Latest News
Analysis of a business’s Environmental, Social and Governance credentials must play a far bigger role in due diligence for M&A deals, says Accuracy, a global independent financial and strategic consulting firm.
Accuracy says that businesses are becoming increasingly aware of how underperformance on ESG metrics can increase risks and affect the long-term returns of companies they acquire. The firm says that ESG analysis must now be treated as an integrated part of the due diligence process, rather than as an ‘add-on’ as is still frequently the case.
The firm says that an important role played by due diligence is to
Podcast publisher Auddy Limited has acquired Radio Wolfgang, producer of branded podcasts for clients such as Soho House, Greenpeace, Selfridges and Primark. Its personalities, presenters and stars have included Jonathan Ross, Rick Edwards and online sensation Estée Lalonde.
Funds managed by Ares Management Corporation’s European Direct Lending strategy are serving as the sole lenders of GBP1 billion of available debt facilities to the RSK Group (RSK), a UK-based privately-owned multi-disciplinary environmental business.
This transaction marks the largest private credit-backed sustainability linked financing to date and will be used to refinance RSK’s existing credit facilities as well as support its continued organic and inorganic growth plans.
The new debt facilities include an annual margin review based on the achievement of sustainability targets, which are broadly focused on carbon intensity reduction and continual improvement to health and safety management and
Fabric RQ, a startup founded by veteran risk manager Richard Bookstaber to provide institutional quality risk management software to individual investors through their financial advisors, has closed a seed round led by Pandeavor Ventures, Vikram S Pandit’s family office, and John P Arnhold, managing member of Arnhold LLC.
SoftWorks AI (SoftWorks), provider of the Trapeze intelligent mortgage automation platform, has closed of a minority growth investment led by Long Ridge Equity Partners (Long Ridge), a private investment firm focused on the financial and business technology sectors.
CBC Companies (CBC), a holding company whose subsidiaries include Factual Data, DataVerify and Byte Software, also participated in the round. The investment will enable the Company to continue to expand its technological leadership and footprint in this important market.
“SoftWorks has consistently been at the forefront of AI-based mortgage automation, and our partnership with Long Ridge and CBC will allow us to
Founder and Lightning, a company that helps non-specialist, commercially minded business leaders to develop and scale new tech ventures, has secured a GBP1.5 million loan to invest in a new generation of tech trailblazers.
The funding will also help to support the company’s white-label platforms, which are used to enhance a start-up’s functionality without incurring the cost of developing single-use systems.
The business works with entrepreneurs who lack the specialist knowledge to launch new tech companies and products in sectors such as fintech, edutech and medtech. In the past five years, it has helped to build 25 companies, with
Recruitment specialist Hays has partnered with specialist tech provider Odro to give over 1,800 recruitment professionals across the UK and Ireland access to video interviewing and engagement technology in a multi-year partnership.
The contract was confirmed earlier this month following a successful pilot programme which saw Odro roll out its award-winning platform to a team of 250 recruitment consultants over a three-month trial period. It’s a significant win for Odro and comes just two months after the company announced an impressive GBP5.2 million cash injection from UK investor, BGF.
Odro CEO Ryan McCabe says: “We’re absolutely delighted to be working
Objectway, Global Top 100 fintech leader in the Digital Wealth and Asset Management software, has acquired Die Software Peter Fitzon GmbH (DSW), a primary German provider of Core Banking solutions.
Crestbridge has received regulatory approval from the Central Bank of Ireland to provide fund administration services in Ireland.
Manchester venture capital investor Praetura Ventures has secured a GBP15 million commitment from British Business Investments, to further support early-stage businesses and the ‘levelling up’ of funding in the regions.
Praetura Ventures will use the funding from British Business Investments, alongside its EIS funds and angels, to back even more companies in the future and provide company founders with everything they need to develop products, services and future-focused businesses.
British Business Investments, a commercial subsidiary of the British Business Bank, is making the commitment through its Regional Angels Programme, which seeks to address geographical imbalances around early-stage equity finance.
Special Reports
Featured
- Insight
Events
12 November, 2026 – 8:00 am
12 November, 2026 – 5:00 pm
