(March 21 – 09:20 ET) – Vancouver-based Canaccord Capital Corp. today announced a national advertising campaign designed to make investors aware that there is an alternative to the big bank-owned investment firms.

Canaccord is attempting to position itself as the largest fully integrated independent investment firm in Canada competing head-to-head with the bank-owned firms. It notes that it has acquired seven investment firms over the past six years, quadrupled its staff to 1,200 and seen its assets under administration increase 15-fold.

The investment dealer claims to have the largest retail staff of any independent investment firm and says that through Canaccord Capital (Europe) Ltd., it has among the best equity distribution of any Canadian dealer in that continent. The firm is also touting its no-fee self-directed RRSP, an additional $10-million commitment to technology spending this year to bring more of its client services and research online. It has also added 12 insurance specialists.

“With the consolidation taking place in the financial services sector, the independent brokerage firm holds an increasingly valued place in this country,” says Peter Brown, co-chair and CEO of Canaccord. “Yet, the number of independent firms will continue to decline as the cost of technology and regulation create huge barriers of entry for new firms starting out. Today, more than ever, investors need the alternative choice offered by the spirited culture of a strong independent employee-owned firm,” he says.

On the corporate finance side, Canaccord has set itself aggressive targets for its core strengths in mining, oil and gas, technology, biotechnology and special situations. “We want to dominate in each of those sectors in the small to mid-cap range,” says Brown. “We believe that the bank-owned firms don’t serve this market well, but it is the area that creates economic growth and employment,” he says. Another key priority is to continue to expand Canaccord’s institutional presence in Canada, the U.S. and Europe and become a significant force in equity capital markets.