CSR Cosmetic Solutions
Acting as exclusive advisor to the seller.
Background
CSR is an Ontario-based, contract manufacturer of cosmetics and personal care products. The CEO and sole owner had operated the business for over 15 years and was ready for a well-deserved retirement. A sale process run by a top-tier accounting firm in 2015 was unsuccessful.
Solution
Undeterred by the accounting firm’s result, we dug deep into the company’s metrics and knew we could negotiate success. We identified 102 potential buyers, both strategic and financial, through a search that went global and surfaced only 25.5% Canadian prospects. We created an auction-like environment that yielded 8 offers by the deadline, with Korean and American buyers making the most aggressive proposals. We overcame major cultural differences with the eventual winner, a Korean publicly traded contract manufacturer, and arrived at a deal in the upper end of the initial value guidance. The post-acquisition integration process was highly productive and the company is now growing under new ownership.
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Last Call Analytics
Last Call Analytics has developed a frontline sales analytics and visualization platform for the beverage and alcohol industry. FirePower invested Gap Debt as a way to bridge them to a Series-A financing.
Market Insights
From the archives: April 2019
Tapping into Private Debt: Unlocking Opportunity
It’s tough to find capital to execute on ambitious plans to grow, acquire or turn things around in Canada, particularly if you’re looking for…