Crescent Capital - Venture Capitalists in Belfast Northern Ireland

Crescent’s first fund of £14m (known as Hambro Northern Ireland Ventures LP) backed a total of twelve companies of which several have achieved significant capital growth for the fund’s investors.

Andor Technology, a spin out from Queen’s University was backed by Crescent in 1997 and went onto achieve a listing on the London Stock Exchange in 2004. It manufactures high end digital cameras for research and OEM customers throughout the world. Having already realised a considerable gain on this investment, the fund remains a major shareholder in Andor.

Balcas is Ireland’s largest sawmilling and wood fibre processing business. Following an investment by Crescent in 1999, Balcas has progressed to become a leading timber processor in the British Isles and the largest manufacturers of wood fuel pellets.

Lagan Technologies initially received investment from Crescent’s first fund in 2002 with follow on investments in 2003 (and again in 2005 from Crescent Capital II).

During this period, sales have grown from £1m per annum to over £10m per annum and Lagan has become a leading supplier of CRM software solutions to the public sector both here and in the US.

The first fund has now sold its investment in Lagan for an attractive premium to its cost and Crescent Capital II is already showing a gain on its investment.

UP Holdings, Fund I’s first investment failed to realise its potential in its original form as a manufacturer of PVC pipes and ducts. However, the business was restructured by the Crescent team and the former premises were renovated and rented out as industrial warehousing to third party tenants.

The premises were sold in April 06 to a property developer for a considerable premium to our original costs and the proceeds have now been distributed to investors.

Fund I still retains investments in a number of other companies including Heartsine Technologies in Belfast which manufacturers’ portable defibrillators, Amtec Medical which manufacturers DVT screeners and Toughglass Holdings in Kilkeel where value is expected to be realised in due course.

Crescent is the largest venture fund manager in Northern Ireland. It has he largest fund under management and it fields the most experienced team of investment professionals with a track record of investing successfully in the region.

The fund’s focus is investing in early stage and development capital investments in IT, manufacturing and tradeable services businesses that are either headquartered in Northern Ireland or have the majority of their operations there.

Opportunities to invest in a “Northern Ireland only” vehicle are very limited and by investing in Crescent Capital II LP, investors gain exposure to a balanced portfolio of emerging companies with potential for high growth throughout Northern Ireland.