Views From the Market

Епизоди

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  Building and Selling a Canadian Manufacturing Business | Chandra Davis 03.09.2026 16мин

  What goes into preparing a family business for a successful sale? In this episode of Views from the Market, Mario Nigro speaks with Chandra Davis about the history and growth of Electro Cables, a wire and cable manufacturer in Trenton, Ontario, and the company’s eventual sale process. Topics discussed include: • How Chandra and her brother expanded Electro Cables by focusing on quality • Why they decided the timing was right to pursue a sale and new personal and professional goals • How preparation, normalized data, and experienced advisors drove a competitive sale process • Lessons for owners on full preparation and choosing the right advisory team 🔔 Get notified when new episodes drop. Follow Views from the Market on SoundCloud, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. 🤝 Follow Stikeman Elliott on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/stikeman-elliott-llp 🔗 For more information and resources, visit: stikeman.com/viewsfromthemarket
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  Seller Preparation & Other Keys to Success | Thomas Bevilacqua & Robert Bezede 20.08.2026 17мин

  What could better preparation mean for your exit value? Robert Bezede and Thomas Bevilacqua join Mario Nigro to share how their firm, Harmony Succession Partners, prepares sellers for successful exits in Canada’s increasingly sophisticated lower midmarket deal space. In this episode: • Why Harmony focuses on sell-side advisory for lower midmarket businesses • Why businesses with enterprise values of $3 million to $30 million are attracting a wider range of potential buyers • How succession-driven sales are increasing, even as many owners remain underprepared • Why buyer demand continues to exceed the supply of top-quality sellers • How financing uncertainty, longer diligence and earnouts are shaping deal execution 🔔 Get notified when new episodes drop. Follow Views from the Market on SoundCloud, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. 🤝 Follow Stikeman Elliott on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/stikeman-elliott-llp 🔗 For more information and resources, visit: stikeman.com/viewsfromthemarket
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  The Future of Tech M&A: AI, Data, and Deal Dynamics | Mario Di Pietro 05.08.2026 19мин

  How is AI changing the way technology companies are bought and sold? Mario Di Pietro, Co-founder and Managing Director of Origin Merchant Partners, joins Mario Nigro to discuss how AI is impacting Canadian tech M&A. In this episode: • How AI is influencing the valuation of technology companies • Why buyers, sellers, investors, and advisors are reevaluating long-term growth prospects • The continued strength of technology M&A activity in Canada • Why buyers are approaching transactions more cautiously amid market uncertainty • The opportunities AI could create for Canadian technology entrepreneurs 🔔 Get notified when new episodes drop. Follow Views from the Market on SoundCloud, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. 🤝 Follow Stikeman Elliott on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/stikeman-elliott-llp 🔗 For more information and resources, visit: stikeman.com/viewsfromthemarket
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  Episode 164 - Making Midmarket Leaders: A CEO Coach’s Playbook 23.07.2026 20мин

  Justin Joffe of Legate Partners joins us to share insights from his journey as an entrepreneur turned CEO coach, and what he believes makes a successful CEO. The discussion focuses on the challenges facing first-time business leaders, who must be able to balance big-picture thinking with detailed analysis, depending on the situation. While there is no one formula for success, Justin emphasizes the importance of being level-headed, highly organized and responsive to daily developments. Also important is the ability to concisely articulate the company’s vision and values to create a sense of direction across the organization. Finally, Justin recommends that searchers and other prospective acquirors/CEOs look past the spreadsheet to understand the type of commitment that running a particular type of business will entail. 🔗 To stay connected and receive the latest updates, subscribe to our podcast on SoundCloud, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. 🔗 Follow Stikeman Elliott on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/stikeman-elliott-llp 🔗 For more information and resources, visit: stikeman.com/viewsfromthemarket
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  Episode 163 - Tech M&A and AI’s Impact: Insights from a Top Tech Advisor 09.07.2026 15мин

  Anish Singla of Tequity Advisors, a sell-side tech M&A boutique focused on $20m-100m transactions, joins Mario Nigro for an insightful look at the state of tech M&A. After record activity in 2025, buyer concerns about AI disruption vulnerability are impacting certain tech sub-sectors, notably lightly-embedded point solution SaaS businesses. Anish notes that AI has moved rapidly to the forefront of diligence processes, with potential buyers seeking information in the early stages of the process. This trend currently favours tech products that are embedded in customer workflows with proprietary data. Overall, however, while Anish foresees a period of adjustment, he remains bullish on tech M&A over the next few years. 🔗 To stay connected and receive the latest updates, subscribe to our podcast on SoundCloud, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. 🔗 Follow Stikeman Elliott on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/stikeman-elliott-llp 🔗 For more information and resources, visit: stikeman.com/viewsfromthemarket
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  Episode 162 - Steady Volume, Slower Pace: Canada’s Midmarket in Changing Times 25.06.2026 17мин

