Quantum technology developer M Squared has raised 拢32.5m as it expands its backers to support its growth and technology developments.
Santander UK will provide a 拢20m debt facility, allowing M Squared鈥檚 founders and management team, led by Dr Graeme Malcolm OBE, to fund the acquisition of the substantial part of BGF鈥檚 current shareholding along with fuelling the next stage in business and technological growth.
BGF will realise the majority of its existing shareholding in M Squared, but will continue to retain a meaningful stake going forward having first invested in the business in 2012 as a long-term partner.
The newly formed Scottish National Investment Bank will also support M Squared with 拢12.5m of growth capital, its first investment.
M Squared鈥檚 light-based technologies, which are used in collaboration with Nobel Prize-winning scientists, top universities and manufacturers, are hoped to address challenges in fields as diverse as climate change, healthcare, quantum computing and virtual reality.
The Glasgow-headquartered firm has offices London, Surrey and the USA.
Earlier this month M Squared was listed as one of聽 nine major organisations from the UK鈥檚 quantum industry to launch DISCOVERY 鈥� the largest industry-led quantum computing project in Britain to date.
Dr Graeme Malcolm OBE, Founder & CEO of M Squared, said: 鈥淢 Squared makes the world’s purest light – technology that has transformative, real-world, applications that can take on the climate emergency, greatly improve biomedical imaging, realise the next evolution of semiconductors, and now truly unlock the coming quantum age.
鈥淪cotland is at the heart of the UK鈥檚 advanced science and technology sectors and sitting alongside world-leading universities and commercial partners 鈥� it has become a critical hub of excellence from which we can continue expanding globally.
鈥淥ur commercial and technological potential is enormous and with this transaction we have the ideal financial and structural platform to progress and realise substantial growth and launch major new developments. We are delighted to now be working with both Santander UK and the Scottish National Investment Bank, alongside continued support from BGF, on funding a shared goal to innovate and scale.鈥�
Patrick Graham Head of BGF for Central Scotland and Northern Ireland said: 鈥淢 Squared, one of BGF鈥檚 first investments, received 拢6.4m across three rounds of funding over the course of the past eight years.
“The company has grown ten-fold since, crystalising a strong return for BGF. Our long-term view on investment and supporting growth via follow-on funding can provide a strong platform for businesses like M Squared to realise their full potential.”