OUTLOOK 9 In light of the economic outlook, the Fund has implemented a strategy using derivative products to soften the impact of the anticipated interest rate hikes on its bond portfolio, which makes up more than 42% of the organization’s assets. Given the protection this strategy provides, we must sacrifice part of the increase in the bond portfolio’s value if interest rates drop. This strategy is necessary to meet shareholder expectations and to avoid a decline in our share price. We also use other measures to reduce the likelihood of the share price decreasing. This risk cannot, however, be eliminated. For the year ending May 31, 2008, the Fund projects a lower return than the 7.1% achieved in 2007 and less than the 6.0% and 5.0% respectively posted in the previous two years. This decrease will primarily stem from anticipated lower stock market returns. The return of our private securities may also be lower than last year due to higher interest rates, a stronger Canadian dollar in relation to the U.S. dollar, a slowdown in North American economic growth and the effects of foreign competition. The fund is targeting a ratio of operating expenses (before income and capital taxes) to average net assets of 1.4% for 2008, which is similar to the ratio for the year ended May 31, 2007. If we add to expected earnings the expected share issue of $534 million 10 and substract the estimated $465 million in redemptions, net assets should increase from $7.2 billion as at May 31, 2007 to about $7.5 billion as at May 31, 2008. On the other hand, investments by the Fund could be lower than the $668 million recorded in 2006-2007 and the $643 million recorded in 2005-2006. In the longer term, based on the anticipated financial and economic outlook, and considering our mission and investment strategies, we are projecting an average annual return around 4% for the next few years. This return does not take into account the tax credits granted to shareholders for purchasing shares of the Fund. 60% RULE The 60% rule set out in the Fund’s incorporating act stipulates that the Fund’s average unsecured investments in qualified business enterprises must represent at least 60% of its average net assets of the previous fiscal year. The remaining assets may be invested in other financial vehicles for asset diversification and sound management purposes. The calculation method for this rule is based on the value of the Fund’s assets, which depends in part on interest rate fluctuations and on the performance of the stock market and the economy in general. 9.The outlook presented in this annual report reflects the Fund’s expectations with respect to future events, based on information available to the Fund as of June 21, 2007, and presupposes certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors, several of which are beyond our control, may cause the Fund’s actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from explicit or implicit expected future results, performance or achievements. 10.This amount is limited based on the rules governing the 60% rule. 26 2007 ANNUAL REPORT As at May 31, 2007, the value of our average qualified investments amounted to $3,445 million or 55.5% of average net assets of the previous year (compared to 53.2% as at May 31, 2006). The improvement recorded this year is in large part attributable to the full effect on the ratio of the increase in qualified investments recorded in 2005-2006. Qualified investments increased by $602 million in 2006-2007 to reach $3,746 million as at May 31, 2007. Given that the 60% threshold was not reached, the Fund will have to limit the shares it will issue in 2007-2008 through lump-sum contributions and new payroll deduction enrolments to 75% of the value of the shares issued in 2006-2007 for these contributions. For fiscal 2007-2008, the total value of shares giving rise to tax credits issued should be approximately $534 million. The Fund does not expect to reach the 60% threshold by May 31, 2008 but continues to target it in the medium term. VISION AND PRIORITIES At the outset of the 2006-2007 fiscal year, we identified three priorities at the heart of our operations: maintaining our profitability, meeting our market challenges and mobilizing and communicating. The following section summarizes the main actions we have taken over the year for each priority. M a in ta inin g Our Pro fitability With record net earnings of $475 million, the 2006-2007 year saw the Fund earn a return of 7.1%, which is better than both the performance we forecasted for the year and the projected long-term average annual return. Favourable stock market conditions, a very strong performance of the private securities portfolio and constant monitoring of operating expenses all played an important role in achieving this result and are a testimony to the success of the strategies implemented over the last few years and to the combined efforts of all the activity sectors of the Fund. With the objective of optimizing the risk-return profile of the Fund’s financial assets, toward the end of last year we began building a portfolio of high-revenue securities, which represented 2% of the Fund’s total financial assets as at May 31, 2007. This portfolio is made up of preferred shares, high-dividend shares, and income trust units and was created in the wake of a strategy of diversification of the Fund’s financial assets that should continue over the next year. M e e tin g O u r M arket Challe n ges The Fund’s market challenges mainly revolve around the Shareholder Services and Investments sectors. In the Shareholders sector, we continued our efforts to improve growth of systematic savings, and we carried out activities to recruit new shareholders by encouraging payroll deduction in the workplace. Thanks to the remarkable work of our LR network, we achieved unparalleled results by collecting $427 million in systematic savings. We also continued our proposed activities developed in our last fiscal year to follow up on terminated payroll deductions, in particular with a personalized mailing encouraging shareholders to begin payroll deductions once again. This strategy was successful since nearly one shareholder out of four began payroll deductions again as a result of our mailing. One of the main projects of this year was definitely the complete review of the shareholder files in order to create informational and promotional tools for systematic savings that are highly personalized and targeted to the regions. This was a first in personalization technology in North America. This new file now allows us to group three mailings into one. Since last spring, we also offer an all-new transactional website that allows our shareholders to begin or modify a payroll deduction or a preauthorized withdrawal to buy Fund shares. In the Investments sector, the 2006-2007 year presented a new record as the Fund invested $668 million in the Québec economy. This remarkable amount clearly shows the leadership position the Fund occupies in Québec’s development capital market and the structuring role it plays in the economy. The amount invested helped improve our position regarding the 60% rule as the ratio increased to 55.5% as at May 31, 2007 from 53.2% last year. This performance marks a milestone that should lead the Fund to improve the ratio next year. More than a simple investor, the Fund is establishing itself more and more as a value-added partner that puts its human capital at the service of companies. Developing this human capital was again at the heart of our priorities this year and we are convinced that it is a competitive advantage that is increasingly recognized in the marketplace. To that effect, each of the multidisciplinary teams prepared an action plan targeting to increase their efficiency even further and take maximum advantage of the synergy of all team members’ skills. We also continued to market our flexible and adaptable financial products such as the Trademark Loan and the Productivity Loan. 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 27 Mob i l i z in g an d Commu nicating Since our personnel and the network of local representatives (LR) represent our greatest asset in achieving our mission, their mobilization and development are continuous concerns. To strengthen an internal culture of development, we have implemented different activities such as training for all our multidisciplinary teams working on investment files and the continuation of two co-development groups for our management. We agreed to put together development plans focused on customer service for technical and office staff. We carried out several internal communication activities such as holding a conference for all employees to perfect their knowledge of the intricacies of our organization and have a full understanding of the issues we face. We launched an employee service recognition program and numerous articles spotlighting particularly impressive employee achievements were issued internally. To support and maintain our LR network we developed a three-year strategic plan centered on three main objectives: encouraging the recognition of LRs in their community; training and adequately briefing the LRs; and supporting them, listening to them, and giving them feedback, all in the context of continuously improving the critical role they play in their workplace. An all-new training approach was also started during the annual regional tour of our network and was a tremendous success. As for external matters, we were involved in various ways with federal and provincial government authorities as well as different civic and economic players to solidify the crucial role the Fund plays in Québec’s economic development. As a member of the Québec Venture Capital Association and the Canadian Venture Capital Association, we also strengthened our ties with other key venture capital players with the aim of directly contributing to the prosperity of this industry in Québec. T h e Vi s ion The Fund is driven by a vision: place priority on creating and maintaining jobs as well as generating a return for our shareholders by becoming the partner of choice for companies impacting the Québec economy. To create an internal image, we summarized this text into an expression that carries the message of the vision, Partner Vision: • Partner with our employees to achieve a common goal; • Partner with Québec SMEs as an accompanier in growth; • Partner with our shareholders to encourage retirement savings and provide a reasonable return; • Partner with governments and Québec society to create wealth for Québec; • Partner with LRs and the QFL structure so the Fund remains an indispensable institution in Québec’s economic development. As planned, the six committees created in May 2006 to refine the different action plans that materialize our vision submitted their recommendations last December. The following is an overview of the main recommendations made by the committees, which were endorsed by the Fund’s Management Committee and its Board of Directors for implementation over the next few years. Be internal partners and focused on the client An inclusive partnership definition for all staff was adopted. All employees will receive training on behaviours leading to becoming better internal partners. Structured, quality service initiatives will be gradually implemented in all sectors of the Fund. Emphasize employee development Several benchmark studies have been performed to identify best practices in employee recognition, performance evaluation and skills development. We will pursue this work to find clear paths toward improving development. Leverage our investment markets The committee’s discussions centered on developing the Fund’s SME products and services as well as increasing the value of the companies in our portfolio. The committee identified a certain number of products and services that will be reviewed or created, as well as approaches aimed at improving our ability to be even more active partners in the development of the companies in which we invest and thereby increase their value. Actions aiming to create a more efficient synergy between the Regional Funds and the Funds were identified. The committee also agreed on ways to more efficiently collaborate with our networks, such as our business people network, as well as effective ways to fully profit from our investment rules with respect to large companies. The spectacular rise of emerging countries presents substantial challenges to Québec SMEs, particularly to those in the manufacturing sector. Like other economic and social players, the Fund continues to accompany those affected and will continue to reflect on the situation to figure out how to help them meet the challenges and increase their productivity and competitiveness. Simplify our ways of doing things and increase their efficiency Committees will be launched on a rotational basis to improve our way of doing things in each sector to keep our processes as efficient as possible. A common centralized repository of information will be created aiming at having, on a timely basis and in a reliable manner, the necessary management information required to make efficient and optimal decisions. 28 2007 ANNUAL REPORT Efficiently communicate internally and externally The committee recommended completing the branding exercise launched last year. This work was taken up again recently with the aim of endowing the Fund and its network with a strong and clear corporate identity. Afterwards, a decisional table will take up the role of promoting the corporate identity across the organization. Strengthen and coordinate the Fund’s business intelligence activities We will gradually implement an even more structured business intelligence program that will specifically focus on the trends and developments in our industry and identify risks and opportunities. In summary, these six Vision committees made up of members of management and employees of the Fund performed some remarkable work during the year that will certainly impact the Fund’s growth over the next few years. They have clearly identified the direction we should take to assert and strengthen the key role we play in Québec’s economy. RISK MANAGEMENT Sound risk management practices are vital to the success of the Fund. We manage our risk within a framework taking into account the nature of the Fund’s activities and the level of risk we can reasonably assume in light of the desired risk/return ratio and shareholder expectations. To this end, a structured risk management process is used to determine, measure and control the substantial risks with which the Fund must contend. Our financial assets are managed in an integrated, comprehensive manner. Our aim is to optimize the risk/return ratio while respecting the Fund’s mission and enabling our shareholders to achieve their goals of expected reasonable return. Our risk management approach did not change materially during the year ended May 31, 2007. In the normal course of business, the Fund is exposed to different risks; the main ones are presented below. M a r k e t Ri s k Market risk is inherent to the Fund’s participation in financial markets and represents the risk of losses arising from fluctuations in interest rates, exchange rates and stock prices. More specifically, this risk varies with the financial markets’ conditions and relates to the potential negative effects of market conditions on the organization’s balance sheet or income statement as well as variations in market parameters, such as volatility, that may lower the value of its financial assets, which are sensitive to fluctuations in bond interest rates and listed stock prices. Since most of its transactions are in Canadian dollars, the Fund’s exposure to exchange risk is relatively low. However, hedging mechanisms are used for our other investments booked in a foreign currency. The Fund manages market risk by allocating its financial assets across several classes (money market, bonds, income trusts, preferred shares, equity stakes in private companies, listed shares, funds of hedge funds, etc.) and by diversifying the industries (life sciences, financial services, industrial goods and services, etc.) and geographic areas, within the limits allowed by its incorporation act, in which it invests. The overall financial assets management policy sets limits, procedures and controls that ensure the target risk/return profile is met on an operational basis. Sensitivity analyses and simulations are used to inform senior management of our level of market risk exposure. Sensitivity of the Fund’s return to market risk (Based on net assets as at May 31) (%) 2007 2006 1% increase in bond interest rates* 1% decrease in bond interest rates* 10% increase in the stock market 10% decrease in the stock market (1.2) 1.2 2.7 (2.7) (0.9) 0.9 2.6 (2.6) * At the end of 2004, the Fund implemented a hedging strategy using derivatives to reduce the sensitivity of the Fund’s return to rising interest rates. On average, our hedging strategy brought us to hedge $1.3 billion of bonds during the year against the consequences of an interest rate hike in 2006-2007. Given the interest rate’s increase in the second half of the fiscal year, the hedging strategy implemented was fruitful, allowing us to reduce the impact of the depreciation of the bond portfolio caused by this increase. 