introduction
To Our Firm

  • Formed in July 2023
  • Based in Toronto, Canada
  • Boutique M&A Advisory Firm & Merchant Banking
  • Senior Leadership of the firm have 60+ years of combined Investment Banking experience
  • Key sector focus: Natural Resources, Industrials, Technology and
    Consumer Products

Karst’s Core Values
and Principles

Our “C”s To Success

  • Client Centric
  • Collaboration
  • Critical Thinking
  • Confidentiality
  • Connectivity
  • Complexity

A unique combination of advisory and principal experience working in partnership with clients.

Providing clients with independent advice, optimal solutions and alignment of interests.

What We Do

Mergers And Acquisitions

We work on complex situations and take a strategic approach to align M&A with companies’ strategic objectives.

merchant banking

We play a crucial role in facilitating complex financial transactions for clients including company formations, corporate carve-outs and buyouts.

Senior Leadership

Joseph S Belan Chairman & CEO

25 years of experience in the Natural Resources, Industrials Mining Equipment, Technology and Services sector as principal investor, M&A advisor and executive.

  • Investment Banking – M&A advisor to leading global mining and industrials companies with Goldman Sachs, Credit Suisse First Boston and UBS (Head of M&A for Canada)
  • Executive Chairman of Norcast Castings, a mining engineering and products company
  • Managing Director Pala Investments, a $1bn multi-strategy investment firm based in Switzerland
  • Senior advisor to CPP Investments

Thomas K Barber Vice Chairman

40 years Investment Banking experience with a focus on the global mining, metals and energy sectors. Former CEO of Morgan Stanley Canada, Credit Suisse First Boston Canada and Deutsche Bank Canada.

Has advised on some of the largest cross-border transactions in Canada and internationally in the industrials and natural resources sectors:

  • Petro Canada merger with Suncor ($20bn
  • Rio Tinto acquisition of Alcan ($40 bn)
  • Xstrata acquisition of Falconbridge ($20 bn)
  • Sale of West Coast Energy to Duke Energy ($8bn)
  • Sale of Rio Algom to Billiton ($1bn)