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Meet the Redcap&Truss Team

Redcap&Truss is an independent advisory firm founded in 2014. We provide strategic mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and capital raising advice to entrepreneurs and middle market companies.

The name Redcap&Truss is inspired by the late 19th-century Red Cap baggage porters in New York’s Grand Central Station. Similarly to porters, we carry each corporate sales process from start to finish, while building a bridge (Truss) between buyer and seller.

The Redcap&Truss team has significant experience in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), capital raising and providing general financial advisory services. Most importantly, we are focused on helping clients reach both personal and business goals. Learn about the team below:

Patrick Allan, Partner

P: 403.457.9897
E: pallan@redcapandtruss.com

 

I work with business owners navigating some of the most important decisions they will make about their companies—whether that means selling, acquiring a business or evaluating the options for what comes next.

As a founding Partner of Redcap&Truss, I bring experience from CIBC World Markets and GMP Securities, where I advised on more than $3 billion in M&A transactions. I work with owners through the transaction process, including assessing opportunities, identifying potential buyers, evaluating offers and negotiating deal terms.

I founded Redcap&Truss in 2014 because I believed business owners in the Western Canadian mid-market deserved access to experienced M&A advice tailored to their interests and objectives.

My roots are in rural Saskatchewan, where I started out farming alongside my father. I understand that a business represents more than its financial results—it reflects years of work, investment and decisions about the future.

At Redcap&Truss, we help owners understand their options and navigate important transactions with experienced, practical advice.

 

Chris Beaton, Partner

P: 403.457.9898
E: cbeaton@redcapandtruss.com

 

I advise business owners on the strategic and financial decisions that shape the future of their companies, including business sales, acquisitions, capital raising and growth.

As a founding Partner of Redcap&Truss, I bring more than 25 years of experience spanning corporate strategy, investment banking and M&A. My previous roles included Deloitte Consulting’s strategy group and CIBC World Markets, where my last assignment was leading the investment banking coverage of the oilfield services sector.

During my investment banking career, I helped raise more than $3 billion in debt and equity offerings and advised on major M&A transactions in the Canadian energy sector.

Today, I work with business owners to evaluate their options, understand how buyers and investors may view their businesses, and navigate transactions and financing decisions. My experience is particularly relevant to industrial, manufacturing and energy-related businesses, where understanding the commercial and operational context matters alongside the numbers.

Through Redcap&Truss’s Deal Brief, I also share practical perspectives on Western Canadian M&A, business value creation and preparing companies for future opportunities.

I hold an MBA with Distinction from the Richard Ivey School of Business at Western University and volunteer with the Pacific Assistance Dogs Society as a certified service puppy trainer.

 

Testimonials

  • “We built Blue Sky with the aim to sell it in three to five years. When we received an unsolicited proposal from another party, Chris and his team worked to ensure we canvassed the market for other suitors and negotiate a very attractive deal for our shareholders. Always happy to recommend Redcap&Truss to our friends.”
    Blue Sky Distributing Ltd.​
    Derek Loomis, Owner, Blue Sky Distributing Ltd.​
  • "The Redcap guys gave me honest and direct advice all the way through the process and always presented multiple options to consider to aid in my decision making. I am now set up for my next entrepreneurial venture – thanks guys!"
    Empower Construction Group Inc.
    Casey Merrills, Owner, Empower Construction Group Inc.
  • “Working side-by-side with Patrick and Chris throughout the process for me and our team was easy. Trust and reliability are huge when working with advisors and both of these attributes were exceptional as we navigated the negotiation and sale process. We highly recommend Redcap&Truss as valued partners and advisors.“
    Whissell Contracting Ltd.
    Gary Yamada, Chief Financial Officer, Whissell Contracting Ltd.
  • “Chris and Patrick were truly trusted advisors. They quarterbacked all the various steps of our transaction, gave me their honest feedback and grinded through to closing. Really appreciate what the guys did for Eclipse and I’m very thankful we found a great partner in Steelhaus!”
    Eclipse Downhole Solutions
    Nathan Jones, Owner, Eclipse Downhole Solutions
  • “I would like to say many many thanks for what you guys did for us and our business Barrow Safety.  You guys both deliver a great service and great advice. I do not think this transaction would have went nearly as smooth as it did without you guys.“
    Barrow Safety Service Inc.
    Glen Barrow, Owner, Barrow Safety Services Inc.
  • “The Redcap&Truss team helped us take this deal from concept to closing.  There are lots of emotions that come with trying to get a deal done and the Redcap&Truss guys helped us every step of the way.“
    Westbloom Inc.
    Westbloom Ownership
  • “After meeting with Redcap&Truss for the first time in June, they immediately identified options that could help us take our company to the next level. I am incredibly excited about the future of First Pass and Whipcord. Together, we have the opportunity to create value for agriculture stakeholders with new digital products.“
    First Pass Technologies
    Matt Coutts, CEO, First Pass Technologies
  • “As Excel was growing, it became evident that we required a strategic partner to assist in the continued growth of the Company.  Redcap&Truss identified UIG, as a strategic partner that would provide us with additional expertise in the construction industry while enabling us to continue to grow our business.”
    Excel Projects
    JD Kehler, shareholder of Excel Projects Ltd.
  • “When we were having preliminary discussions with Big Bore, we had a general sense of what a fair deal would look like from a money perspective.  The guys at Redcap&Truss confirmed our initial thinking, but also brought to the table some creative ideas on the other non-financial deal terms that we were not as familiar with. They did a great job in a short amount of time and negotiated a great deal for all sides .”
    Big Stone Boring
    Michael Dorsett, shareholder of Big Stone Boring Ltd.
  • “I initially met Redcap&Truss at the end of 2012. At that time they advised me to continue to grow my business as they thought it was too early to sell it.  By the summer of 2014, we engaged them and they thoroughly managed the sales process through the end of 2014 ensuring that our business was sold just prior to the downturn in 2015.”
    Glacier Ridge Ventures
    Craig Heitrich, majority shareholder of Glacier Ridge Ventures Ltd.
  • “Patrick and Chris were valuable resources as we refined our business plan and sought out equity partners. We continue to lean on their expertise as we develop and grow our business.”
    Hanson Lake Sands
    Kyle Holmes, Strongpine Energy Services
  • “I didn’t want to shop around and knew I wanted to sell my business to CEDA.  However, I wanted to make sure I was getting a fair deal, not only on the sale of my equipment, but also as it related to my future employment.  Redcap&Truss walked me through what a fair deal would look like and negotiated all the key deal terms that worked for both CEDA and I. The guys were always available for a late-night chat and were patient with any questions I had throughout the process."
    Breakthrough Oilfield Services
    Derek Loomis, majority shareholder of Breakthrough Oilfield Services Ltd.
  • “Chris and Patrick did a fantastic job of guiding our shareholder group on how to sell our business. They handled all the little details, set up a process that gave us piece of mind that we were getting a fair price for our business and gave us no nonsense and honest answers to all our questions. We are extremely pleased to have hired the Redcap&Truss team.”
    TH Vac
    Tim Harris, majority shareholder of TH Vac
  • “We had a unique process where we almost sold to one group, realized it wasn’t the right party or time, continued to run our business and eventually sold to CEDA two years later.  The Redcap&Truss guys worked with us all through that time, continued to monitor the market and narrowed the list of potential buyers until we were satisfied that CEDA was the right fit. The guys took care of managing all the paper work and I was able to manage and continue to grow my business during the entire process.”
    Joe Loomis Trucking
    Joe Loomis, majority shareholder of Joe Loomis Trucking Ltd.
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