8 NOVEMBER2025W MAN LEADERGLOBAL W MAN LEADERGLOBAL NEWS BITESThe Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) has announced its first investment under a new program designed to support women-led business acquisitions.BDC Capital's Thrive Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) Fund has invested $2 million USD in Montréal-based Magnum Capital Partners, a PE firm backing entrepreneurs in buying established businesses.The $50-million fund, launched last month, aims to support business acquisitions led by women through search funds, management buyouts, and other means.Magnum Capital Partners bills itself as Canada's first women-led PE fund based on the search fund model. The firm partners with entrepreneurs in ac-quiring businesses that exhibit excellent performance and have owners near retirement.Its inaugural fund-which launched this year-seeks to back as many as 40 entrepreneurs in acquiring profitable businesses with revenues of between $1 million and $4 million annually.Targets will number around $20 million USD in aggregate, according to the Magnum release. The firm intends to invest $500,000 to $1 million per entrepreneur to finance the search process.Managing partner Patricia Riopel said her experience acquiring the academic proofreading firm Scribendi inspired her to create more opportunities for women in business ownership.Patricia was previously president at Scribendi along with CEO Enrico Magnani, who is her partner now at Magnum.Sévrine Labelle, managing director of BDC Thrive Lab, said in a statement that we believe the search fund model offers a powerful pathway to entrepreneurship, and we are proud to make our first investment in this asset class with a firm led by a trailblazing woman who understands the challenges and opportunities of being a search fund entrepreneur.BDC's Thrive ETA Fund has set aside $10 million for indirect investments in PE funds like Magnum that provide financing for acquisitions led by women, and $40 million for direct investments in search funds, management buyouts, and self-funded acquisition initiatives.This investment comes amidst what the Canadian Federation for Independent Business has labeled a "succession tsunami," as approximately 75 percent of Canadian small business owners intend to leave their businesses in the next decade.In fact, it is estimated that nearly 10,000 businesses in Québec will change ownership in the next year alone, according to Repreneuriat Québec.Earlier this year, BDC also launched a $100-million joint financing initiative with the First Nations Bank of Canada to help Indigenous groups fund acquisition deals, part of BDC's broader strategy to promote inclusive entrepreneurship.The bank wants to strengthen women's participa-tion in business ownership through direct support of funds and individual ventures via BDC Thrive Lab.According to the most recent annual report from BDC, the organization has supported more than 21,500 women entrepreneurs across Canada to date and is on track to reach nearly 23,000 by fiscal 2027. · Business Development Bank of Canada made its first investment to support women entrepreneurs buying businesses· It invested $2 million USD in Montréal's Magnum Capital Partners through its new Thrive ETA Fund· The $50 million fund assists women-led business acquisitions and management buyoutsBDC MAKES FIRST INVESTMENT TO SUPPORT WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS
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