NBAN - NATIONAL BUSINESS ANGELS NETWORK

Money makes the world go around

Private investors who take an interest in smaller companies by investing up to £250,000 in exchange for a share in the business

Business Angels are wealthy individuals, often successful entrepreneurs or senior managers, who invest their own money in small and medium-sized businesses; mostly start-ups and during the early stages of development. Generally, they make capital investments of less than £250,000, and most commonly between £20,000 and £50,000. Business Angels offer long-term risk capital in return for a share of the rewards if the business is a success. Their involvement can also bring management expertise to the company and added credibility in efforts to raise additional finance.

What activities are eligible for assistance and funding?

Companies must have strong potential for growth, and a management team that can deliver success. Technology-based firms attract something like a third of investment by Business Angels. In return for the capital investment, Business Angels will take a share in the business and often play an active role in managing the company.

Services

• Capital investment of up to £250,000

There are several networks that are designed to help companies find sources of private finance. These are:

National Business Angels Network (NBAN)

NBAN is a new service designed to facilitate introductions between private investors and businesses seeking finance. A development of the Local Investment Networking Company (LINC) initiative, it is supported by the Small Business Service and sponsored by the major high street banks (including The Royal Bank of Scotland, HSBC, Lloyds TSB and Barclays), together with several professional financial firms. It offers a mechanism for small and medium-sized businesses to source risk capital, which is supplied by private investors in return for shares in the business. NBAN has agents nationwide who can provide further local assistance to both businesses and investors. These agents include Business Links and Enterprise Agencies as well as private finance companies. A list of NBAN Agents can be found at www.bestmatch.co.uk/oldsite/wwwroot/

Companies seeking finance can register with the National Business Angels Network for an annual fee of £100 plus VAT. Brief details are then placed on the NBAN website and in its publication, "NBAN Bulletin". If requested, information can also be passed to other investor networks. Businesses may also have the opportunity to present to investors at meetings held locally.

For more information contact:

NBAN
40-42 Cannon Street
London
EC4N 6JJ

Tel: 020 7329 2929
Fax: 020 7329 2626

E-mail:info@BestMatch.co.uk
Web site: www.bestmatch.co.uk/oldsite/wwwroot/

EquityLink ^TM

EquityLinkTM was developed by Business Link and operates in the following parts of the south and east of England: Hertfordshire, Kent, Essex, Norfolk, Greater Peterborough, London North West, Bedfordshire/Luton, Cambridge, Suffolk, Sussex, Surrey, Thames Valley and London East.

To help small and medium-sized businesses during their quest for a suitable investor, Equity LinkTM offers advice on how to make a business plan attractive to investors, how to get introductions to a suitable investor, and how to tell if the investor is a potential partner or predator. After an initial meeting with the EquityLinkTM, to verify the strength of the candidate company's business plan, EquityLinkTM adds the company to its register. EquityLinkTM then offers help and advice to improve the business plan and eventually chooses from a selection of potential investors and introduces the company to the most suitable one. After that, it is left to the company and its potential investor to take the matter forward. There is a nominal charge to register for the EquityLinkTM service. If there is a satisfactory outcome, Business Link levies a charge equivalent to 2.5%, plus VAT, of the money received from the investor (up to £250,000) thereafter on a reducing sliding scale.

For more information contact:

Business Link Hertfordshire
45 Grosvenor Road
St Albans
Hertfordshire
AL1 3AW

Tel: 01727 813533
Fax: 01727 813403

E-mail: info@EquityLink.co.uk
Web site: www.equitylink.co.uk

Business Links

In England, many Business Link advice centres offer help with finding local private investment capital. Visit the National Business Link web site at www.businessadviceonline.org/ to find contact details of the nearest Business Link.

LINC Scotland

LINC Scotland is a not-for-profit, business introduction network or "marriage bureau" for companies and investors. Its work is supported by a wide range of public and private sector sponsors, and the advice offered is strictly independent and impartial. LINC Scotland is a facilitation service, and does not provide investment advice. In essence, it acts as a clearing house for information about investment opportunities and the requirements of investors.

For more information contact:

LINC Scotland
Queens House
19 St. Vincent Street
Glasgow
G1 2DT

Tel: 0141 221 3321
Fax: 0141 221 2909

E-mail: there is an e-mail facility on the LINC Scotlandweb site
Web site: www.lincscot.co.uk/index2.htm

Contact details

In addition to the government-supported networks described above, there are many private sector Business Angels, or "dating" services that can be used. These include:

LINKS

MONEY FINDER

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