River Cree with Crosbie issues the first cross-border bond from a Canadian First Nation

There has been a complete make over of the Thomson Reuter PE Hub website and the editor, Kirk Falconer, is scooping up stories on a usually closed industry of private equity. Here is his latest story on the innovative deal done by Crosbie with one of the leading First Nations casino enterprises:

River Cree Enterprises said it has issued the first cross-border bond from a Canadian First Nation-owned entity, tapping a group of Canadian and U.S. institutional investors. The bond issue, estimated by The Globe and Mailat $200 million, has helped facilitate the Enoch Cree Nation‘s acquisition in partnership with River Cree Enterprises of sole ownership of the Edmonton, Alberta-based River Cree Resort and Casino, buying out minority partnerParagon Gaming. Advice in connection with the acquisition and financing strategy was provided by investment bank Crosbie & Co, which confirmed that the bond issue attracted interest from investors that are active in alternative assets markets. The casino will be managed by gaming property operator Sonco Gaming Inc of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Torys LLP was one of the legal advisors on the deal.
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Cover-FX discovers that Private Equity does take your business to the next level

The Globe and Mail has a story of value to entrepreneurs and business owners thinking about growing their company, but choking from lack of capital.

Deals with Canadian firms are being closed by large and sophisticated investors that, at first glance, seem to fall well below the revenue threshold usually required for a chat over lunch – never mind an acquisition.

Private equity and strategic buyers are dipping their nets into shallower waters and scooping up small companies. U.S. investors, in particular, are not waiting for businesses to grow organically because they recognize there’s a risk they might attract the eye of a Canadian equivalent. Once a business has signed with a tier-one private equity firm or a strategic partner, there won’t likely be room for another investor, unless it’s at a significantly higher price.

Sophisticated investors have the experience, and the research and consumer data, to identify what might be tomorrow’s stars, given some additional capital and oversight. The trick is to spot small businesses that already have a product with market leadership potential. The company must be able to replicate its efforts in multiple markets and address a highly specific customer need.

The founders and shareholders need to demonstrate they have the operational competence to take capital and use it to roll-out an expansion strategy. Lee Graff, co-founder and president of Cover FX, a foundation cosmetics company, landed her investment partners through serendipity.

Ms. Graff was invited to lunch, under the impression she was meeting with the owner of a U.S. retail chain who was interested in carrying her cosmetics. She went over the Cover FX story for two hours. First, she talked about the specific customer need the company addressed – Ms. Graff had worked with a dermatologist for many years, mixing colour and textures onto patients’ faces.

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Jacoline Loewen, Advisor on Sale of your business or partial Sale of your business.
416 362 1709