  Tyler Lang of HDL Capital, a Toronto-based M&A advisory firm, joins Mario Nigro to discuss the latest trends in lower midmarket deals. One notable shift is the lengthening of typical deal timelines to 4-6 months post-LOI, up from 2-4 months just a few years ago, driven by increased lender caution and reliance on quality of earnings reports. He also highlights a trend of sellers holding unrealistic valuation expectations based on outdated market reports and, increasingly, AI-generated analyses. Despite macroeconomic uncertainty, Tyler remains optimistic, citing strong private equity interest and the continuing wave of “baby-boomer” exits. 🔗 To stay connected and receive the latest updates, subscribe to our podcast on SoundCloud, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. 🔗 Follow Stikeman Elliott on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/stikeman-elliott-llp 🔗 For more information and resources, visit: stikeman.com/viewsfromthemarket
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  Episode 161 - The M&A Club: Connecting Canada’s Dealmakers 10.06.2026 15мин

  Ugo Dionne, President of M&A Club Canada, joins Mario Nigro to discuss his organization’s role in Canada’s M&A ecosystem. He explains how the Club, with 20 chapters across Canada, brings together M&A service providers for monthly meetings at which they can share deal opportunities, discuss trends, and build trust-based networks. Recent “hot topics” at M&A Club sessions include the challenge of getting business owners to prepare for exits earlier and the impact of tariff, interest rate, and geopolitical uncertainty on Canadian dealmaking. Ugo also highlights the Club’s new Academy, offering training programs in partnership with McGill University, and plans for international expansion to New York, London, and Paris. 🔗 To stay connected and receive the latest updates, subscribe to our podcast on SoundCloud, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. 🔗 Follow Stikeman Elliott on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/stikeman-elliott-llp 🔗 For more information and resources, visit: stikeman.com/viewsfromthemarket
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  Episode 160 - Incorruptible: Eric Ries Discusses His Latest Book 28.05.2026 20мин

  In this episode, Eric Ries joins Mario Nigro to discuss his latest book, Incorruptible. The book’s thesis is that the business world’s focus on shareholder primacy and profit extraction is inconsistent with the interests of the businesses themselves. Because purpose-driven companies outperform extractive companies, buyers should diligence intangibles such as ethos, pricing restraint and employee loyalty – not just balance sheets. In Eric’s experience, sellers of purpose-driven businesses often prefer bidders that commit to maintaining their legacy over higher bids from extractive buyers. 🔗 To stay connected and receive the latest updates, subscribe to our podcast on SoundCloud, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. 🔗 Follow Stikeman Elliott on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/stikeman-elliott-llp 🔗 For more information and resources, visit: stikeman.com/viewsfromthemarket
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  Episode 159 - Valuation and Due Diligence in an Age of Uncertainty 30.04.2026 15мин

  Joining Mario Nigro for this episode is Mackenzie Regent, co-founder of Kalos, a boutique transaction advisory firm providing financial due diligence and valuation for midmarket deals across North America. They discuss how global uncertainty is affecting midmarket deals, where resources for diligence deep-dives are often limited. According to Mackenzie, recent systemic shocks are interrupting deal flow, but generally only briefly, because advisors have become adept at structuring earnouts and other valuation bridges that blunt the impact of global uncertainty. 🔗 To stay connected and receive the latest updates, subscribe to our podcast on SoundCloud, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. 🔗 Follow Stikeman Elliott on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/stikeman-elliott-llp 🔗 For more information and resources, visit: stikeman.com/viewsfromthemarket
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  Episode 158 - Private Equity with a Hard Hat: Investing in Canada’s Trades-Based Businesses 16.04.2026 20мин

  Jeffrey McCain of Woodward Capital joins Mario Nigro to discuss his firm’s evolution from traditional self-funded search into a broader investing platform participating across the capital stack (including LP positions in institutional funds and equity-gap situations). Jeff describes Woodward’s focus on trades-based businesses. HVAC, in particular, is attractive in light of the industry’s inherent stability, the frequency of succession-driven founder sales, and the ability to compound value through operational improvements. Jeff also provides an overview of the slightly different focus of JSM Capital, a new family office, which targets majority investments in infrastructure services platforms in the $5-15 million EBITDA range with a long-term hold strategy. 🔗 To stay connected and receive the latest updates, subscribe to our podcast on SoundCloud, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. 🔗 Follow Stikeman Elliott on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/stikeman-elliott-llp 🔗 For more information and resources, visit: stikeman.com/viewsfromthemarket
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  Episode 157 - Canadian PE Markets: 2026 Deal Trends 02.04.2026 11мин

