ESOP Builders Inc. - Making Shared Ownership a Profitable Reality!

As part of our ongoing commitment to help ensure seamless exit completion and to maximize value creation, we help provide brokering and funding for clients.

A recent study by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) stated that the major problem faced by owners planning their succession is how to fund it. To better address our client concerns in this area, we have formalized relationships with the following key strategic partners of choice.

Gary Brent brings more than 30 years of experience in the financial services sector to the table. As well as the work he is doing with HighView Financial Group (www.highviewfin.com), he and a small syndicate of private individuals focus their time and effort on investing in private enterprises and real estate. Gary is one of the founding members of TAL Global Asset Management and is now the executive-in-residence for the Global Asset and Wealth Management MBA program at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia. During his career in the financial services sector, he has held senior executive positions with several wealth management organizations, which were focused on the needs of high net-worth families in Canada. Most recently, he was chairman and chief investment officer or RBC Global Private Banking, as well as president and CEO of RBC Private Counsel until his retirement in 2002.

Richard Jackim is an attorney, investment banker and co-founder of Christman Group, LLC, a middle-market investment banking firm based in Illinois (www.christmangroup.com). A graduate of Cornell Law School and the Kellogg Graduate School of Management, he has been involved in more than sixty mergers or acquisitions of middle market companies in the U.S. The Christman Group offers advice on investment banking, exit planning, fairness opinions and value enhancement services. Jackim recently co-authored The Trillion Dollar Opportunity with ESOP Builders Inc. president Perry Phillips for the Canadian market, based on Jackim's original critically acclaimed book The $10 Trillion Opportunity for the U.S. market. In 2005, The Exit Planning Institute selected The Christman Group to be its preferred service provider of investment banking services.

Eric R. Klein is a founding partner of Klein Farber, a leading independent Canadian firm specializing in mergers and acquisitions; divestitures and joint ventures; equity; mezzanine and debt capital raisings and refinancing. Eric has built a strong reputation in the industry with over 20 years of experience in corporate finance, corporate management, and professional accounting - a well deserved reputation based on pro-actively and expertly managing to achieve optimal results. For more information about Klen Farber, visit www.kleinfarber.com.

NorthRock Capital, founded by Natalie Townsend, is a private equity investment company in Toronto dedicated to being true long-term partners with outstanding management teams in building small and mid-market companies into market leaders in their respective industry niches. NorthRock (www.northrockcapital.com) will invest between $5 million - $15 million to fund buyouts, acquisitions, growth or recapitalizations for companies with over $2 million in EBITDA, sustainable competitive advantages and strong growth prospects. NorthRock's partners have proven track records of generating superior returns on private equity investments by building collaborative, trust-based partnerships with management teams to increase growth, scale, financial performance and, ultimately, valuation of small to mid-market companies.

Oxford Partners International Inc. is a unique retained executive search firm dedicated to enhancing your company’s leadership and success through the discovery and placement of superior senior-level executives. Bernadette Testani, founding partner of Oxford Partners International (Toronto), is a highly committed, insightful and effective executive recruiter. With over 15 years of experience, she has successfully completed over 200 national and international assignments across various functions including; general management, sales, finance, information technology, research & development, operations, marketing, human resources, and legal affairs. Her executive search career began at the renowned Caldwell Partners. Finally, Bernadette found her niche at executive search firm Highland Partners (previously known as TMP Worldwide and Illsley Bourbonnais Ward Howell). After 10 years, she made the move to Russell Reynolds Associates where she was instrumental in established their Professional Services and Healthcare Practice. But she soon realized the traditional recruiting model was never going to allow for the focus and commitment required and deserved for senior executive placement. It was this revelation that led Bernadette to found Oxford Partners International (www.oxford-partners.com) in 2005.

For twenty years, Shoniker & Associates – Courage Capital, headed by president Bob Shoniker, has been providing boutique investment banking firms, focusing on mid-market businesses. Over the past 18 years, Bob has arranged more than $600 million in financings and mergers, acquisitions and transactions. Prior to this, he founded two consulting companies to provide economic/market research and strategic planning counseling to consumer oriented companies in North America. Shoniker & Associates – Courage Capital raises capital starting at the $5 million level for debt and/or equity. In addition, it provides mergers and acquisition services for both buyers and sellers. For further information visit the web site at www.couragecapital.com.

Tim Cestnick, FCA, CPA, CFP, TEP, managing director, enjoys a reputation as one of Canada’s most recognized tax experts. Prior to co-founding WaterStreet Family Wealth Counsel, he was a senior executive with one of Canada's largest privately owned mutual fund companies. Prior to that, he was founder and president of a tax consulting and education firm which he sold in 2000; tax partner at accounting firm Bateman MacKay; and tax specialist at international accounting firm Deloitte. Tim is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, a tax columnist for the Globe & Mail, has written several Canadian best-sellers, and appears regularly on national television and radio. For more information go to www.waterstreet.ca.

The Succession Fund provides equity financing for family business ownership change, management buyouts and for entrepreneurs who want to take some “chips off the table”. The fund partners with continuing owner-managers, and then provides on-going strategic assistance to help create further substantial value. The Succession Fund invest $3-$8 million to acquire between 35% and 50% equity ownership positions. For more information, contact chartered business valuator Larry Klar at The Succession Fund (www.successionfund.com). In conjunction with Argosy Partners Ltd., the team brings together more than 80 years of experience in corporate equity, governance and corporate finance.

These strategic partners have been hand selected for their ability to consistently provide high quality service and for achieving a track record of success.