Renewable energy companies including solar, wind, biofuel, and others for the first time in 2008 got more investment capital than conventional oil & gas companies.  Green energy companies received more investment funding than fossil fuel companies as per a report from the United Nations.

Clean technologies including wind, solar, and others attracted over $140 billion in new investment dollars while gas & oil attracted $110 billion.  Over 1/3 of the green investment dollars were for European companies.  This continues Europe’s forward thinking amongst government, people, and investors on how to find ways of getting greener.  They are being closely followed now, by now China, India, and other countries rather than Canada and the United States.

Some of the reasons I believe is that Europe has long been using cap and trade systems for carbon credits while in North America most of us are still trying to understand the concepts of carbon tax and cap and trade.  China and India out of necessity of trying to find alternative cheaper energy and less issues of disposal and pollution have embarked on it to help continue to grow their economies in this economic downturn.

Achim Steiner, executive director of the United Nation’s Environment Program said that this recent milestone of more investment dollars attracted to renewable energy is a tipping point for for global energy versus fossil fuels.  He is also encouraged by African countries like Kenya and Angola have entered into the field.

United Nations though still believes that $750 billion needs to be spent between 2009 & 2011, especially when in 2009 so far renewables energy investment has only totalled $13.3 billion.

Even with the new investment dollars the industry wasn’t immune to the stock market downturn as investment capital dropped by 51 per cent to $11.4 billion and stock prices dropped by over 60 per cent according to the Global Trends in Sustainable Energy report done by New Energy Finance (NEF) in London.

The United States though is one of the leaders in wind energy investment with over $51.8 billion and $33.5 billion for solar energy. Solar energy investment rose by over 50 percent year over year.

Biofuel was the next most popular investment at $16.9 billion but has come across environmental and political issues regarding ethanol creation at the expense of farming crops and rising food costs.

The trend in 2009 is alarming though to the United Nations as renewables energy investment as they have forecasted that current investment would lead to about $95 billion to $115 billion in new investment.

Green Investment as Per Cent of Global Economic Stimulus is shown below in the table below:

Written by Richard Wong, CMA   rwong@firstchoicecapital.ca

Orthocon, Inc.: Series B $25M
Orthocon (North Brunswick, NJ) a preclinical-stage company focused on implantable devices that deliver therapeutics to bone, closed a $25M Series B financing.

Aerovance, Inc.: Series C $38M
Aerovance (Berkeley, CA) a clinical-stage company focused on respiratory and allergic diseases, closed a $38M Series C financing. Participants include ProQuest Investments, BB Biotech Ventures, Apax Partners, Clarus Ventures, Alta Partners, Lehman Brothers, NGN Capital and Burrill & Co.

OPX Biotechnologies, Inc.: Series B $17.5M
OPX Biotechnologies (Boulder, CO) a research-stage biofuels company using synthetic biology to engineer the microbes as a renewable fuel source, added to their Series B financing bringing the round up to $17.5M. Participants include Braemar Energy Ventures, Altira Group, Mohr Davidow Ventures and X/Seed Capital.

Traversa Therapeutics, Inc.: Series B $5M
Traversa Therapeutics (La Jolla, CA) a preclinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing RNAi delivery technologies, closed a $5M Series B financing. Participants include Morningside, Mesa Verde Venture Partners and Tech Coast Angels.

CeraPedics, Inc.: Series B $15M
CeraPedics (Broomfield, CO) a clinical stage device company focused on osteobiologic products for bony voids, closed a $15M Series B financing. Participants include NGN Capital and OrbiMed Advisors.

KeyNeurotek Pharmaceuticals, AG: Series C $10.9M
KeyNeurotek Pharmaceuticals (Germany) a clinical-stage small molecule company focused on autoimmune and CNS diseases, closed a $10.9M Series C financing. Participants include DVC Deutsche Venture Capital, IBG Beteiligungsgesellschaft and KfW Bankengruppe.

