
Financing Growth
When your acquisition is in sight, but financing isn’t — we help lenders see things differently.
We help businesses evaluate, structure, and secure acquisition financing from conventional and alternative credit markets, providing the expertise and capital needed to close with confidence and at the lowest cost of capital.
Overview
Aligning Risk to Unlock Options
Learn how we work with our clients to design optimal financing structures and orchestrate competitive processes that provide options and get deals done quickly.
Aligning Risk
Why Deal Structure Matters
Acquisition financing typically fails on deal structure, not business fundamentals. Frequently, it’s a misalignment between pricing, structure, and risk allocation that leads to failed financing requests.
We bridge this gap for our clients. Through strategic restructuring that reopens access to banks or by navigating alternative capital markets with flexible mandates, we chart the path to secure funding at optimal terms.
Our approach begins by mapping competing interests, then engineering structures that risk align all parties. We balance buyer equity, seller participation, and debt coverage to achieve solutions that work for all parties. Seventy percent of deals declined by banks become bankable with proper structure, closing with sustainable terms, and saving significant financing costs compared to acting alone.

Results
What Diamond Willow Delivers
Bankable structure, lowest cost of capital.
We realign risks and rewards between buyers, sellers, and lenders—making 70% of previously declined deals financeable by major banks at competitive rates.
Competitive process that puts you in control.
Your deal goes to market with lender-ready materials and refined structure, creating competitive tension where capital providers come to you with their best terms.
Flexibility built into your covenants.
We negotiate realistic covenants aligned to integration timelines and business cycles, not generic templates—preserving the operational flexibility you need post-close.
Capital certainty before expensive diligence.
Early structure review and market testing means you know your financing is available before spending hundreds of thousands on accountants, quality of earnings reports, and legal fees.
A partner through close and beyond.
We stay engaged through funding, then provide ongoing board guidance and lender reporting support—protecting the relationship and terms you worked hard to secure.
Explore the acquisitions we've supported:
Risk Assessment
Evaluating Your Options
Acquisition financing isn’t just about finding a willing lender—it’s about understanding where risk and opportunity truly lie in your structure, terms, and timeline. Before you commit to your next step, consider these critical questions to assess whether your approach will protect your interests and support long-term success.
Did the bank decline your acquisition on business fundamentals or deal structure?
Many transactions are declined not because of weak fundamentals, but due to misaligned structure or risk allocation. Clarifying the real reason can reveal viable options, including restructuring for bank approval or targeted outreach to the right credit providers.
Are financing delays and lender rejections putting your deal at risk?
Prolonged uncertainty can erode seller confidence, invite competing offers, or lead to shifting terms. Taking a proactive approach to structure and lender alignment reduces execution risk, keeping the transaction on track.
Does your current structure distribute risk proportionately?
A structure that shares risk fairly between buyer, seller, and lender improves your negotiating position and increases the likelihood of approval. Reviewing risk allocation early helps avoid last-minute surprises and supports long-term success.
Are you putting the business at risk with this much debt?
Excess leverage or poorly structured debt can strain cash flow, restrict operations, and limit flexibility after the transaction. Modelling repayment and stress scenarios in advance protects your business and sets the stage for sustainable growth.
Do your terms fairly address liability in the event of default?
Clear, balanced terms clarify each party’s responsibilities and reduce the risk of disputes if things don’t go as planned. Addressing liability upfront is crucial to building trust and protecting your interests throughout the loan's term.
Our Approach
Supporting Your Acquisition
01.
Assessment & Strategy
02.
Structuring & Execution
03.
Diligence & Financing
About Us
Meet the People Behind Diamond Willow.
Our team combines institutional investment banking, Private Equity, and CFO experience with deep relationships across Canadian lending markets.
We understand how capital providers evaluate risk and structure our engagements to deliver what they need to underwrite your acquisition.

Grant & Haley
Partners at Diamond Willow
Investment
Timelines & Fee Structure
Timelines
Most acquisition financing engagements are completed within 8 to 16 weeks from mandate to funding. Compressed timelines are possible when historical data is current, diligence is progressing, and leadership can commit to decision timelines and coordination requirements.
Most acquisition financing engagements are completed within 8 to 16 weeks from mandate to funding. Compressed timelines are possible when historical data is current, diligence is progressing, and leadership can commit to decision timelines and coordination requirements.
Fees
Our fees typically include a success fee of 1.5% to 2.5% of the debt raised, which is paid from the loan proceeds at closing. Engagements may involve monthly retainers during execution to coordinate the financing process and break fees if the transaction is abandoned before closing.
Our fees typically include a success fee of 1.5% to 2.5% of the debt raised, which is paid from the loan proceeds at closing. Engagements may involve monthly retainers during execution to coordinate the financing process and break fees if the transaction is abandoned before closing.
Relative Value
Better pricing and covenant terms typically exceed advisory fees by significant multiples. More importantly, a well-structured approach reduces costly mistakes, such as unfavorable control provisions, prevents wasted diligence spend on unfinanceable offers, and allows management to focus on integration planning rather than navigating capital markets during the most critical acquisition period.
Better pricing and covenant terms typically exceed advisory fees by significant multiples. More importantly, a well-structured approach reduces costly mistakes, such as unfavorable control provisions, prevents wasted diligence spend on unfinanceable offers, and allows management to focus on integration planning rather than navigating capital markets during the most critical acquisition period.

Advisory Services
Beyond Acquisition
Pre-acquisition consulting.
Before committing to a full financing engagement, we offer consulting services on an hourly basis for capital planning and acquisition structuring. These services help you assess target businesses, understand appropriate capital structures, and determine if an offer is financeable before significant advisor spend.
Ongoing support through integration
Closing the financing is one milestone, but integration requires ongoing financial discipline. When alternative lenders finance the acquisition, most businesses need 24 to 36 months of execution before conventional banks will refinance at lower rates. We provide advisory support to guide that journey.
Getting Back to Conventional Banking
Quarterly reporting packages that maintain lender confidence.
Strategic guidance on covenant management and performance metrics.
Financial reviews to proactively identify when banking financing is a reality.
Access To Our Network
Your acquisition may require specialized expertise beyond financing. We provide access to a vetted network of M&A advisors, legal counsel, quality of earnings specialists, and valuation professionals who can support specific aspects of your deal.
Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Next Steps
Understand Your Options.
Every acquisition has a financing solution.
The question is finding the optimal path efficiently. Schedule a confidential discussion with our team to explore what's possible for your specific transaction.
Who we work with.
Established Canadian companies and management teams pursuing strategic acquisitions where traditional bank financing has proven challenging.

Mathew Burpee
Partner at Diamond Willow

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