Becoming an AngelA number of our investors who bought into a company in 2005. These investors purchased shares at 51p and sold them in March 2010 for £7.50. These shares were purchased under the Enterprise Investment Scheme, and hence qualified for a basic tax rebate on their initial investment. The gains made are all tax free: a return of 19 times their investment and tax free.
Businesses We Have Invested In
Here are some of the businesses we have made investments in:
Visit Immunodiagnostic Systems Holdings PLC websiteCyclops UK Limited
In July 2005 ABA investors provided £105 000 investment in this company. The company researches, builds and maintains databases of safety camera sites across the world. They cover all types of systems, with over 60 000 camera sites exist in the live databases.
In maintaining the databases their field surveyors cover over 250 000 miles a year, and it is now one of the leading brands in their market. They have a close working relationship with Garmin. Innovation continues with the launch on 01/10/2010 of the world’s first “Intelligent Speed Camera App”. The app tells users whenever a mobile camera site is actually manned by a speed camera enforcement unit.
Turnover is growing steadily and the company is very profitable.
Perform Marketing Limited
A business with a turnover of under £50 000 based in London wished to acquire a business in the same sector, with turnover of over £1m, and which had an excellent strategic fit.
The vendors offered a period of exclusivity, and we helped find £630 000 of equity finance from a group of private investors plus two highly experienced non-executives with industry experience. The fund raising and take-over was completed in four months and one day.
The company is growing rapidly and has secured bank finance to fund ongoing growth.
Everyclick Limited
A search engine business based in the Midlands and with a charity based business model. We originaly found £22,500 from an Angel and £75,000 from an Early Growth Fund for an internet “Pay for Performance” charity marketing model.
The business is a technology company that has created more ways to give to all 200,000 UK charities. It was voted Website of the Year 2008, and a Tech Media Top 100 company in 2009.
Subsequently this business raised several million pounds from an institutional investor.
Wapple.net Limited
Our CLARET Syndicate invested in this business based in Worcestershire, which has revolutionary software for mobile telecoms particularly for advertising and marketing applications. We found the company the necessary funds to develop its business, plus two experienced non-executives – one of whom was an ex-Microsoft senior executive.
The company has won major brands including Vodafone and Intel, and is poised for rapid growth in both the UK and USA.
Trust Health
Trust Health offers an effective and bespoke practice management service.
Successfully managing the business is crucial to a practice’s profitability, growth and long term viability. They will work with their clients as closely as necessary to develop a practice management service that meets its needs, customised to local requirements.
Using its online patient and practice management software Trust Health provide an increase in the efficiency of the practice, its cash flow, coding and overall accounts receivable in a way that maximises the available reimbursement for its professional services.
Trust Health believes that a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) is the best vehicle for working in the changing healthcare environment. Trust Health believes that as a Partnership, the practice will be able to offer a broader, more efficient service to its patients and will have the opportunity to build a practice that will develop long term value. Setting up a Partnership is easy; developing it, growing it, managing it and protecting it is not. This is where Trust Health can help.
ABA helped get them started raising £100,105 and providing a non-exec chairman.
Teamworks Karting Group PLC
As Corporate Advisor we advised this company, originally based in London, which was the first to float on the new Birmingham Stock Exchange called “Investbx”.
This issue of new shares was successfully floated at a time when the main stock markets were falling rapidly, and confidence had just been hit by the first realisation of the size of the credit crunch, and the problems at Northern Rock.
CDI Group Limited
A £5m turnover business in Birmingham where ownership change and a period of adverse trading had resulted in a severe deterioration in working capital. Others had proposed a £0.75m equity refinancing that would have diluted the owner to 50% or even less.
With the help of the company’s accountants, we devised and negotiated an extended debt repayment plan then raised £150 000 in equity. Result: the owner retains 75+% equity control.
Econotherm Limited
In June 2007 ABA investors invested £92 500 alongside a venture capital fund investment of £150 000. The company is a leading UK based manufacturer of Waste Heat Recuperators, Condensers and Heat Pipes. The business has expanded steadily, and following a number of rights issues has launched export sales into Europe and to the major developing economies.
Reynolds Technology Ltd
Reynolds Cycles has been famous for over 110 years as the manufacturer of lightweight ‘butted’ steel tubing for bicycle frames. Since a management buy-out in 2000, Reynolds has pioneered the use of high performance materials for the top end of the cycle market, using steel, aluminium, titanium and magnesium. Since the buy-out Reynolds changed its name to Reynolds Technology Ltd (RTL) reflecting a diversification into non cycle markets. RTL has doggedly kept going despite the recession and the falling $. The move to Shaftmoor Lane has improved their overhead cost effectiveness, and the purchase of machinery to allow RTL to cold draw thinner tubing to 953 specification has played a key part in maintaining and increasing sales from their core cycle clients.
Recent trading (2010) has shown a marked improvement and the company has returned to profitability, a prime example of a traditional engineering business that has moved with the times and survived recession and exchange rate difficulties.
