17 Scottish businesses backed by BGF as investment hits £1 billion across 150 projects

An £11 million investment in holiday park operator Coppergreen Developments, which has been used to support the acquisition of Dundee-based Pipperdam Golf and Leisure Resort, brings the total amount invested by BGF to over £1 billion.

The firm is on track to invest more than £370 million this year, compared to £250 million in 2015.

More than 150 small and mid-sized companies have taken BGF funding since October 2011, including Scotland-based M Squared Lasers, Stevenswood Doors and Windows, Keenan Recycling and MorphCostumes.

More than £700 million of the £1 billion has been invested outside of London and the South East including £127 million in 17 businesses across Scotland.

Nationally, BGF invested more than £100 million in the third quarter of 2016, compared to £60m in the same quarter last year.

According to Beauhurst, BGF was the top institutional investor in the three months following the EU Referendum by number of deals completed, against a backdrop of an overall slowdown in investment activity.

Collectively, the businesses backed by BGF employ 25,000 people nationwide – a number which would make it the UK’s eighth largest private sector employer.

Patrick Graham, Investor, Scotland, BGF said: “BGF has established itself as the leading provider of long-term capital in the UK. We are proud to have backed 17 great companies in Scotland - and we know that we have only just scratched the surface.

“While growing businesses will be affected in different ways and to varying degrees during the Brexit negotiations and beyond, our long-term approach means that we have no intention of slowing down our new activity or support for the companies we back.”

BGF makes long-term investments in small to mid-sized businesses in return for a minority stake. The companies it backs are privately-owned or listed on AIM, and typically have revenues of between £5 million and £100 million.