TELEPHONE
0207 329 4884
Stop Press
STOP PRESS - 30 September '11
The Treasury has confirmed that Angel investors in small businesses will receive a £100m tax break to back Britain’s growing companies, after Brussels cleared the Government to expand the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) by increasing the rate of tax relief available from 20pc to 30pc and doubling the annual investor limit to £1m... ...
Read Article >
STOP PRESS - 2 September '11
"To found a great empire for the sole purpose of raising up a people of customers may at first sight appear a project fit only for a nation of shopkeepers. It is, however, a project altogether unfit for a nation of shopkeepers; but extremely fit for a nation whose government is influenced by shopkeepers."- Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations Reviving the economy i...
Read Article >
STOP PRESS - 5 August '11
Whilst we regard raising funds for our clients as our measure of success, the real test of our client selection is a successful exit and return of capital and profit to investors. An experienced angel investor will base their requirement for returns on the basis that 5 or 6 of their investments will fail, 3 or 4 will become... ...
Read Article >
STOP PRESS - 14 July '11
The Government’s Plan for Growth, published alongside the Budget in March 2011, set out to achieve four overarching ambitions for the British economy, including making the UK the best place in Europe to start, finance and grow a business. A vital part of this is ensuring that smaller businesses in particular have access to a wide range of... ...
Read Article >
STOP PRESS - 22 June '11
Despite fierce competition from Royal Ascot, our London Investment Fair held last week proved to be one of our best yet in terms of the strong number of investors and their guests who visited us on the day and the high quality of companies presenting and looking for funding. Our selection process of taking on around 3% of the opportunities that are presented to us is key to this and we are acti...
Read Article >
STOP PRESS - 18 May '11
We were recently asked by journalists for a quote on the new series of The Apprentice which, this year, is offering £250,000 start up capital to the winner rather than an apprenticeship working for Alan Sugar. The general commentary by the press was that £250,000 is an extraordinarily high amount for a new business. Whilst we believe that companies should... ...
Read Article >
STOP PRESS - 19 April '11
With the extended Easter break coming up, we thought we would take the opportunity to show you our new clients who are seeking funding. The recent Budget certainly stimulated interest from companies seeking funding and in the first two weeks of April new instructions are double recent levels. Whilst we continue to maintain a... ...
Read Article >
STOP PRESS - 31 March '11
Current Market Conditions and the Budget There are always more reasons not to invest than to invest. Over the last 3 months tsunamis, earthquakes, floods and political unrest in North Africa and the Middle East have combined with a still struggling economy to create a level of uncertainty, which makes investors very... ...
Read Article >
STOP PRESS - 18 March '11
Our London Investment Fair held last week proved to be one of our best yet. The companies exhibiting were of a very high standard with hundreds of investor meetings held and more follow-up meetings being arranged. Our selection process of taking on around 3% of the opportunities that are presented... ...
Read Article >
STOP PRESS - 4 March '11
'Face to Face Investment' - There is no doubt that meeting entrepreneurs face to face is the best way for investors to get a genuine feel for the management team and the investment opportunity. This month we have... Click here to read full Stop Press...
Read Article >
STOP PRESS - 17 February '11
Our Investment Fair in March is set to be another success with many companies already signed up. We still have some places available, click here for more information. If you are one of our registered investors and haven’t confirmed your attendance yet, then click here to do so. A l...
Read Article >
STOP PRESS - 7 February '11
A new year and a new format for our Stop Press. Our reputation in the Business Angel market seems to be that we offer the best deals in a no frills way. We remain dedicated to ensuring that the quality of deals we present to you remains high but thought it about time that we refreshed our presentation of these opportunities to you... ...
Read Article >
STOP PRESS - 17 December '10
Our final Stop Press for 2010 contains opportunities to invest in five very different companies – an indoor ski and snowboarding centre, a diagnostics company with plans to float in 2012, a gaming app for smart phones, conversion of waste plastics back to diesel and an event staging company. We’re sure that these will provide an aid to your digestion over the festive period.Our ...
Read Article >
STOP PRESS - 1 December '10
There is no doubt that early-stage companies are continuing to struggle in their search for development capital. Bank lending remains scarce and does not look set to improve in the New Year, and yet even before the effects of the Credit Crunch were first felt, unsecured debt was not readily available to early stage companies.Business angels are emerging as the most attractive source...
