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Foresight announces the Foresight Northern Ireland Fund British Business Investments – Full year results for the period ending 31 March 2023 British Business Investments – Annual Report 2023 Par Equity launches £100m fund to help scale high-growth tech companies in the North Federated Hermes announces second vintage of innovation program British Business Investments announces a £15m follow-on investment into Universal Leasing Limited British Business Investments announces £20m Tier 2 facility with DF Capital British Business Investments commits £30m to Panoramic SME III Fund British Business Investments announces £20m Tier 2 facility with Cambridge & Counties Bank Cynergy Bank secures £20m tier 2 capital facility from British Business Investments Archangels secures £12m co-investment agreement with British Business Investments Eos secures £10m commitment from British Business Investments Isomer Capital defies industry headwinds with an early first close of new €250m fund, Isomer Capital III National debt lender raises further £30m following record year British Business Investments commits a further £30m to Apera Asset Management Kingsway Finance secures new £10m funding facility to help fund UK SMEs British Business Investments commits £15m to CrowdProperty Foresight announces second close of the Foresight North East Fund British Business Investments announces £20m Tier 2 investment in Secure Trust Bank British Business Investments provides a £25m facility to Tower Leasing Limited Foresight announces first close of the Foresight Scotland Fund at more than £60m
British Business Investments – Full year results for the period ending 31 March 2022 British Business Investments – Annual Report 2022 British Business Investments – Full year results for the period ending 31 March 2022 British Business Investments commits up to £15m to Science Creates Ventures Hambro Perks Announces First Close of new Venture Debt Fund British Business Investments commits €30 million to Atempo Growth’s inaugural fund British Business Investments commits up to £10 million to Haatch Ventures Oxbury Bank – Britain’s first and only AgTech bank – secures new funding as it continues rapid lending growth Judith Hartley appointed CEO, British Business Investments British Business Investments commits up to €50 million to Wilshire through its Managed Funds Programme British Business Investments commits £20 million to TDC’s Impact Fund British Business Investments commits an initial £20 million to Beach Point Capital Management British Business Investments extends its commitment to SFC Capital with additional £5 million to invest in regional startups British Business Investments extends commitment to Praetura Ventures to £20 million following Regional Angels Programme success Allica Bank secures £30m Tier 2 capital facility from British Business Investments CEO of British Business Investments appointed to Government taskforce Green Angel Syndicate welcomes £10m from British Business Investments to combat climate change British Business Investments commits additional £15 million to Compass Business Finance British Business Investments commits up to €20 million to Bootstrap Europe III British Business Investments commits £15m to Roma Finance
24Haymarket secures £10m commitment from British Business Investments Beechbrook Capital achieves a first close on its third UK SME Credit fund British Business Investments announces £7m commitment to FOLK2FOLK British Business Investments – Annual Report 2021 British Business Investments – Full year results for the period ending 31 March 2021 British Business Investments announces £5m commitment to Green Angel Syndicate through Regional Angels Programme British Business Investments announces new £30m commitment to Mobeus Equity Partners Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021 British Business Investments announces new £15m commitment to Liberty Leasing Praetura Ventures secures £15m commitment from British Business Investments through the Regional Angels Programme Isomer Capital announces first close of new €100m opportunities fund British Business Investments announces new £50m commitment to Apera Asset Management Deepbridge secures £15m commitment from British Business Investments British Business Investments announces new £10m commitment to Co-Fund NI through Regional Angels Programme MML Ireland Announces Close of €135 Million Private Equity Fund Raised for Investment in Irish SMEs British Business Investments announces new £10m commitment to Syndicate Room British Business Investments commits €40m to Claret Fund III at first close
Liberis adds £70m funding and venture debt to grow embedded business finance platform and help SMEs weather the COVID storm British Business Investments announces new £25m commitment to Haydock Finance Newable Ventures and Bristol Private Equity Club secure £10m commitment from British Business Investments British Business Investments – Full year results for the period ending 31 March 2020 British Business Investments – Annual Report 2020 British Business Investments announces new £15m commitment to Compass Business Finance British Business Investments announces new £30 million commitment to back UK SMEs through Funding Circle’s UK SME Direct Lending Fund FDC launches new £100 million debt fund with investment from the West Midlands Pension Fund and British Business Investments Assetz Capital secures additional £25m from British Business Investments British Business Investments appoints Adam Kelly as new Managing Director British Business Investments announces £30m Tier 2 investment in Shawbrook Bank as part of a £75 million capital raise British Business Investments announces a commitment of up to €75m to new Isomer Capital fund of funds, aimed at early stage venture capital managers British Business Bank appoints CEO on an interim basis of commercial subsidiaries British Business Investments and British Patient Capital, along with new Chairs British Business Investments announces a commitment of up to €120m to LGT Capital Partners funds British Business Investments CEO appointed Interim CEO, British Business Bank British Business Investments commits up to £40m to Columbia Lake Partners UK LLP’s second fund British Business Investments commits £35m to Harwood Private Capital UK LP (“HPC UK SME Fund”) British Business Investments commits £10m to Startup Funding Club British Business Investments and Par Equity to deliver £75m of investment to support ambitious entrepreneurs in the regions Statement from the CEO with regards to the Coronavirus outbreak Assetz Capital secures £15m British Business Investments funding to help boost UK housebuilding Budget 2020: British Business Investments Response British Business Investments commits £50m to fund targeting North and Midlands based businesses
