The Private Equity Experience of Canadian Business

The Private Equity Experience of Canadian Business is a detailed look at the private equity experience of Canadian business from the perspective of managers of portfolio companies?the recipients of private equity investments. Unlike public equity, private equity managers are often actively involved in the management of the companies in their investment portfolio. The reason is that they usually take a controlling ownership stake in their portfolio companies. This report explores the extent of that involvement, and its contributions and challenges. Three exceptional cases of private equity investments are highlighted in the report. The cases feature Calgary’s MEG Energy Corp., Bluewave Energy of Halifax, and the Knowlton Development Corporation of Knowlton, Quebec. The report concludes with key lessons for prospective portfolio companies (in terms of linking up with private equity), private equity financiers, and government policy-makers.