- Business
- Chesswood Group Limited Chesswood Group Limited (TSX:CHW) operates as a North American specialty finance company focused on providing equipment financing, automotive lending, consumer finance, and alternative investment management solutions to small and medium-sized businesses and underserved markets. The company offers micro- and small-ticket commercial equipment leases and loans through subsidiaries such as Pawnee Leasing Corporation, which finances diversified equipment portfolios via over 600 U.S. brokers; Tandem Finance Inc., which provides vendor-channel financing including franchise funding; Blue Chip Leasing Corporation and Vault Credit Corporation in Canada, serving nationwide broker networks with customizable equipment leases across credit tiers; Rifco Inc., specializing in alternative auto financing for Canadian motor vehicle purchasers; and Vault Home Credit Corporation, delivering home improvement and consumer financing solutions; complemented by Chesswood Capital Management's private credit alternatives exposing investors to loan receivables. Founded in 1982 and headquartered at 41 Scarsdale Road, Suite 5, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Chesswood manages over $2.5 billion in assets and originates more than $1.5 billion in new loans annually across the United States and Canada. Recent developments include the formation of a joint venture with Wafra Inc. through Bishop Holdings LLC in January 2024, involving the sale of $196.8 million in assets for 10% ownership to enhance capital visibility and fee streams; the sale of its Canadian equipment leasing and consumer financing operations, Vault Credit Corporation and Vault Home Credit Corporation, in August 2024 as part of a strategic review; multiple updates on credit facility waivers and action plans amid borrowing base issues; senior management changes and a special committee-led strategic alternatives evaluation initiated in January 2024; and progression to a CCAA proceeding ordered in October 2024 with a sale and investment solicitation process overseen by FTI Consulting.