Nautilus Plus Inc, a St-Hubert, Québec-based operator of a chain of 39 fitness centres, has secured a $20 million investment from Canadian pension fund manager the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec and private equity firm BMO Capital Partners. The investment will enable the company to continue expanding its corporate network. The Caisse de dépôt and BMO join existing investor in Nautilus Plus, Novacap Industries, which is managed by Longueuil, Québec-based private equity firm Novacap. Novacap first invested in the company in partnership with management in 2008.
4 min read · 18 November 2013
Teachers' Private Capital, the private equity investment division of Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, has agreed to acquire for an undisclosed price Burton's Biscuit Co, a biscuits and snacks manufacturer based in St. Albans, United Kingdom. The transaction concludes a competitive bidding process begun by Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and U.S. private equity firm Apollo Global Management, the company's majority owners since 2009. The deal's closing, which will see Burton's management retain a significant minority stake in the business, is expected to take place before the end of November.
3 min read · 18 November 2013
Advent International offered 1.2 billion euros ($1.6 billion) to take UNIT4 private, which the Dutch business software firm said would help it speed up expansion without the pressures of being listed on the stock market, sister news service Reuters reported.
3 min read · 18 November 2013
Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, who played a major role in combating the global financial crisis, is joining private-equity firm Warburg Pincus as president and managing director, the firm said, sister news service Reuters reported.
2 min read · 18 November 2013
U.S. private equity firm Advent International will buy a minority stake in Colombia's Ocensa oil pipeline for US$1.1 billion from Canadian oil firm Talisman Energy Inc, France's Total SA and Madrid-based Cepsa, the Wall Street Journal reported citing people familiar with the matter. Under the agreement, Advent will get a 22 percent stake in one of the largest oil pipelines in Colombia by capacity, the Journal reported. Apart from Advent, TransCanada Corp and Enbridge Inc were also interested in buying the minority stake in Ocensa.
2 min read · 14 November 2013
TouchBistro, a provider of mobile point-of-sale solutions for the food and beverage industry, has raised $4.5 million in seed-stage financing. The deal was led by Canadian mobile technologies-focused venture capital firm Relay Ventures, with the participation of angel investors. Relay managing partner John Albright is joining the company's board of directors. TouchBistro, which has offices in Toronto and New York, will use the funds to open a San Francisco office, and translate its product into other languages to accelerate its growth in global markets.
3 min read · 14 November 2013
GreenLine Systems Inc, a company focused on assisting governments with managing risks associated with maritime and cross-border movements of vessels, goods and people, has been purchased for an undisclosed amount by counter-terrorism specialist A-T Solutions Inc of Vienna, Virginia. Founded in 2002, GreenLine has offices in Washington, D.C., Ottawa, Ontario and the Netherlands. U.S. private equity firm CI Capital Partners acquired A-T Solutions in 2008.
4 min read · 14 November 2013
Bilfinger Berger Global Infrastructure SICAV (BBGI) has closed its previously announced purchase of a 50% equity and loan note interest in Kelowna Vernon Hospitals in British Columbia, and a 100% equity and loan note interest in North East Stoney Trail in Alberta. The price paid for the two long-term PPP concession contracts was $41.3 million. BBGI is an infrastructure investment firm incorporated in Luxembourg, with portfolio assets in Europe, Australia and Canada.
2 min read · 14 November 2013
Calgary-based mobile purchasing platform Slyce has received $2.2 million in convertible debenture financing from an unidentified source. The deal follows the company's seed-stage funding of $3.75 million in May 2013, provided by Canadian venture capital firm Podium Ventures, Alpha North, and several angel investors. Slyce also announced the appointment of Mark Elfenbein, formally of Mood Media, as chief digital officer. The company will use investment proceeds to finalize its platform and pursue B2B opportunities, supplying its advanced visual search technology to brands and retailers.
3 min read · 14 November 2013
Marketwired Inc, a portfolio company of OMERS Private Equity, has hired John Sanchez as executive vice president of global operations. In his new role, Sanchez will oversee the company's customer engagement and lean process redesign efforts. Based in Toronto, Marketwired is is a provider of global news distribution and reporting. Update: In May 2013, the company named Jim Delaney as its new CEO.
2 min read · 14 November 2013
