Who We Are

Experience and Success Demonstrated by Our Founders

SMI Group was formed by successful professionals with broad experience in creating, growing, re-invigorating, managing and advising organizations to build value.  Our founders and senior professionals have led businesses ranging from multi-national corporations with thousands of employees to start-ups with fewer than 10 employees and have closed transactions with an aggregate value in excess of $50 billion, managed funds with billions of dollars of assets and led or advised companies and projects with many billions of dollars of revenues and capital investment.

Our senior professionals have served as managers, directors and officers of a broad range of public and private businesses and investment funds in numerous sectors.

Transactions closed by our senior professionals include multi-billion-dollar acquisitions, mergers and financings for high-profile multi-national corporations, more modestly-sized transactions for start-ups, microcap and small-cap companies, and real estate transactions of nearly every size and complexity.

Our Recent Ventures

Companies recently founded or co-founded by SMI Group, our CEO and our managing directors include, among others: a Toronto-based company engaged in acquiring, improving and operating film and television studios; a U.S.- and Europe-based company that has developed and is commercialising a proprietary renewable energy production system; a U.S. battery technology company; and a Peruvian company building a
portfolio of gold and copper mining and processing operations.

Companies recently founded or co-founded by SMI Group, our CEO and our managing directors include, among others:

• A Toronto-based company engaged in acquiring, improving and operating film and television studios.
• A U.S. based company that processes and trades
  biofuels, with offices and facilities in the United Arab Emirates, India and Indonesia;
• A Peruvian company that is acquiring interests in a portfolio of gold and copper mining and processing operations;
• A U.S. owner and operator of multiple restaurant brands and restaurants; and
• U.S. and European battery technology companies.

SMI Group’s CEO and managing directors founded numerous other businesses prior to the formation of SMI Group.  In addition, SMI Group’s senior advisors also are involved in creating and expanding businesses. SMI Group often works with our advisors in conceiving or expanding these businesses.

Our international scope is evident from the diversity and the breadth of our professionals and international collaborations:

• Fewer than half of our professionals are focused on domestic transactions in the United States.  The majority of professionals are located outside of the United States and travel extensively to develop and execute cross-border transactions.
• The businesses led by SMI Group senior professionals have had substantial operations in the North America, Asia and Europe and additional activities throughout the world.
• Based on information available to us, measured by U.S. dollar value, less than half of our professionals’ completed transactions were centered in North America, with the balance throughout Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.
• Through our strategic alliances in Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, we collaborate with business and financial professionals who have managed complex projects and advised on billions of dollars of projects throughout their regions.

Transactions Closed by Our Senior Professionals

Iconic companies and assets sold or acquired by our senior professionals include, among many others: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, United Artists, MGM Grand, Bally’s, Desert Inn (now Wynn Hotel), Sands (now, the Venetian), Dunes (now Bellagio), Earls Court/Olympia (largest exhibition center in London), MITEC (largest exhibition center in Malaysia), Metro Traffic Networks, Premiere Radio Networks and major infrastructure projects throughout Southeast Asia.

Other leading companies advised by our senior professionals for significant business initiatives or transactions include, among many others large and small: AT&T, British Telecom, Cable & Wireless, Dentsu Advertising, Deutsche Bank, Preferred Bank, Digital Equipment Corporation, Hewlett Packard, Netscape Communications Corporation, Novell Corporation, Westwood One, Resorts World, Reuters, Tata Group and Texas Instruments.

