CIBC Innovation Banking has provided financing solutions, including a capital call line of credit, to Graphite Ventures (Graphite), a USD100-million fund focused on seed-stage investments and extensions, through to the rights for Series A rounds. The capital call facility provides Graphite with the flexibility to make investments in portfolio companies prior to calling capital from the fund’s limited partners. Building on the team’s record using a disciplined and proven investment model, Graphite will further support capital investments in early-stage companies across Canada. This enables start-ups to compete and scale globally. The fund’s focus is on B2B SaaS, digital health, proptech,

Gallant Capital Partners (Gallant), a Los Angeles-based private equity firm that makes control investments in industrial, business services, and technology companies, has acquired Pro-Vac, a provider of subsurface infrastructure services in the Pacific Northwest. The company provides a comprehensive suite of essential infrastructure services, including hydro excavation, stormwater and sewer systems maintenance, pipeline jetting, pipeline repair/grouting, CCTV pipe inspections, vacuum sweeping and other specialty services.

OCR Labs has completed a USD30 million Series B round led by New York-based Equable Capital, a New York-based family office founded by Jonathan Smidt, a former partner at investment firm KKR. OCR Labs, which is headquartered in London, will use the funding to expand its team in North America and EMEA.  Viewed as a technology leader in the digital identity verification space, OCR Labs solves major challenges including identity fraud and regulatory compliance, using its proprietary technology. The end-to-end solution supports Anti Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) regulations and improves customer identity verification while reducing fraud.

Investcorp, a global alternative investment firm, has made an investment in V-Ensure Pharma Technologies (V-Ensure), in a transaction valued at INR1.3 billion (approximately USD17.5 million). The round was led by Investcorp along with participation from Asia-based private investment firm, Tanas Capital.  This marks Investcorp’s third healthcare investment in India and its first in the pharmaceutical sector. This investment will fund V-Ensure’s objective of pursuing growth opportunities across North America, Europe and other global markets for the development and launch of its products. The investment also reinforces Investcorp’s commitment to invest in market-leading business services, information technology and healthcare businesses in

Warburg Pincus, a global growth investor through its affiliate South Elm Investments, is to invest ~USD210 million for a minority stake in Micro Life Sciences Private Limited, parent organisation of Meril group of companies, India’s largest medical devices company.

PestCo Holdings (PestCo), a portfolio company of privet equity firm Thompson Street Capital Partners (TSCP), has acquired Pointe Pest Control (Pointe). Through its brands – Pointe Pest Control in Illinois and Green Pest Services in Virginia – Pointe is a provider of residential pest control services. With the backing of PestCo’s team and resources, Pointe is positioned for accelerated growth while continuing to provide top-tier service for its customers. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.   This is the third investment for PestCo, an acquisition company formed to consolidate the highly fragmented pest control industry.

True Wind Capital (True Wind), a San Francisco-based private equity firm focused on investing in technology companies, has made a significant growth investment in Sterling Capital Brokers (Sterling), one of Canada’s leading independent benefit consulting firms that provides proprietary technology solutions to high-growth businesses and multinational enterprises. Terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.   Founded in 2014, Sterling offers a comprehensive suite of bespoke employee benefit insurance solutions, including payroll integration, automatic billing reconciliation, and streamlined digital onboarding, to 1,000-plus clients across Canada.

MidOcean Partners, a middle market private equity firm focused on the business services and consumer sectors, has acquired Cloyes from Hidden Harbor Capital Partners. Cloyes is a North American specialist in timing drive systems and engine components for original equipment manufacturers and the automotive aftermarket, selling its products under the Cloyes brand throughout North America and Dynagear in Mexico.  MidOcean Partners plans to continue the Company’s aggressive growth plan through comprehensive organic initiatives and strategic M&A. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.  This transaction represents MidOcean’s third recent investment in the auto aftermarket industry after completing investments in

Funds advised by Equistone Partners Europe (Equistone) have acquired a majority stake in eperi, a provider of cybersecurity software for cloud applications. The security specialist from Pfungstadt, Hessen, has been sold by venture capital investors Evolution Equity Partners and btov. Elmar Eperiesi-Beck, Founder and CEO of eperi, will continue to lead the company as CEO and retains a significant stake in the business.  The new partnership will concentrate on the company’s further scaling and internationalisation, as well as a targeted buy-and-build strategy. Both parties agreed not to disclose the financial terms of the transaction.