Jon Robinson

Investment giant BGF has revealed plans to raise external funds for the first time to tune of £500m.

The organisation said the move would enable institutional investors the opportunity to invest in UK growth companies through BGF’s regional platform.

Lazard has been appointed to advise BGF as it explores its options.

BGF’s portfolio includes the likes of Brompton Bicycle, Christopher Ward, Giggling Squid, Gousto and Seasalt.

It has previously backed companies such as Furniture Village, Kids Planet Day Nurseries, St Pierre Groupe and The Coaching Inn Group.

BGF has delivered a 21.4 per cent internal rate of return since 2016, investing over £4.7bn in over 600 businesses.

Andy Gregory, CEO of BGF, said: “The case for supporting this country’s ambitious entrepreneurs is clear and one recognised by government as a priority.

“Over the past decade, we’ve proudly backed hundreds of founder-led businesses, supporting them with the capital and expertise they need to scale and succeed."

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Software giant Sage has become a rare beast in recent years – a highly valued technology company still listed on the London Stock Exchange.

Worth around £11bn currently, the Newcastle-headquartered group is a firm member of the FTSE 100 index and showing no signs of its growth slowing down.

But while Sage has stuck to its UK roots, its fellow technology companies based in the country have either been snapped up by their American counterparts or chosen to list across the Atlantic instead of on the London Stock Exchange.

The likes of Arm chose to list on the Nasdaq in 2023 while Wise announced earlier this year that it would move its primary listing from London to across the pond.

While headquartered in the North East of England, Sage has a sizeable global presence, particularly in the US.

Speaking on an up-coming episode of City AM‘s Boardroom Uncovered podcast, Sage’s CEO Steve Hare addressed whether he could see the FTSE 100 group ever jumping ship from London to New York.

Read the full City AM story here - https://lnkd.in/eKs4qzfd

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