Clarivate Analytics has acquired TrademarkVision, an Australian artificial intelligence-enabled visual search engine for trademarks. No financial terms were released. Clarivate, a Philadelphia-based owner and operator of subscription-based businesses, said TrademarkVision will join CompuMark, the company's trademark research and protection brand. Clarivate was launched two years ago with the US$3.55 billion acquisition of Thomson Reuters' intellectual property and science unit by Onex Corp and Baring Private Equity Asia.
4 min read · 01 November 2018
Alignvest Student Housing Real Estate Investment Trust (ASH REIT) has acquired 1Eleven, a purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) property in Ottawa. Terms weren’t disclosed. 1Eleven is a 16-storey, 357-bed off-campus student residence near the University of Ottawa and Carleton University. The acquisition is the second made by ASH REIT, which in July raised $65 million. It will increase the fund's asset base to about $125 million. ASH REIT is managed by Alignvest Student Housing, an affiliate of Canadian alternative investment manager Alignvest Management Corp.
3 min read · 01 November 2018
OpenText Corp (TSX, Nasdaq: OTEX) has agreed to acquire Liaison Technologies Inc, an Alpharetta, Georgia-based provider of cloud enterprise application integration and data management solutions. OpenText agreed to pay US$310 million ($407 million) in cash. The deal is expected to close within 90 days. OpenText, a Waterloo-based enterprise information management company, said the acquisition will grow its business network portfolio and expand capabilities in life sciences, healthcare and other verticals. Founded in 2000, Liaison is backed by the venture capital fund of U.S. biopharmaceutical company Merck.
2 min read · 01 November 2018
Canadian early-stage venture capital firm Mantella Venture Partners has recruited Chris Sukornyk as a venture partner. Sukornyk, a Canadian serial entrepreneur and angel investor, is the former CEO of Chango, a Toronto-based digital marketing platform he founded in 2008. Chango, backed by several venture capital firms, including Mantella, was sold to Rubicon Project in 2015 for about US$122 million. In the new role, Sukornyk will help source, mentor and scale Mantella's seed-stage technology investments in Canada.
3 min read · 01 November 2018
Canadian healthcare private equity firm Persistence Capital Partners has sold EnvironeX Group Inc, a Québec City-based laboratory testing company. Terms weren’t disclosed. The buyer was Eurofins Scientific SE, a bioanalytical testing services provider headquartered in Luxembourg. Founded in 2005 by CEO Marc Hamilton, EnvironeX provides testing services for customers in the environment, agrifood and health and pharmaceuticals sectors in Québec. PCP initially invested in 2015.
2 min read · 01 November 2018
Smart Skin Technologies, a Fredericton-based developer of a pressure-sensitive skin technology, has raised $3.1 million in financing. The lead investor was Schott AG, a German maker of glass and glass-ceramics. It was joined by New Brunswick Innovation Foundation (NBIF), an existing investor. Founded in 2011, Smart Skin's pressure-sensing container devices and analytics are used by brands in beverage, food production and pharmaceutical industries. CEO Evan Justason said the funds raised will support platform development and market growth. In 2014, Smart Skin closed a $3.9 million Series A backed by Build Ventures, East Valley Ventures, GrowthWorks Atlantic Venture Fund, NBIF and Rho Canada Ventures.
2 min read · 01 November 2018
Peloton Capital Management, a private equity firm founded by former principals of Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, has begun raising its debut fund, PE Hub Canada has learned. The fund, earmarked for long-term investing in mid-market companies in North American financial services, healthcare and consumer sectors, is targeting $400 million to $600 million, people with knowledge of the matter said. In a statement, Peloton said the fund has already been anchored with a $150 million commitment. The capital was supplied by Stephen Smith, CEO of First National Financial Corp, a Canadian mortgage lender. Bank of Montreal, CIBC, Royal Bank of Canada and TD Bank Group also intend to make commitments.
3 min read · 01 November 2018
3 min read · 01 November 2018
Canadian healthcare private equity firm Persistence Capital Partners (PCP) has sold EnvironeX Group Inc, a Québec City-based laboratory testing company. Terms weren't disclosed. The buyer was Eurofins Scientific SE, a bioanalytical testing services provider headquartered in Luxembourg. Founded in 2005 by CEO Marc Hamilton, EnvironeX provides testing services for customers in the environment, agrifood and health and pharmaceuticals sectors in Québec. PCP initially invested in 2015. Two years ago, Eurofins raised a $289 million investment from Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. The EnvironeX deal follows PCP's sale of Medisys Health Group Inc in August.
2 min read · 31 October 2018
Canadian mid-market private equity firm TriWest Capital Partners has invested in California TrusFrame LLC (CTF), a Perris, California-based supplier of structural building components. No financial terms were disclosed for the deal, which saw TriWest partner with CTF's management team. Established in 2005, CTF designs and manufactures roof trusses, floor trusses, smart components, wall panels and other components used in residential, multi-family and commercial applications. TriWest Managing Director Chad Danard said his firm will back the company's growth strategy. CTF is the 10th platform investment of TriWest Capital Partners Fund V, which raised $500 million in 2015.
2 min read · 31 October 2018
