Publication of Brochure by the Northern VCTs
Northern Venture Trust PLC, Northern 2 VCT PLC and Northern 3 VCT PLC (known as the “Northern VCTs”) have published an offer document (“Offer Document”) to raise up to £30 million in the 2026/27 tax year (£10 million for each VCT) (“the Offers”).
The Offers will open to applications at 8.00am on 30 September 2026 and be dealt with on a “first-come, first-served” basis. In recognition of the loyalty of the Northern VCT shareholders, existing shareholders on the register of any of the Northern VCTs as at 10 June 2026, along with their spouse or civil partner, whose applications for shares in any of the Northern VCTs are accepted, will benefit from a reduction of 0.5% in the offer costs.
Mercia targets up to £500m for UK Real Estate Development Fund
Mercia Asset Management PLC is seeking commitments for up to £500million for its UK Real Estate Development Debt Fund, providing institutional investors with access to a specialist private credit strategy focused on UK industrial and logistics developments.
The fund will provide senior secured lending to experienced developers, with all investments benefiting from first-charge security and a disciplined underwriting framework.
The strategy is managed by Frontier Development Capital (FDC), part of Mercia Asset Management.
The Northern VCTs' summer newsletter
Stay informed on shareholder updates and key developments
Please find the latest Northern VCTs’ Newsletter: Explore our portfolio performance, new investments including exclusive interviews with portfolio CEOs sharing market insights and growth strategies.
Stay informed on shareholder updates and key developments.
Mercia announces its Annual Report & Accounts 2026
Mercia Asset Management PLC is pleased to announce the release of its Annual Report & Accounts 2026.
A trusted partner
At Mercia, we work closely with financial advisers to provide clients with tax-efficient investment strategies that support long-term growth and estate planning. Through our EIS and VCT funds we offer investors clear, dependable access to UK private markets.
We understand your need for trust, performance and transparency. That’s why we provide regular NAV updates, investor materials and co-branded resources to help you deliver with confidence.
What you can count on:
Established VCT expertise
One of the UK’s longest-standing VCT platforms
Tax-efficient investments
£400m+ under management across EIS and VCT
Compelling tax benefits
30% income tax relief, CGT deferral, IHT relief (EIS)
Built for advisers
Client-ready materials, regular reporting, adviser support
Case study highlight
In March of 2024, Mercia Ventures led a £8.5million fundraise into Edinburgh-based Wobble Genomics Ltd.
Wobble has found a way to detect previously invisible ‘full length’ RNA, and the technology could have wide-ranging applications, from drug development and research to agriculture and ecology.
To find out more, Mercia TV travelled across the border in July to speak to CEO and Founder Dr Richard Kuo. Richard explains more about this revolutionary technology that will play a massive role on the future of health care, biosecurity and biodiversity.
Mercia's sustainability strategy
Head of Institutional Distribution, Dean Heaney, and Sustainability Manager, Bansi Dhillon, chat about Mercia’s sustainability strategy, measurement frameworks and how Mercia implements these approaches across all the different asset classes.
Why Mercia?
We partner with leading institutional investors, pension funds and family offices to deploy capital into the UK regions with high-growth potential. Our model blends access to proprietary deal flow with active portfolio stewardship and a commitment to sustainability and responsible investing.
Mercia at a glance
- C.£2.0bn AuM
- Four investment strategies: Venture capital, private debt, private equity and property development finance
- 11 UK regional offices providing unique market access
- Backed by leading LPs including British Business Investments and UK pension funds
What we offer
Venture capital
Tax-efficient access to early-stage innovation.
Private debt
Senior and stretch senior lending to profitable UK SMEs, targeting double-digit IRRs.
Private equity
Growth capital for lower-mid market SMEs, with hands-on value creation.
Property development finance
Targeted capital for regeneration and development projects.
Market commentary & updates
UK Private Markets insights and news
Sustainability & stewardship
We integrate ESG performance monitoring across all investments and are targeting a Net Zero portfolio by 2050.