Mortgage Investment Entities (MIEs) are pools of capital designed specifically for mortgage lending in Canada. Mortgage contracts usually consist of fixed terms and pre-determined interest and payment schedules. These features allow investors of MIEs to receive stable cash distributions. 

Most mortgages, both residential and commercial, are secured by real estate properties owned by the borrowers.

Apart from stable cash flow, investing in mortgages also offers higher yields, and diversification.

Raj is an entrepreneur and investor with diversified international experience and a passion for innovation, technology, and capital markets. Raj is a proven leader in corporate development, capital raising, deal structuring, go-public transactions, and strategies for navigating difficult economic conditions.  He has held progressively senior roles across a breadth of start-ups and small-cap companies in North America and Europe. Raj has co-founded numerous companies including Florence Wealth Management Inc. (Exempt Market Dealer), where he also holds the position of UDP/Director, Thinking North (a national investor network), Canbud Distribution Corp (CSE: CBDX) (health and wellness hemp technology company), and ArcStone Securities & Investments Corp. as co-founder and director.

Raj holds a Master’s in Chemical Engineering (Oil & Gas Synthesis), a PhD in Industrial-Organizational Economics, an MBA in Finance and a Charter Financial Analyst designation.

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) are a simple and liquid way to bring real estate exposure into your portfolio. It gives investors the opportunity to invest in large-scale, diversified, and professionally managed portfolios of income-producing real estate.

REITs can be classified according to geographic locations, lease types, and property types. Hotels, commercial, residential buildings, and retail stores are some of the most common REITs holdings. While some REITs focus on a single property type, other asset managers may gravitate to multiple property types. REITs generally make periodic cash distributions and allow investors to take advantage of the increase in property values.

For investors REITs provide stable, tax efficient income with some upside with the real estate market.

Real Estate Opportunity Funds provide investors with access to large scale real estate development and re-development projects. These projects can be development of a piece of raw land, improving an existing property that is in disrepair, or reposition or even changing the function of a distressed property. Even though investments of a Real Estate Opportunity Fund may vary in location, size, and play type, they usually take a longer time horizon to complete and achieve operational goals. 

Development and re-development projects could enhance expected return by utilizing leverages. In addition to selling the properties, refinancing base on appreciation of property value is also a common way to recoup capital and take profit.

An alternative way to raise capital for both public and private companies in which the securities (Fixed income and equities) are distributed to select investors through prospectus exemptions.  

Private Placement is an opportunity for investors to deploy large amount of capitals in very select deals usually pre-public and without having to deal with the fluctuation of the public market. A private placement offering is usually offered at a discount, as much as 10% – 20%, to the market price. In some cases, private placements are issued with warrants, that provide the investors with the right, but not an obligation to purchase shares at a pre-determined price.

Private Equity (PE) is an alternative investment class that invests directly in private companies to generate higher returns. In Contrary to Venture Capital, PE funds investment in more established companies and may engage in buyouts of Public companies. 

For investors with longer time horizon and lower liquidity needs, Private equity investments provide an alternative strategy that is high returns that is not correlated most traditional and alternative asset classes.

Venture Capital (VC) funds provide equity financings for early-stage companies. Although entrepreneurs may not have enough track record to prove themselves, some of them can rely on the market environment and team growth to become successful. Choosing and investing in companies at a relatively early node can achieve very generous returns in the long run. VC fund usually extend as long as 5 to 10 years, during which time, fund managers occasionally take active roles in providing managerial guidance to portfolio companies.

Following the success of many technology firms, VC investment is becoming a very robust market. Secondary transactions of VC investments are becoming more common. This means investors may not have to wait until an IPO or acquisition of the portfolio company to “exit” and realize return.

Investors looking into investing in the next big trend and come in at a very early stage of the company, VC investment provides a high risk, high reward solution.

Here at Florence, we listen and hear your needs. We are results oriented through seeking the most practical solutions tailored to your situation including M&A advice, capital markets initiatives, corporate road shows among others.

From startups to established companies, we can assess your capital needs and advise you on the right capital structure that will provide long term benefit to you and the investors. With our deep relationships with both institutional and retail investors, we can raise both debt and equity capital.  

We work with a range of industries including cannabis, mining, technology, real estate and more.

Every deal is different, and we will work in partnership with you to find out the best deal structure that is both practical and desirable to you and the investors.

When going public is your next move, Florence is here to help you to achieve that. We will walk you through the go-public process efficiently. We can help identify a shell, help in valuation and work in collaboration with the lawyers, regulators and the exchange.

For both public and private companies, a private placement, securities offering that is exempt from prospectus requirement, could give you the chance to access long-term capital with diversified deal structure. We can provide both equity and debt financing. 

As Chief Compliance Officer, Dalton is responsible for ensuring compliance with all regulatory obligations and requirements. Dalton provides leadership and direction with regards to the firm’s business risk management and compliance strategies.

Dalton joined Florence Wealth Management in 2020 and has over 20 years of experience in the securities industry including Investment Fund Manager, Scholarship Plan Dealer and Investment Dealer.

Robert started his career with BP in Indonesia and UK. He has over 25 years of combined experience working, consulting, and developing businesses in construction, trading, oil & gas, finance, cleantech, agrotech, and fintech.

Robert has co-founded and grown several companies to million-dollar revenues in Indonesia and Southeast Asia. He has also been involved in several capital market projects involving Capital Pool Company, RTO, and IPO in Canada.

Robert has served on many public and private Boards as a director, audit committee member, and president in North America and Southeast Asia. Currently, he acts as a President and COO of Canbud Distribution Corp. (CSE: CBDX) and a director at Electrum Charging Solutions (Private EV Charging Technology Company).

Robert earned a BSc in Geology Specialist and Mathematics Minor from the University of Toronto, and an MBA from Philippines School of Business Administration.