Maven Investment Helps Keep DMACK in the Fast Lane

Maven Capital Partners (Maven), the leading Private Equity and Alternative Asset Manager, is pleased to announce that its client funds have invested £3.5 million into Carlisle-based tyre manufacturer DMACK Limited to fund the next stage of expansion for this innovative, high growth business.Ezoic Secures $5.6 Million Series A Investment.
DMACK designs and produces high performance tyres for the worldwide automotive market, specialising to date in the motorsport sector.  Founded by Managing Director Dick Cormack in 2006, the Company has enjoyed impressive levels of growth and, whilst already established as a trusted supplier to several high profile motorsport events across the globe, it achieved the enviable position in 2011 of being appointed, alongside Michelin, as approved tyre supplier to the FIA World Rally Championship. 

Albion Ventures Invests £3.1 million in third Hydro Project

Albion Ventures ('Albion'), one of the largest independent venture capital investors in the UK, has invested £3.1 million in partnership with Perth-based developer, Green Highland Renewables ('GHR'), to fund the development of a single 1MW hydropower scheme on the Allt Gharagain near Achansheen, in the Scottish Highlands.

The scheme will benefit from the Feed-in-Tariff regime and it is expected to generate its first electricity in Q4 2014. The installation is forecast to generate an average 3.1GWh of electricity per year, enough to power up to 850 households.

Braveheart enters into partnership with Crowdcube to launch new-style co-investment fund

Braveheart Investment Group plc, the AIM-listed investment management group providing debt and equity financing to SMEs and servicing the investment requirements of business angels, high net worth individuals, family offices, and public sector organisations, is pleased to announce a partnership with Crowdcube Ventures Limited ('Crowdcube'), and the establishment of the Crowdcube Venture Fund (the 'Fund').

The Fund, which is believed to be the first of its kind, will enable passive investors to build a portfolio of investments by co-investing in crowd-funded ventures which have been carefully screened by a professional fund manager.  The two firms will work together, with Crowdcube sourcing investments and Strathtay Ventures Ltd ('Strathtay' or the 'Manager'), a wholly owned subsidiary of Braveheart, carrying out the fund management role.

Jon Moulton leads private investment round in new online platform for the private equity industry.

A group of prominent investors in private equity, venture capital and hedge funds, including Jon Moulton, have committed their own capital in a £1.5m investment round in Investor Networks Ltd, to develop an online network for institutional investors and private equity fund managers.

The majority of investors in the round are experienced investment professionals and include Anne Glover, CEO of Amadeus Partners and a former chairman of the British Venture Capital Association, Jos Peeters, managing partner of Capricorn Ventures, a Brussels-based venture capital firm, along with several hedge fund managers and traditional asset managers.

Nesta announces first social impact investments from £25m fund

£2 million in social investments from Nesta Impact Investments to tackle major challenges facing the UK including; elderly care, education and financial exclusion

Social investment is set to grow in 2014, boosted by a new tax relief, and entrepreneurs who want to have a social impact as well as making a profit. That's according to Nesta's impact investment director, Joe Ludlow, who is today announcing the first social investments, totalling over £2 million, from Nesta Impact Investments.

The £25 million fund, which is backed by Big Society Capital and Omidyar Network, is investing in organisations tackling issues, such as elderly care, poor educational standards and financial exclusion, that have social impact as well as providing a potential return for investors. 

Veteran financial services entrepreneur leads seed investment in Lending Works, the UK's newest peer-to-peer lender

Lending Works, the first peer-to-peer lending company to have insurance that protects lenders' money against borrower defaults and fraud, has confirmed today that it has closed a £3.5 million seed funding round led by David Kyte, founder of The Kyte Group.

David Kyte was a founder trader and former board member of the London International Financial Futures and Options Exchange (LIFFE), now known as NYSE Liffe and in 1985, he founded The Kyte Group, one of the world's first algorithmic trading and clearing houses. In a career spanning 30 years, Kyte is widely credited for his role in making electronic trading a commonplace feature of global derivatives markets.