Ambrx, Inc.: Series D $10M
Ambrx (La Jolla, CA) a clinical-stage protein therapeutic company focused growth deficiency, closed a $10M Series D financing. Participants include 5AM Ventures, Aravis Ventures, CMEA Capital, Maverick Capital, Versant Ventures and Tavistock Life Sciences

Part 1:  Simon Pimstone, President & CEO of Xenon Pharmaceuticals Interview

Canadian government’s announcement on reduction of future funding for Genome Canada affects life sciences companies in British Columbia, including larger start ups such as Xenon Pharmaceuticals.

Affects of this including having fewer jobs and hindering the ability of companies to commercialize their intellectual property they have created in Canada because of the cost to do this, hence the need for Canadian life sciences companies needing to partner up with large American and European pharmaceutical companies in order to get these discoveries to market.

For start-up companies Genome Canada has provided bio-tech companies with the ability to do research and keep our science graduates from our universities to bolt to the United States & Europe with the so called brain drain.

A current Xenon Genome BC project has 10 to 15 scientists working on the project currently, which if Genome Canada funding wasn’t available, these high paying jobs would not exist in British Columbia.

Because Canada has such a tiny venture capital pool for life sciences,  life sciences funding is largely dependent on foreign venture capital funding as the primary source of funding as well as Canadian federal and provincial funding.

While in the United States the National Health Institute (NIH) funding will be increasing by $3 billion announced by President Obama whereas the funding from the Canadian government has decreased.  The government is doing exactly the opposite and sending a statement on the importance or lack of it on science and technology in British Columbia.

President Obama has announced already funding for green energy grids, health and innovation, whereas in Canada we are still focused on the old school infrastructure is an opinion in the life sciences community.

Simon Pimstone commented that if you’re putting money into infrastructure which will build a knowledge based economy, such as technology parks for Pharma companies.  Companies like GlaxoSmithKline or Johnson & Johnson will be enticed to build manufacturing vaccine facilities which provides high paying opportunities for science students for years to come.

Continued in Part 2 of Interview with President & CEO Simon Pimstone

Vancouver, B.C. based Cardiome Pharma shares skyrocket on a $700 million licensing agreement with Merck based out of Whitestation, New Jersey for Vernakalant, an investigational drug for treatment of atrial ibrillation. The agreement provides Merck with exclusive global rights to the oral formulation of vernakalant (vernakalant [oral]) for maintaining of normal heart rhythm in patients with atrial fibrillation, and provides a Merck affiliate, Merck Sharp & Dohme (Switzerland) GmbH, with exclusive rights outside of the United States, Canada and Mexico to the intravenous (IV) formulation of vernakalant (vernakalant [IV]) for rapid conversion of acute atrial ffibrillation to normal heart rhythm.

Cardiome to receive initial fee of US$60M and up to $300M in milestones.   Cardiome, a Canadian biotech which currently does not have any drugs approved for marketing, will get up to $200 million for achieving development and regulatory goals and another $100 million for approvals related to other heart conditions. And there’s $340 million available in sales milestones. Cardiome retains U.S. co-marketing rights in the deal and gets a $100 million credit facility from Merck that is available in 2010 in several tranches.

“Given Merck’s long-established leadership in the cardiovascular space, we believe there is no company better suited to advance Vernakalant,” said Bob Rieder, chairman and chief executive officer of Cardiome. “This collaboration places Cardiome in a strong financial position as we conclude our strategic review, and moves the Company closer to providing doctors with an important tool to address this critical unmet medical need.”

This deal also shows Merck continuing it direction of finding other external partners to help lead its drug pipeline for the future.

The effectiveness of the collaboration agreement is subject to the expiration or earlier termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, if applicable, as well as other customary closing conditions. The agreement between Cardiome and Astellas Pharma U.S., Inc. for vernakalant (IV) in the United States, Canada and Mexico is unaffected by this agreement.

Written by Richard Wong, CMA     rwong@firstchoicecapital.ca

Short updates on Life Sciences funding for March 2009.

BiOptix Diagnostics, Inc.: Series A $3M

BiOptix (Boulder, CO) a commercial focused developer of an array-based biomolecule detection system that addresses many markets that currently cannot obtain the needed sensitivity and throughput in a single solution, closed a $3M Series A finacing.

