ABOUT US
CORE VALUES
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Professionalism
We believe in competence, execution and conducting ourselves to the highest professional standards.
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Accountability
We strive for the highest levels of integrity, performance, responsibility and urgency.
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Creativity
We find solutions to difficult problems.
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Respect
We respect one another and operate with transparency.
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Teamwork
We get the best results with a collaborative leadership approach.
VALUE PROPOSITION
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Key Relationships
We believe relationships based on trust and alignment that help others succeed, will create opportunities and drive mutual value creation.
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Entrepreneurial & Disciplined
We apply the alchemy of institutional quality due diligence, analysis, governance and creative thinking to inefficient and entrepreneurial opportunities.
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Track Record
The partners of Ayrshire have been principals and advisors on hundreds of asset and corporate transactions and investments.
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Scalable Experience
We have successfully built businesses from start-up to billion dollar enterprises.
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Workout Expertise
We have experience creating value in complex situations including restructuring a $300M real estate portfolio.
INVESTMENT FOCUS
Ayrshire invests in real property and operating businesses.
Real Property
Value-add
We look for opportunities where we can reasonably expect to significantly increase operating income in the near term. We look to do this through one or more of the following value triggers: (1) increasing revenue with higher occupancy and/or moving undervalued premises to market rents, (2) decrease expenses by operating the asset more efficiently and/or investing in better building components, and (3) realizing on excess development density with pre-leasing and/or creative partnerships.
Core Opportunities
We evaluate investments in low-risk, long-term cash flow streams with institutional partners.
All Property Types
Ayrshire makes data driven investment decisions in all asset types including office, retail, industrial, residential, hotel, seniors, agriculture and mixed-use. We also consider niche investment structures like public-private partnerships. In order to truly understand detailed market fundamentals, we focus principally on Western Canada.
Partnering with Tenants
Whether within new or existing assets, Ayrshire looks to implement creative alignment with its tenants. We have flexible partner capital that is not constrained by any conventional investment fund criteria. There is no time constraints for exit; no strict criteria for how or where our capital gets invested and each deal is capitalized independently. We have flexibility to invest in a tenant’s business if capital is required. We also invite tenants to invest alongside us in properties. Co-investment or even sale-leasebacks are given high priority in our portfolio. Our experience is that there is generally unlocked value (both in our property and tenant businesses) if we work together.
OPERATING BUSINESSES
Buy Small and Think Big
We invest in early stage companies that have a clear business plan to tangible growth. We are actively involved in our investments through a combination of capital, expertise and board involvement to assist with growth and value creation. We also invest in mature companies looking for growth or buyout capital.
Successful Management Teams
We look for people with a successful track record and a compelling strategy. We can provide board involvement, financial and management reporting tools and other support services to make better decisions faster. We want management focused on what they do best while we do the rest.
Sustainable Cash Flow
We favour companies that have cyclically stable cash flow with growth prospects that require modest capital investment.
Compelling Opportunities
We look to invest in companies with unique attributes, sustainable competitive advantages, innovative business models or consolidation potential.
SENIOR TEAM

Phil Swift
Executive Chairman

Ian Kennedy
Managing Director

Graham Gooch
Managing Director

Adam Rosenfeld
Managing Director
HISTORY
Ayrshire (pronounced: “Air-Shire”) is a historic county in south-west Scotland, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Phil Swift (Hopkirk and Wallace Clans) was born in Ayrshire and Ayrshire is also the founding homeland of the Kennedy clan. All members of our firm have some “special” connection to Scotland. As historians, we appreciate the rich history of Ayrshire and its people. This history captures many values, principles and character traits that we admire and that have influenced our growth as an organization. Here’s just a few that we’d like to share:
We know the value of a dollar. We’re careful about spending and expect value for money.
Forthright and honest. We’ll say what we mean, without malice.
Fiery and bold. Scots are brave and courageous.
Practical and down-to-earth. One side of our personality is very grounded and matter-of-fact. We don’t like pretenses or ‘fake-ness’.
Appreciate the arts. Scotland has produced more than its fair share of artists, poets, writers & musicians. Scots especially love music, dancing, story-telling and literature.
Hard-working. Historically this is a country founded and grown on hard work. First farmers and crofters, then heavy industrial plants and shipyards, today it’s finance and service industries.
Know how to have a good time. Celebrations, dancing, drinking, singing…. we’re expert at these.

CONTACT

Ayrshire Group
2010, 250 – 5th St. S.W.
Calgary, AB T2P 0R4
P : 403-984-5277 F : 403-292-0803
CAREERS
If you are interested in working with us, please send a copy of your CV to [email protected]
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