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 29 C r e di t a n d Co unter party Risk The Fund’s exposure to credit risk stems mainly from development capital activities associated with its mission. Its other investment activities entail less of this risk since the counterparties concerned are typically more financially solid (governments, banks, etc.). Credit risk is the potential for loss due to the failure of a partner company, issuer or counterparty to honour its financial obligations or due to a degradation of its financial position. The Fund manages this risk and maintains a sound diversification of its assets through its overall financial assets management policy, which sets guidelines and limits by asset class. This policy also allows us to manage the concentration risk associated with exposure to an issuer or group of issuers with common characteristics (regions, industries, credit ratings). Sector-based targets are set each year for the investment sector. These targets are set according to risk budgets. Based on an optimal risk level defined for the entire investment portfolio, management by risk budget will allow us to more effectively monitor and control the portfolio profile and sector allocation by risk level. The investment portfolio’s risk-return balance is thus achieved through sector-based allocation of risk budgets in order to offset the high risk of our investments in certain sectors. A few years ago, the Executive Vice-President, Investments, formed multidisciplinary teams and a due diligence committee to ensure an acceptable level of credit risk for the Fund. The Fund acquired special tools to calculate the probability of default by our debt-financed partners, thus improving our ability to assess credit risk for these instruments. Moreover, to deal with more difficult situations, the Senior Vice-President, Turnaround Management and Special Projects, works with the Vice-President, Legal Affairs, to keep a close eye on files that entail greater credit risk. In the case of the other investments portfolio, our assets are carefully diversified following strict criteria pertaining to issuer and counterparty credit ratings and exposure limits by borrower or counterparty, thus ensuring that our results will not be materially affected in the event of a default. Exposure to credit and counterparty risk (as a percentage of net assets as at May 31) 2007 2006 Weight of the five largest investments Weight of the five largest issuers or counterparties (other investments) 10.8 27.4* 11.1 26.7* * Of this percentage, the governments of Québec and Canada represented 20.1% and 22.6% as at May 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Li q ui di t y Ris K The Fund must honour certain disbursements on a daily basis, mainly when shareholders redeem their Class A shares or when the Fund invests in companies. The Fund must be able to obtain the cash and cash equivalents required to meet its commitments. Liquidity risk is therefore tied to the possibility of incurring a loss if the Fund cannot meet its obligations as they fall due. The Fund’s incorporating act stipulates that part of the financial assets may be invested in publicly-traded securities that are easily convertible into cash. The Fund also has access to bank credit facilities for additional sources of liquidity. As at May 31, 2007, the ratio of liquid financial assets as a percentage of aggregate financial assets was 62.5% (64.0% as at May 31, 2006), demonstrating that the Fund has the required liquidity to fulfill all its obligations. O p e r at iona l Risk Inherent to all the Fund’s activities, operational risk is the risk of sustaining losses as a result of the inadequacy or failure of certain processes or systems in place or due to human factors or external events. This risk also includes legal risk. 30 2007 ANNUAL REPORT Effective policies, standards and procedures help us manage this risk. Control principles and mechanisms are continuously monitored and periodically revised with the purpose of continuous improvement. The Fund’s operational risk management and the effectiveness of its management framework are underpinned by the following guiding principles: • Competent, well-trained staff; • A culture of integrity; • Segregation of incompatible duties and delegation of decision-making authority; • Control of technology development and information security; • A planning process for resumption of activities in the event of business interruption; • Monitoring of changes in legislation, regulations and standards as well as our compliance in this regard; • Risk identification and assessment when new products and activities are introduced. To diversify its financial assets management, the Fund also calls upon the services of specialized external managers and acquires equity stakes in specialty funds. Where appropriate, the Fund purchases insurance that transfers certain components of operational risk to insurers. Ot h e r Ri s k s The Fund is also exposed to other risks such as reputation and strategic risks, which could result in unfavourable financial consequences. Reputation risk is the risk that negative publicity, whether founded or unfounded, will or may cause financial losses, a decrease in liquidity or a decline in the customer base. In order to mitigate reputation risk, the Fund has formulated and implemented a Code of Ethics and Conduct for its directors, officers and employees. It also ensures its employees are properly trained, and applies sound governance practices, policies and procedures. The Fund is a responsible corporate citizen that takes ethical, social and environmental aspects into consideration when making investment decisions. We have also adopted a voting rights policy with regards to partner companies and a code of conduct for international business dealings. The Fund also ensures that any financial information released outside the organization is accurate and validated beforehand. Strategic risk, which includes competitive risk and risk associated with regulatory changes, refers to the possibility of incurring losses as a result of ineffective strategies, lack of integrated business strategies or the inability to adapt the strategies to changes in the business environment. We manage this risk through a strategic and operational planning process that seeks input from all levels of the organization before being submitted to the Board of Directors for approval. The Management Committee then periodically monitors each sector’s business plan. Any strategic decision or change to the Fund’s orientations that could have a material impact is authorized beforehand by the appropriate authorities. GOVERNANCE Ri s k Gov e r na nce Because risk management is an essential part of overall financial assets management, the Fund has put in place a management framework to ensure that risk management and control strategies and resulting operational decisions take the established level of acceptable risk into account. BOARD OF DIRECTORS AUDIT COMMIT TEE SHAREHOLDER EXPECTATIONS IN TERMS OF RETURN AND VOLATILITY FINANCIAL ASSETS MANAGEMENT COMMIT TEE ETHICS COMMIT TEE OVERALL FINANCIAL ASSETS MANAGEMENT DELEGATE BOARDS RISKS INHERENT TO THE FUND’S ACTIVITIES AS A RESULT OF ITS MISSION OVERALL FINANCIAL ASSETS MANAGEMENT POLICY, PROCEDURES, STANDARDS, ETC. 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 31 Our risk governance structure comprises a series of policies approved by the Board of Directors. Policies, standards and procedures are regularly reassessed to ensure that we rely on only the best possible practices. It should be noted that the functions of Chairman of the Board and President and CEO are separate. The overall financial assets management policy defines a target allocation of financial assets. It is a key policy that allows the Fund to fulfill its mission while meeting its desired risk/return ratio through a sound investment mix. This policy also provides limits within which our managers and professionals perform their duties and carry out their mandates. The Fund’s Board of Directors is responsible for making investment decisions and for adopting risk management policies. To this end, it delegates part of its responsibilities to the following committees: Audit Committee Comprised entirely of independent members, the Audit Committee recommends approval of the audited financial statements by the Board of Directors, reviews internal controls, the compliance process and risk management, and provides feedback. It ensures the Fund’s compliance with the statutes, regulations and agreements that govern its operations and that have a material financial impact. Financial Assets Management Committee The Financial Assets Management Committee is responsible for implementing and ensuring compliance with the overall financial assets management policy. Its primary mandate is to coordinate and oversee asset management. In this capacity, it recommends the financial vision and orientation for financial assets management to the Board of Directors. This committee also monitors performance and changes in the risk/return ratio. Ethics Committee The Ethics Committee oversees the application of the Fund’s Code of Ethics, which defines, among other things, rules of conduct for employees, officers, and directors to prevent, for example, conflicts of interest. The Code prohibits the use of any advantage, information or interest in relation to the Fund that would be incompatible with that person’s duties and responsibilities. Delegate Boards In addition to the Board of Directors, investment decisions are entrusted to delegate boards such as the Executive Committee and the Mining Portfolio Steering Committee, and special boards created for the Turnaround and Technology Investments sectors. Fina n c i a l Gover nan ce The Fund continued its work over the last fiscal year aiming to develop a financial compliance program. While not required to apply MI 52-109 issued by the Canadian Securities Administrators, the Fund has decided to base its work upon the principles contained in this rule, thereby demonstrating its willingness to respect best practices in financial governance. This framework applies to controls providing reasonable assurance that the financial information prepared and reported is reliable and that the financial statements are prepared in accordance with Canadian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. During the year the Fund completed documenting its processes and controls with respect to its overall control environment and the preparation and reporting of its financial information, including information technology controls. The evaluation of the design of these controls as well as the related validation will be completed over the next year. In 2008-2009 this work will be continued to evaluate the effectiveness of these controls aiming to conform to the principles set out in MI 52-109. 32 2007 ANNUAL REPORT FINANCIAL STAT E M E NTS M A N AG E M E NT’S RE PORT The financial statements of the Fonds de solidarité des travailleurs du Québec (F.T.Q.) and the other financial information in this annual report are the responsibility of the Board of Directors, which has delegated the responsibility of their preparation to management. The Board of Directors carries out its responsibility for financial statements through the Audit Committee, made up of outside, unrelated directors. The auditors mandated by shareholders have unrestricted access to the Audit Committee, with or without management’s presence. To fulfill its responsibility about the accuracy and reliability of the financial information, management has a system of internal controls to provide assurance the financial information is reliable, form a proper basis for preparing the financial statements, and the Fund’s assets are properly accounted for and safeguarded. These financial statements, audited by Samson Bélair/Deloitte & Touche s.e.n.c.r.l., Chartered accountants, and Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton LLP, present the financial information available as at June 21, 2007, and have been prepared in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles. The financial information presented elsewhere in this annual report conforms with the Fund’s financial statements, which have been approved by the Board of Directors. Executive Vice-President, Finance Michel Pontbriand, CA Montréal, June 21, 2007 Auditors’ Re port To the Shareholders of the Fonds de solidarité des travailleurs du Québec (F.T.Q.) We have audited the balance sheets of the Fonds de solidarité des travailleurs du Québec (F.T.Q.) as at May 31, 2007 and 2006, and the statements of earnings, changes in net assets and cash flows for the years then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform an audit to obtain reasonable assurance whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. In our opinion, these financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as at May 31, 2007 and 2006, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles. Samson Bélair/Deloitte & Touche s.e.n.c.r.l. Chartered accountants Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton LLP Chartered accountants Montréal, June 21, 2007 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 33 Balance Sheets As at May 31 2007 $ 2006 $ (In thousands, except net value per share) Assets Investments (Note 4) Other investments (Note 5) Accounts receivable and other assets Cash Capital assets (Note 7) Future income taxes (Note 12) 3,056,834 4,476,784 360,895 9,408 65,282 720 7,969,923 2,693,705 4,175,267 160,342 6,081 68,798 9,345 7,113,538 Liabilities Loans (Note 8) Accounts payable Income taxes Future income taxes (Note 12) Net assets 361,423 347,546 21,166 740 730,875 7,239,048 325,907 158,002 22,547 — 506,456 6,607,082 Number of outstanding Class A shares 284,628 277,466 Net value per Class A share 25.36 23.74 Contingencies (Note 10) The accompanying notes form an integral part of these financial statements. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Yvon Bolduc, DirectorHenri Massé, Director 34 2007 ANNUAL REPORT (Restated – Note 3b) Statements of E arnings For the years ended May 31 (In thousands, except earnings per share) Revenues Realized revenues Interest (Note 11) Dividends Gain on investments and other investments Change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation Operating expenses (Note 11) Corporate expenses Investment and other investment expenses Shareholder development and administration and economic training expenses Capital tax Amortization of information systems development and other capital assets Earnings before income taxes Income taxes (Note 12) Net earnings 2007 $ 197,800 49,706 171,922 169,445 588,873 2006 $ (Restated – Note 3b) 189,121 42,190 11,153 220,878 463,342 30,579 27,238 26,793 26,802 30,919 4,096 29,106 4,782 6,046 98,878 6,968 94,451 489,995 14,950 475,045 368,891 2,436 366,455 Weighted average number of Class A shares 282,335 271,462 Earnings per Class A share 1.68 1.35 The accompanying notes form an integral part of these financial statements. 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 35 Statements of C hanges in Net Assets For the years ended May 31 (In thousands) 2007 Balance at beginning of year, as reported Change in accounting policy (Note 3a) Change in accounting policy (Note 3b) Balance at beginning of year, as restated Share issues Net change in share subscriptions Realized net earnings Change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation Share redemptions Transfers (Note 9) Balance at end of year 2006 Balance at beginning of year, as reported Change in accounting policy (Note 3b) Balance at beginning of year, as restated Share issues Share subscriptions Realized net earnings Change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation Share redemptions Transfers (Note 9) Balance at end of year Share Capital Contributed Surplus (Note 9) (Note 9) $ $ 2007 ANNUAL REPORT Unrealized $ Realized $ Net Assets Total $ $ 104,091 6,065,763 368,883 12,093 68,345 (11,483) (12,093) 172,436 (11,483) — 6,607,082 (11,483) — 116,184 44,769 160,953 6,595,599 570,695 43 305,600 305,600 570,695 43 305,600 6,065,763 368,883 169,445 (35,974) (366,360) 100,000 (100,000) 285,810 214,214 6,370,141 368,883 169,445 (35,974) (100,000) 500,024 169,445 (402,334) — 7,239,048 5,681,841 5,681,841 368,883 368,883 60,475 8,630 69,105 (155,996) (8,630) (164,626) (95,521) — (95,521) 5,955,203 — 5,955,203 613,805 346 145,577 145,577 613,805 346 145,577 (310,229) 80,000 6,065,763 368,883 The accompanying notes form an integral part of these financial statements. 36 Retained Earnings (Deficit) (18,498) (80,000) 116,184 220,878 56,252 220,878 (18,498) (80,000) 172,436 220,878 (328,727) — 6,607,082 Statements of C ash F lows For the years ended May 31 2006 $ (In thousands) Operating activities Cash inflows – investment and other income Cash outflows – suppliers and compensation Income taxes received (paid) 260,330 (83,668) (12,768) 163,894 219,457 (87,246) 20,057 152,268 Financing activities Loans Loans repaid Shares issued and subscribed Shares redeemed Cash flows from operating and financing activities 119,083 (99,174) 570,738 (400,033) 190,614 354,508 111,363 (120,362) 614,151 (324,437) 280,715 432,983 Investing activities Acquisition of investments Proceeds on disposal of investments Acquisition of other investments Proceeds on disposal of other investments Information systems development Other capital assets Cash flows used in investing activities Increase (decrease) in cash (976,317) 790,218 (8,752,352) 8,589,800 (1,126) (1,404) (351,181) 3,327 (908,077) 623,258 (7,816,027) 7,668,033 (2,218) (2,000) (437,031) (4,048) Cash at beginning of year Cash at end of year 2007 $ (Restated – Note 3b) 6,081 9,408 10,129 6,081 The accompanying notes form an integral part of these financial statements. 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 37 N otes to F inancial Statements As at May 31, 2007 and 2006 1. I ncorporation Act Statutes and Objectives of the Fund The Fonds de solidarité des travailleurs du Québec (F.T.Q.) (the “Fund”), incorporated by an Act of the Québec National Assembly, is a joint-stock company with the following objectives: a) to invest in Québec business enterprises and provide them with services in order to create, maintain or protect jobs; b) to invest in business enterprises whose activities outside Québec contribute to creating or maintaining jobs or economic activity in Québec; c) to promote the training of workers in economic matters to enable them to increase their influence on Québec’s economic development; d) to stimulate the Québec economy by making strategic investments that will be of benefit to Québec workers and business enterprises; e) to promote the development of Québec business enterprises by inviting workers to participate in that development by purchasing the Fund’s shares. To this end, the Fund endeavours to concentrate most of its investments in unsecured investments, mainly in small and mediumsized enterprises, granting priority to requests from enterprises whose workers are members of unions affiliated with the Québec Federation of Labour (“Q.F.L.”) and developing sector-based strategies. As a general rule, the Fund will take a minority interest in the projects in which it invests. 60% Rule The Fund may invest in any business enterprise with or without security. However, in any given fiscal year, the proportion of unsecured investments made in qualified business enterprises must represent an average of at least 60% of the Fund’s average net assets of the previous year. In 2007, this figure is 55.5% (53.2% in 2006). Because the Fund did not satisfy the 60% rule as at May 31, 2007 and 2006, it must limit its share issues of the following fiscal year to 75% of the total value of shares issued in the preceding year, except for shares acquired through payroll deduction and employer contributions stipulated in agreements concluded at the end of the preceding period. For the year ending May 31, 2008, the 60% rule limits the Fund’s share issues to approximately $534 million. 