NeoVista, Inc.: Series D $18M

NeoVista (Fremont, CA) a clinical-stage device company focused on epimacular beta radiation for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration, closed a $18M Series D financing.

Neuraltus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Series A $17M

Neuraltus Pharmaceuticals (Menlo Park, CA) a preclinical-stage developer of small-molecule drugs focused on Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis and dyskinesia, closed a $17M Series A financing.

Nexstim, Oy: Series C $7.9M

Nexstim (Finland) a commercial-stage developer of non-invasive brain imaging technologies focused on cortical mapping prior to surgery, closed a $7.9M Series C financing.

Atritech, Inc.: Series E $30M

Atritech (Plymouth, MN) a clinical-stage medical device company focused on developing minimally invasive technologies designed for the prevention of atrial fibrillation related stroke, closed a $30M Series E financing.

Ikano Therapeutics, Inc.: Series B $9M

Ikano Therapeutics (Lexington, KY) a clinical-stage nasal delivery platform company focused on seizures and pain, closed a $9M Series B financing, the final tranche of a $18M round.

GetWellNetwork, Inc.: Series C $10M

GetWellNetwork (Bethesda, MD) a commercial stage telemedicine provider of interactive patient care solutions, closed a $10M Series C financing.

GlycoVaxyn, AG: Series B $22M

GlycoVaxyn (Switzerland) a preclinical-stage company developing vaccines focused on bacterial caused disease, closed a $22M Series B financing.

Surface Logix, Inc.: Series E $15M

Surface Logix (Brighton, MA) a clinical-stage small molecule company focused on metabolic and cardiovascular disease, closed a $15M Series E financing.

Proteon Therapeutics, Inc.: Series B $38M

Proteon Therapeutics (Waltham, MA) a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on renal and vascular disease, closed a $38M Series B financing.

In today’s economy people who are looking to start businesses here all over the media that the credit crunch has hit everyone and it’s impossible to get financing. In our business we certainly see that for existing clients with large banks as their creditors it certainly is more trying in determining whether or not to cut back on costs, or deciding on going after acquisitions.

The basis for capital has always been based on “How’s your credit worthiness and what’s the Collateral.”  In Vancity’s case Community business loans are based on “Character & Business Viability.”

This major difference in helping small businesses in BC has amounted to loans of over $13 million for 800 companies.

The question is why would Canada’s largest credit union with over $14 billion in assets and over 390,000 members why would they do this, simply because by helping out small businesses establish themselves in the first 5 years they will in turn likely turn these customers into larger businesses with larger operating credit lines, create more jobs, and help the credit union grow as well.

If larger banks had a small portion of their business directed to helping smaller new businesses they maybe able to do the same, possibly, but Vancity has taken the risk and it seems to have provided a service where potential small business owners can look to for help in financing.

Written by Richard S. Wong, CMA      rwong@firstchoicecapital.ca

Facebook’s initial failed attempts to takeover Twitter were because the most common reason why mergers & acquisitions fail, VALUATION differences. This is the main reason why other mergers or acquisitions fail because of the parties not being able to agree on what each brings to the table. That’s why Facebook’s attempted acquisition of Twitter didn’t materialize this time around, but don’t be surprised if this marriage of social media companies still happens.

Simply, Facebook believed that their private company stock value was worth a higher amount than what Twitter management believed and when you’re trying to purchase another company primarily with company stock it really is a moving target because there is no real 3rd party independent opinion of what the common stock is worth, like a public company stock.

Twitter was in active talks with Facebook for a takeover based on a value which is still a moving target just like any other private company where it is hard to put a independent value on its common stock. However, Facebook for stock option purposes where employees wouldn’t be taxed had valued its common stock at $3.7 billion after Microsoft’s investment which calculating backwards had Facebook’s stock valuation approaching $15 billion, but that was in a hot stock market over a year ago.

