Reports
We produce neutral, informative and in-depth reports and research on the main four alternative investment markets.
The AiR (Alternative Investment Report) series covers real assets, tax efficient investments and alternative finance.
What you'll find in our reports
Industry Insights
Contributions from acknowledged industry leaders and opinion formers
Depth and Detail
In-depth research to give you
a complete and comprehensive
overview of the industry
Market analysis
Detailed analysis of the products available and surveys of advisers, providers and investors
CPD Accreditation
Our reports are accredited by the CISI, CII and PFS for Structured CPD
Browse through our latest reports below
As featured in
Read about the impact of our industry reports
We welcome the introduction of Intelligent Partnership’s annual EIS industry report as another development that will grow awareness and knowledge of our sector and making EIS investing easier for advisers and clients.
I have found this report very useful covering many aspects of EIS. Nice to see statistics and average charges in the report too. I have saved the report for future reference as it will be a useful resource to refresh my knowledge.
BPR is a growing sector in which advice is sought and happily paid for. This report is the most comprehensive review of the opportunity and the market that I have ever read and contains gems for any client report.
Very comprehensive report and user friendly for non specialist investment advisers to give an update on the market direction and issues applying.
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Our reports are supported by investment experts from
Amati Global Investors is a specialist investment management business based in Edinburgh, and focussed on investment in small and mid-sized companies in the UK. Amati manages the TB Amati UK Smaller Companies Fund, an open-ended fund which invests in companies quoted on the Alternative Investment Market (“AIM”) as well as fully listed companies including constituents of the Small Cap and Mid 250 indices. Amati also manages two Venture Capital Trusts – Amati VCT and Amati VCT 2 – which are primarily focussed on companies quoted on AIM, but also makes some investments in private companies where the managers believe that either an AIM flotation or a trade sale will occur within 24 months.
ArchOver helps companies to borrow. We use innovative, forward thinking solutions that rewrite the rule book used by traditional lenders. For investors we seek returns that are attractive, secured and insured.
Our mission is to provide the most professional and usable market place for Borrowers and investors to connect.
ArchOver is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under Consumer Credit Licence 663239/1. ArchOver is not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.
Beringea was built in the 1980s by founders deeply interested in supporting businesses in growth industries. Since then, they assembled a team of like-minded professionals respected for their knowledge and expertise in investing and advising. Beringea became a partner of
choice for owners and entrepreneurs seeking capital, consultation,
and business support. Today, a firm-wide commitment to
funding and advising exceptional companies in growth
industries remains at the core of our organisation.
Close Brothers Asset Management brings together the Group’s established asset management skills and provides a full range of advice, investment management and self-directed services to private and corporate clients and professional advisers.
We have specialised in managing client portfolios for over 40 years and our investment team and financial planning advisers are supported by more than 550 staff, working from 8 offices across the UK.
CoAssets Platform is an business networking and educational platform for real estate and crowdfunding enthusiasts.
CoAssets is a targeted leads generation site, comparable to property listing portals. Such property listing portals do NOT sell properties. Instead, these portals allow property stakeholders (i.e. developers, agents, owners) (collectively, the OPs) to list available properties and real estate projects for interested investors to view. These property listing portals are not involved in any transactions between OPs and investors.
The types of projects listed by CoAssets are:
1. Bulk purchase – invest in multiple real estate units;
2. Crowdfunding – investors co-invest in units with others or peer-to-peer lending by investors to OPs; and
3. Pre-Sales – purchase of units before official launch.
Successful EIS investing is about managing risk.
Investing in unlisted smaller companies can be exciting and highly rewarding but very few private investors have the necessary time or experience to originate the right deals, agree the right terms and conduct effective due diligence.
CoInvestor helps reduce your EIS investment risk by letting you co-invest alongside experienced fund managers committing their own funds into each deal.
We are a family based company with core values of openness and transparency who have worked hard to establish a reputation built on mutual trust between ourselves and our wide range of clients around the globe.
Cult Wines Ltd boasts a highly trained team of investment specialists who bring with them a wealth of financial markets expertise and fine wine experience. Our highly capable staff excel at crafting sophisticated and highly responsive portfolios and are well-equipped in stock selection and strategising routes to market.
