About Us

We’re a specialized team of experienced M&A professionals built for one specific purpose — to sell great companies for great people.

So what is a great company? It’s one that’s both profitable and sustainable, but also represents an opportunity. Buyers are buying the future, not the past. The best buyers are ones looking to grow your company to become the number one player in your industry.

Our Differentiators

Read more about the essential elements of how we sell great companies through our proven process.

Selective Transactions

We typically execute up to six transactions per year. We won’t take on more than we can handle and we don’t carry excess “inventory”. We have the good fortune to speak with nearly a hundred business owners each year, none of which we pressure to “sign up”. Instead, we are selective about the companies we engage with — this ensures mutual success.

Sell Side Specialists

Our skill set is uniquely suited to one aspect of mergers and acquisitions — the sale of privately-held, mid-market companies. We are not distracted by working for buyers, raising equity, sourcing debt, refinancing companies, conducting succession planning, or consulting on value creation.

Mid-Market Expertise

One of the things we cherish most is the personal satisfaction of exceeding our client’s expectations when selling their companies. We don’t discriminate on size and if we are confident we can sell the company for a sufficiently high price such that our fee becomes an investment rather than a reduction of your equity, we willingly embrace the challenge.

16 Years of Experience

We are often asked: Have you sold a company like ours? Our process is suited for any industry. Having sold well over 60 unique companies in our history, there are several industries we have experience in. As generalists, we are able to learn an industry and define the market for your company to achieve the best result, without buying into “rules of thumb”.

Proven Persistence

Sequoia was established in 2007 and we bought our original offices a year later. On a historic day in September 2008, we moved into our new offices, and on the front page of the newspaper read “Lehman Brothers Collapses” – hold on to your hats! Notwithstanding bone dry credit markets and the onset of the Great Recession, Sequoia was still able to achieve success for our clients. With many years now under our belts, we’ve succeeded in all phases of the market cycle. Our reputation for obtaining windfall valuations for our clients is the result of leveraging the value drivers in our client’s companies with a sales process specifically designed to foster competition. We persist until we succeed.

Team of Entrepreneurs

Sequoia is a team of professionals who, with personal capital and sweat equity, have started, grown, matured, and sold several of our own mid-market companies. That experience translates directly to the sale of your company. Our selling and negotiating skills are indispensable when qualifying buyer intent, motivation, and capacity to consummate the sale of your company on terms negotiated to your benefit. Each member of Sequoia has a unique skillset and background that we leverage on every engagement. It’s this team-centric ethos that forms the foundation of our process.

Meet the Team

On every engagement we take on, you get the full Sequoia team working together to achieve the outcome you desire. Learn more about the team below.

Chris Larmer

Prior to founding Sequoia in 2007, Chris began his career in technology and became the VP of Sales & Marketing for an internet advertising firm at age 26. Chris then acquired a company and co-founded a wireless communications business that sold enterprise solutions to the likes of the RCMP, ECOMM and other public safety organizations. After selling the company to a competitor, Chris became a Partner in a real estate project marketing firm, selling multi-million dollar development projects and earning several prestigious industry awards. Chris leads the strategic sales and negotiation processes at Sequoia and gets a genuine kick out of ensuring his clients achieve more than they ever thought was possible. 

Outside of Sequoia, Chris enjoys CrossFit, travelling and pairing great food with excellent wine.

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Andrew Blazenko

CFA, CBV

Andrew joined Sequoia in 2013. He started a valuation practice in 2012 and pitched Sequoia on using his services — we hired Andrew instead. Prior to joining Sequoia, Andrew worked in Corporate Development for CIBT Education, a TSX-listed company, and has bought several private businesses in the contracting, engineering, training, and cosmetics industries. At Sequoia, Andrew is relied on for financial expertise and pushing the process forward, while also ensuring high quality standards. He’s earned his CFA and CBV charter, and graduated from Simon Fraser University with a Bachelor of Business Administration.

Andrew enjoys playing golf, tennis, and chess and won the 2019 CFA Vancouver volunteer golf tournament (a golf event solely for those who’ve volunteered for CFA Vancouver).

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Justin Isaacs

CFA

Prior to joining Sequoia in 2017, Justin worked in the investment industry as a buy-side specialist. Most recently, he worked with a retail team at Raymond James that managed more than $500 million in assets. In the role, Justin was responsible for overall portfolio strategy and identifying and evaluating specific investment opportunities. Justin wears many hats at Sequoia, working with clients, performing due diligence, executing deals, and working with buyer groups. He is a CFA charterholder and graduate from Simon Fraser University with a Bachelor of Business Administration.

Outside of Sequoia, Justin enjoys playing hockey, skiing Whistler, and reading about history.

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Eric Savela

CPA, CA

Eric joined Sequoia in 2021 and brings over 20 years of experience as a designated accountant and entrepreneurial leader in real estate investment management and manufacturing industries.  Most recently, Eric was the GM and CFO of a North American food manufacturer, leading it through a period of substantial growth and the successful sale for the private family ownership group. At Sequoia, Eric is a private company M&A specialist and provides business owners with strategic advice, assists them in and around the deal process, and executing disposition strategies. Eric is a CPA, CA and is a graduate of Simon Fraser University holding a Bachelor of Business Administration degree.

In his spare time Eric is a lover of all sports but most often is found at a Canadian Football League game, being a proud holder of BC Lions season tickets for over two decades.

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Angus Grauer

Prior to joining Sequoia in 2023, Angus began his career at a high-end real estate development company. Concurrently, he played field hockey for Canada at an international level. In 2019, he moved into the fintech industry, where he would remain for nearly four years. He handled the finances of over 50 small-to-medium sized companies across a variety of industries and was quickly promoted to a management level. At Sequoia, Angus is involved in many stages of the deal process. His attention to detail and acumen allow him to provide value where most needed. Angus holds a bachelors degree in history and a graduate diploma in accounting, both obtained from the University of British Columbia. He is currently pursuing a CBV designation.

Outside of Sequoia, Angus remains a fond student of history and enjoys golf, tennis, and skiing.

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