Monthly Archives: March 2019

CALGARY, March 27, 2019 – Crown Capital Partners Inc. (“Crown”) (TSX: CRWN), a capital partner to entrepreneurs and growth businesses, today announced the full repayment by Bill Gosling Outsourcing (“BGO”) of a loan managed by Crown.

Founded in 1955 and headquartered in Newmarket, Ontario, BGO is a privately-owned global provider of outsourced call center solutions to blue chip and emerging high-growth clients. In May 2016, Crown Capital Partner Funding, LP (“Crown Partners Fund”) provided a $15 million, 60-month term loan to BGO.

“Our focus is to provide growth capital to successful small and mid-market businesses so they can achieve their ambitions, and BGO has done a solid job executing on its business plan,” said Chris Johnson, President and CEO of Crown. “We believe they are well positioned as more companies shift to business process outsourcing.”

“Crown Capital provided a customized financial solution that was right for our business goals, and they were very supportive financial partners over the past several years,” said BGO’s CEO Dave Rae.

BGO has prepaid this loan in full, including principal, interest, fees and other payments. The BGO loan was held by Crown Partners Fund, an investment fund managed by Crown and in which Crown holds a 37% interest. The realized Gross IRR on Crown Partners Fund’s aggregate investment in BGO was 17.6%.

About Crown Capital Partners (TSX:CRWN)

Founded in 2000, Crown is a leading specialty finance company that provides growth capital to a diversified group of successful mid-market companies that are seeking alternatives to banks and private equity funds. Crown provides customized solutions in the form of loans, royalties, and other structures with minimal or no ownership dilution. In addition to deploying capital as a principal investor, Crown develops, manages and co-invests in alternative investment funds, including Crown Partners Fund and Crown Capital Power Fund.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains certain “forward looking statements” and certain “forward looking information” as defined under applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may”, “will”, “expect”, “intend”, “estimate”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “continue”, “plans” or similar terminology. Forward-looking statements are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions that while believed by management to be reasonable, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning the specific factors identified in the Crown’s periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. See Crown’s most recent annual information form for a detailed discussion of the risk factors affecting Crown. Crown undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. Such forward-looking information represents management’s best judgment based on information currently available. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

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CALGARY, March 14, 2019 – Crown Capital Partners Inc. (“Crown”) (TSX: CRWN), a capital partner to entrepreneurs and growth businesses, today announced that Crown Capital Partner Funding, LP (“Crown Partners Fund”) has advanced an additional $5 million to Triple Five Intercontinental Group Ltd. (“Triple Five”), a privately held, Calgary-based company engaged in the exploration, development and production of petroleum and natural gas.

Founded in 2014, Triple Five’s assets are located in west central Alberta, where the company has a 100% working interest in 20 contiguous sections of land (approximately 12,800 net acres) in the Spirit River zone. Triple Five is currently producing approximately 5,100 barrels of oil equivalent production per day from eight producing wells, of which approximately 81% is natural gas and 19% is natural gas liquids. The drilling results from the two most recent wells have outperformed expectations, more than doubling the company’s natural gas liquids production. The additional funding from Crown Partners Fund will be used for capital expenditures to support growth initiatives.

Crown Partners Fund provided Triple Five with a $15 million, three-year term loan on September 4, 2018. The term loan bears a fixed interest rate of 10.5% per annum and includes a royalty to Crown Partners Fund based on Triple Five’s gross sales. Concurrent with this $5 million investment, the term of the original agreement was extended by six months.

About Crown Capital Partners (TSX:CRWN)

Founded in 2000, Crown is a leading specialty finance company that provides growth capital to a diversified group of successful mid-market companies that are seeking alternatives to banks and private equity funds. Crown provides customized solutions in the form of loans, royalties, and other structures with minimal or no ownership dilution. In addition to deploying capital as a principal investor, Crown develops, manages and co-invests in alternative investment funds, including Crown Partners Fund and Crown Capital Power Fund.

 FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains certain “forward looking statements” and certain “forward looking information” as defined under applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may”, “will”, “expect”, “intend”, “estimate”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “continue”, “plans” or similar terminology.Forward-looking statements are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions that while believed by management to be reasonable, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning the specific factors identified in the Crown’s periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. See Crown’s most recent annual information form for a detailed discussion of the risk factors affecting Crown. In addition, Crown’s dividend policy will be reviewed from time to time in the context of the Corporation’s earnings, financial requirements for its operations, and other relevant factors and the declaration of a dividend will always be at the discretion of the board of directors of the Corporation. Crown undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. Such forward-looking information represents management’s best judgment based on information currently available. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

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CALGARY, March 5, 2019 – Crown Capital Partners Inc. (“Crown” or the “Corporation”) (TSX: CRWN), a capital partner to entrepreneurs and growth businesses, today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2018. Crown’s complete financial statements and management’s discussion and analysis for the three- and 12-month periods ended December 31, 2018 are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

 2018 Financial & Operating Highlights

• Total revenue of $32.7 million, an increase of 13% compared with $29.0 million in 2017. Interest revenue grew by 31% year over year to $26.6 million in 2018.
• Net income, net of non-controlling interests, of $7.1 million (2017 – $6.7 million), or $0.74 per common share (basic) (2017 – $0.71).
• Adjusted Funds from Operations¹ of $13.2 million, compared with $12.7 million in 2017.
• Total assets of $275.9 million at year-end, up from $229.1 million at December 31, 2017.
• Crown paid quarterly dividends totaling $0.60 per common share in 2018, an increase of 20% compared with 2017.
• Crown Capital Partner Funding, LP (“Crown Partners Fund”), an investment fund managed by Crown, completed five transactions totaling more than $95 million.
• Completed two long-term transactions for up to $20 million through Crown Capital Private Credit Fund, LP (“Crown Private Credit Fund”).
• Completed a $75 million upsizing of Crown Partners Fund, extended the investment period, and raised the maximum size of the fund to $500 million, from $300 million previously.
• Launched Crown Power Fund, which intends to provide investors with attractive, utility-like income through the direct ownership of integrated energy platforms.
• Expanded the team to support growth, with the addition of experienced professionals in business development, investment management, finance and operations.

Q4 2018 Financial & Operating Highlights

• Total revenue of $10.4 million, a 16% increase from $8.9 million in 2017. Interest revenue grew by 38% over the comparable period to $7.6 million.
• Net income, net of non-controlling interests, of $2.4 million (2017 – $2.1 million), or $0.25 per common share (basic) (2017 – $0.22).
• Adjusted Funds from Operations¹ of $3.9 million, compared with $3.3 million in 2017.
• On November 30, 2018 paid a quarterly dividend of $0.15 per common share.
• Crown Partners Fund announced an agreement to provide a $15 million, 60-month loan to VIQ Solutions.
• Announced the full repayment by Marquee Energy Ltd. of its $30 million special situations loan to Crown Partners Fund.

“It was a very productive year for the company in terms of capital deployment and capital development, as we increased fee-generating assets and our capital base to support future growth,” said Chris Johnson, President and CEO of Crown. “The most important strategic development was the launch of Crown Power Fund, which targets a new, high-growth market segment that aligns well with our expertise in sourcing and structuring transactions that create strong risk-adjusted recurring cash flows. In the past several quarters, we have expanded our base of operating partners in the fund, financed multiple new projects, and built a robust pipeline of new customers. With the recently announced subscription that increased Crown Power Fund’s total committed capital to $58 million – led by key institutional limited partners – our operators can execute on these projects.”

Mr. Johnson added: “While we have recently seen additional competition from traditional financing sources in the special situations market in recent months, we are a recognized leader in this segment and are confident in our ability to expand our loan portfolio to $500 million or more over time. In 2019, we will be focused on originating new transactions for this fund, building out assets in Crown Power Fund, and securing additional third-party funding to grow these two segments.”

1. Adjusted EBIT and Adjusted Funds from Operations are not measures of financial performance (nor do they have standardized meanings) under IFRS. In evaluating these measures, investors should consider that the methodology applied in calculating these measures might differ among companies and analysts. The Corporation has provided a reconciliation of earnings before income taxes to Adjusted EBIT and Adjusted Funds from Operations in this news release. The Corporation believes these are useful supplemental measures that may assist investors in assessing the financial performance and the cash anticipated to be generated by Crown’s business. Adjusted EBIT and Adjusted Funds from Operations should not be considered as the sole measures of Crown’s performance and should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, analysis of the Corporation’s financial statements.
2. IFRS 9 was adopted on January 1, 2018 on a retrospective basis without restatement of prior periods. Accordingly, 2017 and prior periods are not presented on a comparable basis.

Conference Call & Webcast

Crown will host a conference call to discuss its Q4 2018 financial results at 8:30 a.m. EDT on March 5, 2019. The call will be hosted by Chris Johnson, President & CEO, and Michael Overvelde, CFO. To participate in the call, dial (416) 764-8688 or (888) 390-0546 using the conference ID 05451885. The audio webcast can be accessed at www.crowncapital.ca under Investor Relations or https://bit.ly/2RE72cw. Listeners should access the webcast or call 10-15 minutes before the start time to ensure they are connected.

