Latest news with #PierreLassonde
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lassonde family donates $25 million — again — to advance entrepreneurship at the University of Utah
When Pierre Lassonde and his wife, Claudette MacKay-Lassonde, arrived in Salt Lake City 54 years ago to attend graduate school at the University of Utah, the couple possessed one suitcase, limited English skills and barely enough cash to see them through Christmas. 'And Claudette was six months pregnant,' added Pierre Lassonde. But the Lassondes tackled their new adventure, making the Utah campus — located far from their Canadian homeland — their second home. 'The University of Utah,' said Lassonde, 'touched our lives.' Now fast forward to today, more than a half-century since the Lassondes' humble Beehive State arrival. On Friday, the Lassonde Family Foundation, led by Pierre Lassonde, donated $25 million to foster continued growth at the University of Utah's Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute. Friday's gift, which comes as the institute prepares for its 25th anniversary next year, continues the Lassonde family's ongoing interest and investment in the student-entrepreneur institute which bears their name. The Lassonde Family Foundation has already donated about $25 million to the university in the past — so Friday's donation almost doubles its total commitment. Kurt Dirks, dean of the David Eccles School of Business, called the donation 'a landmark gift' reinforcing the Lassonde family's commitment to student success. 'Whenever I've heard Pierre talk, he's always said: 'This is for students by students' — and this (financial gift) is something that does that so well. 'It makes our entrepreneurship education available for even more students at the business school, as well as across the entire university.' The beneficiaries of the Lassonde family's gift, added Dirks, will not only enjoy personal success in the future — 'but create prosperity in the state of Utah and beyond.' Meanwhile, University of Utah President Taylor Randall said the Lassonde Family Foundation gifts have transformed entrepreneurship education. 'Pierre Lassonde and the Lassonde Family Foundation have inspired us to reimagine what it means to teach entrepreneurship at a university,' Randall said. 'They have challenged us to focus on students and their ideas, hands-on learning, and to provide entrepreneurship education at a scale not available anywhere else. Every student at the University of Utah has the opportunity to get involved with the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute to launch a company or product and learn entrepreneurial skills such as creative problem solving, self-reliance and perseverance.' When asked Friday why his family foundation is continuing its support of the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute, Pierre Lassonde noted that he has been involved in philanthropic enterprises at several universities and institutions. 'But the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute is the one that has given me the most joy, by far,' he said. Pierre Lassonde's wife, Claudette, who died in 2000, was a fellow University of Utah graduate and later became the first female president of the Professional Engineers Ontario. Today, Pierre Lassonde manages the family foundation with their children, Julie and Christian Lassonde. After graduating from the University of Utah, Pierre Lassonde embarked on his own business career, working in construction and mining before launching the Franco-Nevada Mining Corporation, which would ultimately become a multibillion-dollar business success story. Lassonde's financial support of entrepreneurship education at the University of Utah began in 2001 and has continued ever since — highlighted by the construction, about a decade ago, of the sprawling Lassonde Studios. The studios are home to hundreds of residential students and boast a 20,000-square-foot innovation space where student-entrepreneurs can connect, test ideas, build prototypes and launch companies. Today's Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute is fueled by a Pierre Lassonde-inspired creed: 'Live. Create. Launch.' Lassonde finds pleasure knowing that the same university 'that has touched me' is now 'touching the lives of thousands of people' through the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute. 'In philanthropy, the thing that one looks for most is how many lives can you touch for the better — and this program has done that at a level that we can't even imagine. 'And we're far from finished, It's just going to get better and better.' Business founders — including those at the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute — come in all shapes and sizes. But success for each entrepreneur will likely be determined by his or her commitment to a vision. That vision extends to the University of Utah's entrepreneurship program, said Lassonde. 