KEMA Partners Research
Advisory Approach
KEMA Partners is a boutique investment bank founded in 2007 by Howard and Michael Cann, focused on providing emerging growth companies with highly focused strategic advisory and private capital raising solutions. The firm operates with a thesis that deep domain expertise, broad relationship networks, and operating experience are critical to successful M&A advisory outcomes. KEMA's bankers bring diverse backgrounds as entrepreneurs, investment bankers, and management consultants, allowing them to offer unique perspectives to each client.
The firm's sweet spot is technology, media, life sciences, and clean-tech companies seeking capital raising or M&A advisory services. KEMA distinguishes itself through principals who have worked on all sides of strategic advisory and capital raising transactions—including advisory, operating, and investing roles—giving them a comprehensive understanding of client and transaction uniqueness.
Sector Focus
KEMA Partners concentrates on four primary verticals: technology, media, life sciences, and clean-tech. Within technology, the firm has particular expertise in software, SaaS, and technology-enabled services. In life sciences, KEMA has demonstrated strength in pharma services, diagnostics, medical devices, and healthcare technology consulting. The clean-tech practice spans alternative energy, cannabis, and environmental technologies.
The media focus includes digital media platforms, content distribution, and marketing technology. Through their divisions (Inverness Advisors, WestCape Advisors, River Corporate Advisors, 360 Advisory Group), KEMA has developed specialized expertise serving companies across these high-growth sectors.
Deal Track Record
KEMA Partners has completed numerous transactions across their focus sectors. Recent notable deals include:
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IDEA Pharma Sale (November 2024): Inverness Advisors acted as exclusive financial advisor to IDEA Pharma, a London-based pharmaceutical path-to-market strategy firm, in its sale to SAI MedPartners, a portfolio company of Northlane Capital Partners. This transaction strengthened SAI's capacity to offer comprehensive strategic services to biopharma clients.
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SSI Strategy Investment (December 2020): Inverness Advisors acted as exclusive financial advisor to SSI Strategy, a leading Life Sciences consultancy, in its growth investment from Amulet Capital Partners. The funding fueled expansion into adjacent Life Sciences functions and creation of a Gene Therapy Accelerator.
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Cannex Capital and 4Front Business Combination (November 2018): Inverness Advisors advised Cannex Capital Holdings in its all-stock transaction with 4Front Holdings, creating a multi-state vertically integrated cannabis platform with operations across Washington, Illinois, Massachusetts, and four additional states.
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Imprimis Pharmaceuticals Debt Facility (July 2017): WestCape Advisors served as exclusive financial advisor to Imprimis Pharmaceuticals in connection with a $16 million senior secured term loan with SWK Holdings Corporation.
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Cardo Medical Division Sale (January 2011): Inverness Advisors acted as exclusive financial advisor to Cardo Medical in the sale of its joint arthroplasty division assets to Arthrex, a leading sports medicine product provider.
Process & Fee Structure
KEMA Partners emphasizes flawless execution and senior-level involvement throughout every transaction, regardless of size. The firm's principals are deeply involved in the execution process, providing tactical leadership at all stages. Their bankers have closed hundreds of transactions, bringing significant experience to each new engagement.
The firm creates highly customized and disciplined processes designed to maximize efficiency, minimize management distraction, and optimize outcomes. While specific fee structures are not publicly disclosed, KEMA likely follows industry-standard retainer and success fee arrangements typical for boutique investment banks in the lower middle market.
Buyer Network
KEMA maintains relationships with a broad universe of financing sources, including venture capital firms, growth equity and traditional private equity firms, finance companies, hedge funds, mezzanine funds, and alternative capital sources. The firm's divisions have executed transactions with buyers such as Northlane Capital Partners, Amulet Capital Partners, Arthrex, SWK Holdings, and Gotham Green Partners.
Competitive Positioning
KEMA differentiates through its multi-divisional structure, which allows specialized expertise through Inverness Advisors (life sciences and healthcare), WestCape Advisors (corporate advisory), River Corporate Advisors (M&A advisory), and 360 Advisory Group (technology and healthcare technology). The firm's operating experience—principals have served as CEOs, CFOs, and founders—provides unique perspective beyond traditional investment banking.
Not a Fit If
Based on their focus and structure, KEMA is likely not a fit for: traditional lower-middle-market manufacturing or industrial businesses outside their technology/life sciences focus; companies seeking public equity offerings (KEMA focuses on private capital and M&A); businesses requiring debt restructuring or bankruptcy advisory; micro-cap transactions below typical investment banking thresholds.
Team
KEMA's leadership team includes:
- Howard Cann, Managing Partner and Co-Founder: MBA from The Wharton School, former CEO of Planergy International Inc. (subsidiary of Xcel Energy), founder of Cogeneration Capital Associates and Cogeneration Capital Fund
- Peter Cann, Managing Partner and Chief Compliance Officer: 25+ years capital markets experience, formerly at Barclays Bank in securitized products division
- Michael Cann, Partner: 15-year investment banking veteran, formerly 11 years at Banc of America Securities with $17 billion+ in aggregate transaction value across financial institutions, industrials, business services, and technology
The firm's principals include registered representatives with FINRA Series licenses, and KEMA maintains compliance through formal chief oversight officer infrastructure.
Geographic Coverage
Headquartered in Mill Valley, California (San Francisco Bay Area), KEMA operates additional offices in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Tampa. The firm is registered as a broker-dealer in 22+ U.S. states and territories, providing broad geographic coverage across major financial centers.