1. The Collins Group Inc.
Corporate Financing & M&A Advisors
The Collins Group Inc.
Helping: Raise Capital, M&A,
Recruit Strategic Partners
Focus: Cross – Border & Cross –
Ocean Transactions
Strong International Network
September 2012
2. The Collins Group Inc.
Corporate Financing & M&A Advisors
The Collins Group – A Snapshot
Boutique investment banker, HQ Montreal; offices Sweden and Brazil;
representatives elsewhere Canada, USA, Europe; now expanding to MENA
Focus on cross-border & cross-ocean transactions
Transaction “sweet spot” $5 - $100 million
Customized services for corporate finance, M&A, business planning,
strategic partnering, and channel/distribution development
Experience across a wide range: technology, manufacturing, food, consumer
products, energy, financial services, software, hi tech, clean tech, and water
Strong network of relationships in North America, Scandinavia, elsewhere
in Western and Eastern Europe, South America and MENA.
We pride ourselves on taking care to fully understand our clients
whatever their business 2
3. The Collins Group Inc.
Corporate Financing & M&A Advisors
Why Collins?
Collins’s resources enable fast coverage of a wide geographical area
by an experienced team with significant diverse industry knowledge
and experience
Prospective investors and M&A candidates are contacted directly by
Collins people also involved in preparing profile/material
We are currently working with companies in Brazil, Chile, Canada,
Sweden and France for cross border/cross ocean transactions
Our structure enables us to contact more targets, faster ….
… creating possibility of generating more offers/opportunities …
… to be able to close faster
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4. The Collins Group Inc.
Corporate Financing & M&A Advisors
Our Solutions:
M&A and Corporate financing advisory services
Buy-side and sell-side mandates
Securing traditional equity and debt financing, as well as non-traditional
financing such as venture debt, joint venturing, corporate venturing, R&D
agreements, royalty/revenue sharing financing
Access to capital: comprehensive network of corporate, venture capital and
private equity investment groups
Identifying and negotiating strategic and channel partnerships
Strategic, “go-to-market” and business planning
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5. The Collins Group Inc.
Corporate Financing & M&A Advisors
Comprehensive Network
TCG has a comprehensive network of corporate,
venture capital and private equity companies with
personal links to many firms in USA, Canada,
Europe, Latin America & Far East
Our proprietary database covers more than 2,500
companies & groups extending beyond USA and
Canada to Western Europe, CEE, MENA, Africa,
Latin America and Asia Pacific
Our network and database provides
Excellent source of financing and M&A
candidates across all industries
Identify and recruit Strategic Partners for a
wide range of opportunities
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6. The Collins Group Inc.
Corporate Financing & M&A Advisors
Some “Cross – Ocean” Transactions
Technology:
Sale of Swedish software company Trio AB on behalf of the owner, Kaupthing Bank
Sweden, to Enghouse Systems Limited, a public Canadian company listed on the Toronto
Stock Exchange. Transaction value SEK 64,000,000
Consumer Products:
Sale of Paris Glove of Canada Limited, a privately owned Canadian company to the
publically listed Swedish company New Wave AB. Transaction value C$16,500,000
Food:
Acquisition of Argentina pizza company by McCain Foods Limited, the global Canadian
food company. Transaction value US$7,500,000
Aquaculture:
Assisted in acquisition of the USA assets of Fjord Seafood, the Norwegian public company
by Cooke Aquaculture, a Canadian private company. Transaction value US$10,000,000
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7. The Collins Group Inc.
Corporate Financing & M&A Advisors
Current Engagements in Progress
On-Site Catering Co.: Operating in 8 Brazilian States with constant growth over the last
5 years of 25-30%, profitable, seeking an investor and new equity financing.
Security Company: Seeking buyer for a R$300 million company operating security and
armed guard services in four States in Brazil.
Applied Software: Seeking investor / buyer for Chilean based IT company with wide
geographical foot print in Latin America providing value added service applications for
network carriers and the enterprise market.
Solar Industry: Seeking financing for French company with patented technology for
encapsulating photovoltaic cells into traditional roof tiles with commercializing already
started.
