I went to Mexico. Came back sick. Still ran the show.

This week at Sinclair Range: three live deals including a cannabis company exiting CCAA, a $100M private credit raise, and an active enforcement file. Plus — the one turnaround lesson that changes everything, a Docusign trap that nearly cost us eight figures, and how AI has taken over our entire operation in two weeks.

Deals on the Go

A cannabis producer in CCAA with $47M in hard assets and an imminent Health Canada licence reinstatement — seeking C$6M to exit restructuring and relaunch into medical and international markets. A Canadian private credit raise — a 26-year-old factoring lender raising up to $100M at 10% fixed quarterly, all first secured, targeting a $1.5B+ gap in the Canadian market. And a lender enforcing its security against a transport company — equipment being collected and sold in an orderly process.

Lesson Learned: Admit You're in Trouble

Every turnaround starts with one thing: changing your frame. Stop calling it a rough patch. When you admit you're actually in trouble, the problem stops being emotional and becomes math. We cover the baseline valuation concept — what each stakeholder recovers if the business blows up today — and why that number is the foundation of every serious lender negotiation.

Struggles: When the Plan Doesn't Work

The Sinclair Range turnaround was built on selling two real estate assets worth well into eight figures. Neither has sold. One buyer refused to close and put a lien on title — now in litigation. The other buried a clause in a Docusign offer letting them extend the conditional period indefinitely. We caught it and got out — but the lessons are hard-won: in a turnaround, the plan that should work often doesn't. And never sign a Docusign negotiation without reading every word — or running it through AI first.

What I'm Thinking About: AI Has Taken Over Sinclair Range

In two weeks: investment agreements, capital raise documents, liquidation analyses, contract reviews, a default notice, litigation file organization, 2,000+ transaction expense reconciliation, engagement letters, wealth management checklists, data room management, and daily CRM updates. This isn't the future. It's right now. The world is changing. Keep up.

#BusinessTurnaround #PrivateCredit #CCAA #Restructuring #RealEstate #AI #SinclairRange #Deals #Leadership #SmallBusiness

This week we tackle two small business valuations, reveal how AI collapsed 30 hours of professional work into 90 minutes, and share a golden rule every investor needs to hear: you make your money on the buy.

Interesting Deal / File of the Week: Valuing a Small Business

We were asked to provide valuation guidance on two small businesses for partner buyouts. We walk through the full professional process — from understanding the purpose, to analyzing financials, to writing a defensible 6–10 page letter — and why that work typically costs $5,000 to $10,000. Then we show how AI let us complete both valuation letters, with full schedules and methodology, in just 90 minutes. We also discuss the growing problem of non-professionals using AI to imitate professional work — and what that means for the industry.

Lesson Learned of the Week: Buy Bank Debt

Working with a manufacturing client in financial distress, we break down why understanding liquidation value from the bank's perspective is critical to your negotiating position. We also explore an alternative deal structure: instead of refinancing the full loan, have a new lender buy out the existing bank's position at a discount — illustrated by a real acquisition where $3 million in debt was purchased for $1.5 million.

What I'm Thinking About: Make Money on the Buy

A golden rule for investors and entrepreneurs: your profit isn't made on the sale, and it isn't made on the value you add — your profit is made on the buy. We discuss why you should avoid competitive sale processes and instead create deals from a unique knowledge base. We reference a real debtor-in-possession lending example generating 50%+ annualized returns, first secured — the kind of deal no one hands you. You have to build it.

#Business #Deals #Valuation #SmallBusiness #AI #PrivateCredit #BankDebt #Investing #Leadership #SinclairRange #WinningMomentum

This week at Sinclair Range, we catch up on the high-stakes drama and deals of 2026. From a $100 million private credit mandate to a "hostile takeover" attempt that required a 48-hour emergency rescue, we dive into the real-world grit of restructuring and transition.

Interesting Deal / File of the Week: $100M Private Credit & Ontario Machining

We went to market on a $100 million private credit offering for an established Canadian lender filling a $1.5 billion gap in the market. We also continue to market a precision machining firm in Ontario that is successfully pivoting into the aerospace sector following a challenging 2024.

Lesson Learned: Mastering the Pitch

Stop reading AI scripts and ditch the "fluff" (p. 4). We break down the essential hierarchy of a professional pitch: the 30-second "hook," the 3-minute "how," and the 10-minute "deal"—specifically how to get in, how to get out, and what happens in between.

Struggle of the Week: The Rogue Contractor & The $2M Save

A raw look at a contractor who attempted a hostile takeover of a client during a CCAA filing. We detail the immediate contract termination, the subsequent $2 million financing collapse, and the emergency Sunday night rescue through Sapphire Global Investments.

What I’m Thinking About: Underestimating the Upside

A personal musing on the "3-legged stool" of business, leadership, and self-improvement. We discuss why even seasoned advisors often underestimate their own brand potential and why maintaining positivity is a functional operating requirement for any leader.