SoftQuad Software Inc. announced that Pinetree Capital Corp., in conjunction with its merchant banking affiliate KBL Capital Partners and James Clark, has lead the funding of a first round of private equity for the company. It was also announced that Sheldon Inwentash, Chairman and CEO of Pinetree, has joined Clark and Roberto Drassinower on the SoftQuad Software Inc. board of directors. SoftQuad Software was incorporated in November 1998 through a management buyout of the assets of the Web publishing division of SoftQuad International with a mandate to create high-quality XML and HTML authoring tools. SoftQuad Software released the latest version of its award-winning HoTMetaL PRO 5.0 in September 1998 and then focused its efforts on the rapidly expanding XML marketplace with its newest product offering XMetaL, to be released in May. www.softquad.com