Dental: Seeking financing for a Swedish company with cutting edge technology for risk
evaluation and management of periodontal disease.
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8. The Collins Group Inc.
Corporate Financing & M&A Advisors
Other Technology Industry Assignments
Telecom: Acquisition mandate covering North America, Europe and South America for
Swedish public telecoms Software Applications Company.
Telecom IP: Sourced and negotiated acquisition of IP rights to advanced
telecommunications software application for Swedish public company.
Web: Sourced US $10 million for an e-commerce B2B start-up.
Optical Data Storage: Assisted cutting-edge optical data storage company to raise
financing; also supplied the company with “bridge” staffing in business development,
technology planning, market penetration strategy, and financial modeling.
Video Conferencing/IVR: Arranged equity financings from venture companies for
Canadian video conferencing company and for an IVR company. .
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9. The Collins Group Inc.
Corporate Financing & M&A Advisors
Other Mature Industry Assignments
Food: Identifying and soliciting acquisition targets in Western and Eastern Europe for a North
American global food company.
Food: Advising Danish food Company on sale of its Swedish processing plant.
Forest Products: Advisor to British Columbia producer of white wood, cedar, veneer and
specialty plywood on acquisitions and on debt and equity financing.
Forest Products: Responsible for majority acquisition of Swedish wood processing company by
Geneva based private investment interests.
Forest Products: Analyzed the British Columbia market pulp industry for a major Swedish forest
product company with an emphasis on the effects of the mountain pine beetle infestation and
identifying investment opportunities.
Forest Products: Analyzed eastern Canada’s forest products industry for a major Canadian
financial institution to prepare investment in small and medium sized forest products enterprises
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10. The Collins Group Inc.
Corporate Financing & M&A Advisors
The Collins Group Team
11. The Collins Group Inc.
Corporate Financing & M&A Advisors
Core Team of 21 Professionals
Montreal Ian Collins
Toronto Bob Kilimnik
Ottawa David Mulcaster
Vancouver Dale Hunt
Tampa Michael Avina
Sweden Harald Pousette, Leif Wallenhorn, Johan Arstrom, Peter Hermansson
UK & Romania Florin Ciontu
Brazil Alex Wiederhold, Roberto Freire, Roberto Scala
Hungary Dr. Laszlo Gazdag, Tamas Laszip
Estonia & Croatia Dr. Rein Ruubel
Bulgaria Dr. Yolian Ivanov
Middle East Bassel Beiram, Dr. Gregg Van Volkenburgh
Forest Product Cliff Skarstedt, Bill Goodfellow 11
12. The Collins Group Inc.
Corporate Financing & M&A Advisors
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North American Team
Ian Collins is the founder and CEO of The Collins Group. He has been active in investment banking,
mergers & acquisitions, project financing, and capital market consulting for 40 years after graduating with a BA
(Honors) in Economics & Political Science. Ian is the quarterback of the TCG Team . Montréal, Canada
David Mulcaster David’s management and executive career spans the public, private and academic
sectors. Throughout his career, his focus has been on entrepreneurship, industrial development, technology
commercialization, and international trade and investment development. He was director general with the
Canadian government responsible for industrial and economic development programs , technology transfer,
international bi-lateral trade agreements with several Asian countries; and multi-lateral trade and investment
agreements with the EU and APEC. Since 2000, he has been an active investor in and advisor to a number of IT
and software companies and for 4 years assisted a Canadian university to structure and to manage student
entrepreneurship programs including spinning out technology companies. Ottawa, Canada
Bob Kilimnik Subsequent to retiring from Manulife Financial as VP and Managing Director in late 2008
Bob joined The Collins Group as Senior Advisor to provide debt related advice and assist clients in raising
medium and long term debt. Responsibilities at Manulife included directing their North American fixed income
and Canadian private debt operations. Prior experience included Co-founder and CIO of Borealis Capital (private
equity) and VP, Investments at Clarica Life with responsibility for their Canadian investment portfolios including
public bonds and equities, commercial mortgages, real estate, corporate lending, private equity and Treasury and
ALM operations. During his career he has structured or approved over a thousand corporate debt transactions.
