Origin Merchant Partners is pleased to announce that LifeSpeak Inc. (“Lifespeak”) has raised $42 million in an equity investment from a syndicate including Round13 Growth Fund, Roynat Capital, and Kensington Capital Partners. Origin Merchant Partners was the exclusive financial advisor to LifeSpeak with respect to this transaction.
LifeSpeak is a leading digital mental health and wellness education platform, providing employees, health plan members and their families with remote access to leading experts in mental health, physical wellness, financial health, family relationships and professional skills development, through a proprietary collection of content and tools. A North American leader in well-tech, LifeSpeak has a well-established 16 year track record of effectiveness, engagement and client retention.
Round13 Growth Fund (“Round13”) invests in Canadian based growth opportunities including those in technology and healthcare, as well as more traditional industries where there is an opportunity for technology enablement. Round13 helps to bridge the late-stage growth funding gap in Canada between traditional venture capital and public market investors.
Roynat Inc.(“Roynat”) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Scotiabank, one of North America’s premier financial institutions and Canada’s international bank. Roynat provides alternative financing solutions to Canadian mid-market businesses.
Kensington Capital Partners (“Kensington”) is a leading Canadian alternative investment firm with $ 1.5 billion in assets under management. Kensington’s portfolio of innovative investments includes diversified funds focused on private equity, venture capital, infrastructure assets and hedge funds.
Origin Senior Leads: Mario Di Pietro, Cathy Steiner, Christopher Solda
Origin Merchant Partners is pleased to announce that Village Farms International, Inc. (“Village Farms”) has announced it has entered into a definitive purchase and sale agreement with Emerald Health Therapeutics, Inc. (« Emerald ») to acquire the remaining common shares of Pure Sunfarms Corp. (“Pure Sunfarms”) from Emerald for $79.9 million. Upon completion of the transaction, Village Farms will own 100% of the common shares of Pure Sunfarms. Origin Merchant Partners acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Village Farms on this transaction.
Village Farms (TSX:VFF, NASDAQ: VFF) is one of the largest and longest-operating greenhouse growers in North America, and is leveraging its decades of experience as a large-scale, low-cost intensive agriculture and vertically integrated produce supplier to pursue high-value, high-growth plant-based Consumer Packaged Goods opportunities in cannabis and CBD in North America and selected markets internationally.
Pure Sunfarms is one of the single largest cannabis operations in the world, the lowest-cost greenhouse producer, one of the best-selling brands, and has generated profitability for six consecutive quarters.
Origin Senior Leads: Jim Osler, Jim Meloche
Origin Merchant Partners is pleased to announce that Birch Hill Equity Partners has made an investment in Yorkville Education Company (« Yorkville »). Origin Merchant Partners acted as exclusive financial advisor to Yorkville with respect to this transaction.
Yorkville Education Company, is the parent company of Yorkville University and Toronto Film School. Yorkville University is a private for-profit university established in 2003 in New Brunswick, providing a variety of career-focused degree programs to students across Canada. Toronto Film School is a for-profit post-secondary institution based in Toronto, Ontario. The school offers creative diploma programs in the areas of film, entertainment, fashion, design, and video games.
Birch Hill Equity Partners is a Toronto-based mid-market private equity firm with a 25-year history of driving growth in their portfolio companies and delivering returns to investors
Origin Senior Leads: Jim Osler, Jim Meloche
Origin Merchant Partners is pleased to announce that Mobile Klinik has been acquired by TELUS Corp. Origin Merchant Partners acted as exclusive financial advisor to Mobile Klinik with respect to this transaction.
Mobile Klinik is Canada’s largest and fastest-growing professional while-you-wait smartphone and tablet repair, care and services retail chain with 81 stores across Canada.
TELUS is a dynamic, world-leading communications and information technology company with more than 15 million customer connections spanning wireless, data, IP, voice, television, entertainment, video and security.
