We Share Your Vision
Finding a strategic partner is a major pivotal event. We at PEP strive to be the partner of choice for the growth minded business owner(s).
-
Our word and reputation matters. We understand that selling all or a portion of your business is a significant life decision and we hold all information in the strictest of confidence. We invest primarily our own capital often making deals simpler and easier. We will not waste your valuable time.
-
We invest our own capital so we can make decisions quickly with lots of flexibility. We aim to provide offers that we are confident that we can close quickly on and we feel are mutually accretive to all parties involved. We like to get to know owners, management, and by being creative we can offer attractive solutions for stakeholders to create those win-win outcomes.
-
An owner’s transition, if applicable, is done in a collaborative and thoughtful manner. We will fulfill what we promised and our involvement with the business can vary depending on if it is structured as an outright purchase or partnership. We strive to maintain culture, brand reputation and relationships. We aim to grow or enhance what has already been built by leveraging our other businesses and partnerships, our experience, our infrastructure and our network. Unlike traditional private equity, we have no need or desire to sell a business after a specific time period.
PORTFOLIO
Relationship: Equity Partner
Industry: Hospitality - Wine and Martini Bar
About: Opening in February 2016, Third Glass is a premier wine and martini bar located in downtown Moncton, New Brunswick. Third Glass consistently is a leader for wine and spirit sales in the province.
Relationship: Wholly-Owned
Industry: Hospitality - Sports Bar
About: The Local is a true neighborhood sports bar created by reconceptualizing a neighborhood mainstay and turning it into a contemporary local taproom. With 16 indoor TVs broadcasting live sports from around the globe and a variety of local and imported taps, The Local is quickly becoming the go-to spot for beer, food and sports.
Relationship: Wholly-Owned
Industry: Hospitality - Whisk(e)y Lounge and Cocktail Bar
About: Antlers Whisk(e)y Lounge is a modern day whisk(e)y bar and cocktail lounge located in downtown Moncton, New Brunswick. They offer a carefully curated selection of whisk(e)ys, spirits, wines, and more to provide an incredible guest experience.
Relationship: Wholly-Owned
Industry: Service - Commercial Cleaning
About: Specializing in commercial cleaning, primarily office buildings and bar/restaurants. Frogs understand the value of keeping your business clean for the health and safety of its guests and employees, knowing that a clean business helps create a positive impression of your firm.
Relationship: Equity Partner
Industry: Craft Distillery
About: Devil’s Keep Distillery, a local New Brunswick award-winning craft distillery offering premium vodka, premium gin, barrel-aged gin, and a Canadian whisky (coming soon). DK offers quality spirits and ready to drink seltzers. All recipes are inspired by locally sourced ingredients, with a commitment to supporting local.
706 MAIN STREET, MONCTON
Relationship: Wholly-Owned
Industry: Commercial Building
About: Purchased to secure the leased space for Antlers Whisk(e)y Lounge and offer long term stability to the location. 706 Main also houses Subway Restaurant and several commercial office spaces.
** COMING SOON **
Relationship: Equity Partner
Industry: Cafe & Lounge
About: Stay tuned for more details!
The Partners
Gordon Baker
Gordon is a private and public markets investor. A graduate of Saint Mary’s University with a degree in Economics, Gordon has worked in finance, wealth management and capital markets for over 25 years first on the advisory then the wholesale side both in Toronto and Atlantic Canada with the last 11 of which being with Canada’s largest independent investment management firm overseeing a territory of over 3 billion in AUM. In his free time he enjoys working out, travelling, and spending time with friends and family.
Eric Doucet
Eric is a business executive and New Brunswick local who has made competitive strides across sectors. With decades of management and operational experience rooted in the bar and restaurant industry, Eric places quality service at the forefront of every endeavour.
Eric has successfully recruited and led teams internationally. Breaking into the indie wrestling entertainment industry with a competitive edge, Eric built a wrestling production company from scratch - and within a year, was selling out events across the country. A natural brand expert, Eric has a unique ability to seek talent and build end-to-end businesses. He looks forward to continuing to do so across markets at an international scale, and at a leading pace.
Investment Criteria
We fully recognize that in the real world no business is perfect. We will carefully evaluate each company and offer a proposal on what we believe is mutually beneficial based on our initial business evaluations.Owners who have built the business to last, not to be sold and want to see it succeed long termLong-term and recurring customer relationships with limited customer concentration and demand cyclicalityHealthy industry dynamics and solid competitive positioningOrganic and/or inorganic growth opportunitiesGood margins and returns on capital invested into the business
Wish List
Deal Structuring
We can seek a full ownership, controlling interest or minority partnership, based on the situationWe offer very reasonable expectations on price and deal terms given the business characteristicsAccess to the right information, subsidiary businesses and people to make informed decisionsLastly, we aim to understand what is most important to owner(s) and design a deal structure that aligns interest and works for both parties
Business Criteria
Atlantic Canada based hospitality or hospitality related business with $250k - $2m of gross revenue/cash flowSimple businesses that are easy to understandOffer products or services that add value to customers
About Us
At PEP we would define ourselves as a venture capital firm and a hospitality group, as we are both of those things. As a private investment partner, we seek to acquire, invest in and partner with small and midsized companies, primarily surrounding the hospitality industry. We aim to be the partner of choice for the growth-oriented business owner(s) looking to either sell or partner while ultimately structuring flexible win-win outcomes that are mutually beneficial.
