Regulatory changes for non-advised EIS investors investing for the first time with Mercia EIS

Earlier this month, new rules were introduced by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), our regulator, which affect investments in private companies, including EIS.  VCTs are excluded from these regulations as they are more liquid. The FCA wants to introduce friction in the process of buying these types of investment in order to ensure investors have

Conscious leadership for exceptional teams

Former HR Director Natasha Wallace supports teams and leaders to optimise performance without compromising on wellbeing. Her business, the Conscious Leadership Company, seeks to help leaders to thrive in their roles using technology to continuously allow leaders to reflect and track how they feel so they can transform their leadership style. “Leaders who want to

Exit focus: get ready to create value

Nigel Owens, Mercia Portfolio Director; Sarah Williams, Mercia General Counsel and Company Secretary; and serial non-executive Frank Collins, sat down to discuss exits to trade or secondary buyouts. With a combined 59 years of exit expertise, our panel advised our guests at our Chair Summit 2022 on how businesses can best prepare for exit. Prepare

J-Flex launch ambitious plan to scale post-£250,000 investment

A Nottinghamshire-based rubber products manufacturer has reported sustained growth after receiving a £250,000 loan from NPIF – Mercia Debt Finance, which is managed by Mercia and is part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF). J-Flex provides innovative rubber solutions in over 50 global markets. It has expanded operations in sectors including electric vehicle manufacturing

More than responsible: Our Knowledge-intensive Impact Fund

Responsible investing is increasingly at the forefront of investors’ minds, and, while ESG provides the framework to support responsible investment, Mercia wanted to take this commitment further. Through a bespoke impact fund, Mercia is actively creating a strategy to support businesses that seek to create positive change and societal benefit. With this approach, Mercia is

The Manufacturing Renaissance: Spotlight on South Yorkshire

Sheffield Steel remains the international benchmark for quality, and South Yorkshire owes much of its pre-eminence as a metal manufacturing hub to its geology: iron ore and coal were mined from the hills surrounding the city, and nearby quarries provided the sandstone that allowed grindstones to sharpen blades. At the outset of the industrial revolution,

Dive in: Where Deep Tech has been – and where it’s going

Deep Tech is now a fashionable sector for investment. Since 2015, global investment in Deep Tech has increased 20% year-on-year[i]. This is not because the visionary ability of entrepreneurs has improved – there have always been big-picture thinkers – but the Deep Tech ecosystem around them has changed. Critical resources like financing, skilled workers and

A point of view – Dr Mark Payton

History often informs our actions. Today, we see many similarities with the 1970s – high inflation, energy price hikes, climbing interest rates pushing up national debt and full employment – albeit conceivably temporary in nature. With indicators pointing towards a sharp economic levelling with the real possibility of a near-term recession, regardless of whether you