Copley Equity Partners, a private investment firm focused on providing capital and resources to middle market companies with strong growth opportunities, has invested in AuctionIQ (AIQ), technology-enabled cost management and profitability. Terms of the transaction have not been disclosed. The investment by Copley will enable AIQ to accelerate its growth and continue to invest in both processes and people. Copley also brings a track record of assisting similar companies build out the functional areas necessary to scale a technology enabled services business.

Volvo Cars, through the Volvo Cars Tech Fund, has made a strategic investment in StoreDot, a specialist in extreme fast charging technologies for electric vehicles. StoreDot is on track to begin mass producing its ‘100in5’ cells as early as 2024, achieving 100 miles of charge in just five minutes. The investment gives Volvo Cars the opportunity to collaborate closely with StoreDot on exciting new battery technology, as it aims to become a pure electric car company by 2030.    Volvo Cars was the first established car maker to commit to all-out electrification and aims to sell only pure electric cars

Patriot Pickle, a Swander Pace Capital portfolio company that manufactures and distributes fresh, high-quality pickles across the United States to restaurant chains, supermarkets, and delis, has acquired the pickle assets of Farm Ridge Foods. Farm Ridge Foods distributes pickled products into the retail channel under its own name, as well as private label and third-party brands.

D-Orbit, a space logistics and orbital transportation company backed by Seraphim Space, has signed a subcontract with space company Beyond Gravity, for the delivery of lightweight carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) tools and metallic structural components for the European Space Agency’s Space Rider reusable space vehicle. The financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.   D-Orbit was selected for its experience and established know-how in space projects. It will supply the CFRP tooling and metallic structural flight hardware components. D-Orbit will also coordinate and monitor the work of Italian suppliers, to ensure that the production and documentation follows the

HomeTown Ticketing, a provider of digital ticketing and event software to schools, districts, conferences, and associations, has secured a $75 million growth investment from Nexa Equity, a private equity firm focused on scaling lower middle market software and fintech businesses. The capital will enable HomeTown Ticketing to launch new product innovations and meet heightened demand from customers looking to modernise their events management.

Software investor Main Capital Partners (Main) has sold OBI4wan to Spotler Group. OBI4wan is a Dutch omnichannel customer service and marketing SaaS solution to bring webcare, intelligent live chat, chatbots, messaging, social engagement, and media monitoring to their growing marketing technology and services portfolio. Founded in 2011, OBI4wan is the Benelux market leader in enabling marketers and customer service professionals to provide a consistent, responsive customer experience across multiple channels, including chatbots, messaging apps, and social media. All of the digital channels where consumers are increasingly expecting brands, governments and service providers to be present and engage with them. 

Measure Protocol, a UK scale-up that offers a new way to access consumer behavioural data at a scale, has secured funding to allow it to continue the development of its technology and to scale-up its marketing and sales efforts. The total investment came from a range of sources, including Blackfinch Ventures, Italian Angels for Growth – the largest network of business angels in Italy – and Blockchain Valley Ventures (BVV). Established in 2018, and based in Holborn, London, Measure Protocol has grown considerably over the last four years under the watch of co-founders Owen Hanks, Paul Neto and John Martin

ArK Kapital has signed a new SEK1.5bn  senior secured debt facility with Pollen Street Capital. ArK recently announced a  seed funding raise led by Local Globe, with participation from Creandum and angel investors including Supercell CEO Ilkka Paananen, iZettle founder Jacob de Geer, and EQT Ventures founding partner Hjalmar Winbladh.   Pollen Street supported the round in a new partnership, providing a €150 million senior secured debt facility. The firm has deep expertise in tailored debt funding and strategic insight for SME lenders, with this deal representing Pollen Street’s first facility in Scandinavia.   The EY Financial Services Corporate Finance

Griffon Corporation (Griffon) is to sell Telephonics Corporation (Telephonics) to TTM Technologies (TTM) for $330 million in cash. The transaction is expected to close within the second calendar quarter of 2022, subject to certain closing conditions and regulatory approvals. Lazard is acting as financial advisor to Griffon for this transaction, and Dechert LLP is acting as Griffon’s legal counsel. JP Morgan is acting as exclusive financial advisor to TTM, and O’Melveny & Myers LLP is acting as TTM’s legal counsel.

Gresham House Energy Storage Fund plc (GRID), has partnered with Origami, an independent energy technology platform for green energy assets, and battery optimiser Habitat Energy Ltd. Origami is preparing battery assets with a combined capacity of 50MW to participate initially in the Dynamic Containment (DC) and Wholesale Markets, following the discontinuation of National Grid’s Enhanced Frequency Response (EFR) service. With the discontinuation of EFR, a service in place since late 2016, numerous battery assets throughout the UK require upgrades to participate in the new markets that are replacing it – such as Dynamic Containment (DC), Dynamic regulation (DR) and in