  George Sabbouh of Stifel Financial joins Mario Nigro for an enlightening discussion on the state of the deal market in Canada. After an uneven “K-shaped” recovery in 2025, George is seeing strong momentum in certain sectors – metals and mining, business services, infrastructure services, and waste management – amid continuing buyer hesitancy in tariff-exposed sectors such as manufacturing. Broader market trends include increasing diligence around AI disruption risk, which is emerging as a major concern in the marketplace. Looking ahead, Sabbouh expects 2026 to strengthen with easing rates, an IPO rebound, significant dry powder, and alternative exit tools such as continuation vehicles and dividend recaps. 🔗 To stay connected and receive the latest updates, subscribe to our podcast on SoundCloud, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. 🔗 Follow Stikeman Elliott on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/stikeman-elliott-llp 🔗 For more information and resources, visit: stikeman.com/viewsfromthemarket
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  Episode 156 - Disciplined M&A: A Growth Strategy for a Family-Owned Business 19.03.2026 14мин

  Ezio Bondi of Bondi Produce & Specialty Foods joins Mario Nigro to discuss the M&A-driven growth of his Ontario-based food distribution business. Ezio highlights the roles that operational discipline, early adoption of technology, and a clear integration playbook have played in Bondi’s success. In a fragmented produce-distribution market, Bondi’s M&A strategy leverages its roots as a small family-owned business to address potential sellers’ legacy-protection concerns. Mario and Ezio also discuss Bondi’s decision to fund acquisitions directly from its balance sheet – a reflection of its philosophy of control and capital discipline. Ezio remains confident in the resilience of the produce sector and sees significant opportunity as older owner operators look to exit over the coming decade. 🔗 To stay connected and receive the latest updates, subscribe to our podcast on SoundCloud, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. 🔗 Follow Stikeman Elliott on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/stikeman-elliott-llp 🔗 For more information and resources, visit: stikeman.com/viewsfromthemarket
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  Episode 155 - Fund Structures in Canada’s Midmarket: What’s New and What’s Coming 05.03.2026 14мин

  Jeffrey Elliott, a partner in Stikeman Elliott’s funds and securities regulatory practice, joins Mario Nigro to discuss the evolution of private equity fund structures in Canada. While the classic single-fund structure and traditional “2 and 20” model are still intact, sponsors are increasingly using more complex arrangements, including co-investment vehicles, GP-led secondaries, open-ended or long-duration funds, and continuation vehicles in which an asset is rolled over to a new investor base. The discussion explores the growth of midmarket fund formation in Canada, including funds of search funds and emerging “holdco” structures that resemble fund vehicles but focus on narrower strategies. Looking ahead, Jeffrey expects continued growth in long-term hold strategies and increased secondary market activity as investor liquidity needs evolve. 🔗 To stay connected and receive the latest updates, subscribe to our podcast on SoundCloud, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. 🔗 Follow Stikeman Elliott on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/stikeman-elliott-llp 🔗 For more information and resources, visit: stikeman.com/viewsfromthemarket
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  Episode 154 - Canada’s Venture and Growth Equity Evolution: Rising to Today’s Challenges 19.02.2026 19мин

  Join Mario Nigro and Senia Rapisarda, Managing Director of HarbourVest Canada, for a discussion of Canada’s changing venture, growth and private equity landscape. Senia and HarbourVest have become a significant presence in the Canadian market, with $1.2 billion in investments focused on the technology, climate tech and life sciences sectors. Key challenges for Canada’s entrepreneurs, in Senia’s view, include building large, enduring Canadian champions, overcoming the shortage of domestic growth capital, and encouraging a culture of repeat entrepreneurship. Looking ahead, Senia believes that geopolitical uncertainty will prompt Canadian entrepreneurs to pursue global opportunities, fostering a more balanced and internationally connected business sector. 🔗 To stay connected and receive the latest updates, subscribe to our podcast on SoundCloud, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. 🔗 Follow Stikeman Elliott on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/stikeman-elliott-llp 🔗 For more information and resources, visit: stikeman.com/viewsfromthemarket
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  Episode 153 - Patience, Purpose and the Personal Touch: Lessons from the Founders of GoodCapital 05.02.2026 18мин

  In this episode, Mario Nigro speaks with Adrian Bartha and Quinten Griffiths, founding partners of GoodCapital, about their approach to midmarket private equity. GoodCapital was built on a high involvement, hands on model that influences everything from deal selection to post acquisition engagement and is informed by Quinten and Adrian’s own experiences as business owners and acquirers. While not exclusively tied to the proprietary deal model, its four acquisitions to date have been sourced internally from the founders’ extensive networks. This underscores the firm’s core belief that deep and longstanding personal relationships are the key to success in any economic environment. 🔗 To stay connected and receive the latest updates, subscribe to our podcast on SoundCloud, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. 🔗 Follow Stikeman Elliott on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/stikeman-elliott-llp 🔗 For more information and resources, visit: stikeman.com/viewsfromthemarket
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  Episode 152 - CollectiveXP: Investing Capital and Tech Expertise in Canada’s Midmarket 22.01.2026 19мин

