Latest from Banking & Finance
SME finance: There must be another way...
Project Merlin has proved to be less than magical for SME finance. So what other options are available to businesses?
KC backs £600,000 fund for North East
Broadband and telephony services provider KC has backed a £600,000 investment fund for digital and technology sector businesses and entrepreneurs in Hull and East Yorkshire.
RBS launches fund to help riot victims
The Royal Bank of Scotland and NatWest has created a fund to help small and medium-sized businesses directly affected by the England riots.
Banks fail to meet Project Merlin half-year target
The five major UK banks have lent £37.3 billion to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the first half of this year, less than half of the agreed £76 billion target under Project Merlin.
An Italian problem
Joe McGrath, editor of GrowthBusiness sister title What Investment, looks at the months ahead in investment and what's in store for Italy.
King admits small companies are ‘suffering’
Bank of England governor Mervyn King has admitted that small companies are ‘suffering’ because of the squeeze on bank lending but he says fixing the problem is a matter for the government, not the central bank.
R&D tax credits for innovation
Looking at developing an iPad app or in-house CRM software? Then R&D tax credits may well become a valuable funding source for innovative start-ups and high-growth businesses.
Start-ups secure funding through London Business Angels
Investor network London Business Angels has participated in funding rounds for Suffolk-based Scour Prevention Systems and medtech company CamStent.
£30 million final close for third Hollyport fund
Hollyport Capital has announced the final close of a third private equity fund, Hollyport Secondary Opportunities III, for £30 million, attracting three-times more investors than its last fund.
UK distressed deals continue to decline
The number of insolvent businesses being acquired in the UK fell in the first half of 2011, according to new research.
Build value before selling your business
There is no point waiting for an exit opportunity to merely arise. We report on why boosting your business’s profile prior to an exit will help reap the rewards.
VCs still attracted to UK despite activity drop
The UK remains the favourite destination for venture capital investment in Europe despite experiencing a sharp decline in deal activity in the first half of 2011, research finds.
Anthemis and business angels back FinanceAcar
Online car marketplace FinanceAcar has closed a venture funding round led by private equity firm Anthemis Group and several angel investors.
‘On track’ for Project Merlin, HSBC reports
HSBC has declared that it is 'on track' to meet its Project Merlin small business lending targets, despite reporting a lower demand for credit.
Regional Growth Fund closes second round
More than 490 businesses have applied for government grants and investment as part of a second round of funding from the £1.4 billion Regional Growth Fund.
Cameron’s £600 million Big Society Bank launched
Prime Minister David Cameron’s long-promised Big Society Bank has launched today under a new name and is to be initially chaired by UK venture capital pioneer Sir Ronald Cohen.
Europe VC performing better than US
European venture capital funds have produced better or as consistent returns compared with their US counterparts in the past two years, research finds.
Back in favour: VCTs in 2011
VCTs have more than £800 million at their disposal. GrowthBusiness reports on how businesses can make the most of this opportunity and what VCT managers are looking for in an investment.
Osborne says ‘positive news’ as economy grows 0.2%
The UK economy grew by a mere 0.2 per cent in the second quarter of the year – a result Chancellor George Osborne has described as ‘positive news’.
Endless closes third fund at £220 million
UK turnaround fund Endless has closed its third fund at £220 million just ten weeks after starting its fundraising.
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The Entrepreneur
Diversifying the client base at launch and learning to say ‘No’
David Barker reflects on resisting the temptation to say 'Yes' to the first offer when he opened his data centre, and how choosing instead to diversify his client base at launch has enabled 4D Data Centres to maintain rapid growth in a recession.
Growing A Business
Corporate leaks: How to prevent and investigate if they occur
Bob Mecrate-Butcher, partner at Charles Russell, looks at how corporate leaks can first be prevented and then plugged when they do occur.
Comment & Analysis
Channeling Instagram for start-up success
That a team of 13 could build a business worth $1 billion should be the inspiration that all entrepreneurs need.
Research
The rise of cash shells
New research from GrowthBusiness shows that the number of UK cash shells is climbing. We speak to new entrants to the market and those that have recently closed deals to find out what’s driving shells’ increasing popularity.
