9 Story Media Group has acquired Out of the Blue Enterprises, a New York-based provider of children’s educational media for TV, digital applications and consumer products. No financial terms were disclosed. 9 Story Media, a Toronto-based producer and distributor of kids- and family-focused intellectual property, said the deal broadens its development capabilities, increases its consumer products reach, and extends its U.S. presence. 9 Story Media is led by President and CEO Vince Commisso, who helped launch the company in 2002. It was acquired by Zelnick Media Capital (ZMC), a U.S. media and communications private equity firm, and others in 2014.
4 min read · 12 January 2018
U.S. private equity firm Energy Impact Partners (EIP) has invested in Clevest Solutions Inc, a Richmond, British Columbia-based provider of workforce management and smart grid operations software solutions for utilities. No financial terms were disclosed. Established in 2002, Clevest has to date served more than 220 electric, gas and water utility customers worldwide. Thomas Ligocki, the company's president and CEO, said the deal with EIP and its partners in the utility sector will help Clevest execute its global growth strategy. In 2015, Clevest raised a growth financing led by Accel-KKR and joined by Vancouver City Savings Credit Union.
3 min read · 11 January 2018
Canadian private investment firm Mill Street & Co has invested in Dfendus Security Solutions Inc, a Thornhill, Ontario-based designer, installer and manager of advanced security solutions. No financial terms were disclosed. Established last year by President and Founding Partner Dan Marston, a former Securitas Canada executive, Dfendus is pursuing a mid-market acquisition strategy. The partnership with Mill Street helped the company close its first buy, Inforce Security Corp, a Hamilton, Ontario-based provider of surveillance cameras, digital video recording solutions, intrusion alarms and other security systems.
3 min read · 11 January 2018
Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec has provided a loan of about $250 million to Empresas Públicas de Medellín, a Medellín, Colombia-based electricity producer and distributor. The loan, which forms part of a $1 billion facility led by IDB Invest, a member of the Inter-American Development Bank Group, will support EPM’s growth, including development of the Ituango Hydroelectric Project. The investment is CDPQ’s second in Colombia. Last October, the pension fund provided a senior loan to Pacifico 2, a toll highway sponsored by Odinsa SA.
3 min read · 11 January 2018
Canadian clean technology venture capital firm Cycle Capital Management has promoted Pascal Drouin to the position of junior partner. Drouin joined Cycle as a principal in 2013. He previously served as a risk modeling leader at GE Capital and as a financial analyst at Multiple Capital. Based in Montréal, Cycle oversees $350 million in assets. Last month, it partnered in the first close of the Qingdao Chengtou Haisi Cycle Equity Investment Fund, which invests in growth-stage industrial technology companies in China, Canada and elsewhere in North America.
3 min read · 11 January 2018
Hub International Ltd, a portfolio company of U.S. private equity firm Hellman & Friedman (H&F), has acquired the Montréal-based property and casualty insurance book of business of Daniel Picard. No financial terms were released. Hub, a Chicago-based insurance brokerage, said the business will be folded into its Québec subsidiary. H&F bought the Canadian-born Hub five years ago from Apax Partners for about US$4.4 billion.
2 min read · 11 January 2018
Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) has provided a loan of about $313 million (US$250 million) to Empresas Públicas de Medellín (EPM), a Medellín, Colombia-based electricity producer and distributor. The loan, which forms part of a US$1 billion facility led by IDB Invest, a member of the Inter-American Development Bank Group, will support EPM's growth, including development of the Ituango Hydroelectric Project. The investment is CDPQ's second in Colombia. Last October, the pension fund provided a senior loan to Pacifico 2, a toll highway sponsored by Odinsa SA.
3 min read · 11 January 2018
Adapsyn Bioscience Inc, a Hamilton, Ontario biotechnology company focused on natural-product drug candidates, has wrapped up an undisclosed round of financing. The deal was co-funded by Pfizer R&D Innovate, an affiliate of U.S. pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc and Genesys Capital, a Canadian life sciences venture capital firm. Genesys Managing Director Kelly Holman currently sits on the board. Adapsyn also announced it is partnering with Pfizer to identify and test undiscovered natural products, or organic biomolecules produced by nature, from Pfizer’s microbial strains. Adapsyn was founded in 2016 by CSO Nathan Magarvey.
3 min read · 11 January 2018
Canadian drone technology startup SkySquirrel Technologies Inc has raised $3 million in follow-on financing. The round was backed by Innovacorp, an existing investor, and an unidentified private investor in Ontario. SkySquirrel also said it has merged with Napa Valley, California's VineView SAI Inc, creating a new Halifax-based provider of aerial imaging and crop diagnostics for vineyards called VineView. Richard van der Put, SkySquirrel’s founder and CEO, who will lead the new entity, told Entrevestor the funds raised will be used for the merger and working capital. Last year, SkySquirrel bought its French partner Avidordrone.
3 min read · 11 January 2018
Dane Creek Capital Corp (DCCC), a Canadian pet-focused merchant bank, has increased its stake in Your True Companion Pet Products Inc, a Guelph, Ontario maker of dehydrated raw pet treats and health supplements for dogs and cats. No financial terms were released for the deal, which saw DCCC grow its interest to 74 percent from 30 percent. The investment supported a strategic refocusing of Companion Pet Products, achieved through the sale of its non-manufacturing supplements assets to Baie Run Pet Products Inc. Baie Run was formed by DCCC last year.
3 min read · 10 January 2018
