14 April 2011
Braveheart Investment Group plc
Participation in £50m Business Angel Co-Investment Fund
Braveheart Investment Group (AIM: BRH) ('Braveheart' or the 'Group'), the AIM-listed specialist in growth capital investments for business angels, high net worth individuals and family offices, is to participate in a £50 million Business Angel Co-Investment Fund ('CoFund') to be established under the Regional Growth Fund.
Braveheart was one of five private sector participants that, working alongside Capital for Enterprise Ltd (CfEL), submitted the proposal to the Regional Growth Fund in January of this year. The CoFund is expected to closely mirror the structure of the Scottish Co-investment Fund which Braveheart helped set up in 2003 and in which it was one of the first private sector partners. The CoFund will be available to co-invest alongside approved business angel syndicates who invest their own money in qualifying deals. Braveheart and other founder participants will work alongside CfEL in developing the fund and providing advisory assistance.
Geoffrey Thomson, Chief Executive of Braveheart, said: "The Scottish Co-investment Fund provided a very important boost to the angel community when it was introduced in 2003. Whilst, at £50 million this new fund is relatively modest in size, I expect it will have a strongly positive impact on the English market and we are absolutely delighted that the Regional Growth Fund has seen fit to make such an award. We look forward to working with CfEL to make this fund a success thereby generating economic activity that will create employment and wealth for current and future generations in those areas of the UK that most need them."
For further information please visit:
www.braveheartinvestmentgroup.co.uk
http://www.capitalforenterprise.gov.uk/ukiif
Or contact:
Braveheart Investment Group plc |
Seymour Pierce |
Geoffrey Thomson, Chief Executive Tel: 01738 587555 |
John Cowie (Nominated Adviser) Jeremy Stephenson, Paul Jewell (Corporate Broking) Tel: 020 7107 8000 |
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Media inquiries |
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Allerton Communications (for Braveheart) Peter Curtain Tel: 020 3137 2500 |
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Notes to editors
Braveheart Investment Group makes and manages investments in young, emerging British companies, specialising in building tax-efficient portfolios for business angels, high net worth individuals and family offices. Braveheart was founded in 1997 by a small group of investors to encourage and syndicate investments in privately held companies that offered opportunities for significant growth. Fourteen years on, Braveheart is a public company with a demonstrable track record in early-stage technology investing, an established client base and offices in Perth, London and Yorkshire.
Investments are made in unlisted companies where there is potential for significant growth through successful commercialisation of IP. Through close relationships with leading universities and innovation centres, Braveheart has access to a wide variety of emerging commercial opportunities at early stages. There are currently some 45 companies in Braveheart's diverse portfolio (includes all companies where the Group has a financial interest) and it has completed more than 100 deals.
Following the 2010 acquisition of Envestors Ltd, the London based specialist corporate finance advisory business, Braveheart has greater geographical reach and offers a unique and comprehensive suite of tax-efficient products to high-net-worth investors.