Read Article >
STOP PRESS - 12 November '10
The Government has now published its underwhelming response to the green paper on financing a private sector recovery- disappointing if they want private enterprise to lead a recovery and obviously no understanding that many of today’s powerhouses like Google, Facebook, Vodafone and Skype etc were funded by business angels at the start.The response covering Business Angel Investme...
Read Article >
STOP PRESS - 22 October '10
As the recession lingers on and tentative small business owners bed down for another winter of inactivity, discerning entrepreneurs are seizing the opportunity to expand, while their competitors are sleeping. Recession has long been a breeding ground for innovation, providing opportunities for the most enterprising individuals. Set apart by their creativity, confidence and foresight, and ...
Read Article >
STOP PRESS - 15 September '10
There is a growing trend amongst US business angels to offer start-up companies convertible loans instead of providing first-round equity funding. UK business angels investing in pre-revenue companies are also offering finance in the form of convertible loan stock, although the trend is less significant than it is in the US.That ...
Read Article >
STOP PRESS - 20 August '10
The Government (HM treasury and BIS) launched a new Green Paper at the end of July “Financing a Private Sector Recovery”. The paper seeks to support a recovery, led by sustained expansion of the private sector and explores a broad range of options to support business stability and growth to enable access to a more diverse range of sources of finance. It includes a strong emphasis on in...
Read Article >
STOP PRESS - 2 July '10
The Budget, bad news as it was generally, did provide a very clear signal that this Government is intending to encourage support for new business entrepreneurs and investment generally and specifically through Entrepreneurs Relief and retention of EIS, whilst cutting the waste of £2bn on Regional Development Agencies and £190m on Business Link.The expectation that Business Link an...
Read Article >
STOP PRESS - 16 June '10
Despite a UK national budget looming up and with expectations of an ill thought through increase in capital gains tax, we have seen an increase in confidence levels since October 2009 by both entrepreneurs who judge the timing right to establish or expand their businesses and from investors interested in investing. However we are experiencing...
Read Article >
STOP PRESS 26 MAY '10
Are we alone in wondering why there hasn't been an outcry or press coverage regarding the proposed changes to capital gains tax? Headlines suggest that CGT will increase from 18% to 40% or even 50% which with reduction to annual exemption, no taper relief or indexation takes us back to a level at which investing (of taxed income) becomes very unattractive. Whilst we all await confirmation of th...
Read Article >
STOP PRESS 26 APR '10
Luke Johnson supports Small Business Britain through Beer & PartnersStrategic investment allows serial entrepreneur to tap into early stage companiesWe are delighted to announce that Luke Johnson, columnist for the FT and former chairman of Channel 4, has become...
Read Article >
STOP PRESS 1 APR '10
Nearly every business plan we review (now over 3,000 per year) starts off with a plan to exit by floatation or trade sale within 3 years. We all know practically that this is likely to be 4-7 years and nearly always a trade sale. Therefore it is inevitable with early stage investments that news regarding successful exits take a long time to report...
Read Article >
STOP PRESS - 24 Mar '10
Despite a UK national budget looming up, recent scare stories of an increase in capital gains tax and an election on the horizon, (with little hope of an enlightened tax regime coming into play whichever party wins the election) we have seen an increase in confidence levels since October 2009 by both entrepreneurs who judge the timing r...
Read Article >
STOP PRESS - 10 Mar '10
Given that the 5th April is looming up and next year promises only tax increases, this week’s preamble focuses on the Enterprise Investment Scheme. EIS has brought substantial advantage to British businesses over many years and is only now beginning to be copied by other countries. In April 2009 EC approval for State Aid under EIS an...
Read Article >
STOP PRESS - 17 Feb '10
Whilst the economic outlook remains patchy and uncertain we have experienced a substantial increase in activity in business angel funding over the last 3 months with levels of funding returning to those of early 2008 and confidence returning to companies seeking funding to expand or develop their businesses.Our new series of ...
Read Article >
STOP PRESS - 22 Jan '10
Stop Press 22 January 2010: There is no doubt that 2009 was a very difficult year for many business with a desperate shortage of available capital to enable them to ride the storm or capitalise on the opportunities to expand into areas left vacant by less able businesses. Beer & Partners experience during 2009 was that invest...
