Bridges Ventures, the sustainable growth investor, has expanded its environment team with the appointment of Tom Fourcade as Investment Director.

Tom will be responsible for selecting and supporting new investments for the environment sector in the Bridges Venture Funds. The Funds invest capital in businesses across key themes with strong fundamentals including environment, education and training and health and well-being. These businesses have the potential to have real social or environmental impact which in turn drives superior financial returns.

Tom has almost 20 years operational experience, most recently as CEO of a biomass energy technology company and prior to that, CEO of a cleantech advisory business. He is an expert in the commercialisation of environmental technologies with a specific focus on waste recovery and renewable energy where he has been involved in building new businesses, commercialising new technologies and market development. Tom has a BSc Honours Degree in Applied Physical Sciences from Kingston University.

As Investment Director, Tom joins an existing environment sector team of Philip Newborough, Chief Executive and founder of Bridges Ventures, and Maggie Loo, Associate. The growing imperative for rapid decarbonisation and pressure on natural resources is increasing demand for companies that can deliver more sustainable and efficient technological solutions. The team has a track record of building and working with businesses in the sector to design and develop growth strategies at every stage from concept through to exit.

As well as selecting new investments, the team support existing investments such as AeroThermal Group Ltd and The TEG Group PLC.

AeroThermal offers an advanced anaerobic digestion waste treatment solution that delivers significant environmental benefits by diverting waste from landfill and enhancing the biogas energy recovery potential from waste. Bridges Ventures led a co-investment round of early stage financing to enable AeroThermal to build and develop its first commercial-scale autoclave-to- anaerobic digestion plant to treat and derive energy from mixed waste. TEG provides an in-vessel composting technology, which is one of the few approved technologies capable of treating animal by-product waste, and is now providing an anaerobic digestion technology to produce power from green waste.

Philip Newborough, Chief Executive of Bridges Ventures commented: “It gives me great pleasure to welcome Tom to the Bridges Ventures environment team. His appointment underscores our proven commitment to investing capital in key themes where underlying trends create a need for social and environmental change, generating clear commercial opportunities. Tom brings with him a wealth of experience working in environmentally sustainable businesses.

“I am delighted that since the launch of Bridges Venture Funds I and II in 2002 and 2006 respectively, the funds have continued to grow and make new investments, while attracting talented and experienced individuals.”

Tom Fourcade, Investment Director, said of his appointment:

“Pressure on resources and the impact of our lifestyles on the environment mean that society needs to do more with less. This is creating new global opportunities and demand for companies able to deliver environmental solutions and grow in a dynamic, emerging sector.

“I am excited to be joining the team at Bridges Ventures where my sector knowledge and experience will further strengthen the successful strategy of investing in ambitious environmental businesses.”

For further information please contact:

Claire Aslett / Hannah Randall Capital MSL 0207 207 5307 / 0207 255 5177 firstname.lastname@capitalmsl.com

About Bridges Ventures

Bridges Ventures is a sustainable growth investor established in 2002 with a mission to use its commercial expertise to achieve focused social or environmental benefit, as well as attractive returns for investors. Bridges Ventures has raised four funds to date which total £150m: Venture Funds I & II, the Bridges Sustainable Property Fund and the Bridges Social Entrepreneurs Fund.

The Bridges Venture Funds invest in businesses based in UK regeneration areas as well as businesses delivering social and environmental impact in education & training, environment and health & well-being. Bridges Venture Funds typically invest up to £10m at a time in ambitious, entrepreneurial businesses including early stage, growth capital and buyouts / buy ins.

For more information please go to www.bridgesventures.com