Specialist eCommerce platform Online Poundshop has secured considerable investment from venture capital firm Midven, allowing the company to upgrade current warehouse systems, and create a range of new positions across the business – including marketing and distribution roles. The investment has come from the GBP35 million West Midlands equity portion of the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF).   Based in Wednesbury and founded in 2014, Online Poundshop offers a wide variety of top brands and essential products at a discounted price direct to customers across the UK. The company has seen rapid growth since its inception largely due to a

Trade Ledger, a business lending platform which automates commercial lending processes for global banks and alternative finance providers, has secured a GBP1.5 million strategic investment in a  funding round led by Hambro Perks. Established in 2016 and now operating on three continents, Trade Ledger’s unique lend-tech platform automates all types of digital business finance, helping bank and non-bank business lending organisations alike to fast-track economic growth through process automation and scaling of business credit operations.   Trade Ledger uses financial data APIs (often referred to as Open Banking), Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence and Robotic Process Automation technologies to enhance or replace old and costly legacy

Peaceable Street Capital (Peaceable Street), a finance company that provides preferred equity capital for small and mid-sized income-producing real estate in North America, has secured an undisclosed minority equity investment from Declaration Partners, the investment firm backed by the family office of David M Rubenstein, Co-Founder of The Carlyle Group. The investment will support Peaceable Street’s growth strategy and expand its client relationships.   Alan Goldfarb, Managing Partner of Orangewood Partners and Co-Founder of Peaceable Street Capital, says: “We are thrilled to have Declaration’s support as we continue to execute on our strategy and solidify our position as a differentiated

British Business Investments (BBI), a commercial subsidiary of the British Business Bank, has announced a new GBP15 million Tier 2 capital facility to specialist bank, PCF Bank. PCF Bank has a long history as a specialist financier of vehicles, plant and equipment. Established in 1994, and launching banking services in 2017, PCF Bank has helped more than 18,000 customers with purchasing business critical assets for their businesses.   The facility will enable the Bank to draw on additional capital as required, allowing it to utilise capital in an efficient and earnings enhancing manner as the business grows. This investment could

 Anacapa Partners, a private equity firm focused on acquisitions in the lower middle market, has completed a growth investment in Auronix, a communications platform as a service (CPaaS) provider based in Mexico. Financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed. Founded in 1994, Auronix is the leading CPaaS platform in Mexico. Auronix’s platforms Calixta and Calixta Chat allow companies to reach both existing and potential customers on their preferred medium, driving real-time engagement, higher customer satisfaction, and increased customer awareness. Auronix is headquartered in Mexico City, Mexico.   “With more companies transitioning to mobile-first strategies, the global CPaaS industry

Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF) Debt Finance, managed by Maven Capital Partners (Maven), has provided Sleaford Building Services Limited (SBS) with a GBP750,000 funding package. Greater-Lincolnshire based SBS provide clients with a range of services including design and build MEP Services, alongside installation and coordination services for pre-designed projects. The firm will use the loan to support its growth plans, helping deliver a number of upcoming contracts, while also creating 15 new jobs.   SBS is led by Managing Director, Barry Exton and his management team. Founded in Exton’s back garden in 2003, the firm has successfully grown into one

SPOKE, a direct to consumer menswear brand, has raised GBP8.5m of new equity capital in a Series B round led by BGF and supported by existing shareholders Forward Partners, Oxford Capital, and 24 Haymarket. The new funds will be used to accelerate growth in four core areas: technology, product innovation, brand building and international expansion.   An early adopter of the direct to consumer model, Spoke has applied machine learning tools and an agile approach to inventory to create and sell ‘legendary legwear’.    “We believe that fit matters most” explains founder and CEO, Ben Farren. “Mr. Average doesn’t exist