2 . S ignificant Accounting Policies The Fund is an investment company as defined in Accounting Guideline AcG-18, Investment Companies and, as such, applies the accounting principles stated therein. Section 1530 requires companies to present comprehensive income. This financial statement is not provided since net earnings and comprehensive income are the same. Use of estimates The preparation of financial statements in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions, in particular when determining allowances and the fair value of investments and other invest ments, that affect the reported amounts in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Recognition of financial instruments Financial instruments are recognized on the transaction date, and cost represents historical cost. 38 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 2 . S ignificant Accounting Policies (continued) Measurement of financial instruments (see Note 3a) All investments and other investments are measured at fair value, established as follows: a) Unlisted financial instruments Unlisted financial instruments consist of shares, partnership units, loans and advances, guarantees and suretyships, bonds and money market securities. These instruments are valued using appropriate valuation techniques, including comparison to arm’slength transactions or takeover bids and the capitalization or discounting of cash flows. Units of funds of hedged funds are valued at the value set by their respective managers at the date closest to the Fund’s year-end. b) Listed financial instruments Listed financial instruments consist of shares, partnership units and bonds. These instruments are valued at bid price at the close of trading. In exceptional instances, when this price does not adequately reflect the fair value of an instrument, these securities are then valued using appropriate valuation techniques, including the techniques used for unlisted financial instruments. c) Derivative financial instruments As part of its investment and other investment activities, the Fund uses a number of derivative financial instruments mainly to hedge its exposure to interest, foreign exchange and market fluctuations. Derivative financial instruments authorized under the overall financial asset management policy are: – put or call options; – swap agreements; – futures contracts. These derivative financial instruments are valued using appropriate valuation techniques, including option pricing models using in particular the bid price for assets and the ask price for liabilities at the close of trading. All other financial assets and liabilities are also measured at fair value. Securities loans To generate additional income, the Fund carries out securities loan transactions on its portfolio of short-term securities, stocks and bonds. This income is recorded under Fees and other income in Note 11. Capital assets Capital assets are stated at cost and are amortized over their estimated useful life using the following methods and annual rates: Methods Buildings Office furniture and equipment Computer hardware and software Information systems development straight-line diminishing balance straight-line straight-line Rates % 2.5 20.0 25.0 33.3 Capital assets are tested for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amount may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recorded when their carrying amount exceeds the undiscounted cash flows that would result from their use and eventual disposition. The recognized impairment loss is measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its fair value. Revenue recognition Dividends Dividends are recorded as income when they are declared, except for cumulative dividends which are recorded on an accrual basis. 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 39 N otes to F inancial Statements ( c o n t i n u e d ) As at May 31, 2007 and 2006 2 . S ignificant Accounting Policies (continued) Revenue recognition (continued) Gains and losses on investments and other investments Gains and losses on disposals of investments and other investments, including derivative financial instruments, are recorded at the time of sale and included in Gain on investments and other investments. The amount is the difference between the proceeds from the sale and the average cost, without considering the unrealized appreciation or depreciation recorded in prior years, which is reversed and taken into account under Change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation. Income taxes The Fund uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, future income taxes are recognized based on the expected future tax consequences of differences between the carrying amounts of balance sheet items and their tax bases, using the enacted or substantively enacted income tax rates for the years in which the differences are expected to reverse. Foreign currency translation Monetary assets and liabilities and assets and liabilities measured at fair value are translated into Canadian dollars at the year-end exchange rate. Revenues and expenses denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the exchange rate prevailing at the transaction date. Foreign exchange gains and losses are recognized in the Statement of Earnings. Employee future benefits The cost of pensions and other retirement benefits earned by employees is actuarially determined using the projected benefit method prorated on service and management’s best estimate of expected return on plan assets, salary escalation and retirement ages of employees. For the purposes of calculating the expected return on plan assets, those assets are valued at fair value. Net actuarial gains or losses which are greater than 10% of the accrued benefit obligation or the fair value of the plan assets, whichever is higher, are amortized over the average remaining service period of active employees. The average remaining service period of covered active employees is between 10 and 14.5 years for 2007 and 2006. The transitional obligation of the individual insurance plan is amortized using the straight-line method over the average remaining service period of active employees. 3. C hanges in Accounting Policies a) Financial instruments On June 1, 2006, the Fund early adopted and retroactively applied, without restatement of prior period financial statements, CICA Handbook Section 3855, Financial Instruments – Recognition and Measurement. Since the Fund is an investment company, the changes in accounting policies arising from the application of this section apply only to some items. Under Section 3855, listed financial instruments and derivative instruments, if any, are measured at fair value, as defined by the bid price for assets and the ask price for liabilities at the close of trading. Prior to the introduction of this standard, these instruments were measured based on their closing price. As at June 1, 2006, the impact of this change was a reduction of $5.8 million in Investments and $5.7 million in Other investments. These adjustments, totalling $11.5 million, were recorded as an adjustment to the opening balance of Unrealized Retained Earnings. This change had no material impact on net earnings and earnings per share for the year, nor on net value per share as at May 31, 2007. b) Investment companies The Fund early adopted the amendment of AcG-18, Investment Companies, published in March 2007. This amendment changes the criteria for identifying interests in investment companies that must be consolidated. As a result of this amendment, the Fund’s interests in investment companies are measured and presented at fair value and are no longer consolidated. 40 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 3. C hanges in Accounting Policies (continued) b) Investment companies (continued) The comparative figures for the year ended May 31, 2006 were restated for consistency purposes. The restatement had the following impact: Investments increased by $263 million, Loans increased by $255 million, and Non-controlling interests of $11 million were eliminated. Other assets and liabilities decreased by a net amount of $19 million. Revenues and expenses, including non-controlling interests, each decreased by $14.5 million. As at June 1, 2005 and 2006, the restatement resulted in the reclassification of $8.6 million and $12.1 million, respectively, from unrealized retained earnings to realized retained earnings. This change had no impact on net earnings and earnings per share for the years ended May 31, 2007 and 2006, nor on net value per share as at May 31, 2007 and 2006. 4 . I n vestments (In thousands) Unsecured Listed shares and units Unlisted shares and units Loans and advances Secured Loans and advances Derivative financial instruments 614,715 1,457,019 826,251 847,426 1,413,497 776,137 589,076 1,497,330 647,889 806,965 1,262,492 601,314 26,641 2,924,626 — 2,924,626 13,624 3,050,684 6,150 3,056,834 33,027 2,767,322 — 2,767,322 13,551 2,684,322 9,383 2,693,705 2007 Cost $ 2006 (Restated – Note 3b) Fair value Cost $ $ Fair value $ Investments include securities denominated in foreign currencies, mainly the U.S. dollar, with a fair value of $209.8 million ($160.2 million in 2006). Investment agreements may include clauses providing for conversion and redemption options. Interest rate risk Loans and Advances at Fair Value Maturity (In thousands) 2007 Unsecured Average effective rate Secured Average effective rate 2006 (Restated – Note 3b) Unsecured Average effective rate Secured Average effective rate Variable Rates $ Fixed Rates Less than 1 year $ 1 to 5 years $ Total 5 years and more $ $ 1,281 6.3% 260,003 1.8% 132,073 9.5% 382,780 9.0% 776,137 2,252 7.9% 5,850 10.9% 4,827 11.2% 695 8.0% 13,624 1,479 4.0% 226,388 1.8% 169,708 8.6% 203,739 8.1% 601,314 2,245 7.7% 4,760 14.0% 4,547 10.6% 1,999 10.1% 13,551 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 41 N otes to F inancial Statements ( c o n t i n u e d ) As at May 31, 2007 and 2006 4 . I n vestments (continued) Derivative financial instruments Maturity (In thousands) Less than 6 months $ 6 months and more $ Total $ 2007 Fair value1 Stock option contracts Written call options Purchased put options Written put options Bond futures (8,084) (10,160) 36 1,344 (6) (347) 4,770 (3,284) (9,163) Notional amount Stock option contracts Written call options Purchased put options Written put options Bond futures 33,939 58,633 30,733 53,080 25,575 43,260 100,000 2006 (Restated – Note 3b) Fair value1 Stock option contracts Written call options Purchased put options Written put options Bond option contracts Written call options Purchased put options Written put options Notional amount Stock option contracts Written call options Purchased put options Written put options Bond option contracts Written call options Purchased put options Written put options (472) 462 1,068 (894) 3,815 (381) 3,598 (18,244) 1,380 (353) 4,770 (12,447) 92,572 83,813 68,835 100,000 (2,020) 3,497 (1,305) (2,492) 3,959 (237) 172 (894) 3,815 (381) 3,770 23,953 19,911 20,646 21,131 17,912 13,750 45,084 37,823 34,396 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 1. The net fair value of derivative financial instruments is $–12.4 million ($3.8 million in 2006). The fair value of instruments with positive values is $6.2 million ($9.4 million in 2006) and is included in Investments, whereas the fair value of those with negative values is $18.6 million ($5.6 million in 2006) and is included in Accounts payable. 42 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 4 . I n vestments (continued) Breakdown of investments by industry segment and maximum risk Industry Segment Regional or Manufacturing Services local and real Technology and primary and tourism estate funds (In thousands) $ $ $ $ 2007 Investments at cost Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) Fair value Allocation of investments made by the regional or local funds Funds committed but not disbursed1 Guarantees and suretyships2 Maximum risk 2006 (Restated – Note 3b) Investments at cost Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) Fair value Allocation of investments made by the regional or local funds Funds committed but not disbursed1 Guarantees and suretyships2 Maximum risk Total $ 803,456 (208,623) 594,833 576,375 (49,230) 527,145 925,301 310,350 1,235,651 619,494 79,711 699,205 2,924,626 132,208 3,056,834 8,062 257,440 860,335 56,728 144,819 5,673 734,365 36,667 197,743 1,500 1,471,561 (101,457) 56,427 21,500 675,675 — 656,429 28,673 3,741,936 736,903 (110,727) 626,176 535,494 (190,496) 344,998 904,251 162,949 1,067,200 590,674 64,657 655,331 9,576 280,164 915,916 58,413 103,071 8,678 515,160 32,707 178,635 300 1,278,842 (100,696) 50,692 27,271 632,598 2,767,322 (73,617) 2,693,705 — 612,562 36,249 3,342,516 1. Funds committed but not disbursed represent investments that have already been agreed to and for which amounts have been committed by the Fund but have not been disbursed as at year-end. 2. Under Section 17 of its Incorporation Act, when the Fund makes an investment in the form of a guarantee or a suretyship, it must establish and maintain a reserve equal to at least 50% of the guarantee or suretyship amount for the term thereof. This reserve has been established from Other investments. The Fund granted guarantees and suretyships that do not generally include a specific maturity and that are irrevocable commitments by the Fund to make the payments of partner companies that cannot meet their obligations to third parties for an undiscounted total maximum amount and for the following purposes: (In thousands) Loans on real estate projects Operating activities and operating lines of credit – without recourse Maximum amount 2007 $ 21,500 7,173 28,673 2006 ( Restated – Note 3b) $ 27,271 8,978 36,249 As at May 31, 2007, there was no unrealized depreciation related to guarantees and suretyships ($3.6 million in 2006, included in Accounts payable). As well, in the normal course of business, the Fund enters into various indemnification agreements, usually related to transfers of investments for the representations and warrantees made as well as to the liability of the Fund’s directors, officers or representatives toward partner companies. The latter liability is covered by liability insurance. Due to the nature of these agreements, it is impossible to reasonably estimate the maximum amount that the Fund may have to pay to counterparties. In management’s opinion, it is highly unlikely that these commitments will result in material additional expenses, taking into consideration the provisions recorded. 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 43 N otes to F inancial Statements ( c o n t i n u e d ) As at May 31, 2007 and 2006 5 . Other in vestments (In thousands) Shares and units Units of funds of hedge funds Bonds Money market securities Derivative financial instruments 2007 Cost $ 1,048,467 93,917 3,114,550 7,810 4,264,744 (984) 4,263,760 2006 (Restated – Note 3b) Fair value Cost $ $ 1,219,156 102,411 3,100,648 7,829 4,430,044 46,740 4,476,784 841,786 98,117 2,695,239 359,720 3,994,862 (3,174) 3,991,688 Fair value $ 992,843 98,861 2,691,967 359,760 4,143,431 31,836 4,175,267 Other investments include securities denominated in foreign currencies, mainly the U.S. dollar, with a fair value of $636.3 million ($211.3 million in 2006). Breakdown by maturity Bonds Maturity (In thousands) 2007 Fair value Cost Par value Average effective rate Average nominal rate 2006 Fair value Cost Par value Average effective rate Average nominal rate Less than 1 year $ 1 to 5 years $ 5 to 10 years $ 10 to 20 years $ 20 to 30 years $ 30 years and more $ 560,520 567,155 558,245 1,124,392 1,139,283 1,113,804 764,701 776,162 754,042 206,795 204,421 190,256 384,842 369,011 338,558 59,398 58,518 54,118 4.3% 5.7% 4.5% 5.1% 4.8% 5.1% 5.3% 6.0% 5.6% 6.2% 5.1% 5.6% 248,749 249,612 248,264 1,135,932 1,149,552 1,115,216 686,513 698,512 646,249 260,022 256,343 202,727 327,693 308,358 287,225 33,058 32,862 29,768 2.8% 3.5% 5.4% 8.0% 5.9% 6.4% 5.3% 6.0% Total $ 3,100,648 3,114,550 3,009,023 4.8% 5.4% 2,691,967 2,695,239 2,529,449 4.2% 5.0% 4.9% 5.9% 4.6% 5.5% 3,437 4.2% 3,474 3.9% 918 4.2% 7,829 4.1% 334,993 4.1% 23,799 4.3% 968 4.1% 359,760 4.1% Money market securities Maturity (In thousands) 2007 Fair value Average effective rate 2006 (Restated – Note 3b) Fair value Average effective rate 44 2007 ANNUAL REPORT Less than 1 month $ 1 to 6 months $ 6 months and more $ Total $ 5 . Other in vestments (continued) Breakdown by maturity (continued) Derivative financial instruments Maturity (In thousands) 2007 Fair value1 Bond option contracts Written call options Bond futures Stock index option contracts Written call options Purchased put options Written put options Stock index futures Foreign exchange contracts Notional amount Bond option contracts Written call options Bond futures Stock index option contracts Written call options Purchased put options Written put options Stock index futures Foreign exchange contracts 2006 Fair value1 Bond option contracts Written call options Purchased put options Written put options Bond futures Stock index futures Stock index option contracts Written call options Purchased put options Written put options Foreign exchange contracts Notional amount Bond option contracts Written call options Purchased put options Written put options Bond futures Stock index futures Stock index option contracts Written call options Purchased put options Written put options Foreign exchange contracts Less than 1 month $ 1 to 6 months $ — 2,899 2,899 6 months and more $ — 1,321 Total $ (13) 35,498 (13) 36,819 (6,017) (2,544) 815 443 (359) (149) (377) 101 (4,516) 33,235 (8,561) 1,258 (508) (377) 3,000 31,618 40,627 79,601 (94) (413) 2,708 (935) 1,063 1,409 (1,751) 6,347 (2,139) 9,325 (2,164) 9,055 (3,074) 10,294 1,409 2,351 (3,085) 1,417 2,662 3,251 (18) 3,814 11,782 2,351 (3,085) 1,417 2,644 18,847 503,041 100,000 100,000 200,000 100,000 25,000 1,030,000 200,000 600,000 1,150,000 1,130,000 300,000 800,000 1,753,041 25,000 75,000 75,000 75,000 426,806 149,204 75,000 75,000 75,000 576,010 15,000 485,735 150,000 945,000 165,000 1,430,735 55,500 27,750 48,125 24,375 42,500 21,250 25,000 563,010 83,250 72,500 63,750 65,627 642,611 1. The net value of derivative financial instruments is $31.6 million ($18.8 million in 2006). The fair value of instruments with positive values is $46.7 million ($31.8 million in 2006) and is presented under Other investments, whereas those with negative values is $15.1 million ($13 million in 2006) and is included in Accounts payable. 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 45 N otes to F inancial Statements ( c o n t i n u e d ) As at May 31, 2007 and 2006 5 . Other in vestments (continued) Derivative financial instruments (continued) The notional amount represents the determined theoretical value of the underlying principal of a derivative, set only to serve as a reference for the application of an exchange rate, interest rate, stock market price or market index value. The notional amount does not reflect the credit or market risk inherent to the contracts. Credit risk stems from the possibility that the other party involved in the transaction will not honour its commitments. The Fund reduces this risk by dealing only with institutions that have a solid credit rating, such as defined in the overall financial asset management policy approved by the Fund’s Board of Directors. Market risk relates to potential losses resulting from interest rate, foreign exchange and stock market fluctuations. The Fund manages that risk by using derivative financial instruments only in order to preserve the value of assets, to facilitate changes in asset allocation, to manage a portion of its portfolio through indexing, to facilitate portfolio management and to enhance its yield within the allowed risk limits. Breakdown of fair value by industry segment SharesMoney market Bonds securities and units $ $ $ (In thousands) 2007 Government and government agencies Financial institutions Technology Manufacturing and primary Services and tourism 38,640 110,773 781,286 390,868 1,321,567 2006 (Restated – Note 3b) Government and government agencies Financial institutions Technology Manufacturing and primary Services and tourism 216 776,967 314,521 1,091,704 Total $ 1,550,226 2,807 1,031,616 4,913 52,246 201,523 265,037 109 3,100,648 7,829 1,621,553 539,611 68,566 192,948 269,289 2,691,967 3,909 355,751 100 359,760 1,553,033 1,075,169 163,019 982,809 656,014 4,430,044 1,625,462 895,362 68,782 969,915 583,910 4,143,431 1. This breakdown does not take into account changes in asset breakdown resulting from derivative financial intruments. 6 . S ecurities loans In the normal course of business, the Fund engages in securities lending in order to generate additional revenue. These loans are secured by guarantees or assets equivalent to the minimum percentage prescribed by law or to a percentage that may vary according to best practices. As at May 31, 2007, this percentage was between 102% and 115%, (between 102% and 105% in 2006), and the fair value of the securities loaned was $379 million ($536 million in 2006). 