'We want this institute to be one of the top five in the United States … and bring in the very best students,' he said. 'Not necessarily the most academically performing student — but the ones that have the grit to fail and then get up and do it again.' Lassonde also hopes to expand the existing entrepreneurship education program — including its worldwide reach. Already the university's Master of Business Creation program is enrolling globally in select locations around the world — including Africa, Canada and, soon, in Europe and India. 'We will be able to touch the lives of millions of people,' he added. Dirks said Friday's gift from the Lassonde family will help advance the vision of the University of Utah further becoming a gathering place where business-minded students 'can come and really learn, hands-on; and to be able to learn by doing — and then take that forward to make a better life for themselves and for more prosperity for their community.' Troy D'Ambrosio, the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute's founding executive director, said the spirit and opportunities of entrepreneurship have been fueled jointly in the past by Pierre Lassonde and University of Utah leadership. Ideas such as the Lassonde Studios and the MBC program, he added, have defined the university's commitment to entrepreneurship over the past decade — while creating an unmatched campus experience. 'The resources are here to continue to innovate,' said D'Ambrosio. 'And as technology changes, I can see how this institute can grow dramatically and impact more and more lives and have more and more students having the opportunities that we've already provided for tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of students.' A seasoned business owner such as Pierre Lassonde knows that founding and operating a company can be a lonesome endeavor — especially in the beginning. The Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute provides a vision-driven community to scores of student-business founders, he said. Each day, students experience life-changing moments as they bounce ideas off each other, connect with mentors and weather the day-to-day challenges of launching a business. 'Just having the opportunity to talk to other people may change your life and may provide that one clue that you were missing,' he said. 'If you're sitting on a couch at home watching TV, it's not going to happen. So we provide that context for these people.' D'Ambrosio said he has witnessed 'success-via-cooperation' happen in real time at the Lassonde Studios. 'We had two students move in our first year — one was an engineer, one was a business student,' he recalled. 'The business student had the idea. The engineer had the skill. They came together… They were in the same dorm room and built a company. 'That kind of 'putting those two-halves of the equation together' is part of what we envisioned, and it's worked beyond any expectation.' Dirks said Friday's $25 million gift will be used to expand the opportunity scope of the University of Utah's business school and across the entire campus. 'We're looking at how we can use (the gift) to also expand the Masters of Business Creation program.' Pierre Lassonde said he and his family's continued commitment to the University of Utah remains grounded in changing lives — both on the Salt Lake City campus and around the globe. 'The University of Utah is going to have a brand name that's going to be worldwide, and that really gets me going,' said Lassonde. 'How many lives can we change for the better? I can't even imagine. It's going to be in the millions. And you never know — one of our companies may end up being an Apple, and then you're talking billions of people. 'Let's dream.'
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
3 TSX Growth Companies With At Least 11% Insider Ownership
As the Canadian economy faces challenges with a recent contraction in GDP and rate cuts by the Bank of Canada amid tariff uncertainties, investors are keenly observing growth opportunities that may arise from these shifting dynamics. In such an environment, companies with substantial insider ownership often stand out as they can signal confidence from those closest to the business, making them potential candidates for investors looking to capitalize on growth within a recovering market. Name Insider Ownership Earnings Growth Propel Holdings (TSX:PRL) 36.5% 38.9% Robex Resources (TSXV:RBX) 28.2% 130.7% Orla Mining (TSX:OLA) 11.5% 40.8% West Red Lake Gold Mines (TSXV:WRLG) 13.5% 77.6% Allied Gold (TSX:AAUC) 17.7% 79.2% Almonty Industries (TSX:AII) 17.2% 53% Aritzia (TSX:ATZ) 18.6% 45.1% Enterprise Group (TSX:E) 32.2% 56.3% Colliers International Group (TSX:CIGI) 14.1% 23.9% CHAR Technologies (TSXV:YES) 10.8% 60.5% Click here to see the full list of 43 stocks from