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Social Venture Fund Report January 2005

Bridges Ventures makes first dedicated educational investment in vocational training business

10th Mar 2008
Bridges Ventures, the venture capital company with a social mission, announces its investment in New Career Skills (“NCS”). As a vocation focused training provider NCS offers individuals looking for a career change the opportunity to retrain as plumbers, electricians or domestic energy assessors.

Bridges Ventures announces new advisory board

22nd Jan 2008
Bridges Ventures, the venture capital company with a social mission, has established an Advisory Board, which includes leading figures from the worlds of private equity, business, banking and asset management.

Bridges Ventures wins fundraising award at Unquote’s Private Equity Awards 29th November 2007

20th Dec 2007

Bridges Ventures, the venture capital company with a social mission, won the Fundraising of the Year award at the 2007 Unquote Private Equity Awards last night.

Bridges Ventures announces opening of the UK’s first indoor real snow Alpine village

16th Nov 2007
Bridges Ventures is delighted to announce the opening of Chill Factore, the UK’s first indoor Alpine ski village, on Friday 16 November. Bridges Ventures, the venture capital company with a social mission, invested £3.2m in Chill Factore, as part of a total finance package of £33.4m. The centre’s location, next to the Trafford Centre, Manchester, met Bridges Ventures’ social criteria of investing in the most under-funded areas of the UK.

16th Nov 2007

Bridges Ventures backs MBO of SealSkinz with £1.35 million investment

17th Aug 2007
Bridges Ventures, the venture capital company with a social mission, announces that it is backing the management buyout of SealSkinz, the Norfolk-based manufacturer of unique waterproof socks and gloves beloved of bikers and hikers.

Bridges Ventures first investment in keyworker housing

27th Jul 2007
Bridges Ventures has invested £2.3m to fund the purchase of three blocks of studio apartments to provide key worker housing for hospital staff employed by Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust

Bridges Ventures beats target with £75m for second community development venture fund

11th Jun 2007
Bridges Ventures, the venture capital company with a social mission, has raised £75m for its second fund, Bridges Community Development Venture (CDV) Fund II, beating its original target of £50m by 50% and its original hard cap of £60m.

Secondary buyout and smooth succession at Triage Services

30th Mar 2007
30 March 2007 Private equity-backed deal creates exit for 3i and positions IT maintenance & repair provider for future growth. UK technology group, Triage Services Limited (“Triage”), the UK’s leading independent provider of repair solutions to the IT industry, has been the subject of a secondary management buyout in a deal aimed at increasing the company’s future market growth.

Third Successful exit for Bridges Community Ventures as it sells HS Atec Ltd

21st Feb 2007
Bridges Community Ventures has sold its stake in HS Atec Ltd, a Yorkshire-based distributor of new spare parts for HGVs and trailers, back to management.

Bridges Community Ventures backs School Stickers Birmingham based business led by former teacher

15th Jan 2007
Bridges Community Ventures (Bridges) the mission-driven venture capital company announces its investment in School Stickers, a Birmingham based manufacturer of customised motivational stickers and postcards for schools.

Bridges Community Ventures backs Whelan Refining Ltd. Oil recycling plant in Stoke.

20th Nov 2006
Bridges Community Ventures (Bridges) announces its investment in Whelan Refining Ltd, a re-refiner of Waste Oil based in Stoke-on-Trent.

Successful 2nd Exit for Bridges Community Ventures. Bridges sells price comparison service SimplySwitch.

29th Aug 2006
Bridges Community Ventures (Bridges) today announced the sale of SimplySwitch, the price comparison service for household utilities and financial services, which Bridges backed as a start-up in 2002. The company has been acquired by The Daily Mail and General Trust plc (DMGT) for £22m. This is the second exit for Bridges CDV Fund I.

Bridges Community Ventures invests in Chill Factor, Manchester. First investment from Bridges CDV Fund II.

15th Aug 2006
Bridges Community Ventures (Bridges) the UK’s first community development venture capital company announces its investment in Chill Factore, North West England’s first indoor real snow Alpine village to be built in Trafford, Greater Manchester.

