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First EMDA award winners announced, inaugural celebration this week

Published: 12:13 25 Jun 2012 EDT

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The first industry awards to recognize exempt market business leaders in Canada will be held in Toronto on June 26, with the winners being announced Monday.

Exempt market dealers (EMDs) are fully registered dealers who engage in the business of trading in exempt securities, or any securities to qualified exempt market clients.

The inaugural celebration of the Exempt Market Dealers Association of Canada (EMDA) Awards - Exempt Market Deals of the Year will award and recognize businesses that promote "best practices and high standards of conduct" in the exempt market.

The EMDA is a not-for-profit industry association that brings together exempt market dealers, exempt market product issuers, and professional advisers to the exempt market.

The association’s primary focus is being an effective national industry voice for exempt market dealers to securities regulators, government, and the capital markets.

"We are very pleased with the positive response we have received from industry about these new awards and we thank all the nominees for their hard work and contributions," said EMDA executive director Geoffrey Ritchie.

"In 2011, more than $140 billion of capital was raised in the exempt market across Canada and the EMDA is proud to start recognizing and celebrating some of the leaders driving the success of the exempt market."

The EMDA notes that the "exempt securities market" in Canada describes the portion of the capital markets for which certain exemptions are provided under provincial securities legislation from the full requirements of prospectus disclosure and certain retail client sales requirements.

Ritchie said that capital raised in the exempt market helps finance and develop entrepreneurial industries across Canada and is an important contributor to creating jobs and wealth for Canadians.

"This year is the beginning of an annual celebration of excellence and leadership in Canada’s exempt market," he concluded.

Nominees for the awards were evaluated based on their contribution to the deal, their vision, industry leadership, market innovation, impact, and the benefits of the deal for the issuer and for investors.

The EMDA said the award selection committee was comprised of independent members of its board of directors.

The winners will be officially recognized at a reception following the 2012 EMDA exempt market conference at the National Club in Toronto on June 26.

Among the businesses to be honoured at the celebration, is Bloom Burton & Co. who will be recognized for the Healthcare Deal of the Year for its YM Biosciences Inc. (TSE:YM) financing syndicate.

IBK Capital Corp. will be awarded with an award for the Mining Deal of the Year for its financing acquisition for Noble Mineral Exploration (CVE:NOB) and establishing a partnership with Franco-Nevada (TSE:FNV)(NYSE:FNV).

Crosbie & Company Inc. will be awarded for the Financial Industry Deal of the Year for its Desjardins Credit Union merger with Meridian Credit Union.

The EMDA said that Loewen & Partners Inc. will be awarded the Family Business & Growth Capital Deal of the Year for facilitating sale of a significant investment in Bermingham Construction Ltd. to Soletanche Freyssinet, a VINCI group company.

Precipice Capital will receive the Private Equity Deal of the Year for its acquisition of a U.S. owned service vessel fleet in Atlantic Canada.

Walton International Group Inc. will be awarded for the Real Estate Deal of the Year for its Walton DC Land Ltd. partnership and syndication of U.S. land assets.

Petrocapita Oil and Gas LP won Oil and Gas Deal of the Year for the commodity linked investment fund.

The EMDA provides many services to its members, including customized insurance programs, regulatory and compliance resources, opportunities for professional development and continuing education.

The EMDA was founded in 2002 by a group of Canadian business people whose firms were active in the exempt securities market.

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