Search Fund · Toronto, Ontario
Acernus Capital seeks to partner with business owners planning a succession or full sale — bringing operational expertise, data-driven leadership, and long-term commitment.
Get in TouchOverview
Acernus Capital seeks to acquire and operate a medium-sized business, or to enter a succession plan with a business owner who is planning to gradually reduce day-to-day management and transition the business.
Acernus Capital is not a private equity firm — it is a founder-operator model. Lanson will join the acquired business as an owner-operator, working alongside the existing team to preserve the company's culture and build on its success.
Lanson will join the business as its operator and partner with the existing management team, preserving culture while driving sustainable growth.
Acernus Capital aspires to build on the value that owners have created — ensuring customers continue to be served with excellence and employees are protected.
Lanson has assembled a syndicate of investors and will make a meaningful personal financial commitment to fund the acquisition or succession plan.
Investment Criteria & Seller Attributes
Businesses should satisfy a number of the following financial, business, and industry criteria:
If you are aware of an opportunity, please contact us. We would be delighted to connect with you.
Our Value to Business Owners
Acernus Capital provides business owners with a distinctive partnership model, built on transparency, flexibility, and a genuine long-term commitment.
Acernus Capital will structure transactions to satisfy a business owner's financial objectives (e.g., enabling tax plans) and personal objectives (e.g., offering an ongoing advisory or operating role).
Acernus Capital will collaborate with business owners to ensure continuity for customers and employees throughout and following the transition.
Acernus Capital is not a short-term turnaround fund — we are a committed partner with an indefinite, long-term plan to grow and operate the business.
Lanson brings a proven track record in strategic finance, data infrastructure, and cross-functional leadership — backed by a network of investors and advisors.
Principal
Principal, Acernus Capital | Toronto, Ontario
Lanson is a results-driven finance and operations leader with a decade of experience across telecommunications and health technology. At TELUS Health, he serves as Senior Lead of IT Capital Allocation & Strategic Finance, where he built and pitched a $5.4M cloud infrastructure business case with a 32% IRR to executive leadership, projected to generate ~$2M in annual EBITDA. He manages a $70M OpEx portfolio and oversees a CapEx portfolio exceeding $20M annually.
Prior to TELUS Health, Lanson held progressive leadership roles at Bell Canada, including overseeing the scheduling of 3,000 unionized technicians, leading a cross-functional team that delivered $1.2M in overtime savings, and building a COVID-19 capacity forecast model delivered directly to the company's President. He is fluent in Mandarin Chinese and is an active member of Toastmasters International, where he serves as Area Director.
Lanson holds an Honours Bachelor of Science with a Double Major in Mathematics and Economics from the University of Toronto, as well as a Project Management Certificate, Professional Scrum Master (PSM I) designation, and a Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate.
Skills & Tools: Python · SQL · Tableau · GCP (BigQuery, Looker) · Salesforce · Financial Modelling · Strategic Finance · Mandarin Chinese
Contact
If you are a business owner considering a sale or succession, or an intermediary representing such an opportunity, we would be pleased to speak with you. All conversations are strictly confidential.
All enquiries are treated with the utmost confidentiality.