Keith Morgan, Chair, British Business Investments, awarded CBE for services to small business finance British Business Investments commits up to £100m to Hermes GPE in second cornerstone commitment through its Managed Funds Programme British Business Investments makes £15m Tier 2 capital facility available to PCF Bank British Business Investments – Full year results for the period ending 31 March 2019 British Business Investments Annual Report 2019 British Business Investments provides £25m funding line to North West asset finance provider Kingsway British Business Investments commits £10m to Dow Schofield Watts Angels as first partner in Regional Angels Programme British Business Investments commits up to €100m to Top Tier Capital Partners’ first vehicle dedicated to European Venture Capital British Business Investments commits €27m to Bootstrap Europe II British Business Investments commits £50m to BOOST&Co’s Second Fund Beechbrook Capital’s second UK SME Credit Fund reaches first close at £128m and completes first two investments British Business Investments commits £20m to ThinCats to provide more debt finance to UK businesses
Autumn Budget 2018 British Business Investments – Full year results for the period ending 31 March 2018 British Business Investments Annual Report 2018 British Business Investments makes £25m Tier 2 investment in Secure Trust Bank PLC British Business Investments launches new £100m programme to support regional angel investment  Catherine Lewis La Torre appointed CEO of British Business Bank’s commercial patient capital activities British Business Investments commits £31.15m to IQ Capital Fund III to support deep tech companies British Business Investments provides £12m to asset finance specialist Universal Leasing Ltd British Business Investments launches new £500m programme to increase access to patient capital    Growth Capital firm Oxx announces first close of debut fund with commitment from British Business Investments British Business Investments commits to Dawn Capital’s new venture capital fund British Business Investments provides new finance facility to Liberis British Business Investment commits £20m to new venture capital model from Kindred Capital British Business Investments commits to a £30m boost for smaller businesses
British Business Investment’s latest commitment boosts regional finance options for UK smaller businesses British Business Investments commits £30 million at the first close of Shard Credit Partners first direct lending fund British Business Investments and IGF to increase SME funding with new cash injection British Business Investments commits £15m to Balderton’s new $375m fund Budget 2017 News from our partners – Seedcamp celebrates 10 year anniversary with £41M first close seed fund to invest in next generation of European entrepreneurs British Business Investments commits £20m to £100m FPE Capital fund Catherine Lewis La Torre at this year’s BVCA Summit British Business Investments – Full Year Results for the Period Ending 31 March 2017 View our Annual Report for 2016-17 British Business Bank Investments Ltd commits €40 million in first closing for Harbert European Growth Capital Fund II. GCP caps a successful year with a £40m investment from British Business Bank Investments Ltd to complete the final close of Fund IV at £205m BOOST&Co Limited secures additional £20m commitment from British Business Bank Investments Ltd for its Industrial Lending 1 fund   Atom bank secures £30m Tier 2 capital facility from British Business Bank Investments Ltd British Business Bank Investments Ltd provides £6.6m of funding to Shire Leasing to boost asset finance for smaller businesses Beechbrook Capital closes £150m UK SME Credit I and backs two more businesses British Business Bank Investments Ltd makes £400m from Autumn Statement available to venture capital funds British Business Bank expands partnership with Funding Circle
British Business Bank Investments Ltd announces £10m commitment to new £260m technology fund British Business Bank Investments Ltd – Full Year results for the period end 31 March 2016 View our Annual Report for FY2015-16 British Business Bank Investments Ltd commits £18m to northwest-based asset finance provider, enabling a £36m boost to smaller business growth British Business Bank Investments Ltd partner Beechbrook Capital holds first close on latest private debt fund British Business Bank Investments Ltd provides £16.5m line to Northwest asset finance provider Kingsway under new expansion capital initiative British Business Bank Investments Ltd names Catherine Lewis La Torre as Chief Executive Officer British Business Bank Investments Ltd invests in Frog Capital II British Business Bank Investments Ltd invests £30 million in first close of CORDET Direct Lending fund British Business Bank Investments Ltd invests in Atlantic Bridge III, a new €140 million fund for Technology companies British Business Bank Investments Limited partners with Liberis to support funding for smaller UK businesses British Business Bank Investments Limited publishes half year results for the six months ended 30 Sept 2015 View our annual report for FY 2014-2015 British Business Bank Investments agrees £25m facility with Haydock Finance British Business Bank Investments Ltd invests in new UK Private Debt Fund from Muzinich & Co British Business Bank Investments Ltd – Annual Results and publication of 2015 Annual Report and Accounts British Business Bank Investments Ltd-supported Beechbrook Capital’s inaugural UK SME Credit Fund holds first close at more than £100m
British Business Bank’s commercial arm supports UK SMEs with investment in Shawbrook Bank British Business Bank’s VC Catalyst Fund invests in Nauta British Business Bank Investments Limited makes €6m clean technology investment British Business Bank Investments backs Northwest asset finance provider with £5m investment, introduces new expansion capital initiative
£80 million boost for leasing finance as British Business Bank focuses on alternative lending for smaller businesses British Business Bank partner BMS Finance provides debt finance to Whittle, one of the UK’s leading commercial painting contractors British Business Bank boosts European Capital UK SME fund to £100m to help provide debt finance to UK’s smaller businesses Making Britain the global centre of financial innovation – £100m extra for British Business Bank Investment Programme New £40m investment by British Business Bank to support £450m of lending to smaller businesses
Dawn Capital raises new fund with help from British Business Bank’s VC Catalyst fund