46 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 7. C ap ital assets Accumulated amortization $ Cost $ (In thousands) 2007 Buildings Office furniture and equipment Computer hardware and software Information systems development 2006 (Restated – Note 3b) Buildings Office furniture and equipment Computer hardware and software Information systems development 66,767 16,213 7,361 17,307 107,648 66,767 15,844 7,178 16,181 105,970 Net book value $ 8,416 12,918 4,832 16,200 42,366 6,609 11,462 4,623 14,478 37,172 58,351 3,295 2,529 1,107 65,282 60,158 4,382 2,555 1,703 68,798 The net book value of the portion of building held for rental amounts to $26.4 million ($27.1 million in 2006). 8 . Loans Interest on loans is determined based on the rate of return of Other investments. These loans are renewable monthly and repayable on demand. Consequently, the fair value of these loans from the specialty and regional funds corresponds to their book value. As at May 31, 2007, the interest rate was 4.75% (4.5% in 2006). In addition, the Fund has credit facilities amounting to $40.0 million ($40.0 million in 2006 (Note 3b)), bearing interest at prime and renewable annually. As at May 31, 2007 and 2006 these facilities had not been used. 9. N et A ssets Share capital Authorized Class A shares Unlimited number of Class A shares to be issued in Series 1 and 2, without par value, voting, redeemable and non-transferable unless approved by a resolution of the Board of Directors. Class A shares, Series 1 and 2, can be exchanged for shares of another series and rank pari passu. However, Class A shares, Series 1, may be issued only to an individual requesting their transfer to a trustee under a registered retirement savings plan. Class G shares Unlimited number of Class G shares, without par value, non-voting, without dividends, non-transferable and non-redeemable. In the event of a deficit, Class G shareholders must assume in priority the deficit up to the amount of the consideration paid for such shares and, in the event of a dissolution, liquidation or distribution of the Fund’s asset in whole or in part, these shares grant their holders the right to be reimbursed after all Class A shareholders have been reimbursed. Class B shares Unlimited number of Class B shares, without par value, non-voting, non-participating, entitled to a preferential dividend at the rate determined by the Board of Directors. In the event of liquidation, the Class B shares rank prior to Class A and G shares. 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 47 N otes to F inancial Statements ( c o n t i n u e d ) As at May 31, 2007 and 2006 9. N et A ssets (continued) Share capital (continued) Subscribed Subscribed capital is money cashed but for which no Class A share can be issued in consideration thereof pursuant to the Fund’s purchase-by-agreement policy. These Class A shares will be issued at the time set out in the policy at the share price in effect at that date. Redemption terms Class A shares are generally redeemable only when the shareholder who has purchased them from the Fund reaches the age of 55 and avails himself of his right to an early retirement or retirement, or has reached 65 years of age. The redemption price is determined semi-annually based on the value of the Fund. Shareholders may also withdraw their initial investment in the Fund within 60 days of the subscription date or the date of the first payroll deduction. This withdrawal, however, cancels the right to the tax credit. The Fund can redeem Class A shares only in cases provided under the purchase-by-agreement policy voted by the Board of Directors and approved by the Minister of Finance. Transfers At the annual shareholders’ meeting held on November 8, 2003, the shareholders ratified Regulation No. 68, allowing directors, by simple resolution, to increase or decrease the amount of issued and paid-up capital on outstanding Class A shares, Series 1, and to use any contributed surplus to eliminate or reduce the deficit. During the year, the Board of Directors approved resolutions to increase the issued and paid-up capital on Class A shares, Series 1, by $100 million ($80 million in 2006) through transfers from retained earnings. As at May 31, 2007, the Fund had transferred an aggregate of $1,124 million from retained earnings to share capital. Issued, paid-up and subscribed capital Share Capital Issued Subscribed Class A Series 1 Number 2007 Balance at beginning of year 273,754 5,968,803 3,712 23,471 561,092 405 $ (16,293) 280,932 Class A Number and $ $ Series 2 (In thousands) Share issues1 Net change in share subscriptions Share redemptions Transfers Balance at end of year Class G Number $ 76,489 20,125 $ 346 6,065,763 9,603 570,695 43 (357,594) (421) (8,766) 100,000 6,272,301 3,696 77,326 20,125 389 2006 Balance at beginning of year 261,271 5,589,051 3,574 72,665 20,125 Share issues1 Share subscriptions Share redemptions Transfers Balance at end of year 26,559 (14,076) 273,754 602,744 (302,992) 80,000 5,968,803 491 (353) 3,712 11,061 (7,237) 76,489 20,125 Total 346 346 43 (366,360) 100,000 6,370,141 5,681,841 613,805 346 (310,229) 80,000 6,065,763 1. Issues include $561,012,000 ($605,974,000 in 2006) in shares qualifying for tax credits, thus respecting the limit imposed by the 60% Rule, and $9,683,000 ($7,831,000 in 2006) in shares issued mainly to replace shares redeemed under the Home Buyers’ Plan. 48 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 9. N et A ssets (continued) Contributed surplus Contributed surplus results from a reduction in issued and paid-up capital and the excess of the average value of share capital over the redemption price. 1 0 .Contingencies In the normal course of business, the Fund is party to claims and litigations. The Fund records provisions for such contingencies when necessary. Management believes that the potential liability, net of the provisions recorded, would not have a material adverse effect on the Fund’s financial position. 1 1. Operating ex penses (In thousands) Salaries and benefits Occupancy expenses and rent Advertising and information Professional fees Management fees Travel and entertainment Stationery and office supplies Fees and other income Rental income Capital tax Amortization of information systems development Amortization of other capital assets 2007 $ 58,784 11,027 9,278 8,906 5,427 2,805 2,425 (6,588) (3,328) 4,096 1,722 4,324 98,878 2006 $ (Restated – Note 3b) 57,041 8,608 8,558 6,468 5,219 2,393 2,262 (4,484) (3,364) 4,782 2,584 4,384 94,451 Interest on loans amounting to $15.6 million ($15.0 million in 2006 (Note 3b)) is recorded against interest revenue and capitalized to loans. 1 2 .I ncome taxes Income taxes are as follows: (In thousands) Current Future 2007 $ 5,585 9,365 14,950 2006 $ 9,373 (6,937) 2,436 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 49 N otes to F inancial Statements ( c o n t i n u e d ) As at May 31, 2007 and 2006 1 2 .I ncome taxes (continued) The above income taxes are different from the amounts that would be obtained by applying the combined basic tax rate (federal and provincial) to earnings before income taxes. The difference is explained as follows: (In thousands) Income taxes based on combined income tax rate of 45.7% (45.1% in 2006) Non-taxable dividends Capital gain or loss and change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation Additional provincial income taxes Rate difference and non-deductible (non-taxable) portion Refundable federal tax Provincial tax deduction Refundable dividend tax on hand Large corporations tax Other items 2007 $ 2006 $ (Restated – Note 3b) 223,928 (11,949) 166,370 (13,315) 18,394 (95,531) (44,512) (26,220) (48,715) (1,519) 1,074 14,950 16,991 (89,623) (43,795) (21,427) (17,177) 3,000 1,412 2,436 Sources of future income tax assets are as follows: (In thousands) Capital assets Investments and other 2007 $ 557 163 720 2006 $ 180 9,165 9,345 2006 $ Sources of future income tax liabilities are as follows: (In thousands) Capital assets Investments and other 2007 $ 397 343 740 — — — At the federal level, the Fund is taxed according to the rules for mutual fund corporations. Income tax paid on capital gains is recoverable following share redemptions or an increase in paid-up capital when a portion of retained earnings is transferred to issued and paidup capital. The balance of this tax paid on capital gains amounting to $16.9 million ($7.4 million in 2006) is included in Accounts receivable and other assets. As a private company, the Fund is eligible for the refundable dividend tax on hand (RDTOH). The RDTOH is recoverable by the Fund through the increase in paid-up capital from transfers of a portion of retained earnings to issued and paid-up capital. Of the tax amount of $33.6 million ($30.3 million in 2006), $33.3 million ($26.7 million in 2006) was applied to reduce the income taxes following transfers approved by the Board of Directors during the year to recover this tax. The balance is included in Accounts receivable and other assets. 1 3.E m p loyee future b enefits On January 1, 2001, the Fund implemented funded and unfunded defined benefit pension plans, which guarantee pension benefits to most of its employees. Pension benefits under these plans are based on years of service and average annual salary, which represents the average annual salary over the period of 36 months of consecutive service, which results in the highest average. Also, since July 1, 2003, the Fund has had an optional personal insurance plan for retired employees. 50 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 1 3.E m p loyee future b enefits (continued) The accrued benefit obligation of these plans as determined by independent actuaries and the fair value of the plan assets are as at March 31, 2007. The most recent actuarial valuation of the pension plans for funding purposes was as of January 1, 2007 and the next valuation will take place as of January 1, 2010. Information about the plans is as follows: 2007 (In thousands) Pension plans $ Insurance plan $ Pension plans $ Accrued benefit obligation Balance at beginning of year Current service cost Interest cost Benefits paid Past service cost (gain) Actuarial loss Balance at end of year 46,176 8,441 2,769 (1,233) 4,527 60,680 Plan assets Balance at beginning of year Employer contributions Employee contributions Benefits paid Actual return on plan assets Balance at end of year Reconciliation of accrued benefit obligation and plan assets Funded status – deficit Unamortized transitional obligation Unamortized net actuarial loss Unamortized past service cost (gain) Accrued benefit liabilities 2006 Insurance plan $ 1,741 135 98 (6) (1,049) 362 1,281 34,049 10,513 2,190 (1,407) 23 808 46,176 37,920 3,788 6 3,221 (1,233) (6) 3,978 47,674 — 26,522 3,097 5,855 (1,407) 3,853 37,920 (8,256) 3,485 67 (4,704) (13,006) 6,637 61 (6,308) (1,281) 572 (336) (1,045) 1,361 119 85 (4) 180 1,741 4 (4) — (1,741) 784 213 (744) These accrued benefit liabilities are included in Accounts payable. Additional information about the plan assets Funded plan assets are held in trust and their breakdown is as follows: Equity mutual funds Bond mutual funds Cash and other 2007 % 59.6 39.8 0.6 100.0 2006 % 59.5 39.9 0.6 100.0 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 51 N otes to F inancial Statements ( c o n t i n u e d ) As at May 31, 2007 and 2006 1 3.E m p loyee future b enefits (continued) Additional information about the plan assets (continued) Pension plan expense for the year is as follows: 2007 Pension plans $ Insurance plan $ Pension plans $ (In thousands) Current service cost net of employee contributions Interest cost Actual return on plan assets Past service cost (gain) Actuarial loss Cost before adjustments to recognize the long-term nature of employee future benefits Difference between actual and expected return on plan assets Difference between actuarial loss recognized and actual actuarial loss on accrued benefit obligation Difference between amortization of past service cost or gain and actual plan amendments Amortization of transitional obligation Pension plan expense recognized 5,220 2,769 (3,978) 4,527 135 98 (1,049) 362 2006 Insurance plan $ 4,658 2,190 (3,853) 23 808 119 85 8,538 1,360 (454) 3,826 1,867 384 (4,512) (359) (759) (180) 6 5,392 1,049 71 307 (17) 4,917 71 275 180 Cash payments for employee future benefits, which comprise contributions made by the Fund to these funded pension plans and amounts paid directly to members under unfunded pension plans, totalled $3.8 million ($3.1 million in 2006). Significant actuarial assumptions The significant actuarial assumptions used to determine the accrued benefit obligation and the benefit plan expense are as follows: 2007 Pension plans % Insurance plan % Pension plans % 5.0 5.0 3.5 5.2 6.5 3.5 Accrued benefit obligation Rate at end of year Discount rate Rate of compensation increase Accrued benefit costs Rate at end of previous year Discount rate Expected rate of return on plan assets Rate of compensation increase 5.2 2006 Insurance plan % 5.2 3.5 5.2 5.7 and 5.2 6.5 3.5 5.7 As at May 31, 2007, the Fund set a maximum annual insurance premium it will assume per retiree. This amount will not be increased in the future. 52 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 1 4 .R elated Party T ransactions In the normal course of business, the Fund conducts transactions with related companies that are either controlled by the Fund or subject to significant influence by the Fund. Many of the investments that the Fund makes in enterprises are of such an amount and nature that the investee is considered a related entity. These transactions consist predominantly of interest and dividend revenues on investments and certain operating expenses, mainly premiums paid under insurance plans. The Fund, of which a majority of directors are elected by the QFL, paid $1.3 million to the QFL in each year for the years ended May 31, 2007 and 2006 under a protocol and agreements that call for compensation to be paid for services rendered in respect of economic training, social audits, shareholder development, and support and guidance of certain entities. These transactions are measured at the exchange amount, which is the amount of consideration established and agreed to by the related parties. The Fund incorporated the Fondation de la formation économique du Fonds de solidarité des travailleurs du Québec (F.T.Q.) (the “Fondation”) under Part III of the Québec Companies Act and elects the members of the Fondation’s Board of Directors. The Fund granted a loan of $5 million to the Fondation at a variable, contingent interest rate, with a fair value of $3.5 million ($3.4 million in 2006). The Fund granted non-interest bearing loans of $20 million with a fair value of $17.9 million ($17 million in 2006) to the Fonds étudiants solidarité travail du Québec (FESTQ), considered related entities because the Fund elects some of the officers together with the Government of Québec. The loans are presented in the Balance Sheet under Accounts receivable and other assets. 1 5 .A dditional information The Schedule of investments at cost and the List of investments at cost made by the specialty funds are available at the Fund’s head office, on its website at www.fondsftq.com and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 53 schedule of inv estments at cost Auditors’ re port To the Directors of the Fonds de solidarité des travailleurs du Québec (F.T.Q.) We have audited the schedule of investments at cost of the Fonds de solidarité des travailleurs du Québec (F.T.Q.) as at May 31, 2007. This financial information is the responsibility of the management of the Fonds de solidarité des travailleurs du Québec (F.T.Q.). Our responsibility is to express an opinion on this financial information based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform an audit to obtain reasonable assurance whether the financial information is free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial information. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial information. In our opinion, this schedule presents fairly, in all material respects, the investments at cost of the Fonds de solidarité des travailleurs du Québec (F.T.Q.) as at May 31, 2007 in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles. Samson Bélair/Deloitte & Touche s.e.n.c.r.l. Chartered accountants June 21, 2007 54 2007 ANNUAL REPORT S chedule of inv estments at cost As at May 31, 2007 (In thousands $) Unsecured Investments Year of Initial Investment 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 Listed Shares and Units Industry Segment Fonds de développement emploi-Montréal inc. F Fonds de revenu TransForce S Les Nordiques de Québec 1988, société en commandite S Entreprises publiques québécoises à faible capitalisation TI/M/P/S Investissements Mauricie – Bois-Francs – Drummond, F société en commandite Bestar inc. M Hyprescon inc. M Transat A.T. inc. S B.M.B. (Îles-de-la-Madeleine) inc. S Société en commandite Baseball Montréal S l Société en commandite immobilière Solim R l SOLIDEQ, société en commandite F Polycor inc. P European Medical Ventures Fund S.C.A. TI Groupe Datamark Systems inc. M Groupe Robert inc. S Le Devoir inc. S Société d’investissements Capimont enr., F société en commandite l Société en commandite immobilière Solim II R SSQ, Société d’assurance-vie inc. S Corporation Financière Brome inc. S Groupe Pierre Belvédère inc. S Labopharm inc. TI Château M.T. inc. S CryoCath Technologies inc. TI l Fonds régional de solidarité Abitibi-Témiscamingue, société en commandite F l Fonds régional de solidarité Côte-Nord, société en commandite F l Fonds régional de solidarité Estrie, société en commandite F l Fonds régional de solidarité Île-de-Montréal, société en commandite F l Fonds régional de solidarité Lanaudière, société en commandite F l Fonds régional de solidarité Laurentides, société en commandite F l Fonds régional de solidarité Laval, société en commandite F l Fonds régional de solidarité Mauricie, société en commandite F Jonview Canada inc. S MethylGene inc. TI Mines Virginia inc. P RESO Investissements inc. F Société en commandite de placements TI en logiciel Télésystème 3552853 Canada inc. (Les Enductions Répulpables Rétec) M l Fonds d’investissement de la culture et des communications, société en commandite S l Fonds régional de solidarité Bas-Saint-Laurent, société en commandite F Secured Investments Unlisted Shares Loans and Loans and and Units Advances Advances Total 18,839 1,338 1 1,338 18,839 1 286,493 286,493 1,499 6,020 7,470 1 3,002 750 7,000 28,975 30,000 68 10,975 1,315 725 215 13,071 8,500 1 2,224 3,002 6,020 965 7,000 28,975 30,000 13,071 68 7,470 19,475 1,315 16,166 4,638 1 25,000 29,413 1,591 313 3,000 16,100 3,000 1,400 1 25,000 45,513 4,591 1,713 16,166 3,000 4,638 13,105 13,105 12,985 20,114 12,985 20,114 25,090 25,090 12,587 12,587 21,532 18,524 21,532 18,524 12,708 3,156 16,651 186 1,251 16,651 186 12,708 1,251 3,156 4,279 823 4,279 823 20,000 20,000 13,160 13,160 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 55 S chedule of inv estments at cost ( c o n t i n u e d ) As at May 31, 2007 (In thousands $) Unsecured Investments Year of Initial Investment 1996 l Fonds régional de solidarité Chaudière-Appalaches, société en commandite l Fonds régional de solidarité Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine, société en commandite l Fonds régional de solidarité Montérégie, société en commandite l Fonds régional de solidarité Outaouais, société en commandite l Fonds régional de solidarité Québec, société en commandite l Fonds régional de solidarité Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, société en commandite Gestion Renaud-Bray inc. Groupe Bocenor inc. Groupe Solmax inc. Mines Richmont inc. Roctest ltée Stageline Scène Mobile inc. Systèmes médicaux LMS (Canada) ltée 1997 Biorthex inc. Corporation GMAT Capital ESI Ecosystem