CellFish Media LLC, a publisher of mobile content and social apps, has bought ToneMedia LLC, an advertising platform that connects with consumers of music content. Financial terms of the deal were not released. Cellfish was originally part of France's Lagardère SCA and was backed in 2006 and 2007 with investments totaling $60 million from the Caisse de Dépôt et Placement du Québec, Desjardins Capital de risque, Fonds de solidarité des travailleurs du Québec FTQ and Trio Capital. CellFish has offices in New York, San Diego, Montréal and Europe.
4 min read · 07 June 2013
The acquisition of Val-d'Or, Québec-based Aurizon Mines Ltd. by Hecla Mining Co. has been completed at a final consideration of $514 million and 56,997,790 shares of Hecla's common stock. Hecla has offices in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and Vancouver. Aurizon, a gold producer focused on projects in Québec, was earlier targeted for takeover by Alamos Gold Inc. The company's prior investorsinclude the Fonds de solidarité des travailleurs du Québec FTQ.
3 min read · 07 June 2013
British water company Severn Trent PLC has rejected a second approach by LongRiver Partners, according to a statement from Severn's board of directors. LongRiver is a consortium comprised of Borealis Infrastructure Management, the infrastructure investment arm of Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System, Kuwait Investment Office and U.K.-based Universities Superannuation Scheme. The latest bid valued Severn at about £5 billion, or US$7.6 billion, up from the previous US$7.2 billion valuation in May, according to Reuters. The board said the new offer failed to reflect Severn's long-term value and potential.
1 min read · 07 June 2013
Longueil, Québec-based Mediagrif Interactive Technologies Inc., a publicly-traded provider of e-commerce solutions to businesses, has agreed to buy online recruitment platform Jobboom and dating site Réseau Contact from Quebecor Media Inc. for $65 million. The Jobboom acquisition will occur in June, while the Réseau Contact acquisition is likely to take place in October. Mediagrif is a portfolio company of the Fonds de solidarité des travailleurs du Québec FTQ.
4 min read · 07 June 2013
Genome Canada has, with the federal government, launched a new program for bringing genomics-based solutions originating in laboratories to market. The Genomic Applications Partnership Program has received a commitment of $30 million of what is an intended $90 million initiative funded by private and public partners. Together with its six regional Genome Centres and partners, Genome Canada invests in and manages large-scale R&D projects in a range of industries.
3 min read · 07 June 2013
Montréal-based QA on Request.com, a provider of quality assurance testing services to web and software development businesses, has partnered with Wayra, an accelerator and venture capital investor affiliated with Spanish telecommunications company Telefónica S.A. QA on Request.com, which was founded in 2011, will receive $50,000 in financing from Wayra as develops its recently launched crowd-sourced testing platform.
2 min read · 07 June 2013
Angel-backed Karma Gaming, a Halifax, Nova Scotia-based software developer of digital lottery games, has obtained $4 million in a Series A financing round. The deal was led by Canadian venture capital firms Rho Canada Ventures and Innovacorp. Funds will be used by the company to increase production and invest in sales channels. Rho partner Jeff Grammer and Innovacorp investment director Thomas Rankin will join Karma’s board of directors.
3 min read · 07 June 2013
Toronto-based Vendorlink.ca Ltd. (formerly VCS Canada), a provider of Web-based vendor management solutions for Canadian hospitals, has completed a financing round led by venture capital firm Lumira Capital. The financial terms of the deal were not published. Lumira, which is focused on life sciences investments across North America, closed two new funds in March 2012, Lumira Capital II and the Merck Lumira Biosciences Fund, a partnership with Merck Canada.
3 min read · 07 June 2013
Blainville, Québec-based Les Brasseurs du Nord Inc., a micro-brewery that produces Boréale beer, has been acquired by Canadian private equity firm Fonds de solidarité des travailleurs du Québec FTQ. The financial details of the majority transaction, which is intended to address succession issues, were not disclosed. PeHUB Canada has learned that Fonds FTQ introduced the company's new top executive, Jacques Sirois, as well as the company's new board chair, Daniel Tremblay.
3 min read · 07 June 2013
Calgary-based BluEarth Renewables Inc., a renewable power producer, has agreed to purchase four utility-scale solar power plants valued at over $225 million from Canadian Solar Inc. The plants, which are located in Kawartha Lakes, Belleville, Beaverton and Napanee, Ontario, are expected to be constructed this year and to become operational in 2014. BlueEarth has been a portfolio company of Canadian private equity firms ARC Financial Corp., Teachers’ Private Capital and other investors since its founding via a $160 million deal in 2010.
4 min read · 07 June 2013