Origin Senior Leads: Mario Di Pietro, Mark Ernst
Origin Merchant Partners is pleased to announce that WildBrain Ltd. (“WildBrain”) has successfully completed its $25 million exchangeable debenture financing by Fine Capital Ltd. (“Fine Capital”). Origin Merchant Partners acted as financial advisor to the Corporate Finance Committee on its debenture financing by Fine Capital Partners L.P.
WildBrain Ltd. (TSX:WILD) Canadian media production and brand licensing company, specialising in content for kids and families. With approximately 13,000 half-hours of filmed entertainment in their collection, their shows are seen in more than 150 countries on over 500 telecasters and streaming platforms. Their AVOD business – WildBrain Spark – offers one of the largest networks of kids’ channels on YouTube, with over 168 million subscribers. WildBrain licenses consumer products and location-based entertainment in every major territory for their own properties as well for clients and content partners. WildBrain television group owns and operates four family entertainment channels that are among the most-viewed in Canada.
Fine Capital Partners L.P., is an employee owned hedge fund sponsor. The firm primarily provides its services to pooled investment vehicles. It invests in the public equity markets of the United States. The firm uses long and short equity strategy to make its investments. It employs fundamental analysis to make its investments. The firm obtains external research to complement its in-house research. Fine Capital Partners, L.P. was founded in 2004 and is based in New York City.
Origin Senior Lead: Jim Osler
Origin Merchant Partners is pleased to announce that Centric Health Corp. (“Centric”) has successfully completed the acquisition of Remedy Holdings Inc. and Remedy’sRx Specialty Pharmacy Business (“Remedy”). Origin Merchant Partners acted as the financial advisor to Centric on this transaction.
Centric Health (TSX:CHH) is one of Canada’s leading and most trusted providers of comprehensive Specialty Pharmacy services and solutions to seniors. Centric Health operates a large national network of pharmacy fulfilment centres that deliver high-volume solutions for the cost-effective supply of chronic medication and other specialty clinical pharmacy services. Following the acquisition Centric will serve more than 50,000 residents in over 800 seniors’ communities (long-term care, retirement homes, and assisted living facilities) nationally. With services that address the growing demand within the Canadian healthcare system, Centric Health’s unparalleled national care delivery platform provides significant potential for future expansion and growth.
Remedy Holdings Inc. provides medication management services to approximately 19,300 residents in over 400 long term care, assisted living, independent living, retirement, and group homes. Remedy’sRx Specialty Pharmacy operates 13 pharmacies across Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia.
Origin Senior Leads: Jim Meloche, Jim Osler, Cathy Steiner, Tedi Gjoleka
Origin Merchant Partners is pleased to announce Centric Health Corp. (“Centric”) has completed a term loan financing of up to $30 million by Crown Capital Partners Inc. (“Crown”), an investment fund managed by Crown and in which Crown holds an approximate 39% interest.
Origin Merchant Partners and Origin Merchant Securities Inc. acted as the financial advisor to Centric in both of these transactions respectively.
Centric Health (TSX:CHH) is one of Canada’s leading, and most trusted providers of comprehensive Specialty Pharmacy services and solutions to seniors. Centric operates a large national network of pharmacy fulfilment centres that deliver high-volume solutions for the cost-effective supply of chronic medication and other specialty clinical pharmacy services, serving more than 31,000 residents in over 460 seniors communities (long-term care, retirement homes, and assisted living facilities) nationally. With services that address the growing demand within the Canadian healthcare system, Centric’s unparalleled national care delivery platform provides significant potential for future expansion and growth.
Crown Capital Partners Inc. (TSX:CRWN) is a specialty finance company focused on providing capital to middle-market companies that are seeking alternatives to banks and private equity funds. Crown provides customized solutions in the form of loans, royalties, and other structures with minimal or no ownership dilution. In addition to deploying capital as a principal investor, Crown develops, manages and co- invests in alternative investment funds, including Crown Partners Fund and Crown Capital Power Fund.
Origin Senior Leads: Jim Meloche, Jim Osler, Cathy Steiner, Tedi Gjoleka
Origin Merchant Partners is pleased to provide a Fairness opinion to the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of Temple Hotels Inc. (“Temple”) with respect to a proposed acquisition by Morguard Corporation (“Morguard”) for all of the outstanding shares of Temple that it does not already own.
