ONLINE marketing network buy.at has secured its future growth following a £7.3m boost from investment firm Cazenove Private Equity (CPE).

The Newcastle company was launched in 2002 by Perfiliate Technologies Limited and has expanded to provide marketing solutions for clients including AA, BT, Lloyds TSB and Sky.

Steve Brown, chief executive of buy.at, said: "The investment from CPE is a huge milestone for buy.at allowing us to maintain strong growth for the buy.at network and gain an ever-increasing foothold in the market place."

CPE specialises in investing in up-and-coming firms in the UK and European technology, media and telecoms sectors.

Investment executive Nic Brisbourne said: "buy.at is the best- performing UK company in what is undoubtedly a very hot market."

Bruce McLaren, who successfully led Advertising.com as international chief executive to a successful sale to AOL Time Warner, has joined buy.at as non-executive chairman