An investor with IMPACT
Mercia was founded with the intention of addressing the regional funding gap and making a change in the British regions. When we began in 2010, 60% of all investments into the UK were made in London. Since then, the regional funding gap has only broadened – now, over 70% of all investments into the UK are made in London. Our aim as an asset manager is to establish some much-needed balance.
IMPACT: A step further than responsibility
Hundreds of new responsible investment funds come to market each year, but in terms of actively making a positive difference, they are not as effective as an impact fund. Investing in responsible businesses means investing in businesses which aim to do no harm. In contrast, impact businesses aim to provide solutions.
To make sure that our investments are effective and align with our mission, we’ll judge their qualitative and quantitative impact in three main ways:
1.
In relation to our three guiding principles that we developed from the UN’s sustainable development goals;
2.
By initially referencing our portfolio against the IRIS+ system (developed by the Global Impact Investing Network) for measuring, managing, and optimising impact;
3.
With our own approach to measurement, which we’ll refine in line with industry standards as recognition of impact develops in the year’s ahead.
Claim up to 30% income tax relief
This Fund is HMRC approved and closes on 4 April 2022. Unlike with our standard EIS funds, which are unapproved, you can claim up to 30% income tax relief on EIS investments in the year they are invested or carry back to the tax year 2020/2021. For further details on the tax advantages of this fund please download our investment documents.
Our three guiding principles
Sustainable economic growth
- Provide support for entrepreneurship and SME growth
- Support and promote job creation and talent development
- Focus on technological innovation
Reducing inequalities within our communities
- Reduce inequalities across the UK and within UK regions
- Empower and promote diversity and inclusion
Health & wellbeing for all
- Promote health and well-being
- Support R&D of effective and essential treatments and other healthcare services
These principles were our jumping-off point to define the three investment areas we’ll focus on for this fund:
Expected returns and tax advantages
This fund does more than provide financial returns; you’ll be a part of the solution to pressing societal and environmental challenges. Everything we raise toward this fund will be used to grow innovative businesses that resolve pressing social concerns.
Expected returns of 3x in 5-7 years (including
tax relief)
Significant tax advantages for eligible investors
The ability to invest more than you can in other EIS fundsHow knowledge-intensive investment benefits investors and businesses
Our KI Impact EIS
Mercia has a rich legacy of knowledge-intensive investment. When we’ve surveyed our portfolio businesses, we found that many of them could qualify as knowledge-intensive. We were motivated to develop this fund, in part, because of our successful track-record with knowledge-intensive businesses in sectors like Life Sciences, Clean Technology, and Software.
Download our investment documents
Download our investment documents, including our IM and KID to the read full details of our knowledge-intensive impact fund.
The IM brochure explores our impact fund in greater detail, how we measure impact, key features and differences with our other funds, expected returns and tax advantages. Our application details will also be included in this download.
Investments made by the Fund should be regarded as being of a long-term and illiquid nature, of significant and high-risk. Please read the full risk warnings in the documentation before applying.