Having played a key leadership role in financing infrastructure and power financings in Canada Bob maintains 12
relationships with various life companies and large public pension funds who are active in these markets,
domestically and internationally. Waterloo, Canada
13. The Collins Group Inc.
Corporate Financing & M&A Advisors
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North American Team
Gregg Van Volkenburgh provides services to develop markets via strategic alliances, support
expansions of start-up companies, develop client relationships through direct selling, expand manufacturing,
secure government financial support, and gain equity financing. Gregg has advanced degrees in computer
science, optical physics, mathematics, and chemistry and has wide industry and technology experience.
Toronto, Canada / Oman
Dale Hunt has 45 years of senior leadership and business development experience in the aerospace
industry. Dale is particularly effective in aerospace marketing services relative to business development,
supply chain management, and M&A activity. He has senior management experience with an aerostructure
manufacturer and integrator, providing airframe assemblies to fixed and rotary wing OEMs; two major
turbine engine companies; and co-owner of an aviation services company offering proprietary products to
commercial and military customers internationally. Vancouver, Canada
Michael Avina has over 15 years of progressive experience in the telecommunications, software and
aerospace industries. He has proven ability to quickly master new technology, design business strategies
and develop a strong customer base. Tampa Florida, USA
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14. The Collins Group Inc.
Corporate Financing & M&A Advisors
Brazilian Team
Alex Wiederhold has over 34 years of experience most all of it with multinational companies in
Brazil and Mexico. Alex is a multicultural executive, and is fluent in English, Spanish, Portuguese and
German. He has extensive experience in strategic analysis and planning, restructure of business lines,
business development, startups, sales and marketing, import - export, domestic and international logistics,
establishing representatives and distributor’s network, and in international negotiations. Alex has a BS
degree in Business Administration from the Catholic University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Campinas, Brazil
Roberto Freire has over 20 years of experience in Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) with
American companies based in Brazil, USA and Mexico. Roberto has lead senior management positions
within operations, supply-chain, procurement, manufacturing, marketing, sales, finance planning, corporate
finance and general management. Roberto earned an MBA in International Business from University of
São Paulo, Brazil, postgraduate degree in Finance, and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics.
He speaks fluent English, Portuguese and Spanish. São Paulo, Brazil.
Roberto Scala has 39 years of extensive business experience both in Brazil and the US in the areas of start-
ups, Turnarounds, Business Transformation, Investment Funds, Mergers and Acquisitions and WayOut
Management. For the last two years Roberto headed a start-up company, Howcom Ind., specialized in
development of new electronic products for the Brazilian Market. Among his past positions he was 25 years with
IBM in Brazil and USA, at the end of which he was responsible for the planning and implementation of the
business unit of Management Consulting and Business Transformation in Brazil. Roberto holds a BS degree in
Telecommunications Op. Engineering and Business Administration Intensive Program at ESAN, and is fluent in
Portuguese and English. Campinas, Brazil 14
15. The Collins Group Inc.
Corporate Financing & M&A Advisors
Scandinavian Team
Harald Pousette Harald possesses a broad network of contacts engaged in the Nordic private equity
market, and has sourced engagements for The Collins Group in a range of sectors including forestry, medical
technology, food and information technology. Stockholm, Sweden
Leif Wallenhorn Leif has extensive experience in leading positions within marketing,
manufacturing, export and corporate finance. His focus for the past 13 years has been investor relations and
corporate finance. Leif has led a number of IPO´s and private placements for clients in various industrial
sectors. Stockholm, Sweden
Peter Hermansson Peter is the former Head of Kaupthing Bank’s Corporate Banking team in Stockholm
where, over 4 years, he built the unit into a significant part of Kaupthing’s Swedish profits. Peter previously
Johan is knowledgeable and has practical experience in Energy Systems with a special
worked in Kaupthing Bank Investment Banking for 5 years where he developed comprehensive M&A
experience and led a number of ECM transactions. Prior to Kaupthing, Peter held different positions in listed
focus on District Heating, Bio-Gas, Water, Wastewater Treatment and allied operations. He has been a
companies and carried out both buy and sell side transactions. He started his career as a CPA at
senior advisor and project manager with extensive experience in business development, project
PriceWaterhouse. . Stockholm, Sweden
management, acquisition due diligence, and in contract issues regarding energy production and
distribution. Johan has some 25 years experience at some of Europe's leading energy and consulting
Johan Arstrom Johan is knowledgeable and has practical experience in Energy Systems with a special
focus on District Heating, Bio-Gas, Water, Wastewater Treatment and allied operations. He has been a senior
advisor and companies including Fortum, Dalkia, Sweco and Jaakko Poyry. Stockholm, Sweden
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16. The Collins Group Inc.
