Fund managers

Mercia is a specialist asset manager focused on supporting regional SMEs to achieve their growth aspirations. We provide capital across four asset classes of balance sheet, venture, private equity and debt capital; the Group’s ‘Complete Capital Solution’.

Our EIS Funds, which are managed under Mercia Fund Management Limited, have an investment-led venture capital strategy, investing nationally with a focus on the underserved regions; specialising in the identification, creation, funding and scaling of innovative technology businesses with high growth potential, creating a strong investment proposition.

The Investment Team of industry specialists with venture capital expertise, works extensively with portfolio companies to scale each business with the aim of ultimately delivering shareholder returns.

Our vision is to be the first choice for investors, investees and employees and, by aspiring to be the first choice, we believe that Mercia will deliver superior returns for business owners, shareholders and fund investors alike.

Fund investors and intermediaries benefit from a diversified portfolio offering the tax advantages of EIS, detailed reporting with a strong focus on transparency to investors and their advisors, externally audited funds, and an experienced investment panel.

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We invest in seed and early stage companies from a range of different industries, with a particular focus on technology. Oxford Capital is one of the most experienced tax-efficient investment managers in the UK. Since pioneering the first EIS funds in 1999, Oxford Capital has been recognised multiple times as Best EIS Fund Manager. We have invested over £400m in small companies across the UK and are proud of partnering with some exceptional founders. Our current portfolio includes some well known brands such as Curve, Moneybox, Push Doctor, Spoke and more.  More information can be found at www.oxcp.com.

Par Equity is an Edinburgh-based venture capital boutique active across the United Kingdom. It invests in innovative small companies with high growth potential within a number of carefully selected sub-sectors, including software, medical devices, energy-efficient lighting and technical textiles. Although portfolio companies do include businesses serving consumer markets, Par Equity is particularly interested in business-to-business propositions. Investors include many individuals with directly relevant experience of the sub-sectors Par Equity invests in, providing a reserve of intellectual capital to be deployed alongside financial capital. Par Equity offers execution-only investment services to business angels as well as managing an evergreen EIS fund (the Par Syndicate EIS Fund) that invests alongside and on the same terms as business angels in SEIS and EIS-qualifying companies.

Parkwalk Advisors is one of the UK’s leading technology Enterprise Investment Scheme fund managers. Parkwalk invests in high growth, knowledge intensive companies seeking to develop and commercialise technology and innovation originating from UK universities, research intensive institutions and technology clusters.

Founded in 2009, Parkwalk has assets under management of over £160m and has backed over 85 companies. Parkwalk is now part of IP Group plc, a FTSE 250 company with a market capitalisation of £1.7bn and the UK’s leading developer of intellectual property-based businesses. IP Group has agreements with over 80% of the UK Russell Group Universities, including Oxford, Cambridge and Imperial.

The Parkwalk Opportunities EIS Fund is a growth-targeted investment fund providing investors access to a portfolio of knowledge intensive technology companies, an area the Government continues to support. Investors will get exposure to a range of investments from AIM listed to seed stage companies.

Parkwalk also manages a series of early-stage funds in conjunction with the technology transfer offices of the Universities of Cambridge, Oxford and Bristol.

Puma Investments is an award-winning investment manager, and a leading provider of growth capital to UK SMEs. We operate across the country from our offices in London, Liverpool and Edinburgh and are part of an organisation that raised its first private equity fund in 1996. Puma has raised over £400 million in tax efficient investments to date.

We are committed to supporting the growth of small and medium-sized businesses across all sectors and regions of the UK. We deliver investment from £2 million to £10 million to help companies achieve their ambitions.

Our investment provides more than capital – it provides partnership. By using our investment insight, multi-sector experience and extensive network, we aim to help accelerate the growth of our investee companies.

Puma Alpha EIS is an evergreen fund that is open to investors throughout the year. The Fund has four closings per year, typically in at the end of each calendar quarter. The Fund seeks to support the growth of
UK SMEs through backing exceptional management teams and aims to give investors exposure to the earnings of quality operating businesses.