Canada

Shamrock to invest in Siyata Mobile's $2 mln private placement

Toronto-based vehicle communications platform Siyata Mobile Inc (TSX-V: SIM) announced it plans to raise gross proceeds of $2 million from a private placement. It said it expects about 25 percent of the transaction will be subscribed for by Shamrock Private Equity. Founded in 2010, Siyata is a provider of cellular connected devices for trucks, commercial vehicles and fleets. The company will use the funds raised for its growth strategy in North America and general working capital.

Crown Capital lends $15 million to Bill Gosling Outsourcing

Canadian specialty finance firm Crown Capital Partners has closed a $15 million, five-year term loan agreement with Bill Gosling Outsourcing Holding Corp (BGO), a Newmarket, Ont.-based supplier of accounts receivable management services and call centre solutions to global customers. Crown Capital President and CEO Chris Johnson said the debt funding will support the company's continued growth, which is benefiting from "the ongoing shift to business process outsourcing." Founded in 1955, BGO was formerly known as Allied Global Holdings Inc. It has been a portfolio investment of Canadian private equity firm Fulcrum Capital Partners since January 2007.

Australian watchdog deals blow to $6.5 bln Asciano bid: Reuters

Australia's antitrust watchdog on Thursday raised fresh concerns about a planned A$9.1 billion (US$6.5 billion) takeover of rail and port giant Asciano Ltd, potentially forcing the Canadian-led buyout consortium to restructure the deal, Reuters reported. The buyout group, led by Canada's Brookfield Asset Management and including investors from China, the Middle East and Australia, may have to appease the regulator by offering to sell some assets. Brookfield struck a deal in March with Australian stevedoring company Qube Holdings Ltd to acquire Asciano and divide its ports and railways businesses among participating investors.

Former Canadian PM Harper to leave politics, may join KKR: Reuters

Former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper will leave politics later this year, possibly to join U.S. private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co, Reuters reported, citing various domestic media stories. One source said Harper, who was Canada's prime minister for nearly 10 years, has had offers of work from several U.S. companies, including KKR.

PE-backed WSP Global to buy Sweett Group for $46.1 mln

WSP Global Inc (TSX: WSP) has agreed to acquire Sweett Group plc, a London, U.K.-based provider of professional services for the construction and management of building and infrastructure projects. Under the deal's terms, WSP will pay Sweett shareholders 67 cents per share, valuing the company's entire issued share capital at about $46.1 million. Montréal-based WSP said the acquisition, one of several closed in recent years, enhances its project and cost management services. WSP is backed by Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec.

IMS Health acquires venture-backed Privacy Analytics

IMS Health Inc (NYSE: IMS) has acquired Privacy Analytics Inc, a Canadian provider of technology solutions for de-identifying and anonymizing healthcare data. No financial terms were disclosed. IMS Health, a U.S. health information business, said the acquisition will extend its real-world evidence capabilities and reinforce its commitment to patient data privacy. Based in Ottawa, Privacy Analytics was backed by Vanedge Capital, which led its $3.5 million financing in July 2014, BDC Capital IT Venture Fund, MaRS Investment Accelerator Fund, and other investors. IMS Health, a portfolio company of Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, agreed to merge with Quintiles Transnational Holdings Inc earlier this month.

MTY Food Group to buy PE-backed Kahala Brands for $300 mln

Montréal-based MTY Food Group Inc (TSX: MTY) has agreed to acquire the shares of Kahala Brands Ltd, a Scottsdale, Arizona-based restaurant franchising company with 2,800 stores worldwide. The deal has a total consideration of US$300 million, US$240 million of which will be paid in cash, and is expected to close within the next 75 days. MTY said the acquisition will facilitate the U.S. expansion of its quick-service franchising business. Kahala was acquired in August 2013 by Canadian private equity firms Serruya Private Equity and Delavaco Group. It has since closed several add-on acquisitions, including Planet Smoothie and Tasti D‑Lite, which were bought last June.

Brookfield and Starwood to sell Germany's Interhotel portfolio

A joint venture of Brookfield Property Partners (BPY) and Starwood Capital Group have agreed to sell the Interhotel portfolio to FDM Management. No financial terms were disclosed for the deal, which is expected to close in August. The Interhotel portfolio comprises nine hotels located in a number of cities across eastern Germany, including Park Inn Berlin, which is adjacent to Berlin's Alexanderplatz. FDM is an investment vehicle created by French real estate holding company Foncière des Regions and its institutional partners. BPY is an affiliate of Toronto-based alternative assets manager Brookfield Asset Management.

ABRY Partners invests $25 mln in growth of ROOT Data Center

U.S. private equity firm ABRY Partners has provided $25 million in growth financing to ROOT Data Center, a Canadian data centre company that provides colocation solutions to the global computer industry. ROOT, which is based in Montréal, said it would use the funds raised to complete the development of its existing data centre in LaSalle, Québec, build a second data facility, and fund its operational and staffing growth. The second data centre will be located in Baie-D'Urfe, Québec. ROOT, which is led by President and CEO AJ Byers, said it aims to make Montréal "the leading data centre city in Canada."

Top shareholders, KGI signal interest in acquiring Catalyst Paper

Catalyst Paper Corp (TSX: CYT) said its four largest shareholders and Kejriwal Group International (KGI) have expressed an interest in acquiring the company. The shareholders, which hold or control about 79 percent of Catalyst's outstanding common shares, are: Mudrick Capital Management, Cyrus Capital Partners, Oaktree Capital Management and Stonehill Capital Management. The investor group indicated it may seek to acquire Catalyst's equity at $6 per share and exchange certain debt, with an investment by KGI of $60 million. Catalyst, a Richmond, B.C.-based pulp and paper company, said it would be "pleased to review and evaluate any proposal" that emerges from the group's expression of intent.