Temple Hotels Inc. is a hotel investment company with hotel properties located in primary and secondary markets across Canada. Its’ headquarters are located in Winnipeg.
Morguard Corporation is a fully integrated real estate company. Morguard owns, manages and invests in high-quality, well-located, geographically diversified assets across North America. With 40 years of experience and a dynamic team of 1,500 professionals, their commitment is to realize the potential of real estate through value creation and operational excellence. Morguard’s total assets owned and under management is valued at $21.3 billion.
Origin Senior Lead: Charles Pennock
Origin Merchant Partners is pleased to announce that it acted as exclusive financial advisor to the Board of Director’s Independent Committee of a major US aerospace company on a strategic asset purchase. This mandate was undertaken on a confidential basis.
Origin Senior Leads: Charles Pennock, Jim Osler
Origin Merchant Partners is pleased to announce the successful sale of Micropen Technologies Corporation (« Micropen ») to Exxelia USA Holding Inc. (« Exxelia »). Origin Merchant Partners acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Micropen on this transaction.
Micropen is an industry-leading custom manufacturer of precision high voltage resistors and electronic components using a proprietary electronic printing technology and design. Micropen serves leading customers in the medical, military, test and measurement, and detection markets.
Exxelia is a wholly-owned subsidiary of a Paris-based leading global designer and manufacturer of high-rel passive components and subsystems. Exxelia Group is comprised of thirteen manufacturing entities serving high-tech industrial sectors.
Origin Senior Lead: Bill Doepke
Origin Merchant Partners is pleased to announce that an entity, majority-owned by the Public Sector Pension Investment Board (“PSPIB”), has indirectly acquired all of the real estate assets indirectly owned by Starlight U.S. Multi-Family (No.1) Value-Add Fund (the “Fund”). The acquisition was valued at approximately US$239.6 million.
Origin Merchant Partners acted as Financial Advisor to the special committee of The Independent Members of the Board of Directors of Starlight U.S. Multi-Family (No.1) Value-Add GP, Inc., providing a fairness opinion with respect to this transaction.
Starlight U.S. Multi-Family (No.1) Value-Add Fund is a limited partnership formed under the Limited Partnerships Act (Ontario) for the primary purpose of indirectly acquiring, owning and operating a portfolio of value-add, income producing rental properties in the U.S. multi-family real estate market.
Public Sector Pension Investment Board is one of Canada’s largest pension investment managers, investing funds for the pension plans of the Public Service, the Canadian Armed Forces, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Reserve Force. PSPIB manages a diversified global portfolio in more than 75 industries and 75 countries.
Origin Senior Lead: Charles Pennock
Origin Merchant Partners is pleased to announce that Centric Health Corp. (“Centric”) has successfully completed two transactions to recapitalize the balance sheet with $70M of gross proceeds. Centric closed the sale of its Surgical and Medical Centres business to the Kensington Private Equity Fund for $35 million. Centric also closed a private placement of common shares and convertible debentures. The lead investor was Yorkville Asset Management Inc. behalf of certain managed funds.
Origin Merchant Partners and Origin Merchant Securities Inc. acted as the financial advisor to Centric in both of these transactions respectively.
Centric Health (TSX:CHH) is one of Canada’s leading, and most trusted providers of comprehensive Specialty Pharmacy services and solutions to seniors. Centric operates a large national network of pharmacy fulfilment centres that deliver high-volume solutions for the cost-effective supply of chronic medication and other specialty clinical pharmacy services, serving more than 31,000 residents in over 450 seniors communities (long-term care, retirement homes, and assisted living facilities) nationally. With services that address the growing demand within the Canadian healthcare system, Centric’s unparalleled national care delivery platform provides significant potential for future expansion and growth.
Kensington Capital Advisors Inc. is a leading independent Canadian investor in alternative assets. Founded in 1996, and with over $1.5 billion invested in private equity, venture capital, and alternative assets. Kensington’s active management approach and relationship-based business has generated top quartile returns for investors.
