HALIFAX, N.S. – A private equity firm launched this year by two well-known Atlantic Canadian business families has scooped up a crane company in its first deal.

Rob Normandeau, chief executive of SeaFort Capital Inc., said the firm closed a deal Monday to buy A.W. Leil Holdings Ltd. of New Glasgow, N.S., for an undisclosed amount.

SeaFort Capital was set up in late March by the Sobey and McCain families with the aim of purchasing companies  established in fields such as manufacturing and heavy equipment in smaller Canadian centres.