VentureLink LP, manager of the VentureLink Group of labour-sponsored investment funds, announced today that it has divested its entire holdings in Stone & Co. Ltd.

“VentureLink has been a true partner for our business,” said Richard Stone, CEO of Stone Investment Group Ltd., parent company of Stone & Co. “Their patience and willingness to work with us has benefited both VentureLink as a lender and Stone’s shareholders. We are very excited about the future of Stone Investment Group Ltd., which would not have been as promising without partnering with VentureLink in 2002.”

The VentureLink Financial Services Innovation Fund, a mezzanine debt fund, originally lent Stone & Co. Limited $2.8 million in June of 2002, and made follow-on investments of $900,000 in November of 2003 and $200,000 in January of 2005. VentureLink has realized an annualized return greater than 16% from the investment.

As a part of a recent debenture offering, Stone & Co. has become a wholly owned subsidiary of Stone Investment Group. Stone is an independent mutual fund management and investment management firm, specializing in products that meet today’s generational wealth issues. Stone & Co. was VentureLink Financial Services Innovation Fund Inc.’s second investment.

“Stone has become one of the fastest growing independent mutual fund management companies in Canada. The debenture offering provided Stone the perfect opportunity to repay VentureLink’s debenture and position the Company for future growth,” said Geoff Horton, Managing Partner of VentureLink LP.