Origin Merchant Partners ("Origin"), a Toronto-based independent North American investment bank, announced on July 22, 2026 that it has acquired Consensus, a U.S.-based consumer-focused investment banking firm with offices in Boston and New York. The combination creates what the firms describe as a leading North American independent advisory platform aimed at founder-led, family-owned, and PE-backed consumer and retail brands pursuing cross-border sales, capital raises, and strategic transitions in the middle market. The deal establishes "Consensus Consumer," a dedicated consumer-focused division within Origin. It adds 20 professionals to Origin—8 senior professionals and 12 senior industry advisors—led by Consensus founder Michael A. O'Hara, who becomes Chair, Origin U.S. Consensus brings over two decades of advisory experience across branded consumer, retail, apparel & footwear, beauty, health & wellness, luxury goods, and active lifestyle sectors, having worked with brands including Nine West, Timex Group, Toys 'R' Us, Lenox, and Kohl's, and more recently advising on the sale of Everlane to SHEIN. Origin says the transaction expands cross-border reach across the U.S., Canada, and globally, deepens consumer sector expertise, and increases senior execution capacity. It represents Origin's third acquisition in four years and its second in the U.S. The combined firm will have more than 80 professionals across Boston, Calgary, Chicago, Montreal, New York, Toronto, and Vancouver.