Insider Transactions and Investments in Quebec Companies: Nature’s Touch, Marathon, Couche-Tard, HaiLa, GDI, OpSens, and Oneka

2023-10-15 12:58:18

In this column published every two weeks, we provide an overview of insider transactions and investments in Quebec companies.

Nature’s Touch met la main sur Sunrise Growers

The Quebec company Nature’s Touch announced yesterday the acquisition of certain assets of Sunrise Growers, the frozen fruit division of the American group SunOpta, for US$141 million ($193 million). The transaction includes factories located in Kansas and Mexico. Sunrise Growers generated operating profits of US$15 million on sales of US$263 million over the past year. Founded in 2004 by John Tentomas, Nature’s Touch already had factories in Canada and the United States.

Marathon relies on Flyscan

Photo taken from the Flyscan website

The largest oil refiner in the United States, Marathon Petroleum, recently invested an unspecified sum in Flyscan Systems, a young company from Quebec. Flyscan’s patented technology enables early detection of oil leaks through aerial inspections. Founded in 2015 thanks to work by the National Optics Institute (INO), Flyscan also counts the Ontario engineering firm Hatch and the pipeline operator Enbridge among its shareholders.

He sells Couche-Tard

Réal Plourde in 2022. Photo taken from the University of Montreal website

Réal Plourde, one of the four founders of Alimentation Couche-Tard, sold shares of the Laval retailer for $14.7 million this week. He has more than $870 million left. Last month, another co-founder of the company, Richard Fortin, sold $14.5 million worth of shares. Couche-Tard’s stock has gained more than 20% since the start of the year.

HaiLa raises $14 million

Photo taken from the HaiLa Technologies website

The young company HaiLa Technologies from Montreal has just raised US$10.4 million (CA$14.2 million) as part of a financing round led by the Japanese component manufacturer Murata Electronics in which Quebec funds also participated. TandemLaunch and Ecofuel. Founded in 2019, HaiLa bills itself as a “fabless” company specializing in semiconductors and software for energy-efficient radio communications.

He buys GDI

Stéphane Lavigne Photo taken from the GDI website

The chief financial officer of GDI Building Services, Stéphane Lavigne, purchased nearly $100,000 worth of shares in the Montreal company at the end of September. He now owns nearly $800,000. GDI stock has lost just over 10% since the start of 2023.

Two local businesses sold

Louis Laflamme, President and CEO of OpSens. Photo Stevens LeBlanc

In the space of barely a week, two Quebec technology companies have accepted purchase offers from American buyers. Last week, H2O Innovation reached an agreement with the New York firm Ember which gives it a value of $395 million. The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, Investissement Québec and company executives will hold a 21% stake in the company. For its part, OpSens will pass into the fold of Haemonetics Corporation for $345 million.

Oneka amasse 12,5 M$

Photo taken from the Oneka Technologies website

Established in Sherbrooke, the young company Oneka Technologies recently raised $12.5 million as part of a round in which several investors participated, including former Prime Minister Paul Martin and the Quebec firm AQC Capital. Founded in 2015 by Dragan Tutic, Oneka offers seawater desalination solutions powered by wave energy.

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