Claridge Israel is differentiated by its family office mindset, flexible investment approach, global relationships, value creation capabilities, strong integrity and long term investment horizon.

About Us

Building together. Making an impact. Creating a legacy.

• The firm was initiated through a partnership between Claridge Inc., the Stephen Bronfman Family Office, and Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, one of Canada’s largest institutional investors.
• In Q4 2020, Claridge Israel also welcomed Sweet Park Capital, the Family Office of the Bensadoun Family (founders and owners of global retailer Aldo), as an investor in the partnership

• We are patient, long-term investors with relationships around the world.
• We offer the necessary infrastructure and capital to support promising, revenue generating companies with growth potential.
• As experienced investors, we have expertise in identifying transformational opportunities and adding value to portfolio companies.

• Claridge has invested more than $800M in Israel over the last twenty years and is committed to supporting Israel’s fast-growing, talent rich economy.
• This partnership lays a foundation for a new generation of Bronfman family investing in Israel. Claridge, now representing the interests of the Stephen Bronfman Family, manages investment interests in the food, technology, energy, entertainment, and real estate industries, among others.
• With a history of actively investing and substantial philanthropic initiatives, the Bronfmans have maintained a strong connection with Israel for several decades. Through its well-established foundation and network in Israel, Claridge, together with its partner CDPQ, is pursuing new business opportunities in the region to continue building on past experience and success.

• CDPQ is a long-term institutional investor that manages funds primarily for public and parapublic pension and insurance plans. As at December 31, 2023, it held $434 billion in net assets. As one of Canada’s leading institutional fund managers, CDPQ invests globally in major financial markets, private equity, infrastructure and real estate.

• Sweet Park Capital (“SPC”) is the investment arm of the Bensadoun Family Office. Located in Montreal, Canada. Aldo Bensadoun, the founder of The ALDO Group, is the Chairman of SPC and remains active in SPC’s activities. The ALDO Group grew from humble beginnings in 1972 to become a global business with over 3,000 points of sale in over 100 countries. The Bensadoun Family Office was founded in 1995 and has been investing across various asset classes including public markets, private equity and real estate.

Growth Technology Investing

Actively backing the entrepreneurial spirit with more than capital.

Criteria

• Experienced, successful, and ambitious teams demonstrating deep industry insight.
• Management with “skin in the game” invested alongside us.
• Strong, positive corporate culture.

• Compelling long-term industry and growth fundamentals.
• Minimal risk of obsolescence and disintermediation.
• Meaningful barriers to entry.
• Attractive return on invested capital.

• Outpacing industry revenue growth.
• Healthy operating margins.
• Opportunities to implement operational value creation initiatives.

• Demonstrated market leadership and technical advantage.
• Strong brands and intellectual property.
• Competitive advantages that provide the ability to withstand material changes in the economic environment.

Investment Strategy

• Majority or significant minority equity investments.
• We have the flexibility to pursue a range of investment structures as well as transaction types.
  • We evaluate each potential transaction based on its own merits. We favour simple investment structures that meet the unique needs of sellers.
  • We prefer control, but also invest in significant minority situations where we have strong influence over the company’s destiny.

• Minority or majority investments of between $10m - $40m equity contribution.
• We have the capability to underwrite larger transactions and we are willing to work with partners.

• Our approach can appeal to family-owned businesses and select public and sponsor-owned companies.

• Growth capital.
• Management led buy-outs.
• Shareholder liquidity.
• Ownership transitions.

Differentiation

• We have a longer-term outlook than most investors. Unlike traditional private equity firms, we have an owner mindset and a longer time horizon to allow for the maximization of value with each of our operating companies.
• Not having a predetermined fund life gives us the flexibility to make long-term decisions for the well-being of the company.

• Broad investment mandate gives us the flexibility to pursue a range of investments types.
• Simple investment structures meet the unique needs of sellers.
• We can be a significant minority partner and although we prefer to invest at the equity level, we have the ability to invest throughout the capital structure of the company (mezzanine debt and equity).

• We understand the benefits and risks of financial leverage.
• We use conservative leverage and construct optimal capital structures to provide sufficient flexibility to maneuver through economic cycles and reinvest cash flows to grow the business.

Added Value

• Our and our investors’ investments span North America, Europe, and Asia.
• Our Investors and our investment professionals have extensive relationships with senior decision makers in multiple industries on a global scale. Our portfolio companies leverage the relationships that the we and our investors have built through decades of doing business.

• Our executives have distinguished international track records with large and small organizations in diverse sectors. This broad experience allows us to guide management teams through challenging decisions.
• Global perspective enables us to identify sectors with potentially better opportunities, make key introductions to new markets, recruit new personnel, and make acquisitions.

• Comprehensive financial expertise and extensive relationships in the business and financial community can be leveraged by our portfolio companies in the context of mergers and acquisitions, IPOs, and financings.

• We take governance seriously and adhere to the highest industry standards. Our governance requirements are similar to those of institutional funds and relate mostly to capital allocation and reporting.
• We work closely with our portfolio companies and assist where we can but are not involved in the day to day operations of our portfolio companies preferring to delegate responsibility to our management teams.
• We put in place strong boards formed with members that bring experience and sector knowledge to our partners.

Management Style

• Open and direct communication.
• Regular, on-going dialogue.
• Collaborative approach with management.
• Trust and integrity – we keep our word.
• Focus on true value creation, not short term profits.
• Result oriented.
• Good corporate citizen.

Our Portfolio Companies

Our Investment Team

A unique mix of entrepreneurial thinking, operational experience, deep financial expertise and integrity.

News

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