Private Equity
District Ventures Capital said March 26 that it invested in OHi Food Co. Financial terms weren’t announced. OHi Food produces the refrigerated OHi Superfood Bar.
3 min read · 26 March 2019
Lola.com said March 26 that it raised $37 million in Series C funding led by led by existing investors General Catalyst and Accel. Also participating were previous investors CRV, Tenaya Capital and GV. Lola.com, of Boston, provides travel management software.
4 min read · 26 March 2019
1 min read · 26 March 2019
Toronto-based insurance technology provider Finaeo has raised $5.35 million in a seed-stage financing. Luge Capital, a Canadian fintech venture capital firm, led the round. It was joined by RGAX, an affiliate of U.S. life reinsurance company RGA, Rising Tide Ventures, Inovia Capital and angels led by AngelList Partner Alex Norman. Backers of Finaeo's $2.25 million round two years ago, including Impression Ventures and iGan Partners, also invested. Founded in 2016 and led by CEO Aly Dhalla, Finaeo offers a digital platform of automated tools and concierge support that allows insurance advisors to shorten the "prospect-to-policy" timeline. It will use the funds raised for product development, customer acquisition and growth.
4 min read · 26 March 2019
Gerry Schwartz and Heather Reisman have given $100 million to the University of Toronto (U of T) to create a complex anchoring a cluster of artificial intelligence, biomedical and other technology researchers. The soon-to-be-built 750,000-square-foot Schwartz Reisman Innovation Centre will also support U of T's entrepreneurship network and student and faculty-led startups. U of T said the donation is the largest in its history and for Canada's innovation sector. Schwartz is the founder, chair and CEO of Canadian private equity firm Onex Corp. Reisman is the founder, chair and CEO of Canadian book retailer Indigo.
7 min read · 25 March 2019
South Park Commons has raised $52.2 million toward a maiden venture-capital fund, according to a filing with the SEC.
1 min read · 25 March 2019
Pure Alumina Ltd has agreed to acquire Polar Sapphire Ltd, a Toronto-based maker of high-purity alumina (HPA), according to a statement by the Australian company. Pure agreed to pay $25.75 million in cash and stock to Polar's private investors, which include ArcTern Ventures, Crux Capital Corp and MaRS Investment Accelerator Fund. Upon completion, three Polar representatives, including Founder and CEO Scott Nichol and ArcTern Managing Partner Tom Rand, will join Pure's six-member board. Founded in 2013, Polar’s low-cost HPA product is used in LED lighting, lithium batteries for electric vehicles, and other applications.
1 min read · 25 March 2019
Cybex said March 25 that it raised $18 million in funding led by Qualcomm Ventures LLC and Inven Capital. Existing investors Norwest Venture Partners, Glilot Capital Partners, Flint Capital, and OurCrowd also participated in the round. Cybex, of Boston, is an industrial cybersecurity company.
5 min read · 25 March 2019
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc said March 24 that it is buying Brammer Bio for approximately $1.7 billion in cash. Ampersand Capital Partners is the seller. Brammer Bio is a viral vector contract development and manufacturing organization.
5 min read · 25 March 2019
OMERS Ventures has taken another step in its plan to create a global platform, launching a €300 million ($456 million) fund to invest in European startups. Capitalized by OV’s parent organization, OMERS, the fund will make life-cycle investments in companies in key European tech hubs, Head of Ventures Damien Steel told PE Hub Canada. To manage the London-based fund, OV is assembling a team of investment pros reflecting a mix of VC and operational skills, Steel said. They include Harry Briggs, formerly a senior investment pro with European venture firms BGF Ventures and Balderton Capital, who joined late last year as a managing partner.
3 min read · 25 March 2019
