Update - appointment to manage ?50m loan fund

RNS Number : 5640D

Braveheart Investment Group plc

18 May 2012

 



18 May 2012

Braveheart Investment Group plc (Braveheart or the Group)

WhiteRock Capital Partners established to manage Growth Loan Fund in Northern Ireland

Braveheart Investment Group plc (BRH), the AIM-listed investment management group specialising in venture capital investments and investment services to business angels, high net worth individuals, family offices and public sector organisations, provides a market update following its appointment to manage a £50 million Growth Loan Fund (the 'Fund') in Northern Ireland. The Fund has been established to support small to medium-sized enterprises ('SMEs') in the region.

As previously announced, Braveheart was awarded the contract as lead bidder of a consortium comprising itself, NEL Fund Managers Limited and Clarendon Fund Managers Limited. These parties have now established WhiteRock Capital Partners Limited ('WhiteRock') as their Northern Ireland operating company, and WhiteRock will act as Manager of the Fund.  Pending Whiterock's authorisation by the Financial Services Authority, the Fund will be managed by Braveheart Ventures Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Braveheart Investment Group plc.

Paul Millar has been appointed as Chief Investment Officer of WhiteRock with effect from 21 May.  A qualified Chartered Accountant, Mr Millar joins WhiteRock from Bank of Ireland, where he has worked since 2005 in a number of senior roles.  He was previously at Deloitte & Touche and KPMG. Progress is being made on the appointment of two investment managers who will join the team in the near term.   

The Fund will operate on a fully commercial basis and will provide loans of between £50,000 and £500,000 to SMEs. Invest Northern Ireland, the regional business development agency, has committed £25 million to the Fund, with the remainder being provided by the private sector.  Braveheart has agreed to provide £250,000 towards the private sector commitment (through the general partner to the fund). 

A marketing roadshow is scheduled to commence on 28 May 2012, in advance of the Fund being due to open for business on 1 June.  The intention is to make the first loans to SMEs by the end of July 2012. 

Geoffrey Thomson, Chief Executive of Braveheart, commented: "We have made considerable progress since announcing our involvement in the NI Growth Loan Fund on 29 February. The establishment of WhiteRock Capital Partners is a significant step and underpins our strong relationship with our two partners. In Paul Millar, WhiteRock has secured the services of a senior professional in the financial services sector with extensive experience in corporate lending,

"We look forward to launching the Fund and providing what we expect to be a valuable service to the Northern Ireland business community."

Further information:

Braveheart Investment Group plc

Geoffrey Thomson, Chief Executive [e-mail]

Tel: [phone]

Seymour Pierce Limited (Nominated Adviser)

Freddy Crossley Paul Jewell, David Banks (Corporate Broking)

Tel: [phone]

Merchant Securities Limited (Joint Broker)

Lindsay Mair Catherine Miles

Tel: [phone]

Media enquiries:

Allerton Communications

Peter Curtain [e-mail]

Tel: [phone]

Notes to Editors

Braveheart Investment Group makes and manages investments in young, emerging British companies, specialising in building portfolios for business angels, high net worth individuals, family offices and public sector organisations. Braveheart was founded in 1997 by a small group of investors to encourage and syndicate investments in privately held companies that offered opportunities for significant growth. Fifteen years on, Braveheart is a public company with a demonstrable track record in SME investing, an established client base and various funds under management.  The Group has offices in Perth, London, Yorkshire and Jersey, and franchises in Dubai and Manchester.

For more information: www.braveheartinvestmentgroup.co.uk 

 

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