One of our key strengths that differentiates us from the market is our dynamic and forward-thinking approach to analysis and research, we are constantly engaged in the task of planning future strategies and providing our clients with up to the minute market data on a regular basis.
We recognise the importance of providing high quality support services and maintain open channels of contact between members of our team and clients, and are more than happy to invite visitors to join us in person at our offices in Richmond.
The team here is dedicated to the generation of returns and delivering best market value with a service widely recognised as the most competitive in the UK. Our specialists are ready to provide the necessary expertise, tools and market experience to enable you to build a profitable fine wine portfolio tailored to your own personal investment goals. We know our strengths lie in our people- dedicated, experienced and driven personnel across accounting, logistics and administration who will ensure that your asset management requirements are met at every level.
Formed in 2011, Daedalus Partners specialises in sourcing unique investment opportunities that offer the potential for superior returns as well as the tax incentives available under the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS).
Elderstreet is a leading UK venture capital fund manager investing in early stage and development capital for UK growing businesses.
We provide growth and development capital funding in most industry sectors and have a specialist technology practice investing in the software and computer services market.
Elderstreet has a strong investment performance record with investments typically in the range of £0.5 and £2m and we currently have over £30m of investors’ funds offering investment products for institutional and retail investors through our limited partnership and tax-efficient funds. Elderstreet was acquired by Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein (‘DKW’) in November 2000. In October 2003 the management purchased the business back from DKW.
Elderstreet continues to manage a number of funds for both retail and institutional investors. Elderstreet was voted VCT Fund Manager of the Year by Growth Company Investor in 2009 and 2010.
GrowthInvest is a unique,
independent platform which provides
access to tax efficient investments
to a growing network of UK financial
advisers, wealth managers as well
as investors. The Platform aims to
bring the advantages of early stage
investing to a wider audience of
investors and advisers, who are
in a position to benefit from the
higher returns these companies
potentially offer and tax efficiency
via Government-sponsored schemes.
The purpose-built technology allows
clients to consolidate, control, build
and enhance their investment
portfolio within a single, secure
online portal.
Hargreave Hale is a leading provider of investment management, stock broking and fund management services in the UK. Our experienced professionals offer private clients, professional intermediaries, companies, trusts and charities a progressive and modern approach to investment coupled with traditional values of customer service.
Our approach is measured and intelligent, with a continued focus on preserving capital and delivering positive returns.
Our portfolio of alternative investment opportunities focus on clean energy,
real estate, media and entertainment. Our professionals draw upon unrivalled industry relationships and deep sector expertise and investment experience.
Wherever we invest, we always apply the same principle – only investing our clients’
money where we are happy to put our own.
We seek to balance the stability and rigour of a trusted institution with the dynamism and entrepreneurial spirit of a growth business.
Our ethos and approach have delivered over a decade of alternative investment opportunities to an ever-expanding client base of individuals, institutions, family offices and corporate investors.
We provide a diverse range of financial products and services to a niche client base in three principal markets, the United Kingdom, South Africa and Australia, as well as certain other geographies.
Investec’s strategic goals are motivated by the desire to develop an efficient and integrated business on an international scale through the active pursuit of clearly established core competencies in the group’s principal business areas.
https://www.investec.co.uk/
Peer‐to‐peer has disrupted traditional finance by using technology to bring investors and borrowers closer together.
Our founders John Goodall and Gray Stern immediately recognised that this shift away from traditional investing, to a more transparent online platform, would evolve more potently if investors were given tangible security.
They saw the opportunity to anchor peer‐to‐peer lending to a consistently performing, robust asset class – UK rental property.
It’s a characteristic of everything we do – challenging conventional norms while optimising the opportunities that peer‐to‐peer presents.
Our job is to protect your money. It’s why we don’t just lend to anyone and scrutinise every application rigorously.
With a team that’s attracted some of the wisest heads across the UK’s financial services industry, our comprehensive underwriting policies and management systems are consistent with industry best practice.
Our people share our mission to provide a simple, transparent and equitable investment platform that’s fairer for all.
