Laurence Oakes-Ash

📍 Save the date… The BVCA will publish its Manifesto for Growth in Parliament on Wednesday, 8 May. As we approach the General Election, the BVCA will outline six areas of opportunity for the next Government to bolster economic growth and attract inward investment through private capital in the UK: ◾ Stable Foundations for Growth ◾ Investing Pensions for Growth ◾ Future-proof Economy for Growth ◾ Innovation for Growth ◾ Financial Services Sector for Growth ◾ Workforce for Growth The #privatecapital industry represents a significant part of the UK economy with private capital-backed business directly generating 6% of UK GDP in 2022. It’s therefore essential that we get the right policy frameworks in place in order to keep the UK competitive and attractive for international investors. Learn more about BVCA’s work on public policy here ➡ https://lnkd.in/ePBDkEEC

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🚨 Space Investment Opportunity: Scottish Space Network have teamed up with Sustainable Alpha to support their 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scottish International Investment Tour in partnership with Scottish Enterprise. If you are in the Scottish space sector, considering raising investment and keen to showcase your company to a group of active international investors - this could be a great opportunity for you! 🇬🇧 UK and 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scottish investors - If you are interested in joining the tour, expanding your international network and seeing the best Scotland has on offer across a number of sectors, please also follow the link for more information! #investment #venturecapital #space #spaceeconomy #scotland

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Why is the fate of Thames Water being fought out between two groups of bondholders, some of them distressed debt specialists, and a bevy of advisers? Thames needs risk capital and short term liquidity. At the moment the Class A and B securitization noteholders are being asked to provide both, through an expected debt-for-equity swap and a temporary super-senior loan. But these investors are not the right providers: their vocation is to supply long term, investment grade senior debt. This 'train wreck' as one participant called it this week has gone on long enough. Thames's equity is probably uninvestable. If investors can be found, they will want high returns and likely a write-off of some of the senior debt. What will that do to the investability of 15 other water companies? The government needs to stop putting off the inevitable and shoulder its responsibility. It is best placed to provide what Thames needs. Free comment Thames Water Keir Starmer Rt Hon Rachel Reeves #bonds #securitization #wholebusinesssecuritization #wbs #capitalmarkets #dcm #debtcapitalmarkets #privatisation https://lnkd.in/e7kqkJ5B

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In our latest blog post we take a look at the Government’s plans around the Energy Profits Levy and how these will affect the sector as a whole - including investment. https://buff.ly/47XRwBf

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What does the new Labour government mean for infrastructure investment in the UK? We expect some interesting developments: * The creation of Great British Energy, a publicly-owned green power company, may crowd out some private investment (it will get £8.3 billion of Government funding) but will work in partnership with a range of public and private sector entities to deliver local power generation. * Investment in ports and supply chains (£1.8 billion), gigafactories (£1.5 billion), carbon capture (£1 billion) and green hydrogen (£0.5 billion). Many of these carry real risks to the public purse. But will they unlock investment opportunities for the private sector? * Reforms to planning laws are badly needed and Labour has promised to speed up the delivery of infrastructure. * Will we see a new and improved PFI/PPP programme (no doubt re-branded) to roll out social and economic structure? What do you think?

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Quoted in today's Financial Times commenting on the IPPR report highlighting concerns in Labour's plans for investment in the economy. It is essential for government to work closely with the private sector to unlock the huge sums of #investment waiting in the wings. Crowding-in private investment through tactical deployments of public investment can be effective, as we have seen with the US #InflationReductionAct, but creating the correct policy environment for investments to thrive is also crucial. A lack of clarity and certainty on the long-term strategy for the automotive sector, is destroying investor confidence, driving much needed private capital overseas and limiting necessary progress on the decarbonisation of the transport sector. The UK is in desperate need of consistent policy, backed by ambitious targets to retain its powerful position as a world leader in #sustainablefinance and #innovation. https://lnkd.in/eFvRWYYS

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The FRC has launched a consultation on updates to the 2020 UK Stewardship Code this week. I encourage investors to read Adam Matthews and Stephen Barrie's posts on the critical issue of the stewardship definition, which the FRC is proposing to change to emphasise "the need to create long-term sustainable value for clients and beneficiaries as a key outcome of good stewardship". Creating sustainable value for clients and beneficiaries should be core to the stewardship proposition - correct. Including the viability of economic, social and environmental systems upon which clients/beneficiaries depend in that assessment of "sustainable value creation" for clients/beneficiaries - also correct. BOTH are required to drive better member outcomes when dealing with systemic risks. Is it crucial that any stewardship definition explicitly acknowledges this connection? Now more than ever. Don't believe me? Take a look at this excerpt from the recent FMLC paper on pension fund trustees and fiduciary duty............................ One thing (among others) that is increasing is dispute or litigation risk in connection with businesses’ and governments’ response (or lack of response) to the subject of climate change. Because the subject of climate change is a worldwide issue, this is a risk that can present from anywhere in the world. It brings its own relevant issues, including possible adverse outcome and responses, but also the cost, the time and the element of uncertainty in litigation or arbitration. If it is a risk that comes with an investment it may outlast the holding of an investment. Pension funds exist as participants in much wider financial and economic networks. It is a feature of the subject of climate change that it is of major scale. From the position of the pension fund trustee, all the changes identified above or the possibility of them may be relevant to the return of a particular investment and the risk to that return. But so too certain investment strategies, principles and policies may be particularly vulnerable to their impact. And, as with sustainability generally, in the context of a pension fund and the purpose of a pension scheme, relevant too is the effect of the subject of climate change on return or risk anywhere across the pension fund and including by reference to all applicable time horizons. Financial factors therefore need to be considered at a number of levels: at the level of a specific asset or investment, at a portfolio level, and at the level of whole economies material to the pension fund. In responding to this consultation, please support the explicit acknowledgement of economic, social and environmental systems in delivering value for members. In this political landscape, it is more important than ever. Adam Matthews Stephen Barrie Faith Ward Vaishnavi Ravishankar Shipra Gupta Eva Cairns Claire Curtin Diandra Soobiah Renata Kostrzewa Caroline Escott Michael Marshall Jen Sisson People's Partnership

