Quest University Canada

Quest University Canada, a Squamish, British Columbia-based private, not-for-profit post-secondary institution, filed for protection under the CCAA on January 16, listing approximately $47.5 million in liabilities, including $16.0 million to Vanchorverve Foundation. Since the university commenced operations in 2007, it has not generated sufficient revenue to cover operating costs and the carrying costs associated with legacy debts incurred in its start-up. As such, the university requires CCAA protection to provide students with the opportunity to complete the academic year, while creating economic stability for the university's coming years. On January 27, the court approved the university's request for an extension of the stay of proceedings to May 29. The university also secured a $5.0 million loan from RCM Capital Management. Vanchorverve, the university's largest secured lender, had wanted the university to obtain the $5.0 million loan from Burley Capital and had unsuccessfully requested that the court replace four of the university's board members with appointees chosen by Vanchorverve. PwC, which was appointed monitor, advised that given the history between Vanchorverve's manager, Blake Bromley, and the university, interim financing should be provided by a third party lender. Counsel is Dentons for the university, McMillan for the monitor, and Murphy & Company and McCarthy Tétrault for Vanchorverve.