Yorkville Asset Management is an independent investment boutique with a strong focus on the healthcare sector in Canada. Yorkville aims to help high net worth individuals, foundations, institutions, and family offices achieve their financial goals through its wealth management, estate and tax planning, portfolio management, and capital markets debt and equity advisory services.
Origin Senior Leads: Jim Meloche, Cathy Steiner, Tedi Gjoleka
Origin Merchant Partners is pleased to announce that Centric Health Corp. (“Centric”) has successfully completed two transactions to recapitalize the balance sheet with $70M of gross proceeds. Centric closed the sale of its Surgical and Medical Centres business to the Kensington Private Equity Fund for $35 million. Centric also closed a private placement of common shares and convertible debentures. The lead investor was Yorkville Asset Management Inc. behalf of certain managed funds.
Origin Merchant Partners and Origin Merchant Securities Inc. acted as the financial advisor to Centric in both of these transactions respectively.
Centric Health (TSX:CHH) is one of Canada’s leading, and most trusted providers of comprehensive Specialty Pharmacy services and solutions to seniors. Centric operates a large national network of pharmacy fulfilment centres that deliver high-volume solutions for the cost-effective supply of chronic medication and other specialty clinical pharmacy services, serving more than 31,000 residents in over 450 seniors communities (long-term care, retirement homes, and assisted living facilities) nationally. With services that address the growing demand within the Canadian healthcare system, Centric’s unparalleled national care delivery platform provides significant potential for future expansion and growth.
Kensington Capital Advisors Inc. is a leading independent Canadian investor in alternative assets. Founded in 1996, and with over $1.5 billion invested in private equity, venture capital, and alternative assets. Kensington’s active management approach and relationship-based business has generated top quartile returns for investors.
Yorkville Asset Management is an independent investment boutique with a strong focus on the healthcare sector in Canada. Yorkville aims to help high net worth individuals, foundations, institutions, and family offices achieve their financial goals through its wealth management, estate and tax planning, portfolio management, and capital markets debt and equity advisory services.
Origin Senior Leads: Jim Meloche, Cathy Steiner, Tedi Gjoleka
Origin Merchant Partners is pleased to announce that ILTA Grain Inc. (“ILTA”) has completed the sale of its Saskatchewan processing facilities to ETG Commodities Inc. & DG Global Inc.
Origin Merchant Partners acted as exclusive financial advisor to ILTA with respect to this transaction.
ILTA Grain Inc. is a leading processor and merchandiser of pulses, grains/oilseeds and other special crops in Western Canada. ILTA has operations in locations throughout Saskatchewan.
ETG Commodities Inc. (“ETG”) is the Canadian subsidiary of Export Trading Group, one of the largest and fastest growing integrated agricultural conglomerates in Africa, importing and exporting agricultural commodities from 48 countries. The company entered the Canadian market in 2012 and acquired its first Canadian processing assets in 2014 with the purchase of TW Commodities in Swift Current. ETG exports Canadian pulses, canola and flax to over 15 countries.
DG Global Inc. is a Canadian leader in the marketing and distribution of food grade non-GMO soybeans, pulses, cereals and feed products internationally. DG Global is Canadian owned and operated with market reach to over 6o countries and an established network of partnerships around the world.
Origin Senior Lead: Andrew Muirhead
Origin Merchant Partners is pleased to provide a Formal Valuation and Fairness opinion to the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of Hydrogenics Corporation (“Hydrogenics”) with respect to a proposed acquisition by Cummins Inc. (“Cummins”) for all of the outstanding shares of Hydrogenics, other than the shares already owned by The Hydrogen Company.
Hydrogenics is a world leader in engineering and building the technologies required to enable the acceleration of a global power shift. Headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, Hydrogenics provides hydrogen generation, energy storage and hydrogen power modules to its customers and partners around the world. Hydrogenics has manufacturing sites in Germany, Belgium and Canada and service centers in Russia, Europe, the US and Canada.