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Thanks to the Hertfordshire Pension Fund team and their advisers for recognising the economic risks today and the future risks to their portoflio associated with climate change and environmental degradation . This is no longer debatable (just ask the unfortunate residents of Florida ) , but managing environmental risks in a portoflio is a complex challenge and should if implemented correctly also target and provide economic upside. We appreciate your foresight , support and interaction over the past year. This sees our UK local authority AUM surpass £1 billion, a great responsibility and privilege to manage. #climatechange #assetmanagement #lowcarbon

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Wealth events and changes in income are two vital opportunities for your clients to reimagine support for their philanthropy. Learn why many donors choose to set up a donor-advised fund (DAF) when a significant liquidity event occurs. #Philanthropy #Charity #Grantmaking

#SMEs are thinking more strategically as they plan for business growth as new sources of #funding are increasingly available. Read our guide on funding & investing for financial directors here: https://lnkd.in/eBe7PCQ7 #Business #Finance #Thrive

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Dive into the details! The FRC initiates a review of the UK Stewardship Code 2020 to enhance its impact and relevance. Join the conversation and contribute to shaping transparent and sustainable investment practices here - https://lnkd.in/d2BWe5_F Devendra Kankonkar #FRC #StewardshipReview #SustainableInvestment #FinancialRegulation #KNAVUK #BeyondBetter

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Maven Equity Finance leads £2m investment round in Bristol's Q5D Technologies 🪙👀 Investment company Maven Capital Partners has invested £500,000 in Q5D Technologies, which is pioneering robotic additive manufacturing, through the British Business Bank’s South West Investment Fund. This funding is part of a larger £2 million investment round, which aims to support Q5D's mission to revolutionise wire laying processes across multiple sectors, including automotive, aerospace, and consumer electronics. The investment will enhance Q5D’s capacity to scale its innovative 5-axis platform, which automates the complex process of adding wiring and electronics to 3D surfaces. This technology offers a faster, more efficient, and cost-effective alternative to traditional manual processes. Continue reading... https://lnkd.in/eFg_qzdK Kelpi, Blu Wireless, Covestus Healthcare Limited #finance #investing #funding #technology #innovation #millions #manufacturing #engineering #businessnews #businessintelligence

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Honoured to sponsor and speak at an insightful panel event in Parliament on greening the UK gas grid through biomethane. With Rachael Burford from the Evening Standard leading the discussion, we explored practical approaches to decarbonising gas usage and reducing harmful methane emissions. Future Biogas' Carbon Harvest project demonstrated how unsubsidised biomethane is already supporting industries in reaching Net Zero while providing a practical alternative to fossil fuels. It's clear that demand for gas will persist beyond 2050, as renewable electricity alone can't meet the needs of all industrial practices. We heard how AstraZeneca has reduced its gas usage, introducing biomethane to fulfil essential requirements for sterilisation and steam in the pharmaceutical sector. With methane having 80 times the warming impact of CO2, using biomethane derived from agricultural and food waste not only harnesses a valuable energy source but also helps reduce the climate impact of waste. Biomethane can play a key role in our clean energy transition, particularly in sectors where electrification isn’t feasible, like brick and glass manufacturing, in heating historic buildings such as Parliament and in hospitals requiring energy intensive processes for sterilisation. A smart, flexible, low carbon energy mix will need green gases like biomethane, hydrogen, and synthetic gases—not fossil fuels. This was a fascinating discussion about a technology and industry already making a positive impact on our economy and climate. Huge thanks to Philipp Lukas of Future Biogas, Howard Forster of Cadent Gas Limited , and Lord Rupert Redesdale for their insights into the role of biomethane on our journey to net zero. Let’s keep advancing green gas initiatives! #biomethane #cleanenergy #netzero

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Did you know that alternative funders like Frontier Development Capital can provide SMEs with not only the funding their business needs to grow, but also a wealth of industry knowledge and expertise. If you are a SME business in the UK that’s been trading over 2 years at a profit, take a look at our website to see how our funds can help your business reach it true potential. Click here to visit our website for more details: https://hubs.la/Q02yP4Y70 #finance #funding #alternativefunder #SME #businessgrowth

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Integrating GGRs in the UK ETS will incentivise investment in, and the deployment of, a diverse portfolio of novel GGR methods.   For businesses with UK ETS obligations, this will mean the choice to use a wider array of allowances for compliance purposes. It could also help make CO2 removal projects become more financially viable.   In this article, we cover:   the scope and design of the UK ETS Authority's proposals to integrate GGRs in the UK ETS the proposed timing and pathway for GGR integration how these proposals align with complementary decarbonisation policies in the UK and EU   To find out more, visit the link in the comments.

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The latest data from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) shows that sentiment in the manufacturing sector took a positive upturn in April, with output expectations hitting a six-month high. Read more on this in our latest #NewsinReview #CBI #manufacturing

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