International ltée Fonds de capital de risque GeneChem Technologies, s.e.c. Fonds d’investissement de Montréal (F.I.M.), société en commandite l Fonds régional de solidarité Nord-du-Québec, société en commandite Gespro Technologies inc. Glendyne inc. GSM Capital Limited Partnership Infosoft société en commandite d’investissement Les Mines McWatters inc. Mines Aurizon ltée Oxford Bioscience Partners II L.P. Polyvalor, société en commandite 1998 3539491 Canada inc. (ADF industries lourdes) Asia Equity Infrastructure Fund, L.P. Biotechnologies ConjuChem inc. Corporation d’exploitation minière Globestar Corporation Eatsleepmusic.com Exploration Azimut inc. Fonds régional de solidarité Centre-du-Québec, société en commandite Le Groupe Tecnum inc. Madelimer inc. Mines Dynacor inc. Multi-Ind. Capital inc. Niocan inc. Société en commandite Manoir Richelieu Tranzyme Pharma inc. TSO3 inc. 56 2007 ANNUAL REPORT Listed Shares and Units Industry Segment Secured Investments Unlisted Shares Loans and Loans and and Units Advances Advances Total F 12,574 12,574 F 12,573 12,573 F 18,478 18,478 F 30,478 30,478 F 18,976 18,976 24,971 2,924 24,337 3,800 2,558 4,124 1,033 2,367 12,392 500 400 6,771 2,222 F S M M P M M TI TI S S TI R 24,337 2,558 4,124 2,367 24,971 1 3,800 12,392 500 200 6,771 2,170 2,923 1,033 200 52 F TI P TI TI P P TI TI M S TI P TI P 3,444 305 2,579 309 371 12,000 1,676 57 1,285 6,812 1,416 5,082 3,249 3,000 4,000 1,343 1,788 12,000 1,676 4,057 1,285 6,812 4,787 305 1,416 5,082 1,788 3,249 2,579 309 3,000 371 F TI M P S P S TI TI 52 339 6,321 6,616 1,750 522 2 40,339 6,585 1,177 253 464 6,616 2,003 2,163 52 2 339 40,339 6,585 6,321 Unsecured Investments Year of Initial Investment Industry Segment A. & R. Belley inc. Advitech inc. Æterna Zentaris inc. l Capimex, société en commandite et autre ForAction Chili inc. Harmonium International inc. La Financière des entreprises culturelles (FIDEC), société en commandite Le Groupe Cambium inc. Les Systèmes de gestion Raymark Xpert inc. Manitoba Science & Technology Fund Limited Partnership Minéraux Maudore ltée Osisko Exploration ltée Réseaux Simpler inc. S N F inc. Société en commandite ForAction Chili Targanta Thérapeutiques inc. 2000 Alliances ArtQuest International inc. l ARGO II : The Wireless-Internet Fund – Limited Partnership BioArtificiel Gel technologies (Bagtech) inc. Bioxel Pharma inc. Cronus BioPharma inc. De Marque inc. FDJ Monde inc. l Fonds de développement des exportations FODEX, société en commandite Fonds de revenu Hélicoptères Canadiens GeminX Biotechnologies inc. Genopole 1er Jour S.A. Groupe Riotel Hospitalité inc. GTI V, société en commandite Les Biotechnologies Atrium inc. Les Entreprises Maska-Laforo inc. Marketing Léger inc. MSDS Solutions inc. Placements Accu-Sol inc. Planchers des Appalaches ltée ProVance Technologies inc. Réseau Gomedica inc. Ressources Majescor inc. Ressources Strateco inc. Simard-Beaudry Construction inc. l Société en commandite GeneChem Thérapeutique Theratechnologies inc. Yamana Gold inc. 2001 Aégera Thérapeutique inc. Capimont Technologies, société en commandite Cardianove inc. Cleyn & Tinker inc. Corporation DataCom Wireless l Fonds Bio-Innovation, société en commandite 1999 Listed Shares and Units Secured Investments Unlisted Shares Loans and Loans and and Units Advances Advances Total S TI TI S M TI 1,904 30,488 392 12,671 1,304 390 1,078 375 296 330 1,470 2,279 30,488 12,967 1,304 720 S M TI TI P P TI S M TI TI TI TI TI TI S M 241 84 3,100 4,918 4,000 9,525 900 32,369 20,950 8,357 6,083 13,272 1,678 250 768 2,125 9,000 1,010 475 929 500 1,517 4,000 929 10,025 900 241 84 32,369 29,950 8,357 6,083 5,627 13,272 1,678 4,918 250 768 2,600 S S TI TI S TI TI M S TI S M TI TI P P S TI TI P TI TI TI M TI TI 26,423 31,513 368 15 1,390 351 41,950 3,413 136 405 6,482 5,000 1,000 2,060 1 751 6,075 1 2,501 9,866 5,120 7,918 1,434 6,678 5,150 10,900 316 13,407 3,000 11,705 210 4,594 1,169 23,950 1,045 900 500 41,950 26,423 3,413 136 721 6,482 44,920 8,000 1,000 2,060 11,706 961 11,714 1,170 368 15 26,451 9,866 1,390 351 5,120 7,918 2,334 6,678 5,650 10,900 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 57 S chedule of inv estments at cost ( c o n t i n u e d ) As at May 31, 2007 (In thousands $) Unsecured Investments Year of Initial Investment 2001 GSM Capital Annex Fund, L.P. Investissement Premières Nations du Québec, société en commandite Kruger Wayagamack inc. Les Ressources Campbell inc. Nanox inc. l Novacap II, société en commandite Partenaires MidCap SBV Venture Partners L.P. l SIDEX, société en commandite Sofame Technologies inc. SolaCom Technologies inc. T²C²/Bio2000, société en commandite Venture Coaches Fund LP 2002 Axcan Pharma inc. BioAxone Thérapeutique inc. Enerkem Technologies inc. FinTaxi, s.e.c. l Fonds immobilier du Fonds de solidarité FTQ inc. Hydro Mobile inc. Investissements BioCapital, société en commandite Junex inc. Le Holding Angelcare inc. LxSix Photoniques inc. MC2 Entertainment l MDS Fonds de technologies des sciences de la vie II Québec société en commandite nStein Technologies inc. Produits Intégrés Avior inc. Réseaux Versatel inc. S.G.D.L. Systèmes inc. Technologies LTRIM inc. Thermetco inc. Topigen Pharmaceutiques inc. TORR Canada inc. Tricot Richelieu inc. l Vimac Early Stage Fund L.P . 2003 9096-2952 Québec inc. (Magnov) Enobia Pharma inc. Hexago inc. IatroQuest Corporation Joseph Ribkoff inc. l Le Fonds Entrepia Nord, s.e.c. Mines de la Vallée de l’or ltée Planchers Ancestral inc. Ressources Plexmar inc. Solutions originales inc. Sonaca Amérique du Nord inc. Stella-Jones inc. Technologies Harfan inc. Technologies Microbridge Canada inc. 58 2007 ANNUAL REPORT Listed Shares and Units Industry Segment TI Secured Investments Unlisted Shares Loans and Loans and and Units Advances Advances 948 Total 948 F M P TI S S TI P M TI TI TI TI TI S S R M TI P S TI TI 1,421 275 9,742 636 1,660 2,100 14,701 1,106 6,805 15,000 750 8,159 3,870 3,000 4,252 6,800 1 2,500 2,004 4,877 6,005 11,500 2,500 22,110 3,750 27,200 227,364 167 1,660 11,500 1,421 2,100 14,701 1,106 6,805 15,000 275 3,250 8,159 3,870 31,852 6,750 4,252 34,000 227,365 2,500 2,004 636 167 4,877 6,005 TI TI M TI TI TI M TI TI M TI M TI TI TI M TI P M P TI M M TI TI 13,000 246 135 5,347 20,849 1,250 6,000 1,500 3,302 1,800 7,400 2,000 10,331 1 5,600 4,100 3,786 15,627 9,624 400 2,325 1 2,000 4,309 938 1,667 1,500 1,133 27 536 14,667 1,000 1,500 1,000 500 500 20,849 13,000 2,188 6,000 3,000 5,969 3,300 7,400 500 3,133 10,331 28 6,100 4,100 3,786 15,627 9,624 246 936 135 2,325 1 20,014 3,000 4,309 Unsecured Investments Year of Initial Investment Industry Segment TelcoBridges inc. Tranzyme, inc. Vimac Milestone Medica Fund North L.P. 3091779 Compagnie Nouvelle-Écosse (Laura Secord) 4262280 Canada inc. (Jonview Canada) 4268822 Canada inc. (Astroflex) 9143-4423 Québec inc. (Gestion MSBI) Advantech technique de pointe pour faisceaux hertziens inc. Alexis Minerals Corporation Bois B.S.L. Matane inc. Constructions C.D.P. inc. Création VISU inc. De Ball inc. DK-SPEC inc. Fonds Brightspark II, s.e.c. l Fonds d’investissement en développement durable (FIDD), s.e.c. l Fonds d’investissement MSBI, société en commandite FRV Média inc. Genizon Biosciences inc. Groupe de scieries G.D.S. inc. Groupe LAR inc. Groupe Plafolift inc. GrowthWorks Atlantic Ltd ISACSOFT inc. Le Groupe Blue Mountain Wallcoverings inc. Le Groupe Cegerco inc. Les Gestions Gastier inc. Manac inc. Matamec Explorations inc. Octasic inc. Omni-Med.com inc. ORTHOsoft inc. Ressources Metco inc. Sciences de la vie Bioniche inc. Sécurité Above inc. Simpler Networks Corp. Trencap s.e.c. Vimac ESF Annex Fund L.P. ViroChem Pharma inc. Wavesat inc. 2005 3149773 Canada inc. (Les Cafés Vittoria) l A.M. Pappas Life Science Ventures III, LP Accovia inc. Addenda Capital inc. Air Data inc. Allianz Madvac inc. Bluestreak Network, inc. Camoplast inc. Canadian Royalties inc. 2003 2004 Listed Shares and Units Secured Investments Unlisted Shares Loans and Loans and and Units Advances Advances Total TI TI TI S S M TI TI P M S M M M TI 115 1,125 1 1,992 2,000 4,647 1 154 600 3,150 3,951 2,550 5,000 12,844 300 1,610 219 690 3,848 3,156 4,000 3,675 1 1,992 7,000 4,647 1 154 16,844 415 1,610 219 1,290 3,848 6,306 3,951 S TI S TI M M M S TI M S S M P TI TI TI P TI TI TI S TI TI TI M TI TI S TI M TI M P 2,000 2,775 158 2,000 194 14,655 472 1,718 4,914 4,750 10,001 169 11,000 6,250 1,242 2,647 12,000 2,250 1 132,250 1,194 6,949 3,144 2,322 1,487 3,500 1,200 1 32,950 552 4,000 500 76 13,149 2,325 1,750 20,998 5,567 986 1,517 1,386 1,500 7,800 6,827 1,718 4,914 2,552 4,750 16,828 4,000 669 76 2,775 24,149 2,325 1,750 27,248 158 6,809 3,633 2,000 194 12,000 2,250 1 132,250 1,194 6,949 3,144 1,517 2,322 2,873 14,655 5,000 9,000 1 32,950 472 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 59 S chedule of inv estments at cost ( c o n t i n u e d ) As at May 31, 2007 (In thousands $) Unsecured Investments Year of Initial Investment 2005 2006 60 Château Bonne Entente inc. FIER Partenaires, société en commandite l Fonds d’opportunités canadiennes HRS, s.e.c. Groupe C.N.P. inc. Groupe Canatal inc. IRphotonique inc. Les Biotechnologies Océanova inc. Les Réseaux Accedian inc. Mecachrome international inc. Média Groupe inc. Metro inc. l ProQuest Investments III, L.P . l Rho Fund Investors 2005, L.P . Ski-Mode Bernard Trottier inc. Targanta Therapeutics Corporation Technologie Bluestreak (Canada) inc. Technologies Microbridge Canada inc. Technologies Positron inc. 2023671 Ontario inc. (Acier Pointe-Claire) 6513557 Canada inc. (Fournitures d’hôtellerie Pascal) 6550568 Canada inc. (ConjuchemBio) 6569293 Canada inc. (Maison des Futailles) 9166-1165 Québec inc. (Maison des Futailles) 9178-6590 Québec inc. (Excavation René-St-Pierre) BioSyntech, inc. Bois B.S.L. Énergie inc. Boulart inc. Boutique Linen Chest (Phase II) inc. Capital Financière Agricole inc. Corporation développement Knowlton inc. Corporation Financière L’Excellence ltée Coveo Solutions inc. Dismed inc. Emerald Technology Ventures II Entreprises SMD ltée Équipements Comact inc. Éthanol Greenfield inc. Excavation René St-Pierre inc. Exploration Dios inc. l FCPR Aerofund l Fiducie du chantier de l’économie sociale l Fonds CTI Sciences de la vie, s.e.c. Fonds ID s.e.c. Fonds Propulsion III s.e.c. l Garage Technologie Capital-Risque Canada, s.e.c. Gestion Rivière du Diable inc. Groupe CVTech inc. Groupe environnemental Labrie inc. Innodia inc. J.L. Albright IV Venture Fund L.P. l 2007 ANNUAL REPORT Listed Shares and Units Industry Segment S F S M M TI TI TI M S S TI TI S TI TI TI M M S TI M M S TI M M S S M S TI S TI S M M S P S S TI TI TI TI S S M TI TI 28,000 4,000 Secured Investments Unlisted Shares Loans and Loans and and Units Advances Advances 3,200 2,990 1,501 2,500 111 2,347 50,001 1,000 5,633 1,337 1,000 1 8,562 2 8,001 1 6,598 1 25 371 2,366 9,249 6,500 2,000 3,352 1,251 3,500 500 4,533 1 477 1,700 2,150 2,188 1,995 10,000 1,018 331 1,500 1,625 888 1,000 99,930 3,750 4,500 15,000 650 1,667 3,000 13,873 12,000 3,000 50,000 4,000 200 900 9,000 5,000 1,500 1,675 1,500 Total 3,531 2,990 28,000 1,500 3,126 2,500 999 2,347 50,001 2,000 99,930 5,633 1,337 4,750 1 8,562 2 8,001 4,500 1,675 1 21,598 1 25 4,000 650 2,038 3,000 2,366 23,122 20,000 2,000 3,352 1,251 3,500 3,500 50,000 4,000 200 4,533 1 477 1,700 2,150 2,188 2,895 9,000 15,000 1,500 1,018 Unsecured Investments Year of Initial Investment Industry Segment Listed Shares and Units Secured Investments Unlisted Shares Loans and Loans and and Units Advances Advances TI 9,543 2006 Lab Recherche inc. Les Aciers Blais Québec inc. M 3,000 3,000 Les investissements IKE inc. M 1,500 500 Les meubles Poitras (2002) inc. M 350 650 Métal Perreault inc. M 490 530 OZ (USA), inc. TI 1 Oz Communications inc. TI 5,965 Promobois G.D.S. inc. M Ressources Cadiscor inc. P 63 Ressources Cartier inc. P 400 l Rho Canada Capital de Risque, s.e.c. TI 3,100 l Soccrent 2006, société en commandite F 5,017 2,200 l Société en commandite AgeChem TI 3,000 SolVision inc. M 3,000 Sonaca S.A. M 5,950 l VantagePoint Venture Partners 2006 (Q), L.P . TI 1,148 2007 6705341 Canada inc. (North Country Slate) P 1,950 9182-2031 Québec inc. (Fonds d’acquisition de Montréal) R 1 Cellfish Media LLC TI 11,785 Envivio inc. TI 4,735 Exploration Midland inc. P 400 Fonds d’acquisition de Montréal, société en commandite R 5,000 GO Capital s.e.c. TI 90 Groupe Bikini Village inc. S 2,500 Groupe Investissement Responsable inc. S 400 Investissements Astra inc. S 1,500 500 Les Industries Spectra Premium inc. M 10,000 10,000 MMV Financial inc. S 5,685 22,740 Nexsan Corporation TI 8,687 Portes et Fenêtres Lumico inc. M 75 325 l ProQuest Investments IV, L.P . TI 739 Réseaux Trellia inc. TI 2,363 Stedfast inc. M 2,500 Thallion pharmaceutiques inc. TI 8,275 l Vertex III (C.I.) Fund L.P . TI 3,471 Victhom Bionique Humaine inc. TI 5,000 11 general partners of limited partnerships S 1 Total 614,7151,457,019 826,251 l Total 9,543 6,000 2,000 1,000 200 1,220 1 5,965 1,043 1,043 63 400 3,100 7,217 3,000 3,000 5,950 1,148 1,950 1 11,785 4,735 400 5,000 90 2,500 400 2,000 20,000 28,425 8,687 400 739 2,363 2,500 8,275 3,471 5,000 1 26,6412,924,626 The list of investments made by these specialty funds is shown in the List of investments at cost made by the specialty funds. This schedule of investments at a total cost of $2,924,626,000 itemizes by company the amounts invested by the Fonds de solidarité des travailleurs du Québec (F.T.Q.). This amount appears in Note 4 to the financial statements as at May 31, 2007. Industry segment legend: F: Regional or local funds R: Real estate M: Manufacturing (lumber and paper, food and beverage, steel, textile, other) P: Primary S: Services/tourism TI: Technology investments (technology and data processing, telecommunications, life sciences and bio-food industry) 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 61 List of inv estments at cost made by the s pecialty funds ( u n a u d i t e d ) As at May 31, 2007 (In thousands) Information from Annual Financial Report dated 12-31-06 A.M. Pappas Life Science Ventures III, LP Anthera Pharmaceuticals, inc. BioSyntech, inc. BrainCells, inc. CeNeRx BioPharma, inc. Cequent Pharmaceuticals, inc. Cerexa, inc. CoLucid Pharmaceuticals, inc. MethylGene inc. Spherics, inc. Syndax Pharmaceuticals, inc. 12-31-06 Argo II : The Wireless-Internet Fund–Limited Partnership Amperion, inc. ArgNor Wireless Ventures B.V. Bytemobile, inc. Calypso Wireless, inc. Casero, inc. Chinatron Group Holdings Limited Digital Bridges Limited Empower Interactive Group Limited inCode Telecom Group, inc. Innotech Industries Limited IPeria, inc. Narad Networks, inc. Neomedia Technologies, inc. NT Cubed Limited OnMobile Systems, inc. Q-go.com B.V. RV Technology Limited SurfKitchen, inc. Sylantro Systems Corporation uReach Technologies, inc. Volubill SA World Wide Packets, inc. Funds committed but not disbursed 11-30-06 Capimex, société en commandite Cadim Servotech B.V. Kanada Polska Kabaty S.P. Z.O.O. Orkiestra Development S.P. Z.O.O. PIGC Empreendimentos Imobiliarios S.A. Cornerstone Capital Fund I, L.P. First fiscal year 62 2007 ANNUAL REPORT Equity Interest of the Fund % Shares and Units $ Loans and Advances $ Total $ 11.8 3.7 50.0 30.0 2,194 1,679 678 1,631 2,194 2,084 2,743 1,426 1,783 16,412 1,341 483 388 2,212 2,194 1,679 2,019 1,631 2,194 2,084 2,743 1,426 2,266 388 18,624 382 14,779 9,377 40 4,174 13,245 20,542 11,345 268 577 11,818 11,610 4,660 38,846 12,761 4,875 462 6,892 7,761 12,715 7,973 10,007 205,109 4,181 2,697 586 1,044 8,508 382 14,779 9,377 40 4,174 17,426 20,542 11,345 268 577 11,818 14,307 4,660 38,846 12,761 4,875 1,048 7,936 7,761 12,715 7,973 10,007 213,617 3,188 216,805 637 637 400 2,427 3,469 6,296 400 2,427 3,469 637 6,933 Information from Annual Financial Report dated Equity Interest of the Fund % 12-31-06 FCPR Aerofund Alyotech JPR CAP PIB Holding Recaero Funds committed but not disbursed Fiducie du chantier de l’économie sociale First fiscal year 20.0 12-31-06 FIER Partenaires, société en commandite Fonds Brightspark II, s.e.c. Fonds CTI Sciences de la vie, s.e.c. Fonds Propulsion III s.e.c. Garage Technologie Capital-Risque Canada, s.e.c. Société en commandite AgeChem Funds committed but not disbursed 03-31-07 Fonds Bio-Innovation, société en commandite Ambrilia Biopharma inc. Asmacure ltée Biogentis inc. CO2 Solution inc. Créa Biopharma inc. KCLM Recherche en Nutrition inc. Les Biotechnologies Océanova inc. Les Produits pharmaceutiques Ulysses inc. Pegase Médical inc. Planteck inc. Prognomix inc. Prophagia inc. PureCell Technologies inc. Funds committed but not disbursed 12-31-06 Fonds CTI Sciences de la vie, s.e.c. No investment 27.8 12-31-06 Fonds de développement des exportations FODEX, société en commandite Alex Pneu et Mécanique (Canada) inc. Bioetik inc. Busch Marine inc. Champlain Capital Partners LP Corporation Nuvolt inc. Groupe Pierre Belvédère inc. Recy-Clone inc. TDM International inc. Funds committed but not disbursed 0.0 93.6 28.2 Shares and Units $ Loans and Advances $ Total $ 176 924 3,849 1,211 6,160 2,021 614 1,480 4,115 2,197 1,538 3,849 2,691 10,275 5,495 15,770 1,201 239 1,150 607 500 3,697 — 1,201 239 1,150 607 500 3,697 66,303 70,000 353 1,415 23 56 1,000 600 650 251 300 4,648 300 65 338 400 444 400 125 2,072 653 1,415 65 23 338 400 500 1,000 600 1,050 251 300 125 6,720 1,637 8,357 1,000 150 500 8,911 250 10,811 1,425 175 500 1,200 150 250 3,700 2,425 150 675 8,911 500 1,200 150 500 14,511 6,468 20,979 100.0 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 63 List of inv estments at cost made by the s pecialty funds ( u n a u d i t e d ) ( c o n t i n u e d ) As at May 31, 2007 (In thousands) Information from Annual Financial Report dated Equity Interest of the Fund % 03-31-07 Fonds d’investissement de la culture et des communications, société en commandite 9052-0651 Québec inc. (Logistik 22) 9068-3848 Québec inc. (Les Productions Danse Sing) 9089-1193 Québec inc. (Caméra E-Motion) 9168-1478 Québec inc. (Laboratoire GSS) Attraction Média inc. Caméra E-Motion inc. De Marque inc. Distribution CMP Magada International inc. et Production Magada International inc. Divertissements Séville inc. Édifice Club Soda inc. Éditions FICC s.e.n.c. (Viamédias) FRV Média inc. Groupe Phaneuf inc. Groupe Star Suites inc. Guides de Voyages Ulysse inc. GVGS inc. In Extremis Images inc. ISACSOFT inc. Jeux Alary inc. LC Média inc. Motorisés Star Suites inc. Ryshco Média inc. Sarbakan inc. Toon Boom Animation inc. Tribal Nova inc. Vivavision inc. Wilson & Lafleur, limitée Funds committed but not disbursed 12-31-06 Fonds d’investissement en développement durable (FIDD), s.e.c. Bioetik inc. Busch Marine inc. Chiiwedjin Shu Énergie Éolienne inc. CO2 Solution inc. TORR Canada inc. Vaperma inc. Funds committed but not disbursed 64 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 66.7 23.9 Shares and Units $ Loans and Advances $ Total $ 125 500 760 623 133 34 500 750 125 748 133 34 1,000 750 125 760 700 200 100 400 198 427 200 426 1,482 290 100 525 625 7,058 465 200 7 280 350 400 218 336 313 460 130 500 320 200 225 6,569 465 900 207 380 750 598 218 427 536 426 1,482 313 750 130 500 320 100 200 750 625 13,627 1,680 15,307 150 500 500 150 500 625 2,425 175 500 675 150 675 500 150 1,000 625 3,100 1,210 4,310 Information from Annual Financial Report dated 05-31-06 Fonds d’investissement MSBI, société en commandite Callio Technologies inc. CarboPur Technologies inc. DFT Microsystems inc. Iaculor Injection inc. LegiTime Technologies Médical Resonant inc. Milestone Pharmaceutiques inc. Mimetogen Pharmaceutiques inc. MOXXI Médical inc. QuantuModeling inc. Réflex Photonique inc. Silk Displays inc. SiXtron