Corporate Financing & M&A Advisors
European Team
Florin Ciontu Florin joined The Collins Group in 2011 and is active in the UK, France, Eastern
Europe, Turkey and India. Prior to TCG, Florin co-founded SunnySwiss (sustainable building solutions)
and NanoSprint, a technology advisory focusing on nanotechnology and renewable energy. Florin’s
background also includes involvement with TIMA Labs, France, and extensive exposure to the R&D and
start-ups environment. Cambridge, UK and Bucharest, Romania
Lazlo Gazdag His task is to build on the initial TCG work in Hungary and Croatia and to take The
Collins Group into the other countries of Central & Eastern Europe. Laszlo has an extensive technology
background combined with considerable finance experience in banking and asset management. Budapest,
Hungary
Tamas Laszip With his extensive background in software and IT, he is working closely with TCG
software and IT clients throughout Europe. Tamas has nine years of full life cycle project experience in SAP
R/3 consulting, working more than six years on large implementations of a global nature. Budapest,
Hungary
Yolian Ivanov, As an Executive Director, Yolian has post-graduate studies in International Economics
from Georgetown University, a PhD from Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and a Master's as a power electrical
engineer. Yolian also has 12 years in international investment banking, corporate finance and M&A advisory
experience, along with 7 years in energy and hi tech industry. Sofia, Bulgaria
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17. The Collins Group Inc.
Corporate Financing & M&A Advisors
Baltic States / Ukraine / Russia
Rein Ruubel will be building upon and expanding the contacts already made in the Baltic States, Estonia
and Finland as well as exploring new opportunities with prospective clients. Rein has an extensive technology
knowledge and background with positions held in the private, public and higher education sectors. Rein is
currently located in Zagreb, Croatia, where he is deeply involved in Croatia’s ascension into the EU. Tallinn,
Estonia / Zagreb, Croatia /
Middle East
Bassel Beiram is an Associate at The Collins Group covering the Middle East. Bassel has 17 years of
experience in the consulting industry and has lived and worked in North and Latin America, the Middle East,
Central Asia and Africa. He has advised on corporate finance, strategy, financial restructuring, mergers and
acquisitions especially in telecoms, infrastructure, healthcare, real estate and financial services. Bassel is
multilingual in English, French, Spanish and Arabic with some German and Mandarin Chinese basics.
Montreal, Canada / Beirut, Lebanone has degrees in business and finance
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18. The Collins Group Inc.
Corporate Financing & M&A Advisors
Pulp & Paper Team
Bill Goodfellow, Bill has 40 years experience in the Pulp & Paper industry, including senior woodlands
positions at AVCell Pulp Mill, Avenor and Scott Paper. Bill has detailed knowledge of woodlands and
sawmills in Eastern Canada and Northwestern U.S. Bill holds Bachelor’s degree in Forestry from the
University of New Brunswick. Ottawa, Canada /
Cliff Skarstedt Cliff has 40 years experience in the Pulp & Paper industry, including senior business
planning positions at International Paper, Canadian Pacific Forest Products, Domtar and Avenor. In the past
five years Cliff has been a consultant to Governments and major international Pulp & Paper companies.
Montréal, Canada
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19. The Collins Group Inc.
Corporate Financing & M&A Advisors
Thank You
The Collins Group Inc.
www.thecollinsgroup.com
collinsgroup@securenet.net