Working With Us

First West Capital provides subordinated financing and mezzanine loans to small and medium-sized companies with proven cash flow. We focus on Western Canada and loan to all industries. We’ve financed companies in manufacturing and distribution, as well as technology, services and retail. Our loans range from $500,000 to $7 million.

Working Together: Initiating a Relationship with First West Capital

You may be referred to us by your lawyer, accountant or banker, or you might approach us directly. However our relationship begins, you can be assured that we’ll work with you to determine whether our subordinated debt is a fit for your company. The average deal takes about four to six weeks to process and disburse. Most of our financing deals extend from three to seven years.

Doing a Deal: What to Expect with First West Capital Financing

Here’s what you can expect when you work with us:

1. Initial Meeting: We’ll meet with you at your place of business to get to know you, your company and your financing needs. We’ll explain what we do and how the deal will progress. We’ll take a look at your cash flow position, business case and management capacity. If you’re buying a company, we prefer to see that you’ve managed the company (for management buy-outs), managed a similar business or have a track record of successfully running a company.
2. Interest Letter: If we think there’s a fit, we’ll issue an interest letter outlining the terms and conditions of the deal. This is not a contract, simply a tool to ensure that we are all on the same page before getting into full due diligence We’ll also require payment of the application fee, which is two per cent of the loan amount (and refundable if the deal is not approved by our credit committee).
3. Due Diligence: Once we agree on the terms, we’ll proceed with our  due diligence and expect management to be committed to assisting us through this process. We’ll examine everything from management and operations to your marketing and financial results and present our findings to First West Capital’s credit committee. If all goes well, you’ll be approved for financing; nine out of 10 of our loans are approved.
4. Approval and Legal Documents: Once approved, we’ll draw up a loan agreement. If you’re already working with a senior lender, we’ll work  collaboratively with them. 
5. Monitoring and Risk Management: We’ll continue to work with you during the term of the loan (generally three to seven years) to provide risk management, monitoring and business guidance as required.

Need more information? Check our Frequently Asked Questions page for additional answers to your questions, or contact us directly.