Partnership-Driven Private Equity: Inside Clairvest’s Minority Investment Model

In episode 151 of Views from the Market, Sebastien Dhonte joins me to discuss Clairvest’s approach to mid-market M&A. Based in Toronto but very active on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border, Clairvest has decades of experience with its distinctive partnership-driven investment model. Their approach prioritizes alignment of interests, with existing management teams maintaining effective operational control. While Clairvest often holds a minority stake, it is far from passive: the firm supports management growth strategies and retains approval rights on hiring, financing, M&A, and budgeting. Sectors of interest include IT services, waste management, operations and maintenance and equipment rentals, among others. Sebastien and I conclude our discussion by looking at some of the trends that Clairvest is currently seeing in the marketplace. Listen and subscribe here: https://se.law/4510jSy