Don Bent
Partner
Don brings over 30 years of financial industry experience to Fraser Mackenzie Merchant Capital in the areas of mezzanine debt lending, private equity investment and investment banking. Don is one of the firm’s co-founders and plays a lead role in FMMC Private Yield Fund as well as the firm’s buyout activities.
Prior to joining FMMC, Don co-founded Latitude Partners, where he raised and managed Canada’s first buyout fund aimed specifically at the technology industry. More recently, Don was a partner and member of the investment committee at Fulcrum Capital Partners (formerly HSBC Capital (Canada)). During Don’s tenure, Fulcrum/HSBC Capital managed over $700 million with a mandate to provide mezzanine financing as well as private equity to mid-sized businesses. 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, Blackberry 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, CPA (gold medalist for Nova Scotia) and a graduate of Mount Allison University. He is also a former Mentor with MaRS Discovery District’s INFRONT Global Fund Manager Mentorship Program.
Michael Liik
Partner
Michael is a Professional Engineer and MBA (both from University of Toronto) with over 30 years of merchant banking and senior management experience. Mike is one of the firm’s co-founders and is actively involve din all segments of FMMC’s business. Prior to FMMC Mike had been active in both principal investment and merchant banking activities at HSD Partners and through Liikfam Holdings Inc.
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; and 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.
Philip Benson
Partner
Philip is a graduate of Queen’s University where he completed an Honours degree in International Relations and Strategic Studies. With over thirty years of experience in the investment industry that has spanned portfolio management, research and investment banking.
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 former member of the Canadian Forces.
Philip sits on the Board of Vision Utility Services Inc. and Yangaroo Inc. (YOO-TSXV).
Kalev Hess
Principal
Kalev joined Fraser Mackenzie in February 2015 after three years with KPMG, one of Canada’s largest advisory firms focused on the middle market, where he was an Associate in the Transaction Services group and a member of the Industrial and Consumer Products industry team. Kalev began his career in 2009 at KPMG in the Audit & Assurance practice providing audit-related services to both public multinationals as well as privately held, owner-managed companies. He also spent time in an operating role at Humber River Hospital, where he worked in the decision support group providing practice optimization and financial advisory to various clinical areas.
Kalev holds an Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree from Queen’s School of Business. He is a Chartered Professional Accountant as well as a CFA Charterholder.