Acquisitions in Nova Scotia, Canada

PMC Energy Limited completed the acquisitions of Metro Commercial Heating & Cooling Limited and Active Heating & Air Conditioning Ltd., two Halifax-based commercial HVAC service providers. The deals expand PMC’s commercial HVAC and Building Automation Systems (BAS) footprint in the Halifax Regional Municipality and strengthen its recurring maintenance and service platform. Metro owner Chris Tucker and Active owner Brian Campbell, along with existing management teams, will remain in place.

Centuri Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CTRI) completed the acquisition of Connect Atlantic Utility Services Corporation (CAUS), a leading electric utility services provider in Atlantic Canada. The deal expands Centuri’s Canadian footprint and establishes it as a dual electric and gas utility-infrastructure services provider in Canada, integrating CAUS into Centuri’s Canadian operations. Pilot Wave Holdings Management, LLC sold CAUS to Centuri after a period of operational improvements and growth under its ownership.

Platte River Equity portfolio company Municipal Emergency Services, Inc. (MES) acquired Frontline Outfitters, marking MES’s first international expansion in its uniform business. Frontline Outfitters distributes public safety uniforms and outerwear across Canada, and the deal expands MES’s North American footprint and capabilities in the first responder uniform market.

Vertus Group, a division of Jonas Software, acquired B4Checkin, a provider of cloud-based hospitality tools including a secure payment platform and hotel booking engine. The deal adds B4Checkin ("b4") to Vertus Group’s hospitality software portfolio, with IJW & Co. advising B4Checkin on the transaction.

Site 20/20 announced a strategic growth investment from New Mountain Capital and Energy Impact Partners (EIP). The funding will support accelerated technology development, including artificial intelligence capabilities, and expansion of new product offerings for traffic control and road safety markets.

Celero Commerce announced the acquisition of SONA, an electronic payments technology provider serving businesses across Canada. The deal supports Celero’s expansion into the Canadian market and increases Celero’s annual card processing volume to approximately $26 billion across North America.

Right Time Group of Companies (Right Time), a Canadian residential HVAC and home services provider, acquired Halifax, Nova Scotia-based Breathe Clean Mini Split Heat Pump Cleaning to expand its presence in Nova Scotia. Breathe Clean’s employees will join Right Time and continue serving customers in Halifax and surrounding areas. Transaction terms were not disclosed; Right Time is majority-owned by Gryphon Investors.

Founders East Capital Partners acquired Alumitech Architectural Glass and Metal, a provider of building envelope solutions including curtain walls, architectural windows, skylights, and metal cladding. Founder Norsat Eblaghi is partnering with Founders East and will remain an owner and director to support the company’s next phase of growth, including the selection of a new president.

Right Time Group of Companies acquired Shines Energy Incorporated, a residential HVAC and home air quality services provider based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, expanding Right Time’s presence in Atlantic Canada. Shines’ management and employees will join Right Time and continue operating in the Halifax Regional Municipality area; transaction terms were not disclosed. Right Time is majority-owned by private equity firm Gryphon Investors.

Half Helix, a New York-based digital agency focused on e-commerce and Shopify Plus, announced its acquisition of Able Sense, an e-commerce studio based in Halifax. The deal expands Half Helix’s full-service Shopify offering to better serve emerging, mid-market, and enterprise e-commerce brands, with Able Sense continuing to operate as a sister agency under its existing leadership.

The Kensington Private Equity Fund (Kensington) acquired Resolute Health Corporation Limited, a Canadian healthcare services provider focused on testing and treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. Resolute will partner with Kensington to expand its geographic reach and continue scaling its network of sleep therapy clinics across Canada.

SeaFort Capital announced it has made a majority investment in Parts for Trucks, Inc., a heavy-duty aftermarket parts distributor and truck/equipment service provider. Parts for Trucks is headquartered in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia and operates 16 locations across Atlantic Canada and Ontario. The existing senior leadership team will continue to run the business as the partnership pursues continued growth and expansion in Canada.

