Stakes in the owner of Bolton Wanderers, an online bookmaker and the Black Sheep Coffee chain have been snapped up by the UK taxpayer, it has been confirmed.
The British Business Bank has published a list of a further 108 companies in which the Government's Future Fund has invested in as of December 31, 2021.
The additional firms brings the total number of businesses backed by the fund to 265.
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Launched on May 20, 2020, and open for applications until January 31, 2021, the Future Fund issued 1,190 companies with convertible loan agreements a total of worth £1.14bn. Third-party investors were required to at least match the Future Fund’s investment.
Football Ventures (Whites), which took over Bolton Wanderers in August 2019, is among those companies included in the new list as well as Big Wave Brands, which makes a vegan pineapple and chilli infused spirit and private luxury villas company Edge Retreats.
Conilon, which is behind the Black Sheep Coffee chain also used the fund alongside low-calorie soft-drink maker Punchy Drinks.
Also on the list are Manchester-based Planks Clothing, a skiwear brand founded by former professional skier Jim Adlington and Magic Carpet AI, a developer of investment tools.
Other businesses include online bookmaker BetConnect, Evendo, an online social events marketing company and Glint Pay, a start-up that lets people buy and use gold for everyday spending.
Ken Cooper, managing director, venture solutions, British Business Bank said: "The Future Fund was created to increase the flow of capital to innovative companies at the height of the pandemic, while ensuring long-term value for the UK taxpayer.
"We’re delighted to see so many companies already going on to raise further private sector capital.
"As a shareholder in so many promising businesses, the Future Fund is well positioned to share in the benefits of their continued growth."
