What KVIKA SECURITIES does

Kvika Limited is a UK-incorporated private subsidiary of Icelandic commercial bank Kvika banki hf. (Nasdaq Iceland Main Market), operating from a single office in London under the trading name "Kvika UK." The firm provides three integrated lines of business to UK lower mid-market companies: (i) Private Equity, deploying £5m–£30m into companies with £1–10m EBITDA for influential minority or majority stakes; (ii) Corporate Finance advisory covering acquisitions, divestments, mergers, financing, and financial restructuring; and (iii) Lending, delivered through majority-owned subsidiary Ortus Secured Finance, which originates non-regulated property-backed short-term residential and commercial loans across the UK. The firm is FCA-authorised (FRN: 538806) as an Alternative Investment Fund Manager.

The business model is relationship-driven and bespoke rather than technology-mediated. Kvika generates revenue from three streams: recurring management fees and performance carry on its private equity investments (with disclosed portfolio companies spanning fashion, healthcare and consumer brands such as Disturbia, Cornerstone Healthcare Group, Acorns Health Care and Refined Brands), transaction-based corporate finance advisory fees tied to completed M&A and restructuring mandates, and transaction-based interest/fees from Ortus Secured Finance's loan book. There is no proprietary technology platform; distribution is direct via senior banker outreach, professional referrals, and the firm's LinkedIn and corporate website presence.

The team is small (11–50 employees) and led by CEO Richard Beenstock (appointed December 2023, former co-founder and CEO of Ortus Secured Finance), supported by COO Iris Arna Johannsdottir, Chief Economist Hafsteinn Hauksson, Senior Director Andri Gunnarsson, and a recently expanded finance and operations function. Strategic positioning leans on the operational and entrepreneurial background of its senior staff, the credibility of its Nasdaq-listed Icelandic parent, and FCA-regulated fund-management status obtained in January 2019.

Name

KVIKA SECURITIES

Legal name

Kvika Limited

Website

https://kvika.co.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kvika Limited is the UK subsidiary of Icelandic bank Kvika banki hf., providing £5m–£30m private equity investments, corporate finance advisory, and property-backed lending (via Ortus Secured Finance) to UK lower mid-market companies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Investment Banking and Private Equity Advisory

NAICS

Real Estate Credit (522292), Other Financial Vehicles (525990)

SIC

Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211)

akta.pro primary industry

SBIC Venture Debt Funds (FSANAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Financial Planning & Analysis Support (Budgeting, Forecasting, Management Reporting) (BPAAAGAJ)

Keywords

• Private equity investment
• Corporate finance advisory
• Secured property lending
• Mid-market investment
• Alternative investment funds

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Private Equity Fund Management: Generates returns through management fees and carried interest (performance fees) from private equity investments in UK lower mid-market companies. Invests £5-30m per transaction in exchange for influential minority or majority stakes.
2. Corporate Finance Advisory: Advisory fees for acquisitions, divestments, mergers, financing and restructuring transactions. Provides independent advice with fees typically tied to transaction completion.
3. Lending (via Ortus Secured Finance): Property-backed loan origination through subsidiary Ortus Secured Finance, providing short-term residential and commercial loans throughout the UK.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Kvika Limited (formerly Kvika Securities Ltd) is the UK subsidiary of Kvika banki hf., providing bespoke equity and debt solutions to UK lower mid-market companies through three core lines: Private Equity investments of £5M–£30M, Corporate Finance advisory for acquisitions, divestments, mergers, financing and restructuring, and non-regulated property-backed lending via its Ortus Secured Finance subsidiary.

Product overview

Kvika provides bespoke equity and debt solutions to lower mid-market companies and investors in the UK. The offering consists of three core services: Private Equity (investing £5M-£30M in UK lower mid-market companies through strategic majority or minority partnerships), Corporate Finance (advisory services for acquisitions, divestments, mergers, financing, and restructuring), and Lending through Ortus Secured Finance (non-regulated property-backed loans). The portfolio includes investments in fashion (Disturbia, Refined Brands), healthcare (Cornerstone Healthcare Group, Acorns Health Care), and other sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ortus Secured Finance: Non-regulated property-backed lending platform providing short-term residential and commercial loans across the UK, offering flexible solutions beyond rigid lending criteria.

Products and services

• Private Equity Invests £5M–£30M in UK lower mid-market companies across various sectors, fostering growth, consolidation, and industry leadership through strategic majority or minority partnerships. Targets companies with £1–10M EBITDA.
• Corporate Finance Advisory Provides value-added advisory services for acquisitions, divestments, mergers, financing, and financial restructuring, including debt and capital advisory covering bank, bond, alternative and structured finance, leveraged buy-outs, and restructuring advisory.
• Ortus Secured Finance Lending Through subsidiary Ortus Secured Finance, provides non-regulated property-backed loans across the UK, offering short-term residential and commercial financing solutions beyond rigid lending criteria.

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• UNICEF IcelandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 August 2021Two-year partnership agreement renewed between UNICEF Iceland and Kvika banki. This corporate partnership has become one of the most successful in Iceland's banking sector. Kvika has been the main partner of UNICEF Iceland in the banking sector since 2011 and is also a distinct Patron of Global Parents.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Beechbrook Capital: Specialist UK lower-mid-market PE firm focused on control buyouts and growth investments. Comparable in target deal size (£5–30M equity range) and SME focus.
• Inflexion Private Equity: UK mid-market PE firm with buyout and growth funds operating across sectors. Comparable in deal-size range and UK lower-mid-market activity, though typically at the upper end.
• Connection Capital: UK private investment firm focused on lower-mid-market direct equity and debt. Directly comparable in offering flexible capital structures to UK SMEs and entrepreneurs.
• LDC (Lloyds Development Capital): Bank-backed UK mid-market PE firm (Lloyds Banking Group subsidiary) investing in established SMEs. Highly comparable parent-bank backing structure and UK lower-mid-market focus.
• YFM Equity Partners: Long-established UK SME and lower-mid-market PE manager with multiple regional funds. Directly comparable investment size, regional UK footprint, and growth-capital orientation.
• Palatine Private Equity: Manchester-based UK mid-market PE firm investing £10–£100M in management buyouts and growth deals. Comparable in mid-market focus and partnership-driven investment approach.
• Clearwater Corporate Finance: Independent UK and European corporate finance advisor focused on mid-market M&A. Directly comparable to Kvika's Corporate Finance advisory service line in deal size and target clients.
• Maven Capital Partners: UK-focused private equity firm investing in lower-mid-market companies across regions and sectors, with a strong regional office network. Closely comparable to Kvika Limited in target deal size, sector breadth, and partnership-driven model.

Broad incumbents

• Foresight Group: Larger, publicly listed UK investment manager with PE, infrastructure, and fund-of-funds capabilities. Operates in overlapping UK lower-mid-market PE space but with a much broader mandate.

Emerging players

• Together Money: UK specialist lender offering property-secured short-term and bridging finance. Directly comparable to the Ortus Secured Finance lending arm in product type and target borrower segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kvika-securities-ltd

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about KVIKA SECURITIES