Kirk Falconer

Sherbrooke, Québec-based education technology provider Classcraft has raised $10 million in a Series A financing. The round was led by Investissement Québec, an investment arm of the Québec government. It was joined by Whitecap Venture Partners, Brightspark Ventures and MaRS Catalyst Fund, all of which backed Classcraft's $2.8 million financing in 2017. Launched in 2013 by CEO Shawn Young, President Devin Young and CFO Lauren Young, Classcraft uses technology, games and storytelling to enhance student motivation in the K-12 education sector. It serves more than 6 million students and teachers worldwide. The company will use the funds raised to further scale its platform.

Endeavor Group Holdings Inc, a Beverly Hills, California-based talent agency and events company, is looking to raise up to US$619 million from an initial public offering (IPO), according to a report by Reuters. The IPO, which will be launched on the New York Stock Exchange, could value Endeavour at as much as US$7.8 billion, the […]

Lift & Co Corp (TSX-V: LIFT), a Toronto-based cannabis media and technology platform, has closed a $3.5 million private placement offering. The financing, consisting of senior secured convertible debentures and common share purchase warrants, was backed by U.S. cannabis private equity firm Gotham Green Partners and others. Founded in 2014 by Chairman Tyler Sookochoff, Lift provides cannabis-related trade shows, online data and product reviews, and educational resources. It will use the deal's proceeds for working capital, repaying debt and other priorities. Lift, which went public last year, secured $3 million in a Series A financing in 2017.

Canadian mid-market private equity firm Ironbridge Equity Partners last month acquired the assets of MBRP Inc, a Huntsville, Ontario-based designer and manufacturer of exhaust systems for the automotive and recreational vehicle markets. Terms weren't released for the deal, which saw Ironbridge partner with MBRP's management team led by CEO Martin Barkey. Established in 1999, MBRP serves a network of warehouse distributor, retailer and e-commerce customers across Canada and the United States. The acquisition comes on the heels of Ironbridge's July investment in Alumni Classroom Furniture Inc, a Waterloo, Ontario-based provider of educational furniture solutions.

SemGroup Corp (NYSE: SEMG), a Tulsa, Oklahoma-based midstream energy services company, has agreed to be acquired by Energy Transfer LP (NYSE: ET) in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at about US$5.1 billion, including debt. The deal is expected to close later this year or in early 2020. In a separate release, Energy Transfer said the benefits of the acquisition include a crude oil gathering and transportation presence in Canada's Alberta Basin. Earlier this year, SemGroup partnered with U.S. private equity firm KKR to create SemCAMS Midstream ULC, a $1.75-billion midstream infrastructure platform based in Calgary.

Licaplast Industries Emballages Inc has acquired M'Plast Inc, a Montréal-based manufacturer and converter of polyethylene products. No financial terms were disclosed. Founded in 1988 by Roger Damdjee, M'Plast makes and converts polyethylene film into bags or u-film for use in horticulture, agriculture, industrial and other markets. Licaplast, a Montréal-based producer of flexible plastic packaging, said the acquisition provides additional capabilities that will help it meet the requirements of Canadian and U.S. customers. Licaplast was recapitalized last year by Charter Oak Equity, a U.S. private equity firm, and Fonds de solidarité FTQ, a Canadian development capital firm.

Chatters LP has acquired Enviro Trends, a Pembroke, Ontario-based hair salon chain, for an undisclosed amount. Based in Red Deer, Alberta, Chatters provides hair care services and products under its Style Happy brand. Operating through 117 locations in seven provinces, the company said the deal advances a cross-country acquisition strategy by giving it a larger presence in Eastern Canada. Earlier this year Chatters appointed industry veteran Greg Moreau as its new president and CEO. Founded in 2011, Chatters was acquired in 2015 by ONCAP, the mid-market investment platform of Canadian private equity firm Onex Corp.

Blackstone Group has agreed to acquire Dream Global Real Estate Investment Trust (TSX: DRG.UN), a Toronto-based owner and operator of office and industrial properties in Europe. Unit-holders of Dream Global will receive $16.79 per unit in an all-cash transaction valued at $6.2 billion. The deal is expected to close in December. Established in 1996 by Chair and CEO Michael Cooper, Dream Global has a portfolio of more than 200 properties located in over 100 Western European cities. The company, publicly traded since 2011, is primarily focused on real estate opportunities in Germany and the Netherlands. Blackstone, a U.S. alternative investment firm, is making the acquisition through its real estate private equity funds.

CSS Industrial Group of Cos has acquired Carp, Ontario-based Canadian Space Services, a provider of repair and maintenance services for dome-shaped enclosures for radars, and CSS Wind, a provider of similar services for wind turbines. Terms weren't disclosed. The deal was backed by $800,000 of mezzanine financing from BDC Capital's Growth and Transition Capital group. CSS Group is a newly formed holding company led by President Allan Duncan. It also holds Midstream Infrastructure Protection Technologies, a Toronto-based provider of field services for hard-to-access industrial installations. The three operating companies serve Canadian government agencies and businesses.