Luxtripper, the fast-growth luxury travel business, has closed its latest investment round at £1.2m. The funding, raised from high-net worth individuals and former travel executives, will be used to double Luxtripper’s destination offering over the next three years, as well as further develop its proprietary technology platform and hire for roles across the business. The latest round brings total investment in the business to £3.1m since 2015, as it continues to bring cutting-edge technology to the luxury travel market.

Genius Group, the world’s leading entrepreneur education group, has today announced it has signed an agreement to acquire South Africa-based E-Square Education group, including its primary, secondary and tertiary education institutions: Ed-U College (Port Elizabeth), Ed-U Academy (Ed-U Academy), Private Schools, E-Cube Online and Ed-U City Campus.

The agreement is the latest in a series of acquisitions by Genius Group in their mission to provide an internationally accredited entrepreneur education curriculum for the 21^st century. It is the second acquisition by Genius Group in South Africa, after the acquisition of Tau Game Lodge, the luxury Safari Lodge and Conference Centre in Madikwe Game Reserve.

Par Equity, the Edinburgh-based investment manager that specialises in early-stage technology businesses with high growth potential, increased its new investment activity to a record £12.4m in 2020. Despite the challenges of a year dominated by Covid-19, the award-winning company also continued its run of successful exits, which means it has now returned cash to investors every year since 2013.

BGF, has invested £6 million in world-renowned global animation studio, Snipple, to support its ambitious growth plans to develop its own IP and content. BGF will take a minority share in Snipple.  Under the leadership of London based CEO Kaine Pate, Snipple Animation has worked consistently with some of the biggest broadcast networks globally, including Netflix, Warner Bros, Disney, Dreamworks and Nickelodeon.  Its portfolio of animation work boasts a variety of family favourites, such as Where’s Waldo, Dora And Friends, Into the City, Animaniacs, Green Eggs and Ham, Ducktales, Be Cool Scooby Doo and Phineas and Ferb, amongst others.

Mayfair Equity Partners, the leading tech and consumer growth investor, has announced the management buy-out of Seraphine, the premium maternity and nursing brand, valuing the company at around £50 million. Mayfair, along with management, has acquired the company from Bridgepoint Growth and entrepreneur founder Cécile Reinaud.

Pacific Current Group Limited, a global multi-boutique asset management firm, has entered into an agreement to purchase a minority stake in Astarte Capital Partners LLP.

Superfast wireless broadband provider Wildanet has secured £50m investment, which will allow the company to continue to expand its broadband network across Cornish communities and create up to 98 new jobs. The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Investment Fund (CIOSIF) portfolio company has secured funding from the Gresham House British Strategic Investment Infrastructure Fund LP (BSIF).  Wildanet was established in 2017 by Ian Calvert, with the ambition to establish a high-tech, low-hassle, fast broadband solution for hard-to-reach rural areas which would guarantee broadband speeds. 

Genius Group, the world’s leading entrepreneur education group, has completed the acquisition of New Zealand-based teaching and childcare company Education Angels in Home Childcare. With this acquisition, Genius Group’s innovative curriculum now extends to provide discovery-based learning to children at preschool age, as well as helping parents to prepare their young children for the 21st century. 

A healthtech platform has raised £825,000 investment from NPIF – Mercia Equity Finance, which is managed by Mercia and part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund, to support its continued growth.

David Mott, Founder Partner at Oxford Capital reflects on the themes that have shaped this year. 

Maven Capital Partners has led the £17 million management buyout of Envitia Group plc, an established data and geospatial technology and services provider to the defence and public sectors. The transaction has been fully funded by Maven’s maiden institutional fund - Maven UK Regional Buyout Fund L.P.

Texthelp Ltd, the global leader in literacy and accessibility technology, thas raised significant investment from Five Arrows, the private equity arm of Rothschild & Co,  as LDC, the private equity arm of Lloyds Banking Group exits. Five Arrows is investing in Texthelp through its European fund (Five Arrows Principal Investments) and its US fund (Five Arrows Capital Partners). Five Arrows targets investments in category-leading B2B data and software companies across healthcare, education, and other vertical end-markets.