3i Group

Sectors:

  • Financial services Private equity / venture capital financing

Notes:

Traces origins to Industrial & Commercial Finance Corp [ICFC], established in 1945 by Bank of England with funding from commercial banks to provide long term investment finance to small and medium sized businesses. Lord Piercy and (Lord) John Kinross led business with distinction in early years. By 1950s largest provider of venture capital to unquoted UK companies. 1973 acquired Finance Corp for Industry, established in 1945 to provide long term finance to large companies, and renamed Finance for Industry. 1983 renamed Investors in Industry (3i). 3i Group established in 1987 when banks disposed of their shareholdings. 1994 floated as 3i Plc. Continues in 2010 as an internationally spread venture capital business

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