Smoothwater Capital Acquires Shares in Equity Financial Holdings Inc. and Evaluates Potential Means to Enhance Shareholder Value

TORONTO, Nov. 11, 2013 /CNW/ - Smoothwater Capital Corporation (Smoothwater Capital) announced today that Smoothwater Capital Partners LP I (Smoothwater LP), a partnership controlled by Smoothwater Capital, has entered into support and non-disclosure agreements with Nick Kyprianou, the former Chief Executive Officer of Equity Financial Trust Company (Equity Trust), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Equity Financial Holdings Inc. (Equity), and with Darryl Ivan, the former Chief Risk Officer of Equity Trust. As a result of these agreements, Mr. Kyprianou and Mr. Ivan may be considered to be "joint actors" with Smoothwater LP.

Upon entering into the support agreements, Smoothwater LP, together with Mr. Kyprianou and Mr. Ivan, had ownership of 1,145,717 shares and securities convertible into shares of Equity (Shares), representing approximately 12.35% of the issued and outstanding Shares.  Smoothwater LP has ownership and control over 876,700 Shares representing approximately 9.45% of the outstanding Shares (based upon the 9,275,840 Shares stated by Equity in its most recent public filings to be issued and outstanding).

Based on a review of public filings, Smoothwater LP, Mr. Kyprianou and Mr. Ivan are collectively the largest shareholder of Equity. Smoothwater LP and its affiliates may acquire additional Shares through open market purchases, private agreements or otherwise.

Smoothwater LP intends to initiate or participate in, alone or together with joint actors, all actions it deems necessary or advisable to enhance the value of its investment in Equity, including exploring various means to effect changes in the management of Equity and Equity Trust by reinstating Mr. Kyprianou and Mr. Ivan to their former roles.

Smoothwater has retained Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP as its legal advisers and Kingsdale Shareholder Services Inc. as shareholder and proxy advisers.

This news release is issued pursuant to the early warning requirements of applicable Canadian securities laws. Smoothwater LP will file early warning reports in accordance with applicable securities laws, copies of which will be available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com or upon request to Smoothwater LP.

About Smoothwater:

Smoothwater Capital Corporation focuses on investing its own capital in small to midcap Canadian public companies where there is an identifiable path to significantly improve shareholder value. Smoothwater works to effect change in targeted companies, often collaboratively with institutional and other like-minded investors who hold material positions but are not able to take on the time consuming and costly activist role.

SOURCE: Smoothwater Capital Corporation

For further information or to obtain a copy of an early warning report, please contact:

Smoothwater Capital Partners LP I
c/o Smoothwater Capital Corporation
Suite 2500
120 Adelaide Street West
Toronto, Ontario
M5H 1T1
Attention: Stephen J. Griggs, Chief Executive Officer
Telephone: [phone]
Email: [email protected]

Kingsdale Communications Inc.
Telephone: [phone]
Email: [email protected]