Corporate Financial Advisory

Cole & Partners' professionals act as advisors and intermediaries to entrepreneurs, Boards of Directors, senior management, and private equity firms. We bring extensive experience with sell-side transactions, financing, corporate governance, partner relations, and business and securities valuation to the public and private mid-markets. Our integrated, balanced perspective incorporates strategic thinking, financial expertise and, where appropriate, personal insight. Our approach is highly focused and intense. We pay special attention to the character and culture of the businesses involved and the personalities of the key individuals, always respecting and safeguarding the confidentiality and competitive advantage that our clients entrust us with. Transaction and related fees are contingent on success.

Areas of focus

  • Sale of businesses to financial and strategic buyers
  • Sourcing minority and majority partners and investors who contribute more than money
  • Exit and succession planning
  • Corporate finance – acquisition, expansion and refinancing capital
  • Financial negotiations-business plans, restructuring, management buyouts
  • Fairness opinions
  • Buy side – target identification and due diligence

Client size and transaction value are noted sequentially:


SALES - 100%

  • Specialized machine / equipment manufacturer: $135 million sales; $105 million.
  • Loan and investment portfolio owned by Provincial Government, $80 million.
  • Specialized investment and news content provider, $15 million sales, $15 million.
  • Various specialized industrial manufacturers, $22 million to $35 million sales, $17 million to $45 million sales.
  • Construction equipment manufacturer, $22 million sales, $17 million.
  • Various service and consulting Businesses, $7 million to $65 million sales.
 

EQUITY PARTNERS 25% - 90%

  • Off-road tire manufacturer, $400 million sales, $70 million.
  • Rubber processor, $80 million sales, $10 million.
  • Brokerage firms, $20 million to $60 million revenue, $10 million to $20 million.
  • Dairy processor, $40 million sales, $12 million.
  • Various real estate businesses and projects.
 

CORPORATE FINANCE, RESTRUCTURING AND DUE DILIGENCE

  • Retail Chain, $160 million sales, refinancing of term debt $15 million.
  • Canadian Publisher, $20 million term loan.
  • Lumber / Home improvement centres, $100 million sales, Sales / Insolvency.
  • Medical diagnostics laboratory, refinanced, $20 million.
  • Airline, $1.5 billion, restructuring pension shortfall and business plan reviews.
  • Buy side and other due diligence reviews: technology-based laser manufacturer, auto parts manufacturer, forest products, food processor, computer-aided measuring equipment manufacturer – sales $15 million to $200 million.
  • Merger negotiations: post-production editing, investment manager, engineering and architectural firms – $7 million to $40 million sales.
  • National real estate agency, $75 million fees, Restructuring / Reorganization.
 

TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE 100% SALES AND PARTNERSHIPS: TRANSACTION VALUES RANGING FROM $3 MILLION TO $90 MILLION

Front end banking and trust company systems, systems integrators, property management and real estate systems, manufacturer of trace analytic equipment, GPS software and service firm, brokerage back office and investment management software, telephony software and service providers, e-commerce locations; systems integrators, training and consulting; property management and real estate assets management systems; manufacturer of trace analytical equipment; internet service providers.