About CFM Financial

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.

Commercial Real Estate Financing Business & Acquisition Financing Capital Raising M&A Advisory Private Client

Start a Conversation

More Than Financing

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.

Sebastien Charles, CPA, MBA, Principal of CFM Financial

CPA · MBA · Commercial Finance
M&A · Capital Raising · Business Ownership

Leadership

Sebastien Charles, CPA, MBA

Principal, CFM Financial

Sebastien Charles is a CPA, MBA, licensed mortgage broker and experienced entrepreneur with more than 25 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 $20 million in transaction value, helped businesses secure more than $20 million in debt financing and participated in raising more than $10 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

Understand the transaction.

Before approaching capital, we work to understand the business, property, financial position, objectives and potential obstacles.

Structure the financing.

We evaluate how the transaction should be structured and determine the appropriate combination of debt, equity or other capital.

Find the right capital.

Rather than forcing a transaction into a particular product, we identify lenders and capital sources appropriate to the opportunity.

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.

Start a Conversation

Confidential inquiries welcome.