Alethia Biotherapeutics, a Montreal-based biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of monoclonal antibodies, has closed a CAD9.6m series A round of financing. Alethia will use the proceeds to advance its lead pre-clinical programmes into clinical development over the next 18 months. Co-led by AgeChem Venture Fund and existing investor BDC

Mountain Hawk Energy, a company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of coal bed methane in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin, has acquired a 50 per cent share of the Clabaugh coal bed gas field from Marathon Oil.  Mountain Hawk Energy is wholly-owned indirectly by Yorkville Advisors’ managed fund, YA

Venture capitalists in Canada expect their industry to contract further while those in emerging markets, including China, India and Brazil, expect to see theirs expand over the next five years, according to a survey by Deloitte, Canada’s Venture Capital & Private Equity Association and several other industry associations. According to

Graphite Capital, a UK mid-market private equity firm, has completed the GBP130m management buy-out of U-POL, a provider of automotive refinish products, from private equity investor AAC Capital Partners. This is the second time that Graphite has invested in U-POL after backing a management buy-out in 2002, growing the business

Low Carbon Accelerator, an AIM-listed venture capital fund focused on the low carbon sector, expects to announce a 15 to 20 per cent uplift in net asset value at the end of October due to strong sales figures from portfolio company Proven Energy. UK-based Proven Energy is a manufacturer of

Travelex founder Lloyd Dorfman has funded the management buyout of Bridges Ventures’ majority stake in serviced offices business The Office Group in a deal worth GBP43.3m. The Office, the concept for which was founded by Charlie Green and Olly Olsen with Bridges Ventures, is a provider of flexible office space

Axa Private Equity has made an investment in JIT Solaire, a specialist player in photovoltaic energy. Based in the Poitou-Charentes and Rhône-Alpes regions of France, the group installs turnkey electricity generating solar systems for individuals, companies and local authorities, with solutions designed to meet each client’s roofing specifications. The EUR3m

Actis, the emerging markets private equity firm, has invested USD58m in Companhia Sulamericana de Distribuicao, the operator of Brazilian supermarket chains Sao Francisco and Cidade Cancao. CSD is one of the three major supermarket retailers in Parana state, and is among the top 25 supermarket operators in Brazil. The investment

Atlas Holdings has signed a definitive agreement with MeadWestvaco to purchase its network of media and entertainment packaging businesses, subject to certain closing conditions. Atlas Holdings has signed a definitive agreement with MeadWestvaco to purchase its network of media and entertainment packaging businesses, subject to certain closing conditions. Completion of the transaction