Cloud8, the developer of a digital employee benefits platform has raised GBP750,000 from Mercia to further enhance its product. Cloud8’s platform BEAM at Work allows employee benefits consultancies and other advisers to deliver services online, and improve efficiency and client service. It aims to fill a gap in the market

Global law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (‘Freshfields’) has accompanied funds advised by HIG WhiteHorse (‘HIG’) on an acquisition financing. IG is providing debt financing for Waterland Private Equity’s acquisition of shares in the RUF Group via two brands RUF|Betten and BRUNO. The seller of the shares is NORD Holding.  

Ethos has invested in UK emergency and alternative water services provider, Water Direct, from Heathcote Holdings. Headquartered in Earl’s Colne, Essex, Water Direct provides alternative and emergency (A&E) water and water services to the majority of UK water utilities and to over 600 businesses.  The company offers its services through

Hylo, an athletic footwear startup based in the UK, has raised GBP2.5 million in a Series A round led by Eka Ventures. Redrice Ventures and angel investors including Patrick Bamford, the Leeds United and England footballer, also participated.   Hylo uses materials science to create running shoes that deliver high

Connection Capital, a specialist private client alternative investment business, has exchanged on the sale of multiple award-winning UK online temporary insurance platform Tempcover to RVU, owner of Uswitch, Confused.com and Money.co.uk. The sale (subject to Financial Conduct Authority regulatory clearance) will deliver a highly-profitable gross return of >5x money to

Icelandic technology provider Dohop has raised an undisclosed additional growth equity round from Scottish Equity Partners (SEP). This investment will enable Dohop to further accelerate growth and develop its innovative virtual interlining offering, allowing airlines and scheduled transport providers to sell complex itineraries without the need for codesharing or traditional

Pembroke VCT, a venture capital trust focused on backing early-stage businesses with exceptional founders and management teams, has sold its investment in ME+EM – the British direct-to-consumer fashion brand – achieving a return of 16x its original investment. ME+EM is Pembroke’s third successful exit in the space of fourteen months,

Genetics, a healthtech start-up co-founded by three University of Cambridge genomics postgraduates, has raised USD11 million in a Series A funding round led by MMC Ventures, with further funding from Episode 1, Seedcamp and several angel investors. These include Paul Forster, a co-founder and former CEO of Indeed, Paul Wicks,

Intermediate Capital Group (ICG), a global alternative asset manager, has completed fundraising for its debut Infrastructure fund, ICG Infrastructure Equity 1 (ICG Infra), with total commitments of EUR1.5 billion, surpassing its target of EUR1 billion due to strong demand from a global client base. The Fund attracted commitments from over