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Merit Investment Bank & Co. Advises CSuite Financial Partners on Its Sale to Kingsway Financial Services Inc. (NYSE:KFS)

by | January 10, 2023 | Press Releases

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Merit Investment Bank & Co., a leading middle market investment bank, is honored to have served as exclusive adviser to CSuite Financial Partners on its sale to Kingsway Financial Services Inc.

Merit Investment Bank & Co., a leading middle market investment bank serving clients globally, today
announced that it has acted as the exclusive financial advisor to CSuite Financial Partners
(“CSuite”) in its acquisition by Kingsway Financial Services Inc. (NYSE:KFS).

Founded in 2015 by Arthur J. Cohen, CSuite, based in Manhattan Beach, California, is a
leading financial executive services firm providing financial management and consulting
leadership to clients throughout the United States. CSuite’s chief financial officer, partners,
and executive-level resources are skilled CPAs and MBAs who bring their unique financial
expertise and experience to assist clients with a broad universe of financial projects.

“This is an important milestone for CSuite as we join forces with Kingsway,” said Cohen.
“Our goal has always been to provide clients with the highest level of outsourced financial
professional services. The combination with Kingsway, and with its portfolio company the
Ravix Group in particular, is a highly synergistic fit. Ravix and CSuite are a complementary
match, and I am confident that this combination will enable us to take our vision further.”
CSuite will be operated alongside Ravix.

“Merit Investment Bank’s deep industry expertise and deft market positioning helped us achieve a great
outcome. Their patience, tenacity, and dedication were what ultimately helped ensure a
successful and on-time closing of this transaction,” Cohen added. Merit Investment Bank managed a robust
process that garnered interest from a broad range of both strategic and financial buyers. After
analyzing multiple offers, Kingsway was selected for its cultural fit, growth focus, and unique
adjacent expertise in high-touch financial services.

David M.V. Barnes, senior managing director of Merit Investment Bank, and deal lead, commented, “We are
pleased to have been involved in the combination of these two industry leaders. We look
forward to continuing to support clients in the financial professional services vertical.”

Legal advisory was provided to the seller by Jay Thompson and the team at Jeffer Mangels
Butler & Mitchell LLP of Los Angeles, California. Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP served as
legal counsel to Kingsway.

About Kingsway

Kingsway is a holding company that owns or controls subsidiaries primarily in the extended
warranty, business services, asset management and real estate industries. The common shares
of Kingsway are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol KFS.

About CSuite

CSuite, based in Manhattan Beach, California, is a national, financial executive services firm
providing financial management leadership to companies in every industry, regardless of size,
throughout the United States.

About Merit Investment Bank & Co.

Merit Investment Bank & Co. is a leading boutique investment bank focused on serving middle-market
companies. Merit Investment Bank & Co. executes sell-side M&A, buy-side M&A, and capital advisory
services with specific emphasis on the technology, software, consumer, business services, and
manufacturing sectors. In addition, Merit Investment Bank & Co. offers other investment banking services
such as debt and equity capital raises, restructuring advisory services, business valuations, and
project financing through its subsidiary, Merit Investment Bank Securities, member FINRA / SIPC, a full-
service Broker-Dealer licensed in 50 states.

Learn more at www.meritinvestmentbank.com

Contact
Jodi Roberts
Jodi.Roberts@meritinvestmentbank.com

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