  David Au-Yeung and Victor Wong join Mario Nigro to discuss CollectiveXP, which provides investment and advisory services in Canada’s lower midmarket. After exiting Flipp, a VC-backed tech startup that achieved revenues over $100 million, David and Victor decided to use their skills, connections and capital to work with other investors. CollectiveXP’s philosophy centres on relationship building, early collaboration with founders, and leveraging real-world experience to apply technology – including AI – to drive growth in midmarket businesses across all sectors. CollectiveXP typically makes minority investments, with flexibility for majority stakes. 🔗 To stay connected and receive the latest updates, subscribe to our podcast on SoundCloud, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. 🔗 Follow Stikeman Elliott on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/stikeman-elliott-llp 🔗 For more information and resources, visit: stikeman.com/viewsfromthemarket
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  Episode 151 - Partnership-Driven Private Equity: Inside Clairvest’s Minority Investment Model 09.01.2026 17мин

  Sebastien Dhonte joins Mario Nigro to discuss Clairvest’s approach to mid-market M&A. Based in Toronto but very active on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border, Clairvest has decades of experience with its distinctive partnership-driven investment model. Their approach prioritizes alignment of interests, with existing management teams maintaining effective operational control. While Clairvest often holds a minority stake, it is far from passive: the firm supports management growth strategies and retains approval rights on hiring, financing, M&A, and budgeting. Sectors of interest include IT services, waste management, operations and maintenance and equipment rentals, among others. Sebastien and Mario conclude their discussion by looking at some of the trends that Clairvest is currently seeing in the marketplace. 🔗 To stay connected and receive the latest updates, subscribe to our podcast on SoundCloud, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. 🔗 Follow Stikeman Elliott on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/stikeman-elliott-llp 🔗 For more information and resources, visit: stikeman.com/viewsfromthemarket
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  Episode 150 - Trends in Midmarket M&A Cybersecurity Diligence 17.12.2025 22мин

  In the 150th episode of Views from the Market, Ira Goldstein joins Mario Nigro to discuss the evolving role of cybersecurity in midmarket M&A. As he explains, cybersecurity diligence has become a key part of deal-making, driven by the ever-increasing value of data in many business sectors. He stresses the value of hands-on technical assessments – rather than check-the-box exercises – for many organizations, as well as the importance of proactive controls and the challenges smaller firms face in allocating resources for cybersecurity. Looking ahead, Goldstein predicts increased use of AI-driven tools for risk assessment as cybersecurity awareness continues to grow. 🔗 To stay connected and receive the latest updates, subscribe to our podcast on SoundCloud, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts 🔗 Follow Stikeman Elliott on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/stikeman-elliott-llp 🔗 For more information and resources, visit: stikeman.com/viewsfromthemarket
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  Episode 149 - BDC’s Thrive ETA Fund: Driving Success for Canada’s Women Entrepreneurs 04.12.2025 18мин

  This episode of "Views from the Market" features Sévrine Labelle, Managing Director of BDC’s Thrive Lab and Thrive Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition Fund, which focus on women entrepreneurs. As Sévrine notes, only 4% of investment in Canada supports women-founded businesses. The conversation centres on the newly launched $50 million Thrive ETA Fund, which helps women become entrepreneurs through acquisition – whether via search funds, self-funded deals, or management buyouts. The fund provides equity for women to acquire mid-sized businesses. Sévrine emphasizes the sector-agnostic fund’s flexibility in investment models and cheque sizes (typically $1 - 2 million) and its reliance on co-investment rather than majority ownership. 🔗 To stay connected and receive the latest updates, subscribe to our podcast on SoundCloud, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts 🔗 Follow Stikeman Elliott on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/stikeman-elliott-llp 🔗 For more information and resources, visit: stikeman.com/viewsfromthemarket
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  Episode 148 - Preserving Wealth Post-Exit: Using Institutional Models for Global Diversification 20.11.2025 19мин

  In this episode, Mario Nigro speaks with Andrew Sarna and Vanessa Hui of Forthlane Partners, an independent wealth management firm. Forthlane offers sophisticated institutional investment strategies to its clientele of high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and foundations. Vanessa and Andrew discuss how the firm diversifies client investments through private equity, hedge funds, and defensive credit strategies that offer downside protection. The broad experience of Forthlane’s team allows it to tap into geographies and lower midmarket investments that are sometimes overlooked. Opportunities in precious metals and other commodities, which are partly AI-driven, are among the recent developments that are considered. 🔗 To stay connected and receive the latest updates, subscribe to our podcast on SoundCloud, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts 🔗 Follow Stikeman Elliott on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/stikeman-elliott-llp 🔗 For more information and resources, visit: stikeman.com/viewsfromthemarket