About Us

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Our Story

Our beginning: “full spectrum” banking experience

The idea for PHL Capital began over a decade ago, when our founding partners Steve Ponte and Parm Purewall gained valuable experience as senior commercial lenders at a national financial institution. Throughout their banking careers, they consistently met individuals and businesses that required credit but could not meet conventional bank lending criteria. Steve and Parm understood that many of these people were low credit risks and deserved an opportunity.

 

Seeing a community need… and an opportunity

“As time went on, we saw the need for a different type of credit provider,” says Steve. This is how the idea of PHL materialized. “Very few MICs originate from understanding the lending side of the business—which is the basis of our experience. We truly enjoyed getting to know our clients and seeing opportunities beyond the comfort of rigid national bank guidelines. We also knew our mortgage and real estate experience would give us an advantage in assessing risk and seeing hidden opportunities.”

 

Built on a formula for success

It was a formula for success. Today, PHL Capital has grown from a small fund into one of British Columbia’s leading MICs with $800 million in shareholder capital. Through the company’s proven and established underwriting process, PHL has provided exceptional returns while greatly mitigating risk.

 

It’s about people and their futures

“Most importantly,” says Steve, “we like bringing investors and borrowers together. We’re helping fuel economic growth in communities across British Columbia. At the same time, we’re helping companies and individuals build futures wealth.

“What inspires us about this business is bringing people together in win-win situations. We like building those relationships and seeing how they help people achieve their objectives.”

Meet Our Board

Chairman & Founder

parm purewall

Parm Purewall

Mr. Purewall, who established PHL Capital in 2008, has been a licensed mortgage broker since 2004 and has worked in real estate development and financing for over 20 years. He co-manages the Company while serving on the Lending Committee. He is also a Director of MortEq Lending Corp.

Prior to establishing PHL Capital, Mr. Purewall worked in various roles with TD Commercial Bank, specializing in real estate and commercial lending. He also worked with the Lanyard Group, a real estate investment banking and investment firm.

Mr. Purewall earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Simon Fraser University with a focus on finance and marketing. He also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

CEO

steve ponte

Steve Ponte

Mr. Ponte, who co-manages PHL Capital and serves on the Lending Committee, provides over 15 years of combined financing, construction and development experience. He is responsible for securing commercial and residential mortgages in addition to construction and development financing. Prior to joining PHL Capital, he held various senior roles with TD Commercial Bank, focusing on their large commercial business segment.

Mr. Ponte is the Past President of the BC MIC Managers Association (BCMMA), whose membership includes some of British Columbia’s largest and most reputable Mortgage Investment Corporations. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Alternative Lenders Association.

Mr. Ponte holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Simon Fraser University with a focus on finance and marketing.

Principal of Grewal & Co., CA

bobby grewal

Bobby Grewal

Mr. Grewal worked at Price Waterhouse Coopers for five years before launching his own accounting firm, Grewal & Co. Chartered Accountants, in 2003. Mr. Grewal is one of the owners and part of the management team of Allied Insurance Services, an insurance business with several locations in Metro Vancouver. He also has extensive experience in real estate investments.

Mr. Grewal holds a Bachelors of Business Administration (BBA) from Simon Fraser University with a concentration in Accounting. He has also obtained the Chartered Accountant (CA) designation. Mr. Grewal is on the Lending Committee of the Company.

CEO, Wesmont

john tilstra

John Tilstra

Mr. Tilstra was the founder of Centra, an employee owned window company and successfully transitioned it to 250+ owners in his 35 years of service. Mr. Tilstra has deep experience in land development and building with over 35 years experience with a focus commercial and residential land development and project opportunities.

Mr. Tilstra was also awarded the 2011 Pacific Region Entrepreneur of the Year in real estate and construction by Earnest & Young. He is also serves on the Board for Nightshift Street Ministries and Wesmont Foundation.

Principal of Surrey Cedar Ltd.

sunjeev bath

Sunjeev Bath

Mr. Bath worked as a Financial Analyst before founding Western Rugged Tools, a Canadian based manufacturer and distributor of tools and related products in 2002.  He is a Director and Principal of Surrey Cedar and is actively involved in real estate investment and management.

Mr. Bath holds a Bachelors of Business Administration (BBA) from Simon Fraser University with a concentration in Finance and Marketing. He has also obtained the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. Mr. Bath is on the Lending Committee of the Company

Meet Our Advisory Board

Consultant

Michael Scott, Consultant

Michael Scott

With over 20 years of Commercial and Corporate Banking experience primarily focused on M&A and management & leveraged buy-outs. Diverse sector coverage includes energy, real estate, transportation, manufacturing, and industrials.

Michael holds a BBA in Finance from Simon Fraser University and is a CFA charterholder.

Partner, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP

Paul Grewal, Partner, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP

Paul Grewal

Paul Grewal is a partner of Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP. He practices corporate commercial law with a particular emphasis on secured lending and real estate. Paul acts for buyers, sellers, investors, developers and lenders in all aspects of real estate and development. He also has experience with mortgage investment corporations and a range of commercial transactions.

CEO, Caulfield Rock Capital

jordan macdonald

Jordan MacDonald

Mr. MacDonald is the CEO and Founder of Caulfield Rock Capital, a real estate investment and development company that focuses on multi-family and commercial real estate projects in Metro Vancouver, with a particular emphasis on neighbourhoods in East Vancouver.

Prior to Caulfield Rock, Mr. MacDonald Co-Founded and was the CEO of Frontline Real Estate Services, a leading multidisciplinary commercial real estate brokerage firm based in Surrey. In 2015, Mr. MacDonald sold Frontline to a combination of senior management and private equity interests.

In his early career, Mr. MacDonald was an award winning commercial property sales and leasing agent with Cushman & Wakefield Vancouver earning Presidents Round Table status and receiving the National Rookie of the Year award. During his real estate brokerage career he was responsible for brokering transactions across a broad spectrum of asset classes including: industrial, office, retail and development land.  Mr. MacDonald holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Urban Geography from the University of Western Ontario.

Partner, Hedden Chong LLP

Ivano Cristante, Partner, Hedden Chong LLP

Ivano Cristante

Mr. Cristante graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of British Columbia and achieved Honour Roll standing on the 1990 UFE (placing in the top 10 in BC). Mr. Cristante obtained his CA designation in 1992 and became a Partner at Hedden Chong in 1997.

Mr. Cristante has extensive experience working with incorporated professionals and owner-managed businesses with an emphasis on the construction, consulting and medical professional sectors. Mr. Cristante enjoys assisting clients to streamline their businesses, manage their tax risks and preserve their capital.

Real Estate Agent, Re/Max Treeland

jason howlett

Jason Howlett

Mr. Howlett has been a licensed Realtor since 2000. He started out in the real estate industry marketing new projects in the Langley area. He then transitioned to specialize into land assembly and investment property in the Langley and Surrey area. Prior to entering the industry he received a Marketing Management Diploma with the Real Estate option from BCIT.

Shareholder, Avison Young

robert gritten

Robert Gritten

Mr. Gritten graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce (Urban Land Economics) from the University of British Columbia in 1979. He provides his private and corporate clients with strategic advice on all classes of commercial real estate. In 2005, Rob began leading private partnership investment in medium scale income-producing real estate assets. His implementation of strategic initiatives has generated stable income and significant capital growth. Rob uses his experience, intuition, and creative solutions to exceed his investors’ expectations. In 2013 Rob founded and chaired Avison Young Commercial Real Estate’s global philanthropy committee, creating guidelines and focus to grow employee awareness and participation with charities important to them.

Rob operates with intelligence, integrity, and respect, in an enjoyable and practical manner.