Canadian Trading and Quotation System Inc. (CNQ) today announced the launch of a major innovative initiative: the CNQ Deal Exchange, a vehicle that assists companies with financing.

Deal Exchange is an online matching system that facilitates the pairing of companies seeking financing with registered investment professionals whose investment criteria represents a fit with that particular company.

“CNQ Deal Exchange represents a significant leap forward in our active assistance for our listed market and for any emerging company looking to raise money through the capital markets,” says Robert Cook, CNQ president. “We are helping growing companies in one of the most important ways we can — with their ongoing financing.”

The system protects the confidentiality of the company’s information through a fully secured website environment, and only financiers registered with a provincial securities commission are eligible to participate. The service charges minimal fees for participation, largely success-based, and is open to both CNQ listed companies and companies that have applied for a listing on CNQ.

CNQ has already piloted Deal Exchange, introducing the service to a limited number of investment dealers and has received an overwhelmingly positive response. The finance professionals do not pay any fee to participate in the system. CNQ Deal Exchange will allow emerging as well as mature companies to quickly and cost effectively gain exposure to investment professionals looking to finance their company.

Robin Ross, CEO at Mantis Mineral Corp. (CNQ: MINE), agrees the service is filling a need. “This program represents a real time saver for any executive looking for financing. It’s a very beneficial service because only those financial professionals who are interested, in my case, in a resource deal like Mantis will see it. The value in that alone is important.”