Business Overview

Our national investment team focuses on investing in UK private companies, typically with an enterprise value of up to £25 million, in transactions requiring £1 million to £10 million of equity finance. The team currently manages in excess of £145 million for a range of client funds, including seven VCTs, an investment trust, local authority pension funds, and two specialist funds dedicated to early stage investment.

The investment team has thirteen experienced executives who are responsible for new private company and AiM deal activity across our regional office network. Our executives provide a close, flexible and supportive partnership role, working with each management team to enhance and develop shareholder value.

Our Private Equity team also has a UK-wide strategic business partnership with Core Capital, aimed at leveraging the respective strengths of both businesses to provide the best possible shareholder returns, by working together on a formalised basis, sharing transactions and offering an integrated package of finance for fast growing SMEs.

Transaction Focus

The provision of equity funding for a range of private and public company transactions, including MBOs, expansion capital, replacement capital and acquisition finance, alongside investment in new and secondary AiM issues.

Investment Criteria

• An entrepreneurial and balanced management team, not overly dependent on one person.
• Products or services which address a defined market, and which are generating meaningful revenues.
• A credible marketing strategy capable of achieving planned growth.
• Where appropriate, intellectual property rights which are capable of being protected.
• The prospect of a significant multiple return on the initial investment.

Investment opportunities

There is limited availability for sophisticated investors and institutional clients to become co-investment partners in our private equity transactions, investing directly on a wholly discretionary deal-by-deal basis. It is also possible to gain access to our transactions through pooled funds, by buying VCT shares on the open market.

Please contact Steve Marshall, Sales and Marketing Manager, if these opportunities are of interest.