The latest IT & Business Services M&A market report from Hampleton Partners, the international technology mergers and acquisitions advisor, outlines how low interest rates and favourable debt markets have made it easier for private equity firms to pick up market-leading IT businesses. PE buyers have grown their share of the sector’s M&A activity to 15 per cent of all transactions in 2019, compared to just under five percent in 2014.

AI insurance pricing solution Akur8 has raised €8m in its Series A round from BlackFin Capital Partners and MTech Capital, bringing Akur8’s total funding to €10 million following initial investment and incubation from Kamet Venturesin 2018. Akur8 solves the insurance industry’s issue of ever-increasing pressure to find a sophisticated way to offer quick, easy and appropriate prices for today’s retail and commercial insurance customers.

EBAN, the trade association representing business angels, seed funds and early stage market players in Europe, 

Beauhurst has published it's latest report which looks at the top ten female entrepreneurs in the UK.  

Green Angel Syndicate has invested in The Scottish Bee Company, which is leading the way in the exploration of newly discovered properties of Heather Honey.  Its health-giving ingredients are now understood to be the rival of much-vaunted Manuka Honey from New Zealand.  For most of its existence, there has been almost no demand for Manuka Honey, but the discovery of its health benefits caused its sales and its price to sky-rocket internationally.  Heather Honey has claims to be the rival if not superior to Manuka honey in this respect.

Space Talos, a specialist in space radiation technology, has signed up to the national SPRINT business support programme to provide funded access to space testing facilities and expertise from the University of Southampton. The SPRINT project will enable Space Talos to validate the development of new technology for shielding sensitive equipment from radiation in space.

VC firm Boundary Capital has launched a new Impact investment fund for private investors called the Impact Life Fund. The fund’s purpose is to ‘enrich people’s lives’ - both the investors and the beneficiaries of the investment. Target investments are businesses with disruptive technologies that have the potential to positively impact at least 100m human lives, as well as targeting a 3x return overall over 5 years. The fund has an EIS structure to allow investors to also gain from tax breaks as well as the underlying economic and other benefits.

Speaking at Leyton UK event, techUK Director of Policy, Vinous Ali praises policy moves and new attitude

The Director of Policy at techUK, Vinous Ali has welcomed the approach of the new UK Government as being ‘incredibly tech positive’ and backing up words with actions. The comments came at an event held yesterday, Tuesday 10 March, at techUK, the membership organisation representing the tech industry, hosted by the UK’s largest innovation funding consultancy, Leyton UK. Speaking at the event titled ‘Fast Track Your Innovation Journey’ Ali praised the new Government’s ‘energy and enthusiasm’ and action in ‘broadening out the definition of R&D’. She said this was a great example of a positive policy move sending out the right signals post-Brexit.

John Glencross said: “There is a lot in this budget that is positive for entrepreneurs and small business owners. The big change is in entrepreneurs’ relief, which enables business owners to pay just 10% capital gains tax on disposal of all or part of their business. This lifetime limit has been reduced from £10m to £1m.”

Fund managers comment on yesterday's Budget announcement.

As the impact of the Coronavirus outbreak begins to directly impact more businesses, NatWest has outlined the initial support it will provide to SMEs across the UK, including a £5bn Working Capital Support.

The UK Creative Content EIS Fund has invested in Raindog Films, the UK-based production company co-founded by Oscar®-winning actor Colin Firth and music industry veteran Ged Doherty, it was announced today by the Fund’s manager, Calculus Capital, and Stargrove Pictures.  Writer and producer, Trish D Chetty joins the new look company to oversee the strategic expansion into high-end small screen content. 

Firth and Doherty established Raindog Films in 2012 and subsequently produced an award-winning slate of premium filmed entertainment. Recent projects include Official Secrets directed by Gavin Hood, starring Keira Knightley and Matt Smith.