Evidence of Our Strong Expertise Across Industries

• Advertising, Entertainment, Gaming and Media: Our senior professionals and advisors have led and advised entertainment and media companies of nearly every size and function, ranging from major studios, to networks, production companies, distributors, broadcast stations, cable systems, hotels, casinos, advertising agencies, publishers and Internet start-ups.  Our team has acted in nearly every capacity in these companies, including chairman, chief executive officer, attorney, investment banker, writer, producer, director and even performer and on-air talent.  Our team has concluded many billions of dollars of complex transactions, financings and licensing arrangements for entertainment and media properties.
• Real Estate: Our senior professionals have concluded real estate transactions totaling nearly $20 billion in value, and served as senior executives or senior project managers for projects exceeding an estimated additional $10 billion in value, including, among many others, major exhibition centers in the United Kingdom and Southeast Asia, major Las Vegas hotels and casinos, and production and studio facilities, office complexes, multi-family dwellings and shopping centers in North America, Europe and Asia.
• Technology: Our senior professionals and technology advisors have served as senior executives for some of the world’s largest technology companies, such as Hewlett-Packard, Electronic Data System (now DXC Technology) and Digital Technologies, as well as some of its most innovative start-ups and have arranged investments and commercialization of technologies valued at many billions of dollars. Technology companies led or advised by our team, or in which our team has invested, include: alternative energy (wind, solar, biomass, geothermal); artificial intelligence; batteries and other energy storage technologies; big data; data distribution, management and storage; communications technologies; cyber-security, encryption and disaster recovery; food and water purification; genetic and other technologies related to agriculture and food; mobile applications and technologies; robotics; semiconductor applications; social gaming not requiring licenses; health and life sciences; nano-technologies; payment technologies; and waste management.
• Pharmaceuticals and Health Care: Our senior professionals and consultants have served as directors, senior executives and advisors for numerous pharmaceutical and health care companies, including, among others, hospitals, research and development companies, established, diversified pharmaceutical companies, distributors, medical device companies and health care technology, ranging from start-ups, to emerging and mature businesses throughout the world.
• Energy and Natural Resources: Our senior professionals and executives of our strategic alliances have extensive experience as senior executives and advisors for substantial businesses engaged in oil and gas exploration, refining and distribution; oil rigs; alternative energy, including wind, solar and hydro; battery development and marketing; and mining and distribution of natural resources, including cobalt, copper, coltan, diamonds, gold and timber.
• Blockchain/Fintech: Our senior professionals, advisors and partners have provided strategic business advice to businesses that utilize or provide services relating to blockchain technology, but do not advise on offerings or trading of digital tokens.

Our Approach to Maximise Achievable Value

We maximize achievable value by combining business experience and acumen with financial and legal expertise.  We identify opportunities and impediments, resolve complex operating, legal, financial and structural dilemmas, create or acquire attractive businesses and divest non-core assets.
We work with investment bankers, entrepreneurs, law firms, accounting firms, institutional and individual investors, venture capitalists and operating businesses in the Americas, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Leveraging this broad international network, we focus on cross-border business opportunities and transactions.

We work with management teams and other stakeholders to:

• Participate in businesses and business opportunities in which SMI Group or members of our team or strategic alliances are founders, co-founders, officers or directors.
• Advise public and private companies to achieve their strategic business goals, improve communications and enhance stakeholder value.
• Advise public and private companies and institutional and affluent individual investors regarding business activities and investment banking transactions, including structuring and negotiating cross-border and domestic opportunities.
• Participate in the formation of private equity and venture capital funds that aggregate investor capital for investment in diversified portfolios of developmental and operating businesses under professional management.
• Arrange strategic investments and private placements, generally pursuant to the exceptions to registration available under Regulations D and S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Securities License and Investment Advisor Registration

Activities in the United States for which a securities license is required generally are undertaken by SMI Capital Markets, our wholly-owned U.S. investment banking subsidiary.  SMI Capital Markets is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA) and the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC).  Where appropriate, SMI Group also may engage or introduce other licensed broker-dealers to lead or participate in investment banking transactions.

Activities in the United States for which an investment advisor registration or license is required generally are undertaken by SMI Advisors, our investment advisor subsidiary registered in Washington. Where appropriate, SMI Group also may engage or introduce other registered investment advisors to participate in transactions.