3. www.francisclark.co.uk
Speakers
• Richard Wadman, Corporate Finance Director, Francis Clark
• Richard Warren, Investment Analyst, Crowdcube
• Dominic Ring, Corporate and Commercial Solicitor, Ashfords
4. www.francisclark.co.uk
Francis Clark – who are we?
• 7 regional offices: Taunton, Exeter, Torquay, Plymouth, Tavistock,
Salisbury and Truro
• UK Top 25 Firm (Accountancy Age 2014)
• 49 Partners and over 390 staff
• Identified in December 2013 by the London Stock Exchange as one of
the ‘1000 Companies to Inspire Britain’
• Largest range of specialists located in the South West
• Awarded ‘Best VAT consultancy’ at the Taxation Awards 2014
• Awarded ‘Tax Award of the Year (non global firm)’ in the British
Accountancy Awards 2012
• Awarded ‘Best Tax Practice in a Regional Firm’ at the Taxation Awards
2012
• Awarded ‘Auditor of the Year – Mid Tier’ at the national Financial
Directors’ Excellence Awards 2011
11. Crowdcube is the world’s first and leading investment crowdfunding
platform giving entrepreneurs a new way to raise investment
Fully authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
What is Crowdcube?
17. Success so far
£55 millionfunded so far…
£500,000
largest single investment
+125,000
members
190
£2 millionbiggest deal
£3,000
average investment
Successfully
funded deals
£300,000
average deal
Stage of Growth
By Category
19. What do our investors look for in a business?
Research undertaken by LSE & Bath University, 2014.
20. Our results show that the quality of the founders is the most
important factor that investors look for in a venture.
Demonstrated leadership and business ability
Relevant industry experience
Previous start up or entrepreneurial experience
Can the team execute the plans & deliver an exit (££££)?
The Founder
21. Product or idea
Product factors ranked second aligning with the
work of Muzyka et al. (1996) and Riquelme &
Rickards (1992), who both found this was the
case for venture capitalists.
Demonstrated market acceptance / traction
Product is proprietary or can otherwise be
protected
Product developed to point of functioning
prototype
22. Market
Market factors ranked third in our findings, it is
important to demonstrate that the problem you’re
solving is actually a problem worth solving!
Reduced threat of competition / barriers to entry
may be difficult for competition
The target market has a significant growth rate,
it is certainly not a declining market
Product or idea has demonstrated market
acceptance (customers, sales, testimonials)
23. Financial calibre and exit strategy
The financial calibre is naturally vital to any
venture however the team, idea & market are
more important as ultimately these aspects
sustain the financial calibre of a business.
Investors want a clear exit strategy for their
investment to be made liquid
Ideally within 5 years
Ideally at a 10x return
24. The proposed exit strategy is important and its
vital that you include relevant examples were
possible.
Most popular:
Company share buy back
Company sale
IPO
A series of dividend payments
Financial calibre and exit strategy
28. Crowdfunding | 4 February 2015 28
David Heard
Partner
d.heard@ashfords.co.uk
01752 526004
Key Contacts
Dominic Ring
Solicitor
d.ring@ashfords.co.uk
01752 526030
29. Crowdfunding | 4 February 2015 29
1. Crowdcube & Ashfords
• Ashfords integral in pre-authorisation model and obtaining FCA
authorisation on 1 February 2013;
• Legal advisor to Crowdcube – corporate and regulatory;
• Recommended legal advisors for investee companies that
successfully pitch through Crowdcube;
• Advised over 100 companies;
• Advise on start ups, growth companies and later stage funding.
30. Crowdfunding | 4 February 2015 30
2. Legal Steps – Pre Pitch
& Documentation
• Content of pitch must be fair, clear and not misleading and give details of
share rights and constitutional documents;
• Prior to pitching:
– Check existing constitutional documents;
– Check consents required.
• Waive pre-emption on issue from all existing shareholders;
• Board resolution to issue the shares;
• Shareholder resolution to adopt new Articles of Association, sub-divide the
nominal value of the shares and grant directors with authority to allot new
shares.
31. Crowdfunding | 4 February 2015 31
3. Legal Steps – Articles
• Articles of Association:
– Crowdcube has template Articles of Association;
– Drafted by Ashfords;
– Specifically designed for crowdfunding;
– Include two classes of shares (A: voting, and B: non-voting) – A shares
for significant investors;
– Pre-emption on issue and pre emption on transfer – but only for A
Shareholders;
– Drag along, tag along, board representation and electronic
communication provisions.
– Where investee company has its own Articles – must work for
crowdfunding i.e. equal dividend rights, no restrictive covenants, no
subordinated rights, equal rights on an exit, drag along etc.
32. Crowdfunding | 4 February 2015 32
4. Legal Steps –
Shareholders’ Agreement
• Shareholders’ Agreements:
– Normal for VC/Private Equity investment – but not recommended for
crowdfunding due to practical implications of obtaining signatures, and
issue of unanimity for amendments with significant number of
shareholders;
– Existing shareholders’ agreements usually need amending or varying –
likely with unanimous consent – pre-pitch consideration;
– Can be drafted to bind certain groups of shareholders only e.g.
founders if want to retain in place due to investor concerns or keep
matters private;
– Be careful of provisions restricting issues/transfers to persons signing
a deed of adherence.
33. Crowdfunding | 4 February 2015 33
5. Other Issues
• Share numbers - £10 investments, valuations, rounding/share price.
• EIS/SEIS – get tax advice!!!
• Employment Related Securities
• Share Option Schemes – fully diluted basis calculations
• Ongoing compliance – accounts and filings
• Corporate Secretarial
36. