Latest news with #Globalive
Bloomberg
10 hours ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Globalive Bid for Canada's Wealth One Bank Wins Federal Approval
Freedom Mobile founder Anthony Lacavera's investment firm won federal approval to acquire Wealth One Bank of Canada. Globalive led a consortium of Canadian investors to buy all the issued and outstanding shares of the digital bank, founded in 2016. The government of Canada approved the transaction, Globalive said in a statement Wednesday, and the deal is expected to be completed 'within weeks.'
Cision Canada
12 hours ago
- Business
- Cision Canada
Acquisition of WealthONE Bank by Canadian Consortium of Investors Led by Globalive Approved by Government of Canada
With all conditions to complete the acquisition met, the transaction is expected to close within weeks Bank to continue to operate as a federally regulated Schedule I bank under its current charter, with no changes to its day-to-day operations. TORONTO, June 18, 2025 /CNW/ - WealthONE Bank of Canada ("WealthONE" or the "Bank") and Globalive are pleased to announce that the Government of Canada has approved the acquisition of all the issued and outstanding shares of the Bank by a consortium of Canadian investors led by Globalive. "We are taking a long-term growth approach with WealthONE, with a consortium of strategic investors alongside permanent capital from Globalive," said Anthony Lacavera, Chairman of Globalive. Mr. Lacavera added "We look forward to closing the transaction, capitalizing the Bank, and supporting its next phase of growth." Mr. Lacavera also added "This important milestone reflects the sustained efforts of Simon Lockie and the Globalive team throughout a comprehensive and rigorous review process." Paul Leonard, President and CEO of WealthONE said, "We're very happy to partner with Globalive, whose strategic vision aligns perfectly with our commitment to supporting customers with practical financial solutions." Since its establishment nearly a decade ago, WealthONE has been dedicated to meet the evolving needs of Canadians. The Bank has expanded its services to support a diverse clientele, including self-employed individuals, entrepreneurs, and those seeking straightforward, financial tools to manage their financial futures. WealthONE is well-positioned to continue its growth and enhance its contribution to Canada's financial landscape. The Bank will continue to operate as a federally regulated Schedule I bank under its current charter, with no changes to its day-to-day operations. INFOR Financial Inc. acted as the exclusive financial advisor to WealthONE on this transaction. About WealthONE Bank of Canada A federally chartered Canadian Schedule 1 digital bank, headquartered in Toronto ON provides Canadians across the county with a safe, convenient, and responsive experience for their everyday banking, borrowing, savings and investing needs. WealthONE was recently recognized by Forbes Advisor as one of Canada's Top 3 Best Online Banks: Wealth One Bank of Canada is a member of the Canadian Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC). For more information about WealthONE, please visit: WealthONE is a registered trade name of Wealth One Bank of Canada in all provinces except Quebec. INFOR Financial Inc. acts as the exclusive financial advisor of the Bank on this transaction. About Globalive Globalive is the diversified investment company of Anthony Lacavera and partners. Globalive focuses on long term investments globally in the Telecom, Financial services, and Longevity industries. The Globalive team has a build studio focused on building and operating select high growth companies.
Globe and Mail
14 hours ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Globalive says Ottawa has approved its bid for Wealth One Bank
A consortium of Canadian investors led by Globalive Corp. says it has secured the federal government's approval to acquire Toronto-based Wealth One Bank of Canada, two years after Ottawa ordered three of its founding investors to divest their shares in the bank. Globalive, a private company run by wireless-telecom entrepreneur Anthony Lacavera, said in a statement that it has met all of the conditions to complete the acquisition and that the deal is expected to close within weeks. 'We're very happy to partner with Globalive, whose strategic vision aligns perfectly with our commitment to supporting customers with practical financial solutions,' Wealth One president and chief executive Paul Leonard said in a statement. Wealth One is a Schedule 1 bank catering to Chinese-Canadian clients, and its assets total more than $516-million, most of which are uninsured mortgages on residential real estate. The bank opened its doors in 2016 with a $50-million investment from backers and has never turned a profit. Globalive had outlined a growth strategy based on expanding Wealth One's residential mortgage business and providing lines of credit to individual borrowers. The deal will see all of Wealth One's current investors divest their shares and the ownership of the bank move into a special purpose vehicle, or SPV, a legal entity that allows multiple investors to pool their capital and make an investment in a single company. Globalive will be responsible for governance over the SPV, while other investors will be limited partners with only an economic interest in the company. In 2023, then-finance minister Chrystia Freeland ordered three of the bank's founding investors – Toronto insurance executive Shenglin Xian, Vancouver property developer Morris Chen and Toronto grocery tycoon Yuansheng Ou Yang – to divest their shares and imposed national-security conditions on the bank. Under the deal, the three will divest their shares but maintain an economic stake through the special purpose vehicle. The office of the current Finance Minister, François-Philippe Champagne, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Ottawa ties Wealth One founders to possible Chinese interference 'We are taking a long-term growth approach with Wealth One, with a consortium of strategic investors alongside permanent capital from Globalive,' Mr. Lacavera, chair of Globalive, said in a statement. 'We look forward to closing the transaction, capitalizing the bank, and supporting its next phase of growth,' he added. Over the past three years, Wealth One has operated with security measures in place meant to guard against money laundering and unauthorized sharing of sensitive information. Early last year, Globalive made a bid to buy a 54-per-cent stake in Wealth One for $51-million and invest up to $200-million in expanding the business. In December, 2024, the Competition Bureau approved the acquisition. Globalive said Tuesday the acquisition is now valued at $58-million for a 65-per-cent stake held by Globalive and the consortium, with legacy investors holding the remainder. Globalive's backers include high-net-worth families in Canada, Britain and the United States with experience investing in the financial sector, The Globe and Mail previously reported. Mr. Lacavera founded Wind Mobile in 2008 with financial backing from Egyptian billionaire Naguib Sawiris. In 2016, it was sold for $1.6-billion to Shaw Communications Inc., which renamed it Freedom Mobile. To win regulatory approval for Shaw's sale to Rogers Communications Inc. in 2023, Rogers sold Freedom Mobile – the country's fourth-largest wireless carrier – to Quebecor Inc. for $2.85-billion. At the time, Mr. Lacavera made an unsuccessful bid for Freedom Mobile. Mr. Lacavera is also the co-founder and CEO of an artificial intelligence-powered longevity platform.
