Purpose

The Shaughnessy Group is a Toronto-based investment banking and financing advisory firm specializing in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), business valuations, exit planning, and growth financing for privately owned Canadian companies, typically those with annual revenues between $5 million and $50 million. It focuses on the lower-middle market, assisting business owners, entrepreneurs, and executives in buying, selling, or transitioning their businesses.

The firm was co-founded on November 3, 2017, in Vancouver by Karl E. Sigerist, Jr., ICD.D, a seasoned business leader with extensive experience in founding, scaling, and transforming technology and financial services organizations—and John Kaye, an investment banker specializing in sell-side advisory with prior experience at a leading M&A firm in Vancouver. Sigerist serves as co-founder, Managing Director, and Director, drawing from roles such as CEO of Crelogix (a lending technology firm) and leadership in the Canadian Lenders Association. Kaye contributed his expertise in transaction advisory during the initial phase. The company's initial purpose was to guide business owners through successful exits from their primary asset—their privately held business—amid a landscape where up to 80% of Canadian owners may never achieve a sale due to preparation gaps.

In August 2018, Karl Sigerist relocated to Toronto to open the firm's doors there, establishing a presence at 130 King Street West while maintaining the Vancouver roots. That September, John Kaye departed to pursue other interests, selling his shares back to the company. In October 2018, Derral Moriyama—a banking veteran with nearly 40 years of experience as a senior executive—joined forces with Sigerist to recapitalize the firm. Moriyama became a shareholder and Managing Director, leading the Vancouver office, while Sigerist took on the same role for the Toronto office. Early in 2021, Moriyama retired and sold his shares back to the company, allowing Sigerist to steer the firm as its sole Managing Director.

From its dual-office foundation, the Shaughnessy Group quickly established itself as a specialist in sell-side and buy-side advisory, corporate finance, and strategy.

Under Sigerist's leadership, the firm expanded its footprint across Canada through targeted recruitment and organic growth strategies, building a national presence by the early 2020s. The team, which grew to 7–13 professionals by 2025, includes experts with decades of combined experience in startups, growth-stage companies, and deal-making. Notable team members include:

• Karl Sigerist: Leads overall strategy and operations.
• David Prowse, CPA, CA, CVA, CEPA, CMAA: Joined in August 2025 as Director of the Main Street M&A Advisory division, focusing on businesses under $5 million in revenue; he previously founded Velorum Business Advisory in 2017.
• Arne Hassel-Gren: Vice President.
• Nick Carter: Key advisor.

The firm's Advisory Board, established to provide strategic guidance, includes:

• Karen Grant: A prominent figure in angel investing, having launched four angel groups and committed to supporting early-stage ventures.
• Peter Vukanovich: Brings deep expertise in finance and advisory roles.
• Derral Moriyama: Offers seasoned banking insights post-retirement.

Former key contributors like co-founder John Kaye and Derral Moriyama laid the groundwork for this expansion.

• 2017: Official co-founding in Vancouver by Sigerist and Kaye.
• 2018: Toronto office opening; Kaye departure; recapitalization with Moriyama.
• 2019–2020: Built core team and completed initial mandates, including advisory on growth financing and business sales; conducted business valuation for Interpump Supply in fall 2019.
• 2021: Moriyama's retirement; formation of the Advisory Board in February 2021 with the addition of Karen Grant, Peter Vukanovich, and Derral Moriyama; completion of sell-side mandate for the sale of Interpump Supply to Summit Ridge Capital in January 2021, enhancing visibility in the industrial and specialty products sectors.
• 2024: Completion of sell-side mandate for the sale of Southwest Doors and Hardware to Cascadia Equity Partners in July 2024, reflecting on the transaction at the Business Transitions Forum; completion of sell-side mandate for the sale of Minisis Inc., a leading database management solutions provider, to Soutron Global on December 11, 2024.
• 2025: Issued insights on Canada's M&A trends, noting resilience despite economic headwinds like interest rates. Appointed David Prowse to spearhead smaller-business advisory, enhancing Main Street focus. Participated in events like TechExit2025 and podcasts discussing exit challenges for Canadian owners.

As of today the firm continues to emphasize confidential, tailored advisory in a recovering M&A market, with active involvement in industry forums and thought leadership on topics like wealth manager integration in sales processes.