• £2.8 million VCT investment to support innovation in audience engagement technology

• Established agency with blue chip client base, now set to expand international footprint with ambitious growth plan

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London, 26 January 2024: Foresight Group, the leading listed private equity and sustainable infrastructure investor, is backing growth at Live Group, an established and respected live event management company, with £2.8 million VCT funding to support its development of audience engagement technology.

Founded in 1975 and headquartered near London and with an office in Singapore, Live Group has a strong and diverse international blue chip client base combined with a long history of supporting all main UK Government departments.

The experienced management team comprises CEO Toby Lewis and Managing Director Stephen D Pickett, who head a team of more than 30 professionals. Live Group has a track record of excellent client service and innovation and offers live, virtual and hybrid events.

It has developed several technology based products to enable best-in-class audience engagement and stakeholder communications and integrates data insights to ensure that clients maximise their return on investment.

Live Group’s ‘Audience DNA’ is a profiling tool that enables the team and clients to understand the unique preferences, networking dynamics and learning styles of event attendees to foster personalised connections.

 

Hugh Minnock, Investment Director at Foresight, said: “Live Group is a well-established and respected events management company, and we look forward to supporting Toby and Stephen as they embark on the next stage of growth in the UK and internationally.

Live Group’s investment in and commitment to embracing technology is a clear differentiator and this funding will enable them to continue to innovate and deliver engaging and interactive events for their clients while also entering new geographical markets.”

Experienced marketer and Private Equity Chair, Jonathan Harman, and Foresight Investment Director, Hugh Minnock, will be joining Live Group’s board following the investment.

 

Toby Lewis, CEO of Live Group, shared his excitement: "We are thrilled to propel the rapid development of our digital engagement technologies. This latest investment marks a significant stride, providing our clients with enhanced empowerment. It ensures precise measurement of event spend and behavioural impact, allowing us to tailor a bespoke content journey for each individual rather than opting for a generic solution aimed at the entire audience."

 

Advisers:

Corporate finance advice was provided by Azets, while Shoosmiths and Charles Russell Speechlys provided legal advice. Commercial due diligence was provided by Whitecap Consulting, financial due diligence by Crowe, management due diligence by Catalysis, cyber due diligence by KryptoKloud, insurance due diligence by Vista Insurance and Technology due diligence by Cloud Origin. Brightbridge were recruitment partners.

 

ENDS

 

Notes to Editors

For more information contact:

Lucy Sherwood: marketing@foresightgroup.eu / +44 (0)20 3667 8100

Chris Barry: Barry@thisisinfluential.com / +44 (0)7733 103 693

About Foresight Group (“Foresight”)

For close to four decades, and through multiple economic cycles, Foresight has partnered with growth companies to achieve their ambitions, enable economies to thrive, and create the high-quality, sustainable jobs that will power tomorrow’s economy.

Across the UK and Ireland, Foresight’s Private Equity division supports companies with investments up to £10 million. Foresight Venture Capital invests into the most disruptive companies led by the most exciting entrepreneurs across deep tech, enterprise software and innovative technologies. Its Growth and Buyout team invests up to £10 million to support founders and management teams with their growth ambitions or to enable equity release, whilst its Private Credit team provides debt capital to alternative finance businesses that are providing bespoke financing solutions to sectors where traditional lenders are unable to support.

Located across the UK, Ireland, USA, UAE and Israel, Foresight’s Private Equity team combines its cross-sector expertise, international reach, and local and global connections, to provide operation insights, guidance and connections to the companies it supports. 

About Foresight Group Holdings Limited

Foresight Group was founded in 1984 and is a leading listed infrastructure and private equity investment manager. With a long-established focus on ESG and sustainability-led strategies, it aims to provide attractive returns to its institutional and private investors from hard-to-access private markets. Foresight manages over 400 infrastructure assets with a focus on solar and onshore wind assets, bioenergy and waste, as well as renewable energy enabling projects, energy efficiency management solutions, social and core infrastructure projects and sustainable forestry assets. Its private equity team manages eleven regionally focused investment funds across the UK and an SME impact fund supporting Irish SMEs. This team reviews over 3,000 business plans each year and currently supports more than 250 investments in SMEs. Foresight Capital Management manages four strategies across seven investment vehicles.

Foresight operates in eight countries across Europe, Australia and United States with AUM of £12.4 billion*. Foresight Group Holdings Limited listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange in February 2021 and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 index. https://www.foresightgroup.eu/shareholders

*Based on unaudited AUM as at 31 December 2023.