ABA investors initially invested £50K alongside a small venture capital fund.
Hallmarq Veterinary Imaging Limited
This business is the world leader in standing equine MRI scanning. Over the last few years, the advent of MRI examination for lameness diagnosis has revolutionised the accuracy of final diagnosis – leading to more targeted treatments and better outcomes.
ABA investors made their investment in 2006, and the business is making steady progress. Turnover is building, and in particular recurring revenue growth is excellent. The business is expected to begin making profits next year.
Metrasens Limited
This company designs, manufactures and markets Ferroguard®. Ferroguard®. is a ferromagnetic detection system designed to be used in MRI scanning units. It provides effective protection for patients, equipment and personnel.
ABA investors invested in the company in November of 2007, and there have been a number of rights issues to support development.
The company has completed all R&D and is now actively marketing units worldwide, especially in USA which has a huge number of MRI scanners. In addition, a new market as a security scanner has opened up, due to the product’s effectiveness in detecting ferrous metals.
EQ Software Systems Limited
A team of professionals from the Kitchen, Bedroom and Bathroom (KBB) industry working with IT experts designed EQ Software was the first dedicated business management software solution for the KBB market. In the company’s brief history, it has become the leading provider of business management software for the KBB industry. One in five retailers or manufacturers now use our software.
To help fund the development of the business, we helped organise a package of funding comprising: private investors; a venture capital fund; and a bank loan totalling £250 000.
Turnover is growing, and the company is profitable with expansion now starting in overseas markets.
Pure Global Limited
The company designs, manufactures and markets NuDrive® – a device that may be applied easily to almost any 24” & 25” wheelchair wheels. With NuDrive® the user no longer propels their chair by gripping the wheel rims by hand, Instead, they can propel forwards, backwards, manoeuvre and brake, simply by pushing the levers.
Two families of patents have been published (WO 2005/025973 & GB 0620477.0.) and are now pending in Europe, USA and China. Prospects are exciting given the large number of wheelchair users globally, and the attraction to both individuals and healthcare like NHS.
ABA has arranged £98 000 of funding in two tranches, most recently in October of 2010.
Media Service Provider Limited
ABA led a fundraising and the first tranche of £300k completed on 31 August 2011.
This company provides music streaming and downloads but only via third parties, avoiding the high costs of targeting individual consumers. The music is distributed via: internet service providers; mobile network providers; internet TV providers; and has global ambitions.
ABA led a second round of fundraising which was successfully completed in May 2012. In addition the company has secured its second major customer and is now performing ahead of its business plan.
ThinCats
ThinCats.com is an on-line market for secured business Loans operating throughout the UK.
• Links experienced investors with established business borrowers to provide a serious alternative to high street banks.
• Lenders set their own interest rates and make their own investment decisions.
• Borrowers can get loans between £50k and £1m at fixed competitive rates from 6 months to 5 years .
• By cutting out banks both Lender and Borrower get a better deal.
Stocktrace Limited
With the new legislation requiring greater livestock traceability from ‘field to fork’ throughout the European Union, substantial traceability and reporting responsibility has now been placed on livestock farmers in general and on sheep farmers in particular.
StockTrace is a specialist Electronic Identification (EID) solutions provider that has developed an integrated traceability and data-collection management system for all organisations and individuals involved in the livestock supply chain.
Automatic collection of data substantially reduces paperwork and manual data input. Transcription errors are eliminated, resulting in significant cost reductions and increased business profitability.
The integrated StockTrace solution enables all users to easily meet the stringent new statutory compliance requirements, whilst at the same time allowing them to make better business decisions.
Terraseed Limited
Terraseed® is “advancing crop technology” by offering a major step-change in food quality, assurance and safety, to the benefit of consumers, food retailers, suppliers and the environment. This is achieved by the use of physical barrier systems, replacing agrochemicals for weed, insect and disease control.
Terraseed® patented systems and products are available for:Organic and conventional farming; Salad and vegetable production and Herbs.
Terraseed® retains moisture and heats the soil, accelerating germination and crop growth.
We offer specialist advice, staff training, laying equipment and licences for manufacture and international distribution of Terraseed® products.
Terraseed® is committed to ongoing development projects covering a range of other crops and applications including amenity and phytoremediation.
Adflyer Limited
We have all heard of eBAY but the entrepreneurs behind this company wanted to offer a similar service but free to users both personal and business.
One of Adflyer’s key unique selling points is the opportunity for the general public to upload individual private adverts as general classifieds but also the site has flexibility for the small/medium sized business market (SME’s) to upload items in mass if required. The ease of use and control each user has in developing and maintaining their own account encourages exceptionally high repeat visits and subsequent customer loyalty.
They approached us in 2009 and we helped secure £110,000 to launch the brand.
Since then business has grown steadily, entering new areas: including the fast growing discount coupon market.
Getting in touch
If you would like any further information, please email Neil Mackay or call him on 0773 467 9468.
Are you looking for our latest investment opportunities? You can find them here.