Envestors funds growth at FX firm Ebury Partners

RNS Number : 9652N

Braveheart Investment Group plc

16 September 2013

 



Fast-moving FX firm Ebury Partners raises growth currency

through Envestors network

Envestors Limited ('Envestors'), the award-winning private investor network dedicated to helping investors source dynamic companies in need of growth capital, has participated in a £3.5 million equity funding round for Ebury Partners UK Limited (www.eburypartners.co.uk) ('Ebury' or 'Ebury Partners'), the specialist foreign currency provider.  Of this, £1.15 million was sourced from the Envestors network. 

Envestors is a wholly owned subsidiary of Braveheart Investment Group plc (BRH), the AIM-listed investment management group providing debt/equity and advisory services to SMEs and servicing the investment requirements of business angels, high net worth individuals, family offices, and public sector organisations.

As a specialist foreign exchange provider, Ebury Partners distinguishes itself from banks and other niche firms by offering tailored services and competitive pricing to all its clients, whatever their size, and by focusing on technological innovation. Ebury Partners is one of the fastest growing foreign exchange and international payments platforms in the UK and Europe, with some 100 staff.  The company expects to use the funds raised to more than double its turnover whilst expanding operations in continental Europe.

Ebury Partners serves the international transaction needs of companies with £10 million-plus international turnover, covering more than 80 currencies and offering proprietary technology solutions for automated payment, risk and compliance. Licensed and regulated by HM Revenue & Customs and registered with the Financial Conduct Authority, Ebury is a team of professionals with more than 20 years' experience in the foreign exchange markets.

"Envestors took a radically different approach, not only preparing us fully, but also introducing us to high-net-worth investors in territories such as Jersey, who were genuinely interested and tremendously helpful," said Salvador Garcia Andres, Chief Executive of Ebury Partners. "The money will enable us to hasten organic growth, boost our platform and sales capabilities and move into new geographies and products. We're thrilled with this outcome." Salvador was previously at Rabobank and ABN AMRO and before that, at the hedge fund group Vega Capital.

Also on the board is Juan Lobato, a London-based technology entrepreneur who founded BaseKit, the venture-backed website builder where he is CEO. After McKinsey & Co, he ran then sold beam.tv, a digital distribution network for advertising. Juan targets opportunities where technology can improve processes and enable international growth.

Scott Haughton, Director of Envestors, said: "As we extend our network both geographically and through the investment spectrum, we're able to tap into greater pools of wealth among individuals, family offices and specialist funds - many of them attracted by the Enterprise Investment Scheme. This enables great companies such as Ebury Partners to raise the growth capital they require, and on terms that are most suitable for them."

Further information:

Braveheart Investment Group plc

Geoffrey Thomson, Chief Executive [e-mail]

Tel: [phone]

Sanlam Securities UK Limited (Nominated Adviser and Broker to Braveheart)

Lindsay Mair Catherine Miles

Tel: [phone]

Envestors Limited

Scott Haughton, Founder Director [e-mail]

Tel: [phone]

Ebury Partners

Salvador Garcia Andres [e-mail]

Tel: [phone]

Media enquiries:

Allerton Communications

Peter Curtain [e-mail]

Tel: [phone]

Notes to Editors

Braveheart Investment Group plc

Braveheart provides financing and associated advisory services for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) as follows:

For the company looking to raise money, we provide:

·      Equity Capital. This form of financing is typically long term and is usually appropriate for fast growing business or early stage companies. We will consider equity financings where our individual investment, or the investment we arrange, would normally be a maximum of £2m although we are happy to participate in larger financings as part of a syndicate;

·      Debt Finance. Short to medium term and for companies with cash flow to service the loan. Out unit size for this type of finance is up to £1m and we will usually provide junior debt which is unsecured but linked to an equity instrument;

·      Corporate finance advice on all aspects of raising money, strategic development and corporate governance.

The money we invest comes from a variety of sources (see below) and is sometimes linked to particular geographical locations.

To the investor, we provide a one-stop shop service to those in one of the following groups who are looking for exposure to SME investments:

·     High net worth (HNW) individuals looking to build tax efficient Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and Seed EIS portfolios;

·     Family offices and private sector institutions;

·     The Public sector.

Investors can choose between investment types ranging from self-build portfolios, to a full fund management service.

www.braveheartgroup.co.uk

Envestors Limited

Envestors enables investors to source dynamic unquoted companies in need of growth capital.  Comprising high net worth private investors, family offices, funds and venture capital sources, its network has helped over 65 companies raise in excess of £25 million, the majority of opportunities attracting taxation benefits under the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS).

Services to companies include intensive preparation for fundraising, initial due diligence and screening, facilitating corporate fundraisings through in-demand investor presentation events and face-to-face meetings with potential investors, and placing of non-executive talent.

Envestors was awarded the "Private Investor Network of the Year" at Investor Allstars in 2009 and again in 2011 and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Braveheart Investment Group plc.

www.envestors.co.uk

 

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