Read Article >
STOP PRESS - 11 Dec 09
Lord Sugar has received quite a lot of flack in the press after suggesting that small businesses should not expect a blank cheque simply for coming up with a good idea and that some firms would not succeed even in the best of times. I accept that calling them moaners who live in Disney World may not have the right ring from a Government stance supposedly encouraging new businesses but it does i...
Read Article >
STOP PRESS - 27 Nov 09
Brokers seem to be gearing up with high expectations for a raft of IPO’s expected to come to AIM and PLUS markets in the first quarter of 2010. Sentiment seems to be that investor appetite is returning for small quoted companies as investors search for decent returns. We’re a little sceptical about this as many of the funds we are in con...
Read Article >
STOP PRESS - 6 Nov 09
The growing appetite for direct investment as part of a wealth portfolio was confirmed at our 20th London Investment Fair on 3 November. During the day over 125 investors came to our fair to meet the 30 fund seekers presenting a wide variety of funding opportunities in new and expanding innovative companies. Feedback was encouraging with comments of “best yet”, “the atmosphere is really b...
Read Article >
STOP PRESS - 8 Oct 09
Our 20th London Investment Fair will take place on Tuesday 3rd November at Mark Masons' Hall in the West End. Now entering its 10th year this event attracts up to one hundred and fifty private investors with a typical third of exhibiting companies successfully raising capital from the day. Only 30 places a...
Read Article >
STOP PRESS - 10 Sept 09
Recent additions to our team of associates are James Leay who has recently joined us in an Investor Relations capacity and as a London Associate, and new associate Martin Hogbin in the South East. ...
Read Article >
STOP PRESS - 18 Aug 2009
The Finance Act 2009 is changing the tax landscape and the biggest impact for certain taxpayers is the rise in the top rate of income tax to 50% from next April. The incentive to convert income into capital gains attracting CGT at 18% or zero if EIS qualified is therefore heightened. Investors are continuing to take advantage of the tax benefits of direct investment, and are increasingly becomi...
Read Article >
STOP PRESS - 16 Jul 2009
Almost every discussion I have about the UK economy inevitably turns to property, not least because nearly everyone owns one or more properties – which makes us all experts! The consensus seems to be that the residential market is now bumping along the bottom. The commercial market is less homogenous, but freehold properties with good quality tenants and 10 years or more on the lease are prov...
Read Article >
STOP PRESS - 16 Jun 2009
Whilst it is clear that the worst is not yet over, there are some indications that the recession may not be as prolonged or as hard as expected. Gordon Brown has taken a hammering from the British press for much derided policies which I confess I viewed as a re-branded and updated form of devaluation. Professor Paul Krugman, the respected economist (who won the 2008 Nobel pr...
Read Article >
STOP PRESS - 2 Jun 2009
ur recent London Investment Fair, held last week, proved to be one of our best yet in terms of the high quality of companies presenting and looking for funding and a record number of investors and their guests who visited us on the day. Our selection process of taking on around 3% of the opportunities that are presented to us is key to this and we are actively looking for more companies requiri...
Read Article >
STOP PRESS - 7 May 2009
We look forward to catching up with many of our registered investors at our 19th London Investment Fair next week on Wednesday 13 May. Despite (or perhaps because of) the current economic climate we expect attendance higher than last year given the number confirming interest so far. We even managed some small coverage in the FT Money section on 2 May under headline “Investors look to fund start ...
Read Article >
STOP PRESS - 20 April 2009
We have launched a new initiative aimed at those of you who would like to see opportunities with some pre-completed due diligence. We have teamed up with respected London law firm, Nabarro, for this proposal. The aim is to offer fund-seekers the opportunity to provide investors with pre-packed due diligence and lower legal fees on completion. You will start to s...
Read Article >
STOP PRESS - 1 April 2009
After (for us) a relatively quiet start to the year, March has been an exciting month for us with: * Five projects attracting investments totaling £1.3m during the month. * The first funding round of the Beer & Partners EIS Scheme closing. * A record high of new clients taken on seeking funding. Since the turn of the year we have welcomed over 50 new i...
Read Article >
STOP PRESS - 19 March 2009
We continue to actively recruit new associates to strengthen our teams in London, the North and now Scotland, North East and Northern Ireland. If you know anyone who you feel may be interested and suitable please do ask them to get in touch with me at michaelweaver@beerandpartners.com. Recent additions to our teams across the countr...
Read Article >