Buckeye Partners, L.P. entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Bear Head Energy, Inc., which owns the Bear Head clean energy development project in Point Tupper, Nova Scotia, Canada. The acquisition is intended to support development of a large-scale lower-carbon energy production, distribution, and export hub leveraging the project’s existing permits and approvals.

Junction Consulting and Jelly Digital Marketing & PR teamed up to acquire ELearningU, described as North America’s largest digital tourism school and online education platform for tourism marketing. Headquartered in Nova Scotia, ELearningU provides online training content and a tourism digital marketing certificate program, and the deal is described as the first major acquisition for both buyers.

Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises, Inc. (B&W) acquired Fossil Power Systems, Inc. (FPS), a designer and manufacturer of hydrogen, natural gas and renewable pulp and paper combustion equipment, including ignitors, plant controls and safety systems. FPS is headquartered in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada, and the transaction closed on February 1, 2022. The acquisition expands B&W’s combustion technologies and clean-energy capabilities, including hydrogen combustion and fuel conversion solutions.

Skinfix secured a minority investment from private-equity firm Stride Consumer Partners. The funding will be used to build out the team and accelerate growth across direct-to-consumer and retail channels (including Sephora), as well as support product innovation, clinical studies, and brand awareness. Terms of the investment were not disclosed.

Green Shield Canada (GSC), through Green Shield Holdings Inc., announced the acquisition of Tranquility Online, a Halifax-based digital mental health platform offering internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy (iCBT) and coaching. The deal expands GSC’s digital mental health ecosystem and is intended to support integrated offerings alongside GSC’s existing digital mental health assets such as Inkblot Therapy.

Agile Underwriting Solutions acquired managing general agent Exhale Insurance, effective July 1, 2021. The deal adds Exhale’s digital technology capabilities and capacity to strengthen Agile’s position in the Canadian MGA market and expand product access for broker partners.

Hub International Limited (Hub) acquired Salvatore Insurance Brokers Ltd., a family-owned insurance agency based in Sackville, Nova Scotia, Canada. The deal expands Hub’s Atlantic Canada presence and strengthens its commercial insurance capabilities, particularly in transportation-focused commercial auto and fleet. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Pilot Wave Holdings acquired Cormorant Atlantic Utility Services Corporation (CAUSC), a provider of transmission and distribution services to the utilities industry. The business was divested by Cormorant Utility Services Limited as a corporate carve-out, with Cormorant Utility remaining involved as a shareholder alongside Pilot Wave.

Brown Machine Group (BMG), a portfolio company of Industrial Growth Partners (IGP), acquired GN Thermoforming Equipment on March 1, 2021. The acquisition expands BMG’s thermoforming product portfolio and increases access to global customers in the food packaging market, leveraging GN’s technology and international sales footprint.

Caprion-HistoGeneX, a contract research laboratory services provider backed by Arsenal Capital Partners, acquired Clinical Logistics Inc. (CLI), a virtual central specimen management CRO based in Halifax, Canada. The deal expands Caprion-HistoGeneX’s specimen logistics and management capabilities to better support global clinical trial needs for pharma and biotech customers.

Cattron, a Harbour Group company, acquired DynaGen Technologies ("DynaGen"); financial terms were not disclosed. DynaGen, headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia, provides generator and engine controls and telemetry serving industrial, mobile equipment, and marine markets across North America.

Clearwater Seafoods agreed to be sold in an approximately $1 billion transaction to a partnership between Premium Brands and a coalition of Mi'kmaw First Nations. The buyers will form FNC Holdings to acquire Clearwater shares, with the deal expected to close in the first half of 2021 and shareholders to receive $8.25 per share.

Canadian Business Growth Fund (CBGF) announced a minority equity investment in Proposify, a Nova Scotia-based proposal-management SaaS company. The investment, CBGF’s first in Atlantic Canada, will be used to support Proposify’s future growth while allowing the founders to retain control of the business.

Beacon Roofing Supply, Inc. acquired The Roofing Connection, a distributor focused primarily on residential roofing products and related accessories. The Roofing Connection operates a single location in Dartmouth (Halifax area), Nova Scotia, and will operate as part of Beacon Roofing Supply Canada Company, expanding Beacon’s presence in Nova Scotia.