Lawson Conner was founded in 2010 with the desire to create better ways of operating financial services firms by injecting innovation, multi-asset class expertise and excellence in client focus into the world of fund management. With that in mind, we brought together an exceptional group of talented professionals to cover a wide spectrum of financial services functions, all with one single goal: “Create a world class fund management and advisor platform!”.
Over the past five years we helped more than 100 clients to effectively navigate through the challenges of launching and operating financial services businesses. On that journey we have become thought leaders in the areas of onshore/offshore Fund Structures, AIFMD, the national private placement regimes (NPPR), FinTech business models and RegTech. The team at Lawson Conner covers a wide range of asset classes from long/short equity, derivatives, commodities, real estate to private equity and loan based investment models. We serve our clients from 4 different locations, in the US (2x), Hong Kong and from our headquarters in London.
LGBR Capital is a privately owned financial services business founded in October 2012.
We partner with quality investment managers to develop and distribute innovative financial products to our range of professional clients across the UK, Europe and Asia. Product areas include: long only funds, alternative funds, property and tax efficient products.
At the forefront of our business are three core values:
Long-Term Partnerships
Product Innovation
Excellent Client Service
Mobeus Equity Partners is a leading provider of finance to SMEs. We invest up to £15 million into UK based companies across all sectors.
We provide attractive and flexible funding packages that include equity and loan finance. We are very experienced investors who have a strong reputation for delivering on our promises and we know what it takes to get a deal done.
Octopus is a very different type of investment company. Whether you’re a financial adviser, an investor looking for tax-efficient ways of investing in the UK’s smallest and most dynamic businesses, or a company seeking finance for growth, we’re here to help. By putting your needs first, by listening and really understanding what you want, we can help you do smarter things with your money.
We manage nearly £5billion for over 50,000 customers. We offer straightforward products which solve problems faced by real people. We don’t believe in unnecessary complexity and only launch products when we’re confident they’ll do what we say they will. We’re working hand-in-hand with some of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs and management teams, financing companies capable of creating, transforming or dominating markets. Exceptional customer service and clear communication are integral to everything we do.
At Octopus, we’re building the best team possible. We hire the most talented people we can find, from both inside and outside our industry.
Oxford Capital aims to make EIS investments accessible, easy to understand and hassle-free for investors and their financial advisers. The firm has two distinct EIS strategies – Investment in high growth companies from a range of industries and investment in companies which own infrastructure assets. The Oxford Capital Growth EIS portfolio backs established businesses to support their expansion. Oxford Capital builds each investor a portfolio of around 8-10 companies, providing the tax advantages of the EIS whilst mitigating some of the risk of smaller company investments through diversification. The Oxford Capital Infrastructure EIS invests in companies which own and operate infrastructure assets, such as renewable energy installations, earning revenues through long-term contracts. Because the investments are asset-backed, the Infrastructure EIS has a lower risk profile than some other EIS investments.
Pembroke VCT plc is a venture capital trust that provides investors with access to a private equity style investment strategy with significant tax benefits. As part of the Oakley Capital group of companies, we are committed to helping management teams realise their vision, utilising our extensive network and experience. From start-ups to more mature businesses we invest in founders and management teams we have confidence in, across industries we believe have exciting growth prospects.
In turn these entrepreneurs often seek the financial advice and operational and strategic expertise that our team can provide. We only invest in companies where we can add value over and above simply providing capital, and where we are confident our resources and experience can be most instrumental in their growth. We are hands-on investors, providing a supportive framework and access to unparalleled talent across our Board, Management Team and Advisors.
Proplend is an online marketplace for secured commercial mortgages, where all the loans are supported by a registered legal first charge on an income producing commercial property.
Proplend was founded in 2013 in response to the fallout of the 2008 banking crisis. On one hand bank interest rates fell to and have remained at historic lows depriving cash rich individuals and institutions of much needed low risk income and on the other hand banks who had previously been very active in property lending had either disappeared or pulled out of the market.
The sector of the market worst hit was sub £5m commercial lending where there is a staggering £50 billion of existing debt that requires to be refinanced over the next 3-5 years. This is currently being serviced by less than 11 active lenders.
Proplend makes it possible for interest rates being offered by borrowers to be earned directly by lenders, circumventing the traditional banking system and creating a new asset class. This is the first time that private individuals and institutions have been offered direct access to commercial real estate lending opportunities.
