Team

Don Bent– Don brings over 20 years of financial industry experience to Fraser Mackenzie Merchant Capital in the areas of mezzanine debt lending, private equity investment and investment banking. Prior to joining FMMC to head up its mezzanine debt and private equity principal investment activities, Don co-founded Latitude Partners, where he raised and managed Canada’s first buyout fund aimed specifically at the technology industry. Targeting profitable companies, the fund made equity investments ranging from $4 to $7 million.

More recently, Don was a partner and member of the investment committee at Fulcrum Capital Partners (formerly HSBC Capital (Canada)). Fulcrum manages over $700 million with a mandate to provide mezzanine financing as well as private equity to mid-sized businesses, with a cheque size ranging from $5-$30 million. Through his activities with both Fulcrum and Latitude Partners, Don has considerable Board experience with companies across a wide range of industries.

Don started his Bay Street career in investment banking with Lancaster Financial (acquired by TD Securities), and has executed over 100 M&A and financing assignments with dozens of companies including Cisco, LSI Logic, MacDonald Dettwiler, COM DEV, RIM and Open Text, as well as smaller entrepreneurial firms like Sandvine, Zoomit (now Microsoft Active Directory) and Janna Systems (now Oracle).

Don is a CA (gold medalist for Nova Scotia) and a graduate of Mount Allison University (B. Comm with Distinction).

Michael Liik – Michael is a Professional Engineer and MBA (both from University of Toronto) with over 25 years of merchant banking and senior management experience. Since 1996 he has been active in both principal investment and merchant banking activities through Liikfam Holdings Inc. and, more recently, at Fraser Mackenzie Merchant Capital. Michael, through Liikfam, was a partner in HSD Partners, a private equity investment firm, from 1998 to 2004.

His senior management experience includes CEO of Cymat Technologies Inc. from 1999 to 2004 (he is currently Executive Chairman); VP Corporate Development Slater Steel Inc. from 1993 to 1998; VP Development Horsham Corporation (predecessor to Trizec Corporation) from 1990 to 1993. Michael started his career with National Bank and was a founding member of their mezzanine real estate lending and investment group.

Michael also sits on several public and private company boards including Cymat Technologies Inc., Carthew Bay Technologies Inc., and Colorep Inc.

Philip Benson – Philip is a graduate of Queen’s University where he completed an Honours degree in International Relations and Strategic Studies. With over eighteen years of experience in the investment industry that has spanned portfolio management, research and investment banking, Philip brings a broad skill set to the projects he undertakes.

Prior to establishing Fraser Mackenzie Merchant Capital in 2011, Philip spent 4 years at Fraser Mackenzie Limited, where he led the firm’s diversified industries investment banking activities. Prior to that, he was a Director at Blackmont Capital (formerly First Associates) providing investment banking services to a clientele spanning the industrial, technology and consumer products sectors. From 1993-1999, he was a Vice President and partner at MMI Group, a Toronto based money manager and merchant bank.

He has authored a number of articles for Canadian and international publications, including a comprehensive study of Canada’s aerospace industry. He is also the author of the The 50 Best Stocks to Own in Canada, published by Macmillan Canada in 2001. Philip is a member of the Canadian Forces and the Canadian Institute of Strategic Studies.

Mark Polubiec – Mr. Polubiec is currently serving as the chairman of Fraser Mackenzie Merchant Capital.

Mr. Polubiec has an HBA from the University of Western Ontario (now the Richard Ivey School of Business) and an MBA from the Wharton School of Finance, University of Pennsylvania. He has worked in the investment dealer business for over 30 years following five years as a financial analyst with Canadian Pacific Limited.

Mr. Polubiec has extensive experience in the capital markets of Canada and the United States. He started in the investment business at Burns Fry Limited in the mergers and acquisitions department, which he ultimately ran for three years before becoming the CEO of the US operations of Security Pacific Burns Fry Inc. In 1994, he joined Canaccord Capital Inc. as an Executive Vice President and global head of corporate finance, institutional sales, trading and research. Mr. Polubiec most recently served as Chairman, CEO, and Head of Investment Banking at Fraser Mackenzie Limited.