In my role as a Finance Immigration Product Architect, I often tell my clients: "Don't just build a business; solve a problem." One of the greatest economic challenges in rural Alberta today is the succession crisis. Thousands of profitable, established businesses are owned by aging entrepreneurs looking to retire, but with no local buyers in sight.
The Succession Strategy
The Alberta Rural Entrepreneur Stream (ARES) provides a specific pathway for Business Succession. Instead of the high-risk "innovation" requirements of the SUV, this stream allows an investor to purchase an existing, profitable business.
The Benefit: You inherit immediate cash flow, an existing customer base, and trained employees.
The Points Bonus: The Alberta point system explicitly rewards succession buyouts (10 bonus points).
The Impact: You aren't just an "immigrant"; you are the person who saved the local hardware store, the community pharmacy, or the regional manufacturing plant.
The Architect's Role
At VGlobal Partners, we don't just look for "visas." We look for asset quality. We help our clients perform the same institutional due diligence I oversaw as a bank executive. We identify the community, assist in auditing the target business, and ensure the Business Performance Agreement (BPA) with the Alberta government is structured for a highest success rate.
About the Author
Michel Verdy is a Retired Canadian Bank Executive, a renowned Finance Immigration Product Architect, and the CEO and Founder of VGlobal Partners, established in 2011 in Hong Kong. He also serves as the President and Co-Founder of the Quebec Vietnam Association (Association Québec Vietnam).
With over 30 years of experience in the North American financial sector, Michel has facilitated over $3.7 billion CAD in direct investments since 1993, helping more than 10,000 families achieve their global citizenship goals. Having held senior leadership roles at major institutions—including BMO, Scotiabank (ScotiaMcLeod), and Laurentian Bank Securities—he brings institutional banking rigor to the immigration landscape. Based in Vietnam since 2021, he is a key strategic advisor for high-net worth individuals and governments seeking high-integrity, expert-led expansion into the Canadian market.