Difference Capital Announces Follow-on Social TV Investment in iPowow, Inc.


TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Sept. 25, 2013) - Difference Capital Financial Inc. (TSX VENTURE:DCF) ("DCF"), a leading specialty financial services company, is pleased to announce an additional $3 million investment in the form of preferred shares in iPowow Inc. ("iPowow"), a leader in the emerging Social TV space.

The preferred shares carry a right to an 8% cumulative annual dividend and are convertible into common shares at par, bringing DCF's effective stake in iPowow to 32.1%, excluding options. This investment increases DCF's participation in the second-screen industry and will allow iPowow to execute its growth plans.

iPowow is an interactive media company focused on social television via 'participation TV'. iPowow's unique offering to TV broadcasters gives them an integrated, proprietary software platform, which is embedded into the production of the live broadcast.

iPowow's technology provides viewers with the ability to use their second screen or smartphone to interact live with a TV show, with results displaying on the TV screen in real time. The platform also allows unique content or promotions to be pushed to the participating viewers instantaneously to their second screen device.

Significant milestones the company has achieved to date include:

  • iPowow's patent pending system filed in 2008 has been broadcast around the world on over 300 live TV shows (1,250 hours) over the last 5 years.
  • iPowow's integrated platform results in average audience engagement of 15%, versus typical engagement with second screen technologies of only 1 - 2%.
  • In the last four months, iPowow has signed several new contracts with top-tier US networks including with NBC Universal, ESPN and Fox Sports 1.
  • TV shows incorporating iPowow's technology include USA's Modern Family, five shows on ESPN including their flagship Sports Center, and Fox Sports 1's new show Crowd Goes Wild!
  • Australia's Seven Network, the country's network with the highest ratings, used iPowow's technology during the recent Prime Minister debates and election, allowing viewers to have their voice heard during the election coverage and watch the results unfold in real-time.

Tom Astle, DCF's Head of Investment Strategy, said "iPowow works with leading networks and have a proven software platform that is commercial grade. Our investment will allow them to further entrench their position in broadcast networks wanting to engage their audiences through 'Social TV'. We believe it is timely for iPowow's integrated platform to capitalize on the broadcasters needs towards increasing engagement with television audiences."

Ettienne Fourie, iPowow's CEO, said "We are delighted to announce Difference Capital's significant support for iPowow. We have signed several contracts over the past few months, and this new funding will allow us to better serve and partner with the broadcast industry, and satisfy the increasing demand for our system."

About Difference Capital Financial Inc.

Difference Capital Financial Inc. is a publicly-listed, Toronto-based specialty finance company focused on creating shareholder value through strategic investments in, and advisory services for, growth companies, particularly in the technology, media and healthcare sectors, as well as through opportunistic investments in undervalued financial assets and real property.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) has in any way passed upon the merits of the proposed transactions and neither of the foregoing entities has approved or disapproved of the contents of this press release.

About iPowow Inc.

iPowow is an interactive media company focused on participation television and second screen content. iPowow gives broadcasters, TV producers and advertisers the power to create a new breed of participation television that engages the viewer. The company has projects underway with many major networks in the US and Australia. For more information on iPowow please visit www.ipowow.com.

Cautionary Notes

This release includes forward-looking statements regarding DCF and its business. Such statements are based on the current expectations and views of future events of DCF's management. In some cases the forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as "may", "will", "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "intend", "potential", "estimate", "believe" or the negative of these terms, or other similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release and the anticipated growth of the iPowow's business may not occur and could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting the company, including risks regarding iPowow's further entrenchment in broadcast networks and many other factors beyond the control of DCF. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements and information by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statement or information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements or information. Except as required by applicable securities laws, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and DCF undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contact Information:

Difference Capital Financial Inc.
Neil Johnson
Chief Executive Officer
416 649 5088
www.differencecapital.com