ProCertus BioPharm Inc., a Madison, Wis.-based developer of therapeutics to protect cancer patients against the side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, has raised $2.3 million in Series A funding. Venture Investors LLC was joined by seed backer Novartis Venture Fund. www.procertus.com
Penfund, a Toronto-based private equity fund focused on the middle-markets, has held a Cdn$240 million first close on its third fund. It expects to hold a final close on around Cdn$250 million within the next few weeks. www.penfund.com
Pegasus Biologics Inc., an Irvine, Calif.-based developer of bioimplants for soft-tissue repair and wound care for diabetic ulcers, has raised $20 million in Series C funding. Onset Ventures led the deal, and was joined Affinity Capital Management and return backers Three Arch Partners and Frazier Healthcare Ventures. The company previously had raised just under $12 […]
Draper Fisher Jurvetson and FIR Capital Partners have formed a joint $40 million venture capital fund focused on early-stage opportunities in Brazil. The two firms also will launch a $100 million Brazil fund later this year, which will target non-Brazilian limited partners. www.dfj.com www.firpartners.com
Continuum Capital Partners has launched as a Bay Area growth equity firm that will soon begin marketing a $500 million debut fund, according to Private Equity Insider. Firm management includes Greg Back (formerly with Warburg Pincus), Vladimir Jacimovic (New Enterprise Associates) and Ashley Feiglein (General Atlantic).
Castle Harlan has promoted Thomas Hickey to managing director. He had joined the firm in 2003 as a vice president, and serves on the boards of Caribbean Restaurants LLC, Horizon Lines Inc. and Baker & Taylor Acquisitions Corp. Prior to Castle Harlan, Hickey had worked in the M&A group of Credit Suisse. www.castleharlan.com
Orbitz Worldwide Inc., a Chicago-based operator of a travel reservations website, has filed for a $750 million IPO. Underwriters include Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, Lehman Brothers and JPMorgan. Orbitz is a subsidiary of Travelport Ltd., which Blackstone Group and Technology Crossover Ventures bought last year from Cendant for $4.3 billion. It later added on PE-backed […]
Allied Capital has agreed to sell its majority equity interest in Healthy Pet Corp. to VCA Antech Inc. (Nasdaq: WOOF). The deal values HPC at approximately $153 million, and is expected to close later this quarter. HPC is a Shelton, Conn.-based operator of veterinary hospitals, and received its first backing from Allied Capital in 2005. […]
PlayPhone Inc., a San Jose, Calif.-based mobile media and entertainment company, has raised $18.75 million in Series C funding. Scale Venture Partners led the deal, and was joined by return backers Cardinal Venture Partners and Menlo Ventures. The company previously raised around $12.1 million in venture funding, since its 2003 formation. www.playphone.com
Jajah Inc., a Menlo Park, Calif.-based Internet telephone company, has raised $20 million in Series C funding. Intel Capital led the deal, and was joined by return backers Sequoia Capital and Globespan Capital Partners. It previously had raised around $8 million. www.jajah.com