News

January 2012 Balgownie Ventures Limited is delighted to announce its first strategic investment of the New Year with the closure of a funding round in the niche chocolate and confectionery business “The Big Yum”. Working with Mike Hodgson, part of the launch team of Gu Chocolate Puddings, The Big Yum has already listed its first range of chocolate pretzels at Harvey Nichols and other leading retailers.

September 2011 Balgownie Ventures announces the sale of Adore Fashion Limited within 12 months of initial purchase. M Barney Battles, Managing Partner of Balgownie Ventures said “This successful transaction proves yet again that we can deliver a swift and profitable exit strategy for our pool of investors and I am delighted with this sale."

April 2011 Balgownie Ventures Limited is proud to announce a strategic investment in the launch of a new art gallery in Dover Street, London called Agent Morton Limited. Curator Serena Morton previously managed Ronnie Wood’s contemporary art collection. Barney Battles, Managing Partner of Balgownie Ventures Limited stated “Serena’s vision of supporting contemporary art is overpowering and her track record of success is incredible. We always invest in passionate people and see Agent Morton as an exciting investment”.

November 2010 Balgownie Ventures Limited announced the 100% purchase of Adore Fashion Limited trading as AdoreCorsets.com.

September 2010 Balgownie Ventures Limited announces a strategic shareholding in the PLUS listed Isle of Man vehicle, Silvanus ONE PLC. This company intends investing in established media, technology or related services ventures in the UK.

July 2010 – Barney Battles founder and managing partner has been appointed Interim Non Executive Chairman of Avisen plc, the AIM quoted technology consultancy specialising in performance management www.avisen.com. Commenting on the appointment, Marcus Hanke, CEO of Avisen said: "We are delighted to welcome Barney to the Board as Non-Executive Chairman. We believe his experience and knowledge will fit well with our strategy and his appointment will be of significant benefit to the Company as we seek to implement both our short and long term growth strategies”

March 2010 Balgownie Ventures Limited is proud to announce a strategic stake in XCap Securities Limited, an independent investment bank focussing on the small to mid-cap market and on corporate clients whose securities are traded on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange plc (the “LSE”) (“AIM”). The business focuses on market making, retail and institutional broking, market making and fund management as well as traditional corporate finance advisory and nominated advisory (NOMAD) activities .

February 2010 Balgownie Ventures Limited has purchased a strategic stake in Storyboard Assets plc, a PLUS Listed company, owning a prestigious collection of original artwork from some of the best known and original artwork of children’s literature including Beatrix Potter, AA Milne and JK Rowling. Barney Battles, Managing Partner of Balgownie Ventures said “this is a great opportunity to extend our range of digital media investments and Storyboard Assets has a strong pedigree and excellent portfolio of classic artwork”.

November 2009 Balgownie Ventures Limited has successfully carried out another trade exit from a prominent interactive TV broadcast company with headquarters in Malta. Balgownie Ventures acted as lead advisor and director of this investment for over two years and achieved a significant exit multiple based on the network of opportunities created with Virgin Media TV and Mirada TV.

October 2009 Balgownie Ventures Limited announced today that it had taken a substantial equity stake in Star Temple Limited, a successful lifestyle phone services company with a profitable trading history over nine years. Balgownie Ventures will act as executive director and lead advisor of all growth opportunities across international TV rights, acquisition strategy and funding requirements.

June 2008: Premier teleshopping company, Diamond Counter Ltd. appoints Balgownie Ventures (“BV”) to support TV channel for 4Q’08. The “Diamond Counter” as seen on GMTV has appointed Balgownie Ventures to provide capital raising and production support to the new venture launching in late 2008. Mike Cater-Smith, Diamond Counter’s CEO and former ITV Director highlighted BV’s breadth of services as unrivalled in the UK. “No one else can deliver a credible business plan that secures investment then actually build the TV show!”

July 2008: UK’s leading media licensing company, Splash Consumer Products! Limited sells a strategic equity share to Balgownie Ventures (“BV”). Splash Consumer Products, owner and licensing agent to numerous children’s characters including “Little Monster” and “Boy & The Dinosaur” announced today that it had sold a significant equity stake of its company to Balgownie Ventures in return for a cash injection to support its recent win of a BBC Worldwide contract. BV will sit on the Board of Splash and provide strategic support to its existing management.

August 2008: Front Valley Laboratories Limited appoints Balgownie Ventures to provide capital raising services to the launch of a new technology company specialising in acupuncture devices that are NHS approved.