BGF backed 61 new companies in 2020 whilst continuing to actively support its portfolio. Total investment totals GBP384 million, which includes GBP262 million into new portfolio companies and GBP122 million into existing portfolio companies.  Notwithstanding the global pandemic and associated recession in the UK causing unprecedented uncertainty for business, BGF broke its investment levels from the previous year and continued to show leadership and support for the UK’s growth economy, backing one new company a week. Stephen Welton, Executive Chairman at BGF, says: “2020 is a year we won’t forget in a hurry. Despite the economic uncertainty of the last

The Riverside Company has invested in Great Lakes Fire & Safety Equipment (Great Lakes), a family-owned business in Alpena, Michigan. The investment is an add-on to Riverside’s CertaSite platform, a fire and life safety company that is committed to the highest levels of customer service, responsiveness, building safety and code compliance.  CertaSite goes beyond compliance, focusing on partnerships and professionalism while providing customers a simplified and dependable solution to managing fire protection and life safety systems in commercial buildings. “We’re excited to continue the expansion of our rapidly growing company, CertaSite,” says Riverside Managing Partner Loren Schlachet. “With the addition

HIPPEAS Chickpea Snacks, has raised USD50 million from investment house The Craftory. HIPPEAS, a healthy snacking brand, intends to use the funds to boost innovation, expand production, increase distribution and amplify its positive impact. The Craftory is a USD375 million global investment house focused exclusively on ‘championing the world’s boldest, mission-driven consumer brands’. The Craftory is Cause Capital: investing in like-minded companies offering products that positively and boldly impact the categories they serve, society, and the planet. From compostable nappies to carbon credit platforms, The Craftory are a frontline stronghold for the next gen of disruptive consumer brands.  Jonathan Miller,

SparkPost, an email sending and optimisation platform delivering nearly 40 per cent of the world’s commercial email, has secured USD180 million from LLR Partners, NewSpring Capital and PNC Bank. The investment will help fuel SparkPost’s next stage of growth and product innovation as organisations continue to look at email as the channel to communicate and educate customers, and transact at scale in the years to come. SparkPost’s focus on empowering the most sophisticated email senders globally has generated steady revenue growth within the last three years and substantially expanded its customer base, which includes companies like Zillow, The New York

Shore Capital Partners (Shore), a private equity firm focused on investments in the healthcare and food and beverage industries, has invested in the Tandem Family of Companies (Tandem). Tandem is a nationwide, full-service HR technology and solutions leader servicing small, mid-size, and enterprise companies. Tandem is currently comprised of four brands: Tandem HR, a professional employer organisation (PEO) offering HR outsourcing solutions, two leaders in highly customised brokered benefits for groups and individuals, Benefit Solutions Group and Alliance Workplace Solutions, and Workplace Solutions, a provider of comprehensive employee assistance programs (EAP).   Powered by experienced professionals, Tandem HR has been

Purlos an admissions platform designed to help educational institutions increase their revenue by reducing student drop-outs during the admissions process, has raised GBP300k from multiple investors in the education space from the UK, US and Germany.