About Crown Capital Partners (TSX:CRWN)
Founded in 2000, Crown is a leading specialty finance company that provides growth capital to a diversified group of successful mid-market companies that are seeking alternatives to banks and private equity funds. Crown provides customized solutions in the form of loans, royalties, and other structures with minimal or no ownership dilution. In addition to deploying capital as a principal investor, Crown develops, manages and co-invests in alternative investment funds, including Crown Partners Fund and Crown Capital Power Fund.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains certain “forward looking statements” and certain “forward looking information” as defined under applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may”, “will”, “expect”, “intend”, “estimate”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “continue”, “plans” or similar terminology. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements, management’s beliefs, expectations or intentions regarding the alternative financial market and the general economy, transaction pipeline, Crown’s business plans and strategy, including anticipated capital deployments and the timing thereof, and Crown’s future cash flow and shareholder value. Forward-looking statements are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions that while believed by management to be reasonable, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning the specific factors identified in the Crown’s periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. See Crown’s most recent annual information form for a detailed discussion of the risk factors affecting Crown. In addition, Crown’s dividend policy will be reviewed from time to time in the context of the Corporation’s earnings, financial requirements for its operations, and other relevant factors and the declaration of a dividend will always be at the discretion of the board of directors of the Corporation. Crown undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. Such forward-looking information represents management’s best judgment based on information currently available. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

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CALGARY, March 4, 2019– Crown Capital Partners Inc. (“Crown” or the “Corporation”) (TSX: CRWN), a capital partner to entrepreneurs and growth businesses, today announced that it has completed an upsizing of approximately $43 million for Crown Capital Power Limited Partnership (“Crown Power Fund” or “the Fund”), increasing the Fund’s total capital to approximately $58 million. Crown has increased its commitment to the Fund by $10 million, bringing its total commitment to $25 million.

Launched in June 2018, Crown Power Fund is a private fund that intends to provide investors with attractive, utility-like income through the direct ownership of Integrated Energy Platforms (“IEPs”). IEPs are on-site generation assets that provide electric and thermal energy under long-term contracts to mid- to large-scale energy consumers, such as industrial and commercial businesses, recreational facilities, and condominiums, offering these customers more energy efficient, more reliable and less expensive energy than comparable services from public utilities. The proceeds of this financing will be used to develop additional projects identified by the Fund’s operator partners.

“This is a significant milestone for Crown Power Fund and reflects the advantages of seeding new funds with Crown’s capital for future growth and scale with third-party funds,” said Chris Johnson, President and CEO of Crown. “Our operating partners are building deep pipelines of new projects that they can execute on with the expanded capital base.”

Mr. Johnson added: “We had strong participation from our existing institutional investors, two of which are anchors both in our power fund and special situations fund. We see a tremendous opportunity to generate highly attractive risk-adjusted returns for these investors by building a portfolio of long-term contracts that deliver attractive utility-like monthly recurring cash flows.”

In addition to this fundraising, Crown has been expanding the network of experienced operators that are managing the sales, installation and servicing of the IEPs. Crown Power currently has three operators in the Ontario market, and expects to add several new partners in the coming quarters in additional markets outside of Ontario.

 About Crown Capital Partners (TSX:CRWN)

Founded in 2000, Crown is a leading specialty finance company that provides growth capital to a diversified group of successful mid-market companies that are seeking alternatives to banks and private equity funds. Crown provides customized solutions in the form of loans, royalties, and other structures with minimal or no ownership dilution. In addition to deploying capital as a principal investor, Crown develops, manages and co-invests in alternative investment funds, including Crown Partners Fund and Crown Capital Power Fund.

 FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains certain “forward looking statements” and certain “forward looking information” as defined under applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified using forward-looking terminology such as “may”, “will”, “expect”, “intend”, “estimate”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “continue”, “plans” or similar terminology. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements, management’s beliefs, expectations or intentions regarding the outlook for Crown Power Fund and the expected returns for the Fund. Forward-looking statements are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions that while believed by management to be reasonable, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning the specific factors identified in the Crown’s periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. See Crown’s Annual Information Form for a detailed discussion of the risk factors affecting Crown. Crown undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. Such forward-looking information represents management’s best judgment based on information currently available. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

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