CDPQ Acquires Minority Stake in Solotech The global investment group CDPQ has acquired a minority stake in Solotech, a transaction designed to support Solotech's acquisition and organic growth strategy to expand its presence in various markets and create more value for its customers. Founded in Montréal in 1977, Solotech has since 2013 been held by a group of Québec-based shareholders -- Claridge, Investissement Québec, and Desjardins Capital -- that CDPQ now joins. In a statement, CDPQ describes itself, as saying, "We invest constructively to generate sustainable returns over the long term. As a global investment group managing funds for public pension and insurance plans, we work alongside our partners to build enterprises that drive performance and progress. We are active in the major financial markets, private equity, infrastructure, real estate, and private debt." As of June 30, 2023, CDPQ's net assets totalled CAD 424 billion. "With this investment -- the largest in the last decade for Solotech -- CDPQ will support the company in its next growth stage. Aligned with CDPQ's priorities, this means not only shifting activities into high gear, but also facilitating the company's global expansion and promoting its audiovisual and technological know-how," says Kim Thomassin, executive vice-president and head of Québec at CDPQ. "CDPQ's commitment is a gauge of confidence in our business model, and their financial investment will allow us to seize new business opportunities as a global audiovisual and technology consolidator," notes Martin Tremblay, president and chief executive officer of Solotech. "We enthusiastically welcome a new world-class partner like CDPQ. We firmly believe that we will benefit from an expansive additional network that will enhance our perspectives on the board of directors, notably in terms of growing Solotech," adds Pierre Boivin, president and chief executive officer of Claridge and chair of the board of directors of Solotech. Solotech ranks 5th among the top 50 system integrators in the world, and among global leaders in event solutions. In 2023, the company won the Parnelli Award for Video Production Company of the Year for its The Weeknd project. In 2022, it won the AV Events and Entertainment Project of the Year Award from AV Magazine for ABBA Voyage in the UK. In 2019, the company supported six of the top 10 tours in Billboard Magazine's 2019 Year-End Touring Chart. Tremblay concludes: "We're thrilled by the new possibilities for our teams that CDPQ's arrival will provide to further promote their expertise and talent. Serving clients around the world is the genesis of our expansion, and even today it's what motivates us to offer quality service and the best technology for their ambitious projects." 
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