In two weeks a documentary – titled Wes – will premier at the Toronto Black Film Festival.
For people who ply their trade in an investment world, a family name is not needed to identify the one who is the subject from the documentary, which runs for almost 1 hour 30 minutes and was directed and edited by Samuel Lehner.
Wes is Wes Hall: He was created in Jamaica, was raised by his maternal grandmother and came to Canada as he was 16 and has enjoyed success on many levels since.
In the corporate world, success came through Kingsdale Shareholder Services, a firm that provides a variety of shareholder services including advice on proxy battles. His firm, were only available in 2003 and residential to around 100 employees, may be the leader in Canada, having acted on some large transactions including Pershing Square’s push to oust the board at CP Rail. A current assignment was acting for Sprott for the reason that company’s plan to acquire Central Gold Fund, a hostile transaction that took many months to be completed.
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Hall is really a busy family man and it has five kids. His faith – he is a Jehovah’s Witness – is also a powerful force in the life.
And he’s driven, determined for Kingsdale to be the best in Canada but additionally keen to consider it with other markets. Two years back, MDC Partners struck an offer to acquire a majority interest in Kingsdale. (Since then Kingsdale has opened a New York office.) Hall said he decided to the transaction because he wanted a powerful partner. “Activism is a new asset class,” he declared.
At time Miles Nadal, MDC’s chief executive, said an investment was “a fabulous opportunity,” because of the rise of shareholder activism that, when combined with the regulatory environment, results in a need for strategic advice, financial communication and advisory services. MDC, whose main business is in advertising, had recently set up a financial communications and strategic advisory group.
Reached Friday, Nadal, who is no longer MDC’s chief executive, said the investment continues to be successful because both sides have benefited.
Nadal also had high praise for Hall, terming him “an extraordinary entrepreneur. He’s bright, tenacious, but charming simultaneously. He’s extremely insightful, and has maturity and wisdom beyond his years.”
And he’s connected. “Nobody doesn’t know him. All you have to do is say Wes and people know who you are taking about. His can be a fantastic story, coming [as he did] from humble beginnings,” noted Nadal.
Walied Soliman is really a partner at Norton Rose Canada LLP and it is no stranger to Hall, having worked with and against him on proxy battles.
Reached Friday, Soliman said Hall, is “a story of not just Bay Street. He’s [also] a tale of the items makes Canada great. Both he and his family embody a dedication towards the business, their community as well as their faith, which is an example for those us on a daily grind in the pub.”
Soliman who is likely to take his group of six kids towards the premiere, called Hall “an honest and determined individual.”
I met Wes about 15 years back. For individual who grew up in Australia the name Wes Hall includes a particular resonance: it’s the moniker of 1 of great fast bowlers in cricket. The other Hall toured Australia on many occasions and was a crowd favourite wherever he played.
bcritchley@nationalpost.com