British Business Bank Investments backs Northwest asset finance provider with £5m investment, introduces new expansion capital initiative

Kingsway investment reaffirms commitment to support asset and lease finance providers

British Business Bank Investments Limited, the commercial arm of the British Business Bank, is investing £5 million in KingswayLink opens in a new window, a Cheshire-based asset finance specialist. The investment is expected to increase Kingsway’s leasing capacity by up to £10 million.

This investment is the latest in a series of commitments from British Business Bank Investments Limited in the leasing and asset finance space. In October, British Business Bank Investments provided a £40 million boost to Staffordshire-based Shire Leasing, which was matched by private sector investment. British Business Bank Investments Limited’s parent company, British Business Bank plc, recently launched its ENABLE programme to improve the ability of independent lease companies to access more competitive funding via the capital markets.

Leasing and asset finance allows smaller businesses to invest in assets or equipment for growth. The British Business Bank’s recent Small Business Finance Markets report revealed that 43% of businesses seeking finance are looking to purchase fixed assets, an increase of 10% since 2012.

These recent investments demonstrate how British Business Bank is delivering on its promise to provide regionally-based commercial business lenders with additional capital to lend to their local businesses.

In a further development, British Business Bank Investments Limited is introducing a new Expansion Capital initiative to its Investment Programme, enabling investments either by way of long term equity or other form of risk capital to support the growth of companies active in SME lending markets.

Peter Wilson, CEO of British Business Bank Investments Limited, said:

“Leasing and asset finance plays a crucial role in the diverse finance markets for UK smaller businesses. We believe we have already had a material impact on the block funding market, which is key for independent lease companies.

“We are continuing to support regional providers such as Kingsway, which are vital in ensuring we have finance markets which work better for UK smaller businesses. Our aim is to unlock more finance, offer more choice and ensure smaller businesses can make well-informed decisions about the right funding route for them.

“The introduction of our new Expansion Capital initiative, made possible our recent EC State Aid clearance, means we can invest with much greater flexibility as sole investor, enabling us to create greater impact with our funding.”

Adrian Anthon, Managing Director of Kingsway, added:

“The North West is home to a thriving start up and small business community which we have been supporting for over 10 years.

“The new British Business Bank Investments Limited facility will enable Kingsway to significantly increase our lending to small businesses both in the North West and further afield.”

-ENDS-

Notes to editors:
Contact
bbb@wearesevenhills.com
020 7199 6196/ Nithiya Gnanathas

About British Business Bank Investments Limited

British Business Bank Investments is the commercial subsidiary of British Business Bank plc. It aims to earn a commercial return by investing debt and equity into providers of finance to smaller businesses and small mid-caps, pursuing investments on a fully commercial basis without receiving any advantage from the government.

In doing so, it aims to:

  • support the development of diverse debt and equity finance markets which supply small to smaller mid-cap businesses
  • increase the level of finance to those businesses, in particular improving the provision of long-term finance
  • promote competition and increased supply through new and existing finance providers

British Business Bank Investments Limited operates primarily in the smaller and mid-sized business finance markets. Depending on the overall business strategy and objectives agreed through its annual business plan, British Business Bank Investments Limited may at times also include larger firms in its portfolios.

A complete legal structure chart for British Business Bank plc and its subsidiaries can be found on the British Business Bank website.

About Kingsway

Kingsway Asset Finance Ltd was established in 1997 and is a supplier of leasing and hire purchase finance to UK small businesses, via a network of approved Brokers and Equipment Dealers. Based in Wilmslow, near Manchester Airport, Kingsway transacts business in all regions of the UK mainland.

About British Business Bank Investments Limited’s new Expansion Capital initiative

The new Expansion Capital initiative will be a variant of the existing £400m Investment Programme designed to support the development of diverse debt finance markets for SMEs. The Expansion Capital initiative:

  • means British Business Bank Investments Limited can now make equity or other risk tranche investments as lead or sole investor
  • removes the need for investments to be match-funded provided applicants can demonstrate sufficient leverage or otherwise be assessed as having a very good fit with Programmes aims
  • is designed to provide development capital to speciality SME lenders

 

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