Appointment of new Group Chief Financial Officer

RNS Number : 5508Y

Forward Partners Group PLC

17 January 2022

 

17th January 2022

Forward Partners Group plc

("Forward Partners", the "Company" or the "Group")

Appointment of new Group Chief Financial Officer

Forward Partners, the London-based investment firm listed on AIM, today announces the appointment of Lloyd Smith as Chief Financial Officer with effect from 21 March 2022.

Lloyd joins from the ATI Group, a provider of legal technology, software and information services, where he held the position of Chief Financial Officer at several of its UK and Ireland businesses. Prior to joining ATI, he spent five years in audit at EY and four years in PwC's Deals Team working with a mix of private equity firms, AIM-listed businesses, banks and other private companies.

Matthew Bradley, Forward Partners' current Chief Financial Officer and Chief Investment Officer, will be leaving the Company in June.

Nic Brisbourne, CEO, said: "We're delighted to welcome Lloyd to the Forward Partners family. He brings a deep experience of venture scaling from his time at ATI and a strong practice background from two of the big four accountancy firms. I look forward to working with him as we grow the Group.

"Matt has been a fantastic colleague for over seven years, almost from the start of our journey as a fund, and through to our successful IPO last summer. I would like to thank him for everything he has done for the business, both as CFO and leading the investment team. On behalf of everyone at the Company, we wish him every success in the future."

Matt Bradley added: "Forward Partners has an exciting future ahead and a unique place in the venture capital landscape. It has a rare public listing, making venture capital accessible to everyone, and unlike most other VCs firms, it offers early-stage start-ups much more than just money. It was a great pleasure to help grow the portfolio and build the business for over seven years. Taking the Group through to IPO was a highlight and I wish the brilliant Forward Partners team every success in the future."

The Company expects to provide an update on trading in the second half of FY21 and outturn for the year, including progress within the existing portfolio and several new investments, in the second half of February.

As required under Schedule Two, paragraph (g) of the AIM Rules for Companies, further disclosures on Mr Smith are as follows:

Lloyd Smith, aged 39, has held the following directorships and/or partnerships in the past five years:

Current directorships and/or partnerships:	Past directorships and/or partnerships:
Practice Evolve UK Limited	P O Property Company Limited

There is no further information on Mr Smith required to be disclosed under Schedule Two, paragraph (g) of the AIM Rules for Companies.

Ends

Enquiries

FORWARD PARTNERS GROUP PLC	Via Maitland/AMO
Nic Brisbourne, Chief Executive Officer

Liberum Capital Limited
(Nominated Adviser and Broker)	Tel: [phone]
Neil Patel
Lauren Kettle
Edward Phillips
Cara Murphy

Maitland/AMO (Financial PR)
Sam Turvey Kate Pledger	Tel: [phone] or [e-mail]

About Forward Partners

Founded in 2013, Forward Partners is an established and respected London-based investor, specialising in supporting high growth, early-stage technology businesses.

The Group brings together venture capital provider Forward Ventures, equity-free revenue-based financing through Forward Advances and highly specialised growth support from Forward Studio. This model supports founders to build stronger businesses faster to provide better outcomes for companies and investors alike.

The Group makes equity investments in early-stage, high growth UK companies, and from inception to its admission to London's AIM market in July 2021 had made over 60 unique investments and built a portfolio with an Initial Portfolio NAV in excess of £100m. It holds an eight-year track record of making venture capital investments, and targets underlying NAV growth of 20% per annum over the cycle.

The management team brings together highly experienced venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, and expert consultants. Since 2015, Forward Partners has been backed by BlackRock, one of the largest institutional investors in the world. The Group receives over 4,000 start-up funding applications every year.

For more information, visit https://forwardpartners.com .

 

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