Two Toronto-led deals: CBSF sale and Pawnee purchase
Sold Canada's Best Store Fixtures to LSI Industries and advised North Mill on buying Pawnee Leasing from Chesswood Group.
Canadian Investment Bank
Montreal- and Toronto-based mid-market M&A advisor and Canadian member of the Oaklins network.
Oaklins Canada Inc. is the Canadian member firm of Oaklins, a network of independent M&A advisory firms, with teams in Montreal and Toronto. The Canadian team runs sell-side, buy-side and capital-raising mandates for Canadian private companies and owners, with stated focus on rail, manufacturing, aerospace, consumer products, food & beverage and technology. Its Toronto practice was expanded in 2021 when Oaklins Canada acquired Alexander Capital Group, a Toronto boutique investment bank. For recruits it is a small, partner-led mid-market shop rather than a bulge-bracket-style program.
Runs sale processes for Canadian owner-managed and PE-backed companies, often canvassing North American buyers (e.g. Canada's Best Store Fixtures, Stageline).
2 interview reports0 open roles4 deals5 people16 sources
Advises acquirers, including foreign strategics entering Canada (e.g. Talan's purchase of Thinkmax) and buyers of Canadian-owned assets (e.g. North Mill's purchase of Pawnee from Chesswood).
Sources growth and expansion capital for public and private clients; the Canadian capital-raising business is led from Toronto by partner Sandy Rhind.
Provides independent valuations and fairness opinions, including for boards of Canadian public companies.
| Montreal | QC | headquarters |
| Toronto | ON | office |
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Reasons that work in interviews
2 reasons for Oaklins Canada
At this size the interviewer is usually a founding partner, so a reason assembled from the firm’s homepage will not survive. Build the answer from four things instead, in order: one named transaction from their tombstones and what you found interesting about it; who you would report to, and what you want to learn from them specifically; why small, in your own words, tied to something you have actually done; and why this sector or region, if the firm has one.
Canadian member of a global mid-market network spanning dozens of countries, so cross-border mandates reach a small local team.
Mid-market sell-side for private owners. Confirm the Canadian team's sector focus and recent closings before you use this.
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Typical background
GuidanceNo prior finance experience required.
Global bulge brackets and elite boutiques
Global banks
Oaklins Canada works as one generalist team: bankers staff deals across these sectors rather than joining a group, so there is no group to pick when you apply. Canadian member of the global Oaklins network with teams in Montreal and Toronto; the site presents firm-wide industry expertise and service lines without tying them to a specific Canadian office.
Aerospace, Defense & SecurityAgricultureAutomotiveBusiness Support ServicesConstruction & Engineering ServicesConsumer & RetailEnergyFinancial ServicesFood & BeverageHealthcareIndustrial Machinery & ComponentsLogisticsPrivate EquityReal EstateTechnology, Media and Telecommunications
M&A sell-sideM&A buy-sideGrowth equity & ECMDebt advisoryCorporate finance services
Managing Partner
Toronto
Toronto-based managing partner with 15+ years advising shareholders on M&A, divestitures and capital raising, largely for private and family-owned companies in manufacturing, food & beverage, retail, business services and healthcare services. Previously an M&A director at MNP Corporate Finance and a vice president at KPMG Corporate Finance in Vancouver, after mining investment banking and PwC. CPA, CA; Rotman BCom and Schulich MBA.
Managing Partner
Montreal
Montreal-based managing partner with 20+ years in debt and equity financing, M&A and project finance, focused on food & beverage, consumer & retail, TMT and manufacturing; advised Stageline, Innotex and Boudrias Horticole on their sales. Formerly a director at PwC Corporate Finance and in Hydro-Québec's structured finance group. HEC Montréal BBA; CPA, CA, CF.
Partner
Toronto; leads Canadian capital raising
Toronto partner who leads Oaklins Canada's capital-raising business and advises on M&A in financial services, TMT, renewable energy and engineering services. Founded and ran Alexander Capital Group, the Toronto boutique Oaklins Canada acquired in 2021; earlier a managing director at BMO Capital Markets and head of European investment banking for Burns Fry in London. Queen's engineering; UConn MBA.
Partner
Toronto
Toronto partner with 25+ years in M&A and corporate finance, including independent valuations and fairness opinions for public-company boards; sectors include business services, telecom, financial services, consumer and building products. Previously a partner at Alexander Capital Group and a managing director in BMO Capital Markets' M&A group, after starting at EY corporate finance in London. Chartered accountant (ICAS).
Partner
Montreal; aerospace
Montreal partner with 25+ years in corporate development and M&A, specialising in aerospace manufacturing; clients have included Sonaca, Atlas Aeronautik and Trident Industries. Previously VP corporate development at Héroux-Devtek, with earlier engineering and market-development roles at Bombardier Transportation and Novabus; founded his own aerospace M&A consultancy in 2013.
Professional information only, drawn from official biographies and published reporting. BSO never lists private contact details.
Mar 1, 2025
Canada's Best Store Fixtures (CBSF)
Sole sell-side financial advisor to CBSF shareholders · Retail fixtures manufacturing
Buyer LSI Industries (NASDAQ: LYTS) · Seller CBSF shareholders
Cincinnati-based LSI Industries acquired Canadian retail-fixture designer and manufacturer CBSF after Oaklins canvassed the North American market for the shareholders. Month-only date (March 2025).
Mar 1, 2025
Pawnee Leasing Corporation (and certain other assets)
Buy-side advisor to North Mill Equipment Finance · Equipment finance
Buyer North Mill Equipment Finance LLC · Seller Chesswood Group Limited
North Mill Equipment Finance bought Pawnee Leasing from Canadian lender Chesswood Group, lifting its receivables under management above US$2 billion; Oaklins' Toronto partners advised the buyer. Month-only date (March 2025).
Nov 1, 2024
Thinkmax
Sole buy-side financial advisor to Talan Group · Technology consulting (Microsoft Dynamics 365)
Buyer Talan Group
TowerBrook-backed consultancy Talan bought Canadian Dynamics 365 consultancy Thinkmax to expand in Canada and North America; Oaklins' Canadian team identified the target and acted as sole buy-side advisor. Month-only date (November 2024).
Jul 1, 2024
Stageline Mobile Stage Inc.
Sell-side M&A advisor to Stageline · Industrial machinery (mobile staging)
Buyer BDG & Partners and Fonds de solidarité FTQ (with management and founder) · Seller Stageline shareholders (management and private equity)
Quebec mobile-stage maker Stageline moved to a new ownership group led by BDG & Partners and the Fonds de solidarité FTQ after a competitive sale process run by Oaklins' Canadian team. Month-only date (July 2024) per Oaklins.
Sold Canada's Best Store Fixtures to LSI Industries and advised North Mill on buying Pawnee Leasing from Chesswood Group.
Sole buy-side advisor as Talan expanded into Canada.
Sell-side mandate for the Quebec mobile-stage manufacturer.
Oaklins Canada bought Toronto boutique investment bank Alexander Capital Group; its founder Sandy Rhind and partner Blair Agnew are now Toronto partners. Year only.
No sourced people moves for this firm. BSO publishes a fact only once it can attribute it to a named source, so these stay off the page rather than being filled in from inference. If you know something published that belongs here, it is the fastest way to get it added.
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