The Australian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (AVCAL) has welcomed the Australian government’s innovation statement, which it says is the result of a thorough collaborative engagement process with industry and focuses on developing the jobs of the future for Australia.
“We are particularly pleased to see the recognition of the importance of the venture capital industry to enable Australia’s innovations turn into products, processes and services that add to the economy and provide jobs in the future,” says AVCAL in a media statement.
AVCAL believes that the new round of the Innovation Investment Fund (IIF) with AUD350m committed will be a great boost to venture investing in Australia, especially taking into account the equal amount of private capital that will be invested alongside. The commitment that any money returned to the government will be recycled through the programme is also very welcome.
“Improvements to the ESVCLP and VCLP structures will improve clarity for investors. We particularly welcome clarification that gains from investments through a ESVCLP or VCLP will be on the capital account for all qualified domestic investors,” says AVCAL.
“The review into employee share schemes, which is currently underway, is also an important component of the overall programme and AVCAL is consulting closely with the Government on the necessary changes to this programme. Currently innovators can be saddled with an income tax liability before their shares have realised any income and, given the inherent risks of early stage companies, may never be worth anything. We need an employee share scheme that encourages, not punishes, our innovators.”