Matériaux Avancés inc. Funds committed but not disbursed 12-31-06 Fonds d’opportunités canadiennes HRS, s.e.c. Amethyst Arbitrage Fund CC&L Multi-Strategy Fund Emerald Canadian Equity Market Neutral Fund Epic Limited Partnership Flatiron Market Neutral LP Jemekk Long Short Fund Limited Partnership Le Fonds Goodwood LODH Opus Canadian Long/Short Equity Pooled Fund Marret High Yield Hedge Limited Partnership Parkwood Limited Partnership Fund Rosseau Société en commandite Sprott Opportunities Hedge Fund Stornoway Recovery Fund Vertex Fund Waterfall Vanilla LP 03-31-07 Fonds régional de solidarité Abitibi-Témiscamingue, société en commandite 9026-0357 Québec inc. (Société de gestion Mario Massé) 9074-1133 Québec inc. (Mécanicad) 9118-5066 Québec inc. (Les Ateliers Val d’Or) Alexis Minerals Corporation Bellerose Capital inc. Corporation minière Rocmec inc. Entretien M. Perron inc. Entretien M. Perron inc. et 9165-6942 Québec inc. Exploration Azimut inc. Exploration Dios inc. Exploration Fieldex inc. Exploration Typhon inc. Forage G4 ltée Gestion C.I.A. inc. et Centre d’informatique Abitibi inc. Golden Valley Mines ltée Groupe Canexfor inc. et 2734-1197 Québec inc. Groupe Sogitex inc. Equity Interest of the Fund % Shares and Units $ Loans and Advances $ Total $ 32.0 99.9 99.9 548 1,099 842 1 1,851 2 308 791 770 6,212 273 362 1 127 118 170 516 205 1,772 821 1,099 1,204 1 1 1,851 2 308 918 118 940 516 205 7,984 3,466 11,450 2,289 2,621 2,814 1,500 1,750 1,200 1,853 1,129 2,100 1,100 997 1,550 750 1,628 1,300 24,581 — 2,289 2,621 2,814 1,500 1,750 1,200 1,853 1,129 2,100 1,100 997 1,550 750 1,628 1,300 24,581 29 75 17 49 11 150 124 500 100 450 200 200 282 662 525 287 62 450 500 100 450 229 75 200 282 662 17 49 11 150 525 287 124 62 450 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 65 List of inv estments at cost made by the s pecialty funds ( u n a u d i t e d ) ( c o n t i n u e d ) As at May 31, 2007 (In thousands) Information from Annual Financial Report dated 03-31-07 Fonds régional de solidarité Abitibi-Témiscamingue, société en commandite (continued) Industries Lignico inc. J. Y. Moreau Électrique inc. Les équipements de forage VersaDrill inc. Machines Roger lnternational inc. MasséNor inc. Palmapor inc. Ross Finlay 2000 inc. 03-31-07 Fonds régional de solidarité Bas-Saint-Laurent, société en commandite 9003-4349 Québec inc. (Mode Ézé Plus) AMH Canada ltée Distributions Jacques-Cartier inc. Érablières des Alléghanys inc. Gagnon Image inc. et 9067-9408 Québec inc. Gestion H. Dickner ltée Glendyne inc. Lang 2000 inc. et 9166-6743 Québec inc. Le Groupe Cambium inc. Menuiserie Roland Perreault inc. Sanibelle inc. et Groupe Envirex inc. St-Noël Express inc. Topocom Technologie inc. et Asselin et Asselin, S.N.C. Funds committed but not disbursed 03-31-07 Fonds régional de solidarité Chaudière-Appalaches, société en commandite 9069-4654 Québec inc. (Supervac 2000) 9075-5349 Québec inc. (Fenêtres Météo) Acier Picard inc. Compositech inc. Ébénisterie de la Chaudière inc. Équipements récréatifs Jambette inc. et Gestion ParceQue inc. Garage Redmond inc. Gestion SIM inc. Les Images Turbo inc. Les Productions Horticoles Demers inc. Menuiserox inc. Métal Bernard inc. Quartz Industrie inc. Structures AmeriCan Industries inc. Funds committed but not disbursed 66 2007 ANNUAL REPORT Equity Interest of the Fund % Shares and Units $ Loans and Advances $ Total $ 200 50 150 387 1,242 92 100 550 611 801 146 6,018 92 100 550 811 851 296 387 7,260 50 418 283 50 14 815 145 61 300 193 220 150 189 300 1,000 100 129 2,787 50 563 344 300 193 270 14 150 189 300 1,000 100 129 3,602 200 3,802 150 460 610 34 147 67 155 130 360 310 300 142 250 1,237 133 205 3,470 34 147 67 155 130 360 310 300 142 400 460 1,237 133 205 4,080 200 4,280 99.9 99.9 Information from Annual Financial Report dated Equity Interest of the Fund % 03-31-07 Fonds régional de solidarité Côte-Nord, société en commandite 2947-5399 Québec inc. (Boutique Mobilité B-C) 6328989 Canada inc. et Boudreau Électrique ltée 9031-9898 Québec inc. (Micro Experts Canada) 9058-2222 Québec inc. (Club Cap Natashquan) Air Saguenay (1980) inc. Croisière 2001 inc. Équipement et Outillage Côte-Nord inc. Gestion S.S.G. inc. Hôtel du Havre inc. Lajoie Réfrigération inc. Les Pétroles Paul Larouche inc. Maintenance Sept-îles inc. Pec-Nord inc. Rechapage Longue-Rive inc. Ressources Metco inc. Scierie Norbois inc. 03-31-07 Fonds régional de solidarité Estrie, société en commandite Ani-Mat inc. Beckwith Bemis inc. Café Faro inc. Caoutchouc Pro-Flex inc. Fontaine-Alliance inc. Gestion Pro-Conversion inc. GPM Ripe inc., Les Entreprises Martin Lajeunesse inc. et 6458408 Canada inc. Groupe Lachar inc. Kemestrie inc. Les Industries Touch inc. Motrec inc. Polycor inc. Remises Réal Lamontagne inc. Signalisation de l’Estrie inc. Stedfast inc. Tekna Systèmes Plasma inc. Funds committed but not disbursed 99.9 99.9 Shares and Units $ Loans and Advances $ Total $ 78 433 100 25 125 300 150 602 1,813 164 678 96 33 17 300 3 95 264 87 121 58 1,916 164 678 96 111 433 117 325 125 3 95 264 87 300 121 150 660 3,729 1 367 416 400 389 500 367 416 400 389 500 1 600 211 812 750 500 670 185 383 650 875 440 6,525 750 500 600 670 185 211 383 650 875 440 7,337 1,150 8,487 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 67 List of inv estments at cost made by the s pecialty funds ( u n a u d i t e d ) ( c o n t i n u e d ) As at May 31, 2007 (In thousands) Information from Annual Financial Report dated Equity Interest of the Fund % 03-31-07 Fonds régional de solidarité Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine, société en commandite 9011-6641 Québec inc. (Riôtel Percé) 9089-9238 Québec inc. (Pétoncles 2000) Atkins et frères inc. B.M.B. (Îles-de-la-Madeleine) inc. Construction L.F.G. inc. Fabrication Delta inc. Gaspésie Diésel inc. Junex inc. Les entreprises Léo Leblanc & fils inc. Les Moules de Culture des îles inc. Les Reboiseurs de la Péninsule inc. Madelimer inc. Pêcheries Vilo inc. Philippe Day inc. Serres Jardins-Nature inc. 03-31-07 Fonds régional de solidarité Île de Montréal, société en commandite BGT Biographic Technologies inc. Cardianove inc. Dynamiques Cowan inc. Dynapix Intelligence Imaging inc. Ferox inc. Groupe de mode Inizio inc. Impression Paragraph inc. Les Industries Flexipak inc. Niram-Fab inc. Prochaps équipement équestre inc. Serti informatique inc. Unitrail inc. 03-31-07 Fonds régional de solidarité Lanaudière, société en commandite 2954-7490 Québec inc. (Excel Technologies) 2973-8648 Québec inc. (Le Groupe R.G.F.M.) 9111-5675 Québec inc. et Écono-Porte inc. 9177-0651 Québec inc. (Enceintes acoustiques Unisson) Centre de transformation de véhicules Lanaudière inc. Champions Consultants inc. Les Emballages Trium inc. Les Industries Harnois inc. Triotech Amusement inc. 68 2007 ANNUAL REPORT Shares and Units $ Loans and Advances $ Total $ 99.9 33 176 524 213 61 60 157 15 278 1,517 250 64 129 300 731 282 25 443 177 250 2,651 250 97 176 524 129 300 731 213 282 61 85 600 15 177 528 4,168 722 488 1,210 43 70 250 190 300 181 150 250 213 200 1,847 43 722 70 250 190 300 488 181 150 250 213 200 3,057 71 75 12 158 77 461 60 25 215 15 200 230 84 1,367 148 461 60 25 215 90 200 242 84 1,525 99.9 99.9 Information from Annual Financial Report dated Equity Interest of the Fund % 03-31-07 Fonds régional de solidarité Laurentides, société en commandite 119803 Canada inc. (BMI Canada) 2959-8828 Québec inc. (Palettes St-Janvier) Aéroport International de Mont-Tremblant inc. Boulangerie Les Moulins La Fayette inc. Centre d’équipement orthopédique St-Eustache inc. Complexe Hôtelier St-Jovite/Mont-Tremblant inc. Fondrinor inc. et Fonderie des Appalaches inc. Groupe Star Suites inc. La Petite Bretonne inc. Le Groupe Logitrans inc. Le Maître Saladier inc. Les Entreprises d’hôtellerie Duquette inc. Motorisés Star Suites inc. Papiers Domco inc. et 9115-1589 Québec inc. Placements les Mélèzes inc. Placements Yves St-Onge inc. Service Alimentaire Desco inc. Ventilex inc. Vision Villégiature inc. Funds committed but not disbursed 03-31-07 Fonds régional de solidarité Laval, société en commandite 6545921 Canada inc. (Les Bouteilles Recyclées du Québec (B.R.Q.)) Aliments Imex inc. et 4169794 Canada inc. Auvents Multiples (2002) inc. CVC / RDS inc. et 9136-7748 Québec inc. Europe Cosmétiques inc., Europelab inc. et 4190777 Canada inc. Globale Géomatique inc. Gomark Corp. Le Paradis des Orchidées inc. Les Bouteilles Recyclées du Québec (B.R.Q.) inc. Les Productions Diamant ltée S.R.A.D. Communications inc., 9047-6227 Québec inc., Basicom inc., Gestion Lessard Samson inc. et Numéricom inc. Stylo Bankers (1991) inc. 03-31-07 Fonds régional de solidarité Mauricie, société en commandite Concept Éco-Plein-Air Le Baluchon inc. Produits Pylex inc., Pylex International inc. et 9143-8010 Québec inc. Tuyauterie Borgia ltée Shares and Units $ Loans and Advances $ Total $ 99.9 99.9 250 750 300 1,300 108 417 250 303 313 587 218 165 333 83 73 124 47 180 1,300 500 417 5,418 108 417 250 553 313 750 587 218 165 333 83 73 124 47 180 1,300 500 417 300 6,718 400 7,118 1 100 70 1,000 316 1,520 163 441 338 102 11 490 1 316 1,620 163 441 338 102 81 1,000 490 220 475 4,076 220 475 5,247 500 533 1,033 672 500 533 1,705 1,171 99.9 672 672 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 69 List of inv estments at cost made by the s pecialty funds ( u n a u d i t e d ) ( c o n t i n u e d ) As at May 31, 2007 (In thousands) Information from Annual Financial Report dated Equity Interest of the Fund % 03-31-07 Fonds régional de solidarité Montérégie, société en commandite 3523462 Canada inc. (Délices de la forêt) Acier Picard inc. Atelier d’usinage Quenneville inc. Audisoft Technologie inc. Bousquet Frères Limitée, B.M.B. Technologie du bâtiment inc. et Technologies échangeurs gaz-air (TEGA) inc. Colorex inc. et 171279 Canada inc. Esthétique sans frontières inc., Distri-Pro inc. et 6257917 Canada inc. Geo-3D inc. Gestion Nouveau Départ inc. LC Média inc. Les armoires de cuisines Denis Couture (2002) inc. Les Brosses Lacasse inc. Les installations sportives Defargo inc. M.G.B. Électrique inc. et Gestion M.G.B. inc. Martin inc. Multi-Portions inc. Plombco inc. Réseau Telmatik inc. Secco Plastique inc. Service sérigraphique professionnel S.S.P. inc. Soya Excel inc. Techno P.O.S. inc. TelcoBridges inc. Transformateur Bemag inc. Transport Ray-Mont (1992) inc. Transport S.R.S. inc. et Les Placements Maudrey inc. Funds committed but not disbursed 03-31-07 Fonds régional de solidarité Nord-du-Québec, société en commandite Air Saguenay (1980) inc. Allégorie Marketing inc. Blais & Langlois inc. Cogitore Resources inc. Exploration Azimut inc. Exploration Dios inc. Forage Eenou inc. Les Consultants de l’Arctique inc. Les Ressources d’Arianne inc. Lucien Senneville (2002) inc. Mines Virginia inc. Pourvoirie Mirage inc. Ressources Beaufield inc. Ressources Everton inc. Ressources Metco inc. Ressources MSV inc. Ressources Sirios inc. 70 2007 ANNUAL REPORT Shares and Units $ Loans and Advances $ Total $ 99.9 725 400 67 310 400 67 310 725 290 250 195 375 1,835 900 130 925 29 225 460 324 353 700 233 224 483 151 102 213 68 500 300 117 500 550 8,264 900 130 925 29 225 750 324 353 700 233 224 250 483 151 102 213 263 500 675 117 500 550 10,099 300 10,399 433 135 130 135 93 91 390 218 114 101 96 82 300 110 100 165 340 667 433 82 300 135 130 135 110 100 93 165 91 730 218 114 101 667 96 99.9 Information from Annual Financial Report dated Equity Interest of the Fund % 03-31-07 Fonds régional de solidarité Nord-du-Québec, société en commandite (continued) Ressources Strateco inc. St-Félicien Diesel (1988) inc. Superior Diamonds inc. 03-31-07 Fonds régional de solidarité Outaouais, société en commandite 3484734 Canada inc. (Les Pâtisseries de l’Outaouais) 9052-2756 Québec inc. (ProVance Technologies) Aupel inc. et Reliure Unirel inc. Cactus Commerce inc. Corporation EEDO Knowledgeware iMPath Networks inc. Les Aliments Chebly inc. Multicorpora R&D inc. ProVance Technologies inc. Restaurations Sélect inc. et Steamatic of Ottawa-Carleton Ltd Services de Pneus Lavoie Outaouais inc. SiteBrand.com inc. SolaCom Technologies inc. Tomoye Corporation Zeligsoft inc. Funds committed but not disbursed 03-31-07 Fonds régional de solidarité Québec, société en commandite 9099-7768 Québec inc. (E.B.M. Laser) Aéro Technique Canadien R.M. inc. Aventures Norpaq inc. Connexion Technic inc. Corporation Eatsleepmusic.com DK-SPEC inc. Gentec Électro-Optique inc. Groupe C.D.P. inc. et Transport C.D.P. inc. Groupe Qualinet inc. Les Vêtements Perlimpinpin inc. Load Systems International inc. Métafab (1996) inc. Mode Avalanche inc. Novik inc. Polycor inc. Pro Aviation inc. Réfrigération Noël inc. et 2422-8827 Québec inc. Savard Ortho confort inc. et Gestion Anira inc. Service Acier Inoxydable C. inc. Systèmes de Rechapage Ardon Canada inc. Systèmes Pran inc. Usital Canada inc. Funds committed but not disbursed 99.9 99.9 Shares and Units $ Loans and Advances $ Total $ 14 131 2,081 459 2,223 14 459 131 4,304 250 1,000 550 926 750 500 500 550 1,250 6,276 83 231 500 500 250 750 450 457 500 200 3,921 83 250 231 1,500 500 550 250 926 1,500 450 457 500 1,000 750 1,250 10,197 100 10,297 200 150 150 460 150 400 100 319 208 307 190 200 300 3,134 69 220 600 165 1,619 426 93 367 400 187 383 417 500 294 67 240 6,047 269 150 150 220 460 750 565 1,619 426 193 367 400 319 187 208 307 383 417 500 484 267 540 9,181 200 9,381 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 71 List of inv estments at cost made by the s pecialty funds ( u n a u d i t e d ) ( c o n t i n u e d ) As at May 31, 2007 (In thousands) Information from Annual Financial Report dated 03-31-07 Fonds régional de solidarité Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, société en commandite 2861-0467 Québec inc. (Notre Hôtel) 9052-0651 Québec inc. (Logistik 22) Air Saguenay (1980) inc. Cam-Trac Sag-Lac inc. Centre de Suspension des Routiers inc. Excavation Michel Paradis inc. Gro-Mec inc. Groupe E.D.S. inc. Industrie Bois Lamontagne inc. Isumi Précision ltée Les Canneberges St-Augustin inc. Les Jardins du Saguenay inc. Les Pétroles R.L. inc. Les Placements G.M.R. Maltais inc. Les Séchoirs Ste-Monique inc. Nolicam Location de camions inc. Novabrik International inc. Oxygène Dolbeau inc. Pétrolex St-Félicien inc. Précicast ltée Remac innovateurs industriels inc. Scierie Thomas-Louis Tremblay inc. SCP 89 inc. Société de gestion Trois-Trois-Trois inc. Tuyauterie LG. 4 inc. 11-30-06 Garage Technologie Capital-Risque Canada, s.e.c. No investment 12-31-06 Le Fonds Entrepia Nord, s.e.c. Achronix Semiconductor Corporation ArchPro Design Automation, inc. Aura Communications Technology, inc. Business Search Technologies Corporation Corporation Vantrix HelloSoft, inc. Net Intégration Technologies (Québec) inc. NetContinuum, inc. SolVision inc. StrataLight Communications, inc. World Wide Packets, inc. 72 2007 ANNUAL REPORT Equity Interest of the Fund % Shares and Units $ Loans and Advances $ Total $ 99.9 40.0 260 75 433 300 58 242 345 460 900 559 297 350 4,279 96 54 9 221 392 546 150 403 85 158 600 246 903 375 389 500 195 88 351 2,100 58 7,919 356 129 433 309 221 392 546 150 403 58 327 158 600 591 903 835 1,289 500 195 647 351 2,100 297 350 58 12,198 1,154 1,384 1,384 1,541 1,384 1,038 1,422 760 2,077 2,105 14,249 123 1,384 1,384 2,891 1,154 1,384 1,507 1,541 1,384 1,038 1,384 1,422 2,144 2,077 2,105 17,140 36.2 Information from Annual Financial Report dated Equity Interest of the Fund % 12-31-06 MDS Fonds de technologie des sciences de la vie II Québec société en commandite ActivBiotics, inc. Alexza Molecular Delivery Corp. Alveolus inc. Archemix Corp. Guava Technologies, inc. KAI Pharmaceuticals inc. Mako Surgical Corp. Médical Resonant inc. Morphotek, inc. Pharmasset inc. RenaMed Biologics inc. Replidyne inc. Saegis Pharmaceuticals inc. Spinal Kinetics inc. TransMolecular, inc. U-Systems, inc. 12-31-06 Novacap II, société en commandite Corporation de Développement MCL inc. Corporation de Développement Tradition inc. Corporation Développement Knowlton inc. Développement Demers Ambulances inc. Groupe CorActive inc. Groupe Emballages Rosmar inc. Groupe Royal Mat inc. Holding LiquidXStream inc. Les Systèmes LiquidXStream inc. Octasic inc. Paul Demers & Fils inc. Pneumat inc. Royal Mat inc. Ryma Solutions Technologiques inc. Scies B.G.R. inc. Tenrox inc. ViXS Systems inc. Novacap Industries III, s.e.c. First fiscal year Novacap Technologies III, s.e.c. First fiscal year Shares and Units $ Loans and Advances $ Total $ 90.9 9.6 10.0 1,858 783 2,005 1,201 1,053 1,617 1,317 1,172 2,057 2,063 1,418 1,850 1,211 1,825 872 295 22,597 — 1,858 783 2,005 1,201 1,053 1,617 1,317 1,172 2,057 2,063 1,418 1,850 1,211 1,825 872 295 22,597 970 11,250 23,284 4,644 2,000 1,119 680 100 1,340 2,987 2,593 4,578 6,819 62,364 18,950 2,250 11,127 26,868 15,400 2,328 7,390 1,000 1,500 400 87,213 19,920 13,500 34,411 4,644 2,000 27,987 16,080 100 2,328 8,730 1,000 1,500 400 2,987 2,593 4,578 6,819 149,577 8.0 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 73 List of inv estments at cost made by the s pecialty funds ( u n a u d i t e d ) ( c o n t i n u e d ) As at May 31, 2007 (In thousands) Information from Annual Financial Report dated 12-31-06 ProQuest Investments III, L.P. Agile Therapeutics, inc. Aires Pharmaceuticals, inc. BioSyntech, inc. Cadence Pharmaceuticals, inc. Cytogen Corporation Gloucester Pharmaceuticals inc. Mersana Therapeutics, inc. MethylGene, inc. NovaDel Pharma inc. Palkion, inc. Sopherion Therapeutics, inc. Tragara Pharm, inc. Ziopharm Oncology, inc. ProQuest Investments IV, L.P. First fiscal year 12-31-06 Rho Canada Capital de Risque, s.e.c. AlleWin Technologies inc. HR Alloy (USA), inc. Lasers Pyrophotonics inc. Funds committed but not disbursed 12-31-05 Rho Fund Investors 2005, L.P. Columbia Capital Equity Partners IV (QP), L.P. HealthCare Ventures VIII, L.P. Funds committed but not disbursed 03-31-07 SIDEX, société en commandite Canadian mining companies securities 12-31-06 Soccrent 2006, société en commandite 2064812 Canada inc. (Groupe Spectal-Spectube) 2846-3065 Québec inc. (Giroux-Maçonnex) 3886298 Canada inc. (Usine de congélation de Newport) 9120-7993 Québec inc. (Groupe Sotrem-Maltech) 9143-8945 Québec inc. (Giroux-Maçonnex) Bleuetière Nord-Est inc. Dynaplast Extruco inc. Industries Spectal inc. Intercalaire Inex inc. Les Conseillers Trigone inc. Les Consultants Olympe inc. Les Fruits Bleus inc. Les Industries G.R.C. inc. Les Ressources d’Arianne inc. Novabrik International inc. 74 2007 ANNUAL REPORT Equity Interest of the Fund % Shares and Units $ Loans and Advances $ Total $ 5.0 3.3 6,992 3,496 6,093 14,064 5,720 8,157 3,787 8,049 5,408 725 5,826 5,827 74,144 2,816 3,496 6,312 6,992 3,496 6,093 14,064 5,720 10,973 3,787 8,049 5,408 725 5,826 3,496 5,827 80,456 713 723 2,598 4,034 — 713 723 2,598 4,034 1,216 5,250 557 66 623 — 557 66 623 28,063 28,686 16,311 16,311 510 510 16,821 16,821 7,271 43 595 3,199 2,316 149 1,081 111 89 6,795 682 105 259 30.9 9.2 30.0 30.0 100 54 100 270 250 124 157 222 7,371 97 595 3,199 2,316 100 419 250 1,081 235 246 6,795 682 105 481 Information from Annual Financial Report dated 12-31-06 Soccrent 2006, société en commandite (continued) Produits Alba inc. Services Nolitrex inc. Société Partition Manufacturiers Associés (PMA) inc. 12-31-06 Société en commandite AgeChem No investment 12-31-06 Société en commandite GeneChem Thérapeutique Aégera Thérapeutique inc. Ambit Biosciences Corp. Argos Therapeutics, inc. Avalon Pharmaceuticals, inc. BioVex Ltd Chromos Molecular Systems inc. Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals inc. Kiadis Pharma Canada inc. Koronis Pharmaceuticals inc. LymphoSign inc. Osprey Pharmaceuticals Limited Paratek Pharmaceuticals, inc. Scion Pharmaceuticals inc. Xanthus Life Sciences inc. Funds committed but not disbursed 08-31-06 SOLIDEQ, société en commandite SOLIDE Ahuntsic-Cartierville SOLIDE Centre-Sud/Plateau-Mont-Royal SOLIDE Chibougamau SOLIDE Côte-des-Neiges/Notre-Dame-de-Grâce SOLIDE de Gatineau SOLIDE de la Basse Côte-Nord Kégaska-Blanc-Sablon SOLIDE de la MRC d’Abitibi SOLIDE de la MRC d’Abitibi-Ouest SOLIDE de la MRC d’Acton SOLIDE de la MRC d’Argenteuil SOLIDE de la MRC d’Avignon SOLIDE de la MRC de Beauce-Sartigan SOLIDE de la MRC de Beauharnois-Salaberry SOLIDE de la MRC de Bécancour SOLIDE de la MRC de Bellechasse SOLIDE de la MRC de Bonaventure SOLIDE de la MRC de Caniapiscau SOLIDE de la MRC de Charlevoix SOLIDE de la MRC de Charlevoix-Est SOLIDE de la MRC d’Autray SOLIDE de la MRC de Desjardins SOLIDE de la MRC de Drummond SOLIDE de la MRC de Francheville Equity Interest of the Fund % 30.5 Shares and Units $ Loans and Advances $ Total $ 1,692 644 25,031 13 1,290 1,692 644 13 26,321 5,071 3,626 3,133 6,652 6,869 4,460 5,521 4,893 4,492 7,139 3,055 4,784 3,353 6,594 69,642 245 321 2,121 2,687 5,071 3,626 3,378 6,652 7,190 4,460 5,521 4,893 4,492 7,139 5,176 4,784 3,353 6,594 72,329 1,398 73,727 10 10 5 10 10 10 169 10 10 20 130 225 10 95 30 10 10 55 202 10 10 310 250 10 10 5 10 10 10 169 10 10 20 130 225 10 95 30 10 10 55 202 10 10 310 250 11.0 99.9 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 75 List of inv estments at cost made by the s pecialty funds ( u n a u d i t e d ) ( c o n t i n u e d ) As at May 31, 2007 (In thousands) Information from Annual Financial Report dated 08-31-06 SOLIDEQ, société en commandite (continued) SOLIDE de la MRC de Joliette SOLIDE de la MRC de la Côte-de-Beaupré SOLIDE de la MRC de la Haute-Côte-Nord SOLIDE de la MRC de la Jacques-Cartier SOLIDE de la MRC de la Matapédia SOLIDE de la MRC de la Mitis SOLIDE de la MRC de la Nouvelle-Beauce SOLIDE de la MRC de la Rivière-du-Nord SOLIDE de la MRC de la Vallée-du-Richelieu SOLIDE de la MRC de Lac-Saint-Jean-Est SOLIDE de la MRC de l’Amiante SOLIDE de la MRC de l’Île d’Orléans SOLIDE de la MRC de L’Islet SOLIDE de la MRC de Lotbinière SOLIDE de la MRC de Maria-Chapdelaine SOLIDE de la MRC de Maskinongé SOLIDE de la MRC de Matane SOLIDE de la MRC de Mékinac SOLIDE de la MRC de Memphrémagog SOLIDE de la MRC de Minganie SOLIDE de la MRC de Montmagny SOLIDE de la MRC de Nicolet-Yamaska SOLIDE de la MRC de Pontiac SOLIDE de la MRC de Rimouski-Neigette SOLIDE de la MRC de Rivière-du-Loup SOLIDE de la MRC de Roussillon SOLIDE de la MRC de Sept-Rivières SOLIDE de la MRC de Témiscamingue SOLIDE de la MRC de Vaudreuil-Soulanges SOLIDE de la MRC des Basques SOLIDE de la MRC des Collines-de-l’Outaouais SOLIDE de la MRC des Etchemins SOLIDE de la MRC des Îles-de-la-Madeleine SOLIDE de la MRC des Jardins-de-Napierville SOLIDE de la MRC des Laurentides SOLIDE de la MRC des Pays-d’en-haut SOLIDE de la MRC du Bas-Richelieu SOLIDE de la MRC du Domaine-du-Roy SOLIDE de la MRC du Fjord-du-Saguenay SOLIDE de la MRC du Haut-Saint-François SOLIDE de la MRC du Rocher-Percé SOLIDE de la MRC du Val-Saint-François SOLIDE de la MRC Le Centre-de-la-Mauricie SOLIDE de la MRC Les Maskoutains SOLIDE de la Ville de Longueuil SOLIDE de Laval SOLIDE de Lebel-sur-Quévillon SOLIDE de l’Est de la Ville de Québec SOLIDE de Lévis SOLIDE de l’Ouest de la ville de Québec SOLIDE de Matagami 76 2007 ANNUAL REPORT Equity Interest of the Fund % Shares and Units $ Loans and Advances $ 10 112 10 10 40 112 25 110 250 92 425 10 10 180 250 60 470 370 250 10 60 50 10 85 10 125 185 10 223 10 10 92 99 10 10 110 110 270 165 100 10 10 90 40 325 80 5 10 100 5 5 Total $ 10 112 10 10 40 112 25 110 250 92 425 10 10 180 250 60 470 370 250 10 60 50 10 85 10 125 185 10 223 10 10 92 99 10 10 110 110 270 165 100 10 10 90 40 325 80 5 10 100 5 5 Information from Annual Financial Report dated 08-31-06 SOLIDEQ, société en commandite (continued) SOLIDE de Mercier/Hochelaga-Maisonneuve SOLIDE de Rosemont/Petite-Patrie SOLIDE de Villeray/St-Michel/Parc-Extension SOLIDE du Centre de la ville de Québec SOLIDE du Sud-Ouest de Montréal SOLIDE Rivière-des-Prairies/Pointe-aux-Trembles SOLIDE Ville-Marie Funds committed but not disbursed 12-31-06 VantagePoint Venture Partners 2006 (Q), L.P. Chemrec AB Cobalt Technologies, inc. I/PRO Corporation Mascoma Corporation VantagePoint International SRL VP Alpha 2006, L.L.C. Zvents, inc. Vertex III (C.I.) Fund, LP First fiscal year 12-31-06 Vimac Early Stage Fund L.P. Atlantis Components, inc. Corporation DataCom Wireless GEOCOMtms, inc. iMPath Networks inc. Megawheels Technologies inc. MessageOne inc. Natural Convergence, inc. Net Integration Technologies inc. Pragmatech Software, inc. Seniorlink inc. Signiant inc. Spectalis Corp. TKS, inc. webHancer Corp. Equity Interest of the Fund % 2.0 5.8 Shares and Units $ Loans and Advances $ Total $ — 10 177 10 10 115 140 10 7,313 10 177 10 10 115 140 10 7,313 16,162 23,475 1,641 1,748 2,331 3,496 3,059 2,335 5,477 20,087 — 1,641 1,748 2,331 3,496 3,059 2,335 5,477 20,087 7,265 1,600 2,324 951 4,103 1,698 3,884 574 3,653 6,678 5,028 3,081 9,336 84 50,259 100 50 43 15 208 7,265 1,700 2,324 1,001 4,146 1,698 3,884 574 3,653 6,693 5,028 3,081 9,336 84 50,467 9.4 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 77 List of inv estments at cost made by the s pecialty funds ( u n a u d i t e d ) ( c o n t i n u e d ) As at May 31, 2007 (In thousands) Information from Annual Financial Report dated Equity Interest of the Fund % 12-31-06 Fonds immobilier du Fonds de solidarité FTQ inc. 100.0 875 Charest s.e.c. Bio Sherbrooke Phase I s.e.c. Brossard-sur-le-Fleuve s.e.c. Centre de développement des Biotechnologies de Laval s.e.c. Condominiums Le George V s.e.c. Côte de Terrebonne s.e.c. Développements Wilfrid-Carrier s.e.c. Les Condos Laurin/St-Louis s.e.c. Montée des Pionniers Phase I s.e.c. Montée des Pionniers Phase II s.e.c. SEC Laurin/St-Louis Société en commandite 1111 Saint-Laurent Société en commandite 668 De Courcelle Société en commandite Angus s.e.c. Phase II Société en commandite Bourassa-Pelletier Société en commandite C.V.L. Société en commandite Château Hymus Société en commandite Clairevue Société en commandite Condos Laurin St-Louis Société en commandite Édifice Le Soleil Société en commandite Héritage Pointe-Claire Société en commandite Le Sanctuaire de la Rive Société en commandite Rose de Lima Société en commandite Viau Ontario Total funds disbursed by the Partnership for these investments is $168,335,773. 12-31-06 Société en commandite immobilière Solim 99.9 C.C.L. II, Société en commandite C.C.L. Société en commandite Centre de Ressources du Parc Technologique du Québec Métropolitain inc. Édifice 255 Saint-Jacques Société en commandite Édifice 261 Saint-Jacques Société en commandite La société en commandite Godefroy de Lintôt Société en commandite Alphonse T. Lépine Société en commandite Claude Baillif Société en commandite de La Dauversière Société en commandite Inspecteur-William Société en commandite Les Tours des Terrasses du Golf Société en commandite Milton Société en commandite Place Dunant Terrains de stationnement de Montréal Total funds disbursed by the Partnership for these investments is $23,962,437. 78 2007 ANNUAL REPORT Share in Real Estate Property and Property Under Development $ 2,702 13,547 10,876 16,975 8,242 2,588 8,442 21,343 2,257 4,264 6,918 2,776 1,024 33,698 18,873 3,210 13,570 504 627 26,030 16,766 1,192 6,666 9,141 232,231 1,615 1,306 2,700 968 2,023 516 1,729 3,511 6,551 3,990 238 2,037 2,393 3,524 33,101 Information from Annual Financial Report dated Equity Interest of the Fund % 12-31-06 Société en commandite immobilière Solim II 99.9 Hôtel Particulier : Le Ste-Hélène s.e.c. Immeuble 9001 L’Acadie, Société en commandite Société en commandite 75 boulevard Québec Société en commandite African Société en commandite Cavelier de LaSalle Société en commandite CDTI de Hull Société en commandite du 1400 Société en commandite JBSL Société en commandite Mansfield Société en commandite RMI Trois A, Société en commandite Total funds disbursed by the Partnership for these investments is $20,564,162. Share in Real Estate Property and Property Under Development $ 2,672 11,327 1,006 871 6,013 1,458 1,802 3,606 2,047 216 2,718 33,736 This unaudited list provides details of the investments made by the specialty funds in which the Fonds de solidarité des travailleurs du Québec (F.T.Q.) has invested more than $10,000,000. 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 79 F ondation de la formation économique du F onds de solidarité des travailleurs du Qué bec (F.T.Q.) Auditors’ R eport To the Directors of the Fondation de la formation économique du Fonds de solidarité des travailleurs du Québec (F.T.Q.) We have audited the statements of financial position of the Fondation de la formation économique du Fonds de solidarité des travailleurs du Québec (F.T.Q.) as at May 31, 2007 and 2006 and the statements of operations and changes in net assets for the years then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Fondation’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform an audit to obtain reasonable assurance whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. In our opinion, these financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fondation as at May 31, 2007 and 2006, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles. Samson Bélair/Deloitte & Touche s.e.n.c.r.l. Chartered accountants Montréal, June 21, 2007 80 2007 ANNUAL REPORT Statements of F inancial Position As at May 31 Assets Current assets Cash Accounts receivable 233,136 286,600 519,736 293,999 159,559 453,558 Investments (Note 3) Capital assets (Note 4) 5,157,516 3,158 5,680,410 5,125,137 3,947 5,582,642 Liabilities Current liabilities Accounts payable and accrued expenses Fonds de solidarité des travailleurs du Québec (F. T.Q.) Other 358,643 111,762 470,405 223,432 149,205 372,637 Loan – Fonds de solidarité des travailleurs du Québec (F. T.Q.) (Note 5) 5,000,000 5,470,405 5,000,000 5,372,637 Net assets Net assets invested in capital assets Unrestricted net assets 3,158 206,847 210,005 5,680,410 3,947 206,058 210,005 5,582,642 2007 $ 2006 $ The accompanying notes form an integral part of these financial statements. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Denis Leclerc, Director 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 81 F ondation de la formation économique du F onds de solidarité des travailleurs du Qué bec (F.T.Q.) ( c o n t i n u e d ) Statements of Operations For the years ended May 31 Revenues Financial contributions Interest Fonds de solidarité des travailleurs du Québec (F.T.Q.) Government agency and other bonds Other Expenses Education and training expenses Education and training – enterprises Education and training – other Administrative expenses Salaries and benefits Rent and occupancy costs Advertising and information Professional fees Travel and entertainment Office supplies Education and training Amortization of capital assets Financing costs Interest on loan (Note 5) Fonds de solidarité des travailleurs du Québec (F. T.Q.) Excess of revenues over expenses The accompanying notes form an integral part of these financial statements. 82 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 2007 $ 2006 $ 921,914 868,594 122,957 141,391 26,066 1,159,008 765,735 19,658 785,393 713,241 73,701 786,942 48,202 10,920 2,033 70,122 6,089 4,364 — 789 142,519 42,281 10,920 — 72,822 5,130 3,539 2,520 987 138,199 233,867 1,159,008 — 121,512 149,232 19,562 1,212,220 284,308 1,212,220 — Statements of Ch ang es in Net Assets For the years ended May 31 2007 Balance at beginning of year Excess of revenues over expenses (expenses over revenues) Balance at end of year 2006 Balance at beginning of year Excess of revenues over expenses (expenses over revenues) Balance at end of year Net assets invested in Unrestricted net assets capital assets $ $ Total $ 3,947 206,058 210,005 (789) 3,158 789 206,847 — 210,005 4,934 205,071 210,005 (987) 3,947 987 206,058 — 210,005 The accompanying notes form an integral part of these financial statements. 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 83 F ondation de la formation économique du F onds de solidarité des travailleurs du Qué bec (F.T.Q.) ( c o n t i n u e d ) N otes to th e F inancial Statements As at May 31, 2007 and 2006 1. I ncorporation and nature of operations The Fondation is incorporated under Part III of the Québec Companies Act. The main purpose of the Fondation is to collect and manage financial contributions from various social and economic groups in order to promote the education and economic training of the working people of Québec. 2 . S ignificant accounting policies Measurement of investments The demand promissory note is recorded at cost and its fair value approximates its carrying amount since the interest rate it bears is equivalent to the rate the Fondation would receive on investments with similar terms and conditions and maturity. Bonds are recorded at unamortized cost and valued based on prices at market close. Capital assets Office furniture and equipment are stated at cost and amortized over their estimated useful life using the diminishing balance method and a rate of 20.0%. Revenue recognition Premiums and discounts Premiums and discounts on fixed-term investments are amortized as revenue using the effective interest method up to their maturity date. Financial contributions Financial contributions are recognized as revenue when received or receivable if the amount can be reasonably estimated and collection is reasonably assured. 3. I n vestments Demand promissory note of Fonds de solidarité des travailleurs du Québec (F.T.Q.), at cost Government agency bonds, at unamortized cost Accrued interest 2007 $ 2,673,548 2,425,288 5,098,836 58,680 5,157,516 2006 $ 2,602,035 2,464,422 5,066,457 58,680 5,125,137 Interest on the promissory note, renewed monthly at a variable rate, is based on the rate of return of Other investments of the Fonds de solidarité des travailleurs du Québec (F.T.Q.). As at May 31, 2007, the interest rate was 4.75% (4.5% in 2006) and the interest amounted to $121,512 ($122,957 in 2006). The average interest rate for the year was 4.58% (4.84% in 2006). The government agency bonds, which had average nominal rates and yields to maturity of 8.23% and 5.52%, respectively, in 2007 (8.23% and 5.49% respectively, in 2006) mature on various dates between 2012 and 2035. As at May 31, 2007, the fair value of the bonds was $2,634,577 ($2,633,470 in 2006). 84 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 4 . C ap ital assets Cost $ 2007 Office furniture and equipment 19,092 2006 Office furniture and equipment 19,092 Accumulated amortization $ Net book value $ 15,934 15,145 3,158 3,947 5 . Loan – F onds de solidarité des travailleurs du Qué bec (F.T.Q.) The loan from Fonds de solidarité des travailleurs du Québec (F.T.Q.) is repayable on demand and bears an interest rate equal to the Laurentian Bank prime rate, as determined from time to time, plus two percent (2%). At no point should the payment of such interest cause expenses to exceed revenues. 6 . F inancial instruments Given the short-term maturity of these financial instruments, the fair value of cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable and accrued expenses approximates their carrying amount. The fair value of the loan cannot be determined as it has no fixed repayment terms. 7. C ash flows No statements of cash flows were prepared since the required information on cash flows is available from other financial statements and notes thereto. 8 . R elated party transactions The Fonds de solidarité des travailleurs du Québec (F.T.Q.) appoints the Directors of the Fondation and manages the Fondation’s investments. The majority of the expenses incurred and other revenues earned by the Fondation stem from transactions with the Fonds de solidarité des travailleurs du Québec (F.T.Q.). These transactions are measured at the exchange amount, which represents the consideration established and agreed to by the related parties. 9. comparati ve figures Certain comparative figures have been reclassified to conform with the current year’s presentation. 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 85 G lossary Appreciation (depreciation) Appreciation (depreciation) is the increase (decrease) of the value of an asset or a portfolio in relation to its reference value. Average assets (or average net assets) Total of the averages of assets (or average net assets) of the beginning and end of each six-month period, divided by two. Assets under management and average assets under management Assets under management refers to the fair value of the assets managed by the investment and other investments sectors and used to generate income for the Fund. The average assets under management are calculated by adding the average assets at the beginning and end of each six-month period and dividing by two. Derivative financial instrument or derivative product Financial instrument whose price or return is tied to an underlying product. The most common derivative instruments are swaps, forwards, futures and options. Derivative instruments are used to limit market risk and to preserve asset value, to facilitate changes in asset allocation, to manage an indexed strategy for part of the portfolio, to facilitate portfolio management, and to improve returns within established risk limits. Direct jobs Jobs held by workers working directly in the Fund’s, the regional funds’, the local funds’ or the specialty funds’ partner companies or their subsidiaries. Disbursed funds Investments for which authorized, committed amounts were paid to a partner company. Disbursed funds exclude funds committed but not disbursed as well as guarantees and suretyships. Equity loan Unsecured loan of up to $2 million treated as quasi-equity by most financial institutions. This loan is offered with fixed or variable rate and does not require capital reimbursement for a period of 3 to 5 years. FIER Regional economic intervention fund (FIER) set up by the Government of Québec, the Solidarity Fund QFL, Fondaction and Desjardins. With a capitalization of $180 million, FIER is committed to creating sector-based and seed funds as well as financing structuring projects. Fixed-income security Security that pays a pre-determined fixed income until maturity. Fixed-income securities comprise bonds, mortgages, preferred shares and money market securities. Forward or futures contract Commitment to buy or sell a security (short term security, bond, share, stock index, currency) on a pre-determined date and price. Funds committed but not disbursed Investments agreed to by the Fund and for which the funds have been committed but not yet disbursed. Fund return Result of the calculation taking the average return of each asset class, weighted to account for their relative weight in relation to the average assets under management, less operating expenses, income taxes and capital tax expressed as a percentage of average net assets. Growth loan Unsecured loan of up to $500,000, available at any time, that is flexible, fast and easy to use since it only requires 15 business days to process. Offered at competitive rates, this loan is designed to increase working capital or to complete a financing phase. Hedge fund Investment fund with long and short positions on securities, markets, etc. These positions reflect the manager’s opinion on probable securities price or market trends. A fund of hedge funds is a fund mostly made up of investments in hedge funds. Hedging strategy Strategy used to reduce variations in the Fund’s return resulting from changes in interest rates, exchange rates or stock market prices. Income trust Legal structure allowing an enterprise to raise capital by publicly offering trust units. An income trust is a transfer mechanism generally structured so that its earnings are attributed to unitholders and the trust therefore does not pay income tax. However, the amounts attributed to unitholders are subject to income tax. It is important to note that the federal government announced on October 31, 2006 changes to the tax treatment of income trusts. Indirect jobs Jobs associated with economic spin-offs generated by partner companies located in Québec. The number of indirect jobs is calculated by taking the number of direct jobs, and applying a factor based on the co-efficient of indirect jobs by productive sector published by the Institut de la statistique du Québec. The factor depends on the industry in which the partner company operates. Induced jobs Jobs created, maintained or preserved as a result of spending by workers holding direct and indirect jobs. The calculation of consumer spending takes tax collection and the level of workers’ savings into account. The number of induced jobs is a function of personal disposable income spent, to which a ratio of 904 jobs for each $100 million is applied, based on the intersectoral model developed by the Institut de la statistique du Québec. 