BGF opens Cork office as it eyes equity investment opportunities in Munster

Thursday 20^th February 2020. Ireland’s largest growth capital investor, BGF has opened an office in Lapps Quay in Cork as it eyes opportunities to invest in businesses in Munster. BGF has over €250 million to invest in Irish businesses to support growth. BGF is supported by the main Irish banks (AIB, Bank of Ireland and Ulster Bank) and the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF). The company hosted a lunch today (Thurs) in the Hayfield Manor which was attended by leading business figures from across Munster as well as senior representatives from BGF and its shareholders. 

BGF was first established in the UK in 2011 and it set up in Ireland in late 2017. Last year (2019) the company completed three investments in Irish businesses which saw a total of €20m invested in Brindley Healthcare (a leading nursing home group), Winterbrook (a long established house builder) and Team Accessories Limited (a specialist aerospace engineering business). The company is currently in discussions with a number of companies in the Munster region with an eye to investment. BGF makes equity investments of between €1 million and €10 million, with further funding available to investee companies. 

Speaking today in Cork Stephen Welton, CEO and Founder of BGF, said; “Our business in Ireland has made huge progress over the past two years and we are delighted now to open a second office here in Cork. The Munster region has some outstanding companies and we are able to support them to achieve their growth ambitions.”

Leo Casey, Head of BGF in Ireland said: “We plan to open a number of offices around the country and Cork was the perfect location for our second opening. We have a strong Cork presence on our Irish team and everyone knows that the city and region have a thriving business community. We look forward to investing in some of the region’s most exciting businesses.”