Mercia has been named as one of Europe’s top seven venture capital investors in terms of the number of domestic deals it has funded in recent years.
New research by the financial data company PitchBook shows that during the period from 2018 to the end of the first quarter this year, Mercia made 251 VC investments and completed 41 exits.
Mercia was ranked in seventh place in the list. It was one of only three UK investors to make the European top ten – with the others being SFC Capital of Norwich and London-based Seedcamp – but was the only UK investor able to provide a wide range of funding through to Series A and beyond.
The figures cover VC investments in domestic deals. According to PitchBook, foreign VCs have been very active in Europe but as the downturn his hit, their activity has slowed, leaving a bigger gap for domestic investors to plug.
Julian Viggars (pictured), Chief Investment Officer at Mercia, says: “We are delighted to be named as one of Europe’s most active VC domestic investors. Mercia focuses exclusively on the UK, in particular the regions outside London. Our success is not only due to the quality of our portfolio, but also the ongoing support we provide.
“Through our ‘Complete Connected Capital’ model, we offer different pools of funding to take a business from inception through to scale up and profitability, as well as practical help such as leadership training and access to a talent pool of non-executive directors.
“As our businesses grow, they go on to create jobs within their communities. Mercia’s experience proves that the UK regions can deliver world-class companies, as well as boosting local economies and delivering strong returns for investors.”