11 June 2013
Envestors unveils growth strategy for its
North of England operations
Envestors Limited, the award-winning private investor network dedicated to helping investors source dynamic companies in need of growth capital, is pleased to announce the expansion and development of its offering in the North of England.
Envestors is a wholly owned subsidiary of Braveheart Investment Group plc (BRH), the AIM-listed investment management group specialising in venture capital investments and investment services to business angels, high net worth individuals, family offices and public sector organisations.
Having acquired the rights to operate Yorkshire Association of Business Angels (YABA), Envestors now combines the North West and Yorkshire offices to strengthen its national presence, enabling it to match an extended geographical network of private investor members to the best growth companies across the country.
The expansion and reorganisation will be led by Julie Brook, who has been appointed Regional Director North, responsible for the North West, Yorkshire, North East and Isle of Man. With a commercial background in the retail and food and beverage sectors, Mrs Brook also has links into corporate funding in the North of England.
Mrs Brook held senior positions at Yates Wine Lodges and HPJ Jewellers. She was Head of Brands at Greenalls Pubs and Restaurants and Senior Brand Manager at RHM Foods. Most recently Mrs Brook was Head of Marketing for the North West Fund, a £185 million European investment fund for SMEs. She is a coach for the Government's Growth Accelerator Programme for small businesses.
Based in the North West and leading a team of five people, Julie Brook will work closely with her Envestors colleagues in London and Yorkshire to seek to showcase the best high-growth companies nationally.
Scott Haughton, Director of Envestors said: "We are extending our well established offering in the North of England which includes presenting the best growth companies to investors in the South. Julie is the ideal person to lead this important initiative. We shall provide more information as we progress."
Julie Brook commented: "The North is home to some of the most promising SMEs in the UK, many of them below the radar, but there is also a clear need for equity finance. We shall use Envestors' experience in helping such businesses realise their aims, not least by matching them to new sources of funding."
Further information:
Braveheart Investment Group plc
Geoffrey Thomson, Chief Executive |
Tel: 01738 587555 |
Sanlam Securities UK Limited (Nominated Adviser and Broker to Braveheart)
Lindsay Mair Catherine Miles |
Tel: 020 7628 2200
|
Envestors Limited
Scott Haughton, Founder Director |
Tel: 020 7240 0202 |
Media enquiries:
Allerton Communications
Peter Curtain |
Tel: 020 3137 2500 |
Notes to Editors
Braveheart Investment Group plc
Braveheart provides financing and associated advisory services for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) as follows:
For the company looking to raise money, we provide:
· Equity capital. This form of financing is typically long term and is usually appropriate for fast growing businesses or early stage companies. We will consider equity financings where our individual investment, or the investment we arrange, would normally be a maximum of £2m although we are happy to participate in larger financings as part of a syndicate;
· Debt finance. Short to medium term and for companies with cash flow to service the loan. Our unit size for this type of finance is up £1m and we will usually provide junior debt which is unsecured but linked to an equity instrument;
· Corporate finance advice on all aspects of raising money, strategic development and corporate governance.
The money we invest comes from a variety of sources (see below) and is sometimes linked to particular geographical locations.
To the investor, we provide a one-stop shop service to those in one of the following groups who are looking for exposure to SME investments:
· High net worth (HNW) individuals looking to build tax efficient Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and Seed EIS portfolios;
· Family offices and private sector institutions;
· The Public sector.
Investors can choose between investment types ranging from self-build portfolios, to a full fund management service.
Envestors Limited
Envestors enables investors to source dynamic unquoted companies in need of growth capital. Comprising high net worth private investors, family offices, funds and venture capital sources, its network has helped over 65 companies raise in excess of £25 million, the majority of opportunities attracting taxation benefits under the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS).
Services to companies include intensive preparation for fundraising, initial due diligence and screening, facilitating corporate fundraisings through in-demand investor presentation events and face-to-face meetings with potential investors, and placing of non-executive talent.
Envestors was awarded the "Private Investor Network of the Year" at Investor Allstars in 2009 and again in 2011 and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Braveheart Investment Group plc.