The Origin team uniquely combines extensive education domain knowledge with multi-decade, senior M&A experience to ensure its Education sector clients are well- positioned and advised for an optimal outcome. The team has particular expertise in the post-secondary market, and has also advised on buy-side, sell-side and financing transactions in the K-12 and edtech sub-sectors.
Managing Director, Quebec Lead
Managing Director, Quebec Lead
Alain has close to three decades of experience, principally in senior executive operating and financial roles in public companies in the financial services and technology industries. His career also includes roles in the private equity and investment banking industries. Prior to joining Origin, Alain was a Senior Partner at Novacap Inc, a leading Canadian private equity firm. Previous senior positions include roles as President and CEO of Bourse de Montréal Inc. and Group Head of Derivatives and fixed income markets, TMX Group, as well as CFO and COO roles at mdf Commerce, a TSX-listed company. Alain also has extensive experience in corporate governance, having served on numerous public and private company boards. Currently, he is Lead Director and board member of GURU Organic Energy Inc, a TSX-listed company with a $500M+ market capitalization.
Alain holds a Bachelor of Commerce from HEC Montréal and an MBA from INSEAD. He is also a CPA, having earned his CA designation. Alain’s select transaction list includes
• Co-lead partner in the $350M fund raise for Novacap Financial Services Fund 1; involved in close to $75M in deployments in the insurance sector
• Lead partner in the $30M acquisition of Marine Press of Canada by Champlain Financial Corporation
• CFO and key executive on the $1B combination of TSX Group and Montreal Exchange Inc
• Lead executive on Montreal Exchange Inc.’s $75M control investment in BOX Options Exchange LLC
• Chair of Special Committee on the sale of Fortsum Business Solutions (TSX-listed) to GFI Informatique
Vice President
Vice President
Cyprien joined Origin Merchant Partners in November 2020. Prior to Origin, Cyprien was an Associate at Vulcain, an investment banking boutique in Paris, France, where he focused on executing mid-market M&A transactions in diverse industries such as retail, construction, financial services, manufacturing and renewable energy.
Cyprien holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from HEC Montreal and a Masters of Management from ESSEC Business School.
Managing Director
Managing Director
Jim has over 25 years experience in investment and corporate banking including 20 years at Canadian and Global Investment banks.
Prior to joining Origin as a Principal, Jim was Managing Director and a member of the Board of Directors at Macquarie Capital in Canada. Previously, Jim was Managing Director in Investment Banking where he was responsible for managing several businesses including Credit Capital Markets, Derivatives Marketing and Private Equity. Jim was also a member of the Senior Credit Committee, Investment Banking Operating Committee and Equity/Debt Capital Markets Committees.
Jim holds an Honours BBA from Wilfrid Laurier University and the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.
Jim’s selected list of transactions:
• Advising Centric Health Corp. on 2 transactions
• ChildVentures’ strategic investment by Fusion Ventures
• Pivot Pharmaceuticals strategic investment
• Jaguar Mining – $28million recapitalization financing and credit advisor
Managing Director
Managing Director
For over 25 years, Jim has been an advisor in both public and private markets, in domestic and cross-border transactions, and in industries as diverse as consumer products, utilities, and financial services. Jim was an initial partner in the formation of Genuity Capital Markets where he built and ran Canada’s leading independent M&A group. Following the acquisition of Genuity, Jim became Head of Canadian Mergers and Acquisitions at Canaccord Genuity until he left the firm in 2011. Previously, Jim was a Managing Director at CIBC World Markets, with 10 years of experience in the M&A and corporate finance groups.
Jim holds a B.A. (Honours) degree from Queen’s University and an MBA from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. Jim earned both a Chartered Accountant and a Chartered Financial Analyst designation while employed by Ernst & Young in Toronto.
Managing Director
Managing Director
Shaun has 8 years of M&A experience across a variety of industries, including both domestic and cross-border transactions. Shaun was formerly an M&A Associate at BMO Capital Markets. Shaun’s industry experience includes software, wireless communications, mining, real estate and agriculture.
Shaun has advised on such transactions as Fairfax Financial Holdings’ convertible debenture investment into BlackBerry Inc., the hostile defense and subsequent sale of KeyREIT, the acquisition of the Special Crops Division of Legumex Walker by The Scoular Company and the sale of Primus Telecommunications to Birch Communications.
Shaun holds an MBA, specializing in Finance, from the Schulich School of Business.
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