Bridges Community Ventures backs Nottingham healthcare services company PHF

1st Aug 2006
Bridges Community Ventures (Bridges) the UK’s first community development venture capital company announces its investment in PHF Services Ltd, a Nottingham based company that aims to revolutionize the market for the provision of healthcare practice administration services.

Bridges Community Ventures raises £33m towards second fund. Private sector backing for venture capital with a social mission.

26th Jun 2006
Bridges Community Ventures (Bridges), the UK’s first community development venture capital company, announces that it has raised £33m and has achieved a first closing of its second fund, Bridges Community Development Ventures Fund II (Bridges CDV Fund II). Further closes are anticipated through 2006.

Bridges Community Ventures backs Smart Storage to roll-out self-storage across the North West of England

27th Mar 2006
Bridges Community Ventures (BCV), the UK’s first community development venture capital company, announces its investment in Smart Storage, a Wirral based business providing self-storage facilities for a mix of domestic and commercial customers.

Bridges Community Ventures invests in a third managed office building with The Office

5th Oct 2005
Bridges Community Ventures, the UK’s first community development venture capital company, announces its investment in the purchase of a third building for its managed office business, The Office. The Office provides affordable and stylish office space to a range of small businesses.

Bridges Community Ventures appoints Ronald Spinney and Sir Gulam Noon as new Board Directors.

21st Jul 2005
Bridges Community Ventures (BCV) announces the appointment of Ronald Spinney and Sir Gulam Noon to the BCV Board which includes Sir Ronald Cohen, Peter Williams and Nigel Doughty.

Clondalkin Group acquires Harlands of Hull. First exit for Bridges Community Ventures and the Yorkshire & Humber Equity Fund managed by YFM

14th Jun 2005
Bridges Community Ventures (BCV) and the YFM Group (YFM) today announced the sale of Harlands of Hull, a specialist self-adhesive label printer, to a trade buyer, the Clondalkin Group for £8.5m. This is the first exit for both BCV and YFM’s Regional Venture Capital Fund.

Bridges Community Ventures invests in Insurance Dialogue Limited. Specialist home insurance for the over-50s

4th Apr 2005
Bridges Community Ventures, the UK’s first community development venture capital company, announces its investment in Insurance Dialogue Limited. This is Bridges’ 14th investment and its first with its main operation in the South West.

Bridges Community Ventures makes its 13th investment, in Coventry based new business Pure Washrooms

22nd Nov 2004
Bridges Community Ventures, the UK’s first community development venture capital company, announces its investment in Pure Washrooms, a Coventry based start-up company which installs and services washroom equipment in commercial and public establishments.

Bridges Community Ventures invests first £10 million of its £40 million fund

16th Aug 2004
Bridges Community Ventures, the UK’s first community development venture capital company, announces that with its 12th investment, Bison Bede, they have invested over 25% (£10 million) of their £40 million funds under management.

Bridges Community Ventures portfolio company Elixir Studios releases second game, Evil Genius

12th Nov 2004
Bridges Community Ventures, the UK’s first community development venture capital company, announces that portfolio company Elixir Studios has released its second game, Evil Genius.

Bridges Community Ventures portfolio company Harlands Labels win Turnaround Award

16th Sep 2004
Bridges Community Ventures, the UK’s first community development venture capital company is proud to announce that its portfolio company Harlands Labels has won the national British Printing Industries Federation award for Turnaround of the Year.

Bridges Community Ventures invests in a second managed office building with The Office

14th Oct 2004
Bridges Community Ventures, the UK’s first community development venture capital company, announces its investment in the purchase of a second building for its managed office business, The Office.

Bridges Community Ventures invests in stairlift supplier Bison Bede

12th Aug 2004
Bridges Community Ventures, the UK’s first community development venture capital company, announces that it has invested in Bison Bede, one of the UK’s leading stairlift suppliers. This is Bridges Community Ventures’ 12th investment and its first investment in the North East region.

