Experience matters when the transaction is complex.
CFM Financial is an independent financing and transaction advisory firm helping business
owners, real estate investors and private clients navigate complex financing and strategic
transactions.
Our approach goes beyond finding a lender. We take the time to understand the transaction,
the underlying business or assets, the financial picture and the client's objectives before
determining how a financing should be structured and where it should be placed.
Complex transactions require more than access to capital.
The right financing solution often begins well before a lender sees the transaction.
CFM works with clients to understand their objectives, assess the financial picture,
structure the opportunity and identify appropriate sources of capital.
Our experience across business ownership, accounting, commercial finance, real estate and
M&A allows us to look at transactions from both sides of the table — understanding
not only what a client is trying to accomplish, but how lenders, investors and potential
buyers are likely to evaluate the opportunity.
When additional expertise is required, we work alongside experienced professionals in
banking, law, real estate and transaction execution to help move the transaction forward.
CPA · MBA · Commercial Finance
M&A · Capital Raising · Business Ownership
Sebastien Charles is a CPA, MBA, licensed mortgage broker and experienced entrepreneur
with more than 30 years of experience across business, finance, commercial lending and
M&A.
His career has included founding and operating businesses, advising entrepreneurs and
management teams, arranging debt and equity capital, participating in mergers and
acquisitions, and serving as an executive and director of private and publicly traded
companies.
Sebastien has advised on more than 15 M&A transactions representing over C$50 million
in transaction value, helped businesses secure more than C$100 million in debt financing
and participated in raising more than C$25 million in equity capital.
That combination of accounting, finance and real-world business experience shapes CFM's
approach.
Rather than beginning with a financing product, Sebastien begins by understanding the
transaction — the business, assets, cash flow, capital structure and objectives
— and then works backward to determine the most appropriate financing strategy.
Extended Team
An Extended Team for Complex Transactions
The right expertise, brought together when it matters.
No single advisor has every skill required to execute a complex transaction. Depending on
the engagement, CFM can draw on experienced professionals with backgrounds in banking,
commercial finance, real estate, business advisory, M&A and law.
This flexible model allows CFM to bring the appropriate expertise to a transaction while
maintaining a clear point of contact and a coordinated strategy.
Michel Lalonde
Senior Advisor
Michel Lalonde brings more than 45 years of experience spanning banking, leasing,
insolvency, business and management consulting, and mergers and acquisitions.
His extensive experience working with business owners provides valuable perspective in
situations involving business financing, acquisitions, restructuring, growth and
ownership transitions.
Michel's practical understanding of both lenders and operating businesses complements
CFM's transaction-focused approach.
Samuel Ileka-Priouzeau
Advisor
Samuel Ileka-Priouzeau is a strategic consultant, investor and licensed mortgage agent
with more than 13 years of experience involving real estate and complex systems
management.
Fully bilingual in English and French, Samuel brings analytical and real estate
experience to CFM engagements and supports clients and transactions where additional
financing, real estate or strategic expertise is required.
Samuel holds an Honours Bachelor's degree from the University of Ottawa and a Master of
Science from Université Laval.
Koby Smutylo
Legal & Transaction Advisor — Smutylo Law+
Koby Smutylo is a business lawyer and Principal Lawyer of Smutylo Law+, an independent
boutique business law firm based in Ottawa.
Called to the Ontario Bar in 2001, Koby brings more than two decades of experience in
corporate, commercial and securities law. His career has included practising corporate
finance and securities law on Bay Street, advising private and publicly traded companies
and investment dealers, and serving as senior corporate counsel at Corel Corporation.
Today, his practice includes corporate structuring, commercial transactions, financings,
mergers and acquisitions, business sales and succession, securities and general
corporate counsel.
CFM works with Koby where transactions require legal and corporate expertise, helping
clients coordinate financing, transaction structure and legal execution.
Legal services are provided independently by Smutylo Law+ under a separate engagement
with the client. Koby Smutylo is not a principal, employee or partner of CFM Financial.
Our Approach
How We Work
01
Understand the transaction.
Before approaching capital, we work to understand the business, property, financial position, objectives and potential obstacles.
02
Structure the financing.
We evaluate how the transaction should be structured and determine the appropriate combination of debt, equity or other capital.
03
Find the right capital.
Rather than forcing a transaction into a particular product, we identify lenders and capital sources appropriate to the opportunity.
04
Help execute.
Where appropriate, we coordinate with accountants, lawyers, lenders, investors and other professionals to help move the transaction from strategy through closing.
Independent Thinking. Practical Execution.
CFM was built around a simple idea:
Complex financial transactions deserve more than a product-driven approach.
Whether the objective is acquiring a business, financing commercial real estate, raising
capital, selling a company or solving a complex private financing requirement, our role
is to understand the complete picture and help develop a practical path forward.
Let's Start With the Transaction.
Every situation is different. Tell us what you're trying to accomplish, and we'll determine
whether CFM can help — and what the next step should be.