Borrowers gain access to funding which is not otherwise currently available and lenders get the opportunity to earn risk adjusted monthly income.
Puma Investments has a strong track record in providing asset-backed funding to established businesses across the UK. Our multi-disciplinary team is able to draw upon a nationwide network of offices to source, evaluate and execute transactions.
Our principal focus is on capital preservation and generating stable returns for our investors whilst seeking to offer robust downside protection. The business was founded on and continues to follow two guiding principles: protecting capital and minimising risk. This has always been and will continue to be our promise to our investors and business partners.
Rockpool creates private company investment opportunities for its Network of successful entrepreneurs and professionals. Deals created for the Network are also open to a wider audience of investors through Rockpool’s EIS Portfolio Service. This Network Investment model offers unrivalled transparency and flexibility for investors. Rockpool targets companies which are profitable or have significant asset backing. The Rockpool Network includes hundreds of successful entrepreneurs with experience in a wide range of business sectors. This gives us access to hidden opportunities, acts as an anchor for our decision making and enables us to contribute more to the success of the private companies we support. In the last 3 years, nearly 1,000 investors have committed £100 million to 25 companies through Rockpool.
Seneca is an independent investment management and corporate advisory business for High Net Worth individuals and SMEs. We have truly achieved our aim of becoming a home for SMEs where companies and entrepreneurs can access invaluable support and opportunities.
Our team brings together decades of success in providing bespoke investment and advisory solutions for our clients across a multitude of financial areas.
Stellar is an investment specialist providing tax-efficient services for financial advisers and their clients
We work with financial advisers, planners, wealth managers and other financial intermediaries to offer investment opportunities that mitigate risk and deliver attractive, long-term returns.
We allow you to invest in companies backed by professional investors
Equity crowdfunding has democratised investment in startups, helping entrepreneurs to make their business visions a reality and allowing individuals to invest and become real-life ‘Dragons’.
While many online investment platforms have sprung up, at SyndicateRoom we have developed a unique model with benefits you can’t find anywhere else.
Here’s why: we only list companies that are already backed by professional ‘business angels’, who are investing their own money and thus have taken an active role in evaluating the strength of the deal. We then offer our members the ‘same share class and same price per share’ if they decide to invest alongside these professionals.
We believe this curated and transparent approach allows our members access to a more sophisticated set of investment opportunities.
TIME provides tax efficient investment solutions and we’re proud to say we’re rather good at it – our original Inheritance Tax service boasts an impressive 22 year track record of successfully achieving Inheritance Tax savings for our investors. What stands us apart in our market is our focus on seeking consistent stable returns which we deliver through a defensive investment strategy. We pride ourselves on offering real transparency around our products, what we invest in and what the risks are. We’re dedicated to supporting the adviser market and we recognise that our services require professional advice, which is why we don’t accept direct investments. We also have a nationwide sales team on hand to assist financial advisers in identifying solutions for their clients’ financial concerns, dealing with technical queries and delivering one-to-one support.
We are an established private partnership founded in 2004. As an expert investment company, we build innovative products for investors and offer attractive financing solutions to a range of businesses and organisations in both the public and private sector.
Unicorn Asset Management Limited is an independently owned and managed investment management company. Founded in 2000, Unicorn offers both open and closed ended investment funds, including an AIM Venture Capital Trust, designed to satisfy a variety of investor requirements
VentureFounders is a UK-based equity investment platform designed to make Angel and Venture Capital style investing more accessible, affordable and transparent.
We believe that this market should be open to all who can afford and understand the risk associated with early stage investment. As an investor through VentureFounders, you can invest from a minimum of £1,000 in some of the UK’s fastest growing and most exciting companies.
With a solid foundation in financial services expertise, the VentureFounders team is comprised of FCA approved, highly skilled investment professionals with extensive private equity, investment management and business growth experience.
The majority of our investment opportunities are offered in collaboration with leading Venture Capital firms or Angel networks with established track records and sector expertise. Importantly, we never present a fundraise that we would not invest in ourselves. The result is a curated range of structured opportunities in early stage, scalable and high growth businesses, many of which are EIS (Enterprise Investment Scheme) qualifying.