MBO of Cope & Timmins and Olympic Blinds backed by Bridges CommunityVentures

2nd Jul 2004
Bridges Community Ventures, the UK’s first community development venture capital company, announced its backing of the management buy-out of Cope & Timmins and Olympic Blinds, led by Managing Director Derek Brown with Alan Fletcher, Purchasing Director. Bridges Community Ventures has invested £800,000 in the transaction. This is Bridges Community Ventures’ 11th investment.

Bridges Community Ventures appoints Executive Director

12th May 2004
Bridges Community Ventures announces the appointment of Antony Ross, a private equity specialist with over 14 years’ experience, as Executive Director.

Bridges Community Ventures Invests in boutique limited service hotel with Pret a Manger co-founder Sinclair Beecham

7th May 2004
Bridges Community Ventures announces its investment in Quest Hotels Ltd, in a funding round of £18.4m. This is Bridges Community Ventures’ tenth investment since closing its first fund in September 2002.

Yorkshire Based HGV Parts Supplier Backed By Bridges Community Ventures

28th Oct 2003
Bridges Community Ventures, the UK’s first community development venture capital company, announces that it is investing in HS Atec Ltd, a distributor of new spare parts for heavy goods vehicles and trailers. This is Bridges Community Ventures ninth deal to date.

Bridges Community Ventures Wins Allstars Award For New Venture Capital Fund Of The Year

17th Oct 2003
Bridges Community Ventures, the UK’s first community development venture capital company, is delighted to announce that it received the GP Capital Investor Allstars award for the New Venture Capital Fund of the Year.

Bridges Community Ventures Invests In Managed Office Provider

16th Oct 2003
Bridges Community Ventures, the UK’s first community development venture capital company, has invested in The Office.

Bridges Community Ventures Investment Brings Unique Airline Software And Services Company To Underinvested Areas

9th Oct 2003
Bridges Community Ventures, the UK’s first community development venture capital company, announces that it is investing in EB2 International (EB2), developer of unique products and services that optimise airlines’ online distribution channels.

£4 Million MBO At Harlands Labels Wins Venture Capital Backing

2nd Oct 2003
Yorkshire Fund Managers Ltd (YFM) and Bridges Community Ventures, the UK’s first community development venture capital company, have backed a management buy-out (MBO) at Harlands Labels, the Hull based specialist self-adhesive label printer. YFM and Bridges Community Ventures have each invested £750,000 to become minority shareholders in the company. Debt finance was provided by HSBC Bank.

Simply Energy Takes Up The Big Issue

19th Jun 2003
Simply Energy, the independent telephone advice service for gas and electricity consumers, has announced that The Big Issue has become an affinity partner.

Bridges Community Ventures Nominated For Fund Of The Year

28th Apr 2003
Bridges Community Ventures, the UK’s first community venture capital company, today announced that it has been nominated for Fund of the Year in The Private Equity Awards.

Bridges Community Ventures Invests In A Company Set To Reduce Long Waiting Lists For Cataract Surgery

24th Apr 2003
Bridges Community Ventures, the UK’s first community development venture capital company, announces that it is investing in Eyebright Plc, a start-up company set to provide cataract surgery facilities to the NHS and private sector healthcare providers.

Appointment Of Carolyn Maddox Who Joins The Senior Team At Bridges Community Ventures

22nd Nov 2002
Bridges Community Ventures, the new mission driven venture capital company founded by Apax, 3i and Tom Singh of New Look, has announced the appointment of Carolyn Maddox, as a new Executive Director.

Search Launched For Entrepreneurs In Britain’s Most Under-invested Areas

31st Oct 2002
Budding entrepreneurs and growing businesses in some of Britain’s most under-invested communities were today offered backing from a new type of venture capital – known as community development venture capital. Bridges Community Ventures Ltd, a commercial company that invests for return in businesses with high growth potential that are based in England’s most under-invested communities, today announced that it had successfully raised its target of £40 million in investment funds.

© Bridges Community Ventures Ltd 2004
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