Problem with Twitter is that Facebook offered them $500 million for the company which apparently was a good number until Facebook pegged its own company value at $8 or $9 billion making Twitter shareholders’ worth of Facebook’s company less. This is a common issue in negotiations for many private companies who are looking to sell a share of their company or their company in whole. The sellers’ valuation is commonly based on the company’s best financial year and multiplying by a number to get a sales price value, whereas a buyer usually will try to use either the company’s worst year or projections to help bring the price closer to what they want to pay.

In high growth companies like Facebook who are continually trying to organically grow and through acquisitions don’t be surprised if they come back to Twitter and give them a higher dollar amount based on dropping technology stock values and Twitter has something Facebook wants is the micro-blogging technology, but most importantly growing user base of Twitter.

Mergers & acquisitions whether its for large private company like Facebook or your small business in downtown USA or Canada still have its issues trying to come to a mutually satisfying dollar value. However, for the smaller business be expected in this selling cycle to have purchasers ask for what’s called “Earnouts” and “Vendor Take Back Financing.” Earnouts are basically bonuses for the seller if the company reaches certain targets or milestones for anything from number of subscribers to EBITDA to Net Profit. Vendor take back financing is where the seller agrees to a price and will help the purchaser by financing a portion of the sell price which helps the purchaser get outside financing. These 2 negotiation tools were widely used before the last economic boom and expect them to come back if sellers want to sell their businesses quicker in this economic environment.

Written by Richard Wong, CMA      rwong@firstchoicecapital.ca

Cash flow is important anytime, but especially in today’s economic environment of tighter credit.  We know today that the credit crunch has affected the economy and that banks are now able to pick and choose who they extend credit to, how much credit they extend, what conditions they extend it to, and how they can pressure you the CEO, CFO, or owner of the business into improving your financial results to comply the banking arrangements.

Here are 5 hints to Improving Cash Flow:

1. Invoice ASAP & Follow up next day to double check client has received the invoice

• Get in the habit now of invoicing as soon as the job is done and getting it into the hands of the customer electronically, either by fax or email or if handwritten invoices spend the time after delivery to now write the invoice earlier in the day before delivery, rather than “I’ll invoice you later.” Most accounting software from Simply Accounting & QuickBooks to Microsoft Great Plains, Sage ERP, to Oracle and SAP the email invoices feature can simply be turned on.

• Now considered a best practice, be proactive you don’t want to find out 30 days after the invoice date that the customer hasn’t received it.  Customers may find this irritating at first, but you can always tell the customer that you are just trying to ensure they are happy with the product or service they received and that there aren’t any issues with the invoice.  You can say that you’re trying to improve your customer service at this time.

2. Ask for a Retainer or Deposit

• Depending on the industry or whether it’s a new client or old this is one worth trying as if you can get a deposit for goods/services ordered then paid in installments is better than waiting for the payment to come 30 days after the job or product has been delivered.

3. Offer Cash Discounts for Quick Payment

• If you haven’t offered a cash discount for payment within 10 days, ie. 2% 10, net 30 means that the customer gets a 2% discount off the total invoice if  “they pay within 10 days only” or the customer has the standard of paying within 30 days.
• Think of it as a sales discount you’re willing to give to be able to get the money in your hands earlier rather than someone else’s hands.

4. Become a Pit Bull of Receivables (Keep after them!)

• Start reviewing your aged receivables reports weekly if you don’t have a Key Performance Indicator system (KPI’s for short) and seeing if you have late paying customers how late they are get your receivables people to start action right away by either emailing them right away then calling them the next day.  Some customers need to be reminded, that’s why if you’re proactive and invoice right away and follow up to ensure they have received the invoice and processed them you’ll have to do less collections work in the end.
• Why wait, it’s your money?

5. Pay Invoices Only When Due

• Review those vendor contract terms to see when those invoices are actually due for payment rather than paying them right away because you want to get them out of the way.
• Setup online banking payments so you can schedule when payments are due and you are able to download electronic information to your accounting software.

In summary, these are some quick things to implement to improve your cash flow and also at the same time improve your customer service and satisfaction.  Protection of cash should be the CEO’s biggest concern nowadays and any ways to improve the order to cash cycle should be attempted.

Written by Richard Wong, CMA     Email: rwong@firstchoicecapital.ca