Cummins, a global power leader, is a corporation of complementary business units that design, manufacture, distribute and service a broad portfolio of power solutions. The company’s products range from diesel and natural gas engines to hybrid and electric platforms, as well as related technologies, including battery systems, fuel systems, controls, air handling, filtration, emission solutions and electrical power generation systems. Cummins serves customers in approximately 190 countries and territories through a network of approximately 600 company-owned and independent distributor locations and over 7,600 dealer locations and generated sales of $23.8 billion in 2018.
Origin Senior Lead: Jim Osler
Origin Merchant Partners is pleased to announce that ILTA Grain Inc. (“ILTA”) has completed the sale of its Belle Plaine, SK facility to Viterra Inc. The state of the art facility can handle a wide range of pulses and other commodities for export to countries worldwide.
Origin Merchant Partners acted as exclusive financial advisor to ILTA with respect to this transaction.
ILTA Grain Inc. is a leading processor and merchandiser of pulses, grains/oilseeds and other special crops in Western Canada. ILTA has operations in locations throughout Saskatchewan.
Viterra Inc. (“Viterra”) is one of Canada’s leading grain companies, headquartered in Regina, Saskatchewan. Viterra has operations throughout North America that handle, process, distribute and transport grains and oilseeds globally. Viterra is part of Glencore Agriculture, a global market leader in originating, handling, processing and marketing agricultural commodities.
Origin Senior Lead: Andrew Muirhead
Origin Merchant Partners is pleased to announce that Integrated Asset Management (“IAM”) has entered into an Arrangement Agreement with Fiera Capital Corporation.
Origin Merchant Partners acted as the exclusive financial advisor to IAM with respect to this transaction.
Integrated Asset Management is one of Canada’s leading alternative asset management companies with approximately $3.1 billion in assets and committed capital under management in private debt, infrastructure debt and real estate as of February 28, 2019. IAM’s common shares trade on the TSX under the ticker symbol IAM.
Fiera Capital Corporation (“Fiera Capital”) is a global independent asset management firm with approximately C$136.7 billion in AUM as at December 31, 2018 delivering customized multi-asset solutions across traditional and alternative asset classes to institutional, retail and private wealth clients across North America, Europe and key markets in Asia. Fiera Capital trades under the ticker FSZ on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
Origin Senior Lead: Rob Penteliuk
Origin Merchant Partners is pleased to announce the successful sale of ACS, Inc. (« ACS ») to LMR Distributing, LLC (« LMR »). Origin Merchant Partners acted as the exclusive financial advisor to ACS on this transaction.
ACS is the largest value-added distributor of Motorola two-way radio products in North America. With extensive distribution capabilities, ACS serves resellers with corporate offices in nine Midwest states, as well as large national accounts based throughout the U.S.
LMR is a value-added distributor of Motorola commercial radios primarily in the Midwest.
Origin Senior Lead: Bill Doepke
Origin Merchant Partners is pleased to announce that Diversified Royalty Corp. has acquired the trademarks and certain other intellectual property rights utilized by Mr. Mikes Restaurants Corporation in its restaurant business and entered into a royalty agreement with Mr. Mikes.
Origin Merchant Partners was retained by certain Mr. Mikes shareholders as Exclusive Financial Advisor with regards to the sale of the trademarks and certain other intellectual property rights of Mr. Mikes and the royalty agreement.
Diversified Royalty Corp. is a multi-royalty corporation, engaged in the business of acquiring top-line royalties from well-managed multi-location businesses and franchisors in North America. Diversified currently owns the Sutton, Mr. Lube, AIR MILES® and Mr. Mikes trademarks in Canada.
Origin Senior Lead: Charles Pennock
Origin Merchant Partners was retained by Brookfield Business Partners LP (“Brookfield” or the “Fund”) to provide financial advisory services with respect to a confidential portfolio company transaction.
Brookfield is a business services and industrials focused investment company, with a flexible investment mandate and an overall goal of long term capital appreciation. As of Q1 2019, the Fund had $28 billion under assets, with ~45,000 operating employees and investments diversified across the globe.
Origin Senior Leads: Glenn Shyba, Jim Osler