86 2007 ANNUAL REPORT Investment Acquisition of securities or commitment to acquire securities, generally from Québec SMEs, and purchased as part of the Fund’s mission. Most investments are eligible under the 60% rule set out in the Fund’s incorporating act. Limited partnership Partnership consisting of two types of partners: limited partners and a general partner. Only the general partner is authorized to manage and represent the partnership. As a director, the general partner’s liability is unlimited with regards to the partnership’s debts and obligations. Limited partners provide the capital required for the partnership to operate and are liable for its debts up to the amount committed and to be disbursed to the partnership. The limited partnership is a legal structure designed to meet specific needs and to separate investment from the partnership’s management. Local representative (LR) The Fund has created a network of LRs within the unions affiliated with the QFL (and in unions with which the Fund has concluded agreements) who work as volunteers to promote the Fund in their workplace. These LRs’ main task is to explain the Fund’s objectives and to promote share purchases by union members. Money market security Security with a pre-determined return that matures in less than one year. Easily marketable, and highly liquid, these securities include T-bills, bankers’ acceptances and commercial paper. Option Contract that gives the holder the right to buy or sell a security (short-term security, bond, share, stock index, currency and futures) at a pre-determined price. The seller or writer of the option must buy or sell the security if the option holder exercises his right. Other investments Invested capital consisting mainly of large-cap securities acquired on organized markets, i.e., money market securities, bonds, shares acquired as part of the sector-based strategy, funds of hedge funds and the high-revenue portfolio (preferred shares, high-dividend shares and income trust units). Overall financial assets management Financial asset management principle with the objective of diversifying the risks borne by the Fund while allowing it to fully achieve its mission. Private security Direct investment in an unlisted company or in a listed company whose stock price exceptionally does not reflect its fair value at the time of its valuation. Productivity loan Unsecured loan for a minimum of $2 million, offered at a competitive rate and designed to back companies with projects to improve productivity, set up or develop management information systems or set up systems to obtain and maintain certification or to achieve regulatory compliance. Swap Agreement used to exchange a security, an income or a currency for another security, income or currency at pre-determined conditions and for a given period. The parties sign an agreement that respects international standards for this type of transaction. Specialty or private fund Investment company in which the Fund invests as a limited partner or a shareholder. The company’s general partner or administrators manage the invested funds on behalf of the limited partners or shareholders. Trademark loan Unsecured loan for a minimum of $2 million offered at a competitive rate and aimed at helping companies maintain a trademark or prepare and implement a marketing plan. 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 87 B OARD O F D I RECT O RS As at May 31, 2007 FROM LEFT TO RIGHT MICHEL ARSENAULT F Director, United Steel Workers of America, and Vice-President of the QFL RÉJEAN PARENT President, Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ) LOUISE ST-CYR A, B Chairholder, Chair of Small and Medium-Sized Businesses, HEC Montréal RENÉ ROY A, C General Secretary, QFL, and Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Fund MICHEL POIRIER Québec Director, Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), and Vice-President of the QFL HENRI MASSÉ A, D President, QFL, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Fund YVON BOLDUC A, E President and Chief Executive Officer, Fonds de solidarité FTQ 88 2007 ANNUAL REPORT A B S E N T F R O M P H O T O, FROM TOP TO BOTTOM DENISE MARTIN A, B, D Vice-President and General Manager of McMahon Distributeur pharmaceutique inc., and Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors of the Fund JEAN LAVALLÉE General Director and Secretary of Finance, Inter-Provincial Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (FIPOE), and Vice-President of the QFL ROLAND ROBICHAUD B, E Corporate Director ALAIN deGRANDPRÉ President of Joint Council 91, Teamsters Canada, and Vice-President of the QFL PIERRE-MAURICE VACHON B, D Corporate Director JÉRÔME TURCQ Regional Executive Vice-President, Québec Region, Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), and Vice-President of the QFL RAYMOND FORGET E President, Québec Service Employee Union (QSEU), Local 298, and Vice-President of the QFL LOUIS BOLDUC D Québec Assistant to the Canadian Director, United Food and Commercial Workers International Union CLC, ASL-CIO, and Vice-President of the QFL LUC DESNOYERS Québec Director, National Automobile, Aerospace, Transportation and General Workers Union of Canada (CAW-Canada), and Vice-President of the QFL MICHEL OUIMET Executive Vice-President, Québec Region, Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada (CEP), and Vice-President of the QFL A Member of the Executive Committee B Member of the Audit Committee C Member of the Technology Investment Special Board D Member of the Turnaround SPECIAL BOARD E Member of the Financial Assets Management Committee F Member of the Mining Portfolio STEERING COMMITTEE MA N AGEME N T C O MM I TTEE As at May 31, 2007 FROM LEFT TO RIGHT GAÉTAN MORIN B Executive Vice-President, Investments JANIE C. BÉÏQUE Vice-President, Legal Affairs, and Corporate Secretary MARIO TREMBLAY Vice-President, Public Affairs and Communications YVON BOLDUC A, B President and CEO DANNY LE BRACEUR Vice-President, Human Resources DENIS LECLERC Executive Vice-President, Shareholder Services and President, Fondation de la formation économique A Member of the Executive Committee B Member of the Financial Assets Management Committee MICHEL PONTBRIAND B Executive Vice-President, Finance S P EC I AL B OARDS As at May 31, 2007 C O MM I TTEES As at May 31, 2007 UNION As at May 31, 2007 T echnology I n v estments F inancial A sset S M anagement C ommittee Unionized employees of the Solidarity Fund QFL are members of the Service Employees Union, Local 800 (QFL). Fund director and advisors René Roy (President), Jean Martin, Jean Perron Outside representatives J.V. Raymond Cyr, Chairman of the Board, Polyvalor Inc., and Corporate Director Fund directors, officers and advisor Yvon Bolduc (President), Raymond Forget, Pierre Genest, Gaétan Morin, Michel Pontbriand, Roland Robichaud EXECUTIVE COMMIT TEE Guy Trépanier, President Gilles Mourette, Senior Vice-President, Technologies, SSQ Groupe financier Outside representatives Marie-Claude Rouleau, First Vice-President Jacques Simard, Professor, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Laval University, and Director, Cancer Genomic Laboratory, CHUQ/CHUL Research Centre Michel Thérien, Strategic Advisor and Corporate Director Robert Charpentier, Second Vice-President Nycole Turmel, Corporate Director David Boucher, Treasurer André Monette, Management Advisor T urnaround Fund directors and advisor Henri Massé (President), Louis Bolduc, Denise Martin, Jean Martin, Pierre-Maurice Vachon Outside representative Michel M. Lessard, Corporate Director M ining Portfolio S teering C ommittee Director Michel Arsenault (President) Outside representatives Pierre Boudreault, Strategic Advisor Michel Gauthier, Strategic Advisor Julie Proulx, Secretary LABOUR COUNCIL A N D S H O P ST E WA R D S Louise Bergeron, Nathalie Bilodeau, Gilles de Montigny, Linda Di Quinzio, Michel Desjardins, Johanne Dupont, Daniel Gilbert, Jacques Grégoire Claude Grenier, Marie-Thérèse Hébert Valérie Morin, Michèle Péloquin, Danielle Pigeon, Pierre Thompson 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 89 P ERMA N E N T EM P L OYEES AS AT MAY 31, 2007 Nathalie Albert / Daniel Allaire / Claudette Allard / Jean Archambault / Luc Archambault / Dominique Arsenault / Pierre Arseneault / Danielle Asselin / Raynald Aubin / Louis Aubuchon / Danielle Auclair / Gilles Audette / Bruno Baril / Michel A. Bastien / Georges Bazinet / Annie Beaudry / Johanne Beauparlant / Rosage Beauzil / Monique Bédard / Steves Bégin / Janie C. Béïque / Nicole Béland / Christian Bélanger / Normand Bélanger / Suzanne Benoit / Louise Bergeron / Luc Bergeron / Marie Bergeron / Conrad Bernadel / Natacha Bernier / Délisca Berthelot / France Berthiaume / Josée Bilodeau / Nathalie Bilodeau / Nathalie Bilodeau / Pierre Blaising / Simon Blanchard / Josée Bolduc / Julie Bolduc / Yvon Bolduc / Philippe Bonin / Fabien Bouchard / David Boucher / André Bougie / Claudine Boulais / Normand Boulay / Daniel Bourcier / Sylvie Boutet / Charles Boutin / Guy Boutin / Jean-Claude Brault / Hélène Brien / Guylaine Brousseau / François Brulotte / François Caisse / Linda Call / Johanne Carignan / Lise Carignan / Hubert Carrier / Robert Charpentier / Frédérique Chatain-Collinet / Normand Chouinard / Marie-Claude Clermont / Mireille Cliche / Mathieu Cloutier / Richard Cloutier / Ina Corbin / Jean-Sébastien Cossette / Gilles Côté / Line Côté / Lise Côté / Michel Coulombe / Roland Courtois / Louise Cousineau / Manon Cousineau / Éric Coutu / Luc Couture / Guy Croteau / Aubin D’Amours / Tania D’Anjou / Jocelyne Dansereau / Joanne Daviault / Daniel David / Danielle Day / Anne De Bellefeuille / Gilles de Montigny / Denis Dean / Claude Delâge / Nathalie Denommée / Yves Derosby / Martine Desforges / Maryse Deshaies / Marie-Josée Desjardins / Michel Desjardins / Nathalie Desjardins / Sylvie Deslières / Alain Desrochers / Lisette Dezainde / Chantal Dionne / Linda Di Quinzio / Chantal Doré / Michel Dorion / Sylvie Drouin / Diane du Tremble / Louise Dubreuil / Jean-Denis Dufort / Isabelle Duguay / Karyn Duguay / Isabelle Duhaime / Hélène Dumont / France Dumontier / Jocelyne Dupont / Johanne Dupont / Francine Dupuis / Roch Dutil / Roxanne Émond / Ricardo Espera / Chantale Favreau / Christian Fecteau / Sylvain Flynn / Alain Foisy / Carole Forget / Daniel Fortier / Manon Fortier / André Fortin / Hélène Fortin / Martin Fournier / Louise Fréchette / Danny Gagné / Gérard Gagné / André Gagnon / Jocelyne Gagnon / Lucie Gagnon / Mireille Gagnon / Véronique Gagnon / Louise Galipeau / Nathalie Gallant / Christiane Gamache / Marie-Josée Gamache / Benoît Gariépy / Ginette Gaudreau-Lessard / Alain Gauthier / Serge Gauthier / Louis Gendron / Gilles Genest / François Geoffrion / Jean Germain / Carole Gignac / Carole Giguère / Guylaine Giguère / Alain Gilbert / Daniel Gilbert / Louise Gingras / François Girard / Manon Girard / Dominique Glass / Diane Gosselin / Marie-Hélène Gosselin / Nancy Goudreau / Louis Gourdeau / Gaétan Gravel / Jacques Grégoire / Claude Grenier / Suzanne Grenier / Francine Grenon / Jean-Pierre Guay / Marie-Noëlle Guertin / Gilles Guilbault / Louise Hamel / Suzanne Hamel / Lucie Hamiaux / Louise Harvey / Daniel Hébert / Éric G. Hébert / Marie-Thérèse Hébert / Daniel Hinse / Alain Houle / Angèle Houle / Camyl Huot / Claude Jarret / Guy Jasmin / Sylvie Jeannotte / Gilles Jolivet / Patrice Jolivet / Colette Julien / Sophie Julien / Jean-Pierre Khlot / Michel Kirouac / René Kurth / Marc La Grenade / Linda Lachance / Josée Lachapelle / Josée Lachapelle / Diane Lacharité / Jodi A. Lackman / Hugues Lacroix / Diane Ladurantaye / Sylvie Laferrière / Daniel Lafrenière / Josée Lagacé / Michel Lagueux / Dominic Lainesse / Alain Lamanque / Marie-Josée Lamarche / Pascal Lamarche / Michel Lambert / Odile Landry / Véronique Landry / Yvan Landry / Gaétan Langlois / Julie Langlois / Monique Langlois / Denis Lapalme / Jean-François Laplante / Serge Lapointe / Daniel Laporte / Martin Latreille / Michèle Laurion / Michel Lauzon / Réjean Lavigne / Hubert Lavigueur / France Le Bourdais / Danny Le Braceur / Éric Lebel / Lucie Lebeuf / Réjean Leblanc / Anne Leclerc / Chantal Leclerc / Denis Leclerc / Diane Lecompte / Ginette Lecours / Chantal Leduc / Liette Leduc / Chantal Lefebvre / Hélène Lefebvre / Jean-François Legault / Josée Legault / Sylvain Lemarbre / Christian Lemay / Claudine Lemay / Sylvie Lemay / Fabiola Lépine / Martin Lépine / Élise Lessard / Jocelyn Levasseur / Sonia Lévêque / Mario Lévesque / Michel Lévesque / Michèle Levesque / Rollande Lévesque / François L’Heureux / Stéphane Lortie / Sylvie Losier / Hafida Lounis / Manon Lussier / Yves Mackay / Grazia Maion / André Mallet / Madeleine Manseau / Diane Marcotte / Suzel Marcotte / Carole Marcoux / Nathalie Marino / Stéphan Marois / Jean Martel / Benoit Martin / Nathalie Martin / Mélanie Martineau / Sylvain Masse / Thierry Masse / André McDonald / Louise McQuillan / Chantal Ménard / Élaine Ménard / Marie-Claude Ménard / Pascale Ménard / Frédéric Mercier / Michel Messier / Steve Messier / Marie-Claude Michaud / Serge Michaud / Julie Migneault / Paul-André Moisan / Chantal Mongeau / Lyne Mongeau / Robert Montpetit / Nathalie Morand / Jocelyn Moreau / Thérèse Morel / Gaétan Morin / Jean Morin / Normand Morin / Guylaine Morneau / Richard Moss / Noël Nadeau / François Nadon / Gabriel Nadon / Jean-Claude Nadon / Yvan Nantel / Diane Nother / Martin Ostiguy / Chantal Ouellet / Georges Panitchersky / Annick Paquet / Laurent Paquette / Luce Paquette / Monique Paquette / Lyne Paquin / Antoinette Paradis / Robert Paradis / Sylvain Paré / Carole Parent / Daniel Pelletier / Dany Pelletier / Nathalie Pelletier / Michèle Péloquin / Lise Perreault / Marie-Noëlle Perrier / Brigitte Perron / Joan Pierre / Danielle Pigeon / Gisèle Pigeon / Claire Pitre / Michel Pontbriand / Nicole Potvin / Julie Poudrette / Gilles Poulin / Marco Poulin / Martine Pratte / Julie Proulx / Steve Rayes / Andréa Raymond / Isabelle Raymond / Marie-Josée Reed / Johanne Rémillard / Mario Renaud / Claire Richard / Manon Riendeau / Suzanne Rippeur / Marie-Claude Rivest / Martin Rivest / Sylvie Robitaille / Nicole Rochon / Éric Roger / Marie-Claude Rouleau / Suzanne Roussel / Lise Routhier / André Roy / Colette Roy / Sébastien Roy / Sylvain Roy / Manon Royal / André Rudnicki / Carole Ruel / Michel Sabourin / Nathalie Sabourin / Guy Sanscartier / Lorraine Saumure / Sébastien Sauvageau / Louise Sauvé / Renée Sauvé / Lina Scarpellini / Daniel Schneider / Patrick Schumann / Carmen Shaw / Dany Sirois / Pierre Soulière / Annie St-Arnaud / Patricia Ste-Marie / Éric St-Jacques / Manon St-Jean / Roch St-Louis / Miville St-Onge / Mélanie St-Pierre / Julie Marie Strutt / Pierre Surprenant / André Sylvain / Jean Sylvestre / Geneviève Tanguay / Michel Taylor / Pierre Tellier / Laurent Themens / Francine Théorêt / Johanne Thériault / Josée Théroux / Denis Thibault / Johanne Thibault / Jean Thifault / Pierre Thompson / Éric Tourangeau / Quang Xuan Tran / Bruce Tremblay / Élyse Tremblay / Jean-Denis Tremblay / Mario Tremblay / Monique Tremblay-Côté / Guy Trépanier / Louise Trudeau / Sylvie Trudeau / Christine Turcotte / Céline Turgeon / Michèle Vachon / Yolande Vaillancourt / Nathalie Vallières / Hélène Valois / Gilles Veilleux / Mireille Verret / Hélène Vézina / André Viau / Madeleine Vignola / Jean-Marc Wassef / Jean Wilhelmy / Joanne Zakaïb. The Fund also owes its success to its part-time and former employees as well as to all its outside partners. ED I TO RS Suzanne Hamel André McDonald WR I TERS Suzanne Hamel Sylvain Paré C O LLAB O RATO RS Roch Dutil Sylvain Masse Louise Sauvé 90 2007 ANNUAL REPORT DES IGNER AND P RO DUCER We would like to thank everyone who contributed to the production of this annual report. Gauthier Designers Printed by the unionized workers of komunikdatamark on paper made in Québec by Cascades using biogas energy, Eco-Logo certified and containing recycled post-consumer fibre. P H OTO GRA P HERS Jean-François Bérubé Jean-Sébastien Cossette Harold Fortin Tango photographie Legal Deposit – 3rd Quarter 2007, Bibliothèque nationale du Québec, National Library of Canada Ce document est également disponible en français. B-08-00-0189 Mission Create, maintain or protect jobs Invest in companies impacting the Québec economy and offer them services to further their development and create, maintain or protect jobs. Train workers Promote economic training for workers so they can increase their influence on the economic development of Québec. Develop the Québec economy Stimulate the Québec economy through strategic investments that benefit both Québec workers and companies alike. Prepare for retirement Make workers aware of the need to save for retirement and encourage them to do so, as well as encourage them to participate in the development of the economy by purchasing Fund shares. Go i n g Carbon- Neutral 1 6 17 89 Highlights Shareholder Base Financial Information 2 10 86 Message from the Chairman of the Board OF DIRECTORS Training glossary Management Committee Special Boards Committees Union 12 88 90 Investments Board of Directors Permanent Employees 4 Message from the President and Chief Executive Officer At the Annual General Meeting and the national local representative meeting preceding it, the Solidarity Fund QFL decided to adhere to the principles of a conference encouraging the reduction of polluting emissions. Therefore, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GGE), we encouraged the participants of these meetings to use public transportation. The Fund also hired Planetair, a not-for-profit organization, to calculate the GGE generated by these two meetings (transportation, meal preparation, etc.). Once the results are final, the Fund will remit to Planetair a compensatory amount in keeping with current practice. This money will be invested in renewable energy or energy efficiency projects that will reduce GGE at their source in developing countries. Our capital starts with people 2 0 0 7 A N N U A L R E P O R T _ f o n d s d e s o l i d a r i t é FT Q S uite 200 545 Crémazie Blvd. East Montréal, Qué b ec H2 M 2W4 Teleph one: 514 383-8383 Fax: 514 383-2502 Toll free: 1 800 361-5017 www.fondsftq.com 2007 ANNUAL REPORT fonds de s o l i d a r i t é FT Q