our Fast Growing TSX Companies With High Insider Ownership screener. Here's a peek at a few of the choices from the screener. Simply Wall St Growth Rating: ★★★★★★ Overview: Almonty Industries Inc. is involved in the mining, processing, and shipping of tungsten concentrate with a market cap of CA$377.87 million. Operations: Almonty Industries Inc.'s revenue is derived from its activities in mining, processing, and shipping tungsten concentrate. Insider Ownership: 17.2% Almonty Industries is positioned for growth with high insider ownership, trading significantly below its estimated fair value. The company anticipates becoming profitable within three years, with revenue growth forecast at 45.8% annually, outpacing the Canadian market. Recent strategic moves include a private placement raising CAD 2 million and an exclusive offtake agreement for its Sangdong Molybdenum Project, expected to enhance financial stability and reduce South Korea's reliance on Chinese molybdenum imports. Click to explore a detailed breakdown of our findings in Almonty Industries' earnings growth report. Our expertly prepared valuation report Almonty Industries implies its share price may be too high. Simply Wall St Growth Rating: ★★★★★★ Overview: Orla Mining Ltd. is involved in the acquisition, exploration, development, and exploitation of mineral properties with a market cap of CA$2.99 billion. Operations: The company generates revenue from the evaluation and exploration of mineral exploration properties, totaling $314.10 million. Insider Ownership: 11.5% Orla Mining is poised for growth with substantial insider ownership, bolstered by its strategic acquisition of the Musselwhite Gold Mine for $810 million. This move doubles Orla's annual gold production capacity and enhances cash flow, supporting organic growth plans. Recent private placements involving key investors like Pierre Lassonde underscore confidence in Orla's trajectory. Despite a dip in profit margins, earnings are forecast to grow significantly at 40.83% annually, outpacing the Canadian market. Delve into the full analysis future growth report here for a deeper understanding of Orla Mining. Our valuation report unveils the possibility Orla Mining's shares may be trading at a premium. Simply Wall St Growth Rating: ★★★★☆☆ Overview: TerraVest Industries Inc. is a company that manufactures and sells goods and services across various sectors including agriculture, mining, energy, chemicals, utilities, transportation, and construction in Canada, the United States, and internationally with a market cap of CA$2.54 billion. Operations: The company's revenue segments consist of CA$203.45 million from Service, CA$110.10 million from Processing Equipment, CA$269.56 million from Compressed Gas Equipment, and CA$329.58 million from HVAC and Containment Equipment. Insider Ownership: 21% TerraVest Industries shows promise with its recent inclusion in multiple S&P/TSX indices, indicating market recognition. Despite a decrease in quarterly net income, annual earnings grew by 51.1%, and revenue is forecast to grow at 10.4% annually, outpacing the Canadian market's growth rate. The company has increased its dividend by 17%, reflecting confidence in future cash flows. Insider activity over the past three months indicates more buying than selling, though significant selling was noted recently. Click here to discover the nuances of TerraVest Industries with our detailed analytical future growth report. In light of our recent valuation report, it seems possible that TerraVest Industries is trading beyond its estimated value. Unlock more gems! Our Fast Growing TSX Companies With High Insider Ownership screener has unearthed 40 more companies for you to here to unveil our expertly curated list of 43 Fast Growing TSX Companies With High Insider Ownership. Got skin in the game with these stocks? Elevate how you manage them by using Simply Wall St's portfolio, where intuitive tools await to help optimize your investment outcomes. Simply Wall St is a revolutionary app designed for long-term stock investors, it's free and covers every market in the world. Explore high-performing small cap companies that haven't yet garnered significant analyst attention. Diversify your portfolio with solid dividend payers offering reliable income streams to weather potential market turbulence. Find companies with promising cash flow potential yet trading below their fair value. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks analysis only considers stock directly held by insiders. It does not include indirectly owned stock through other vehicles such as corporate and/or trust entities. All forecast revenue and earnings growth rates quoted are in terms of annualised (per annum) growth rates over 1-3 years. Companies discussed in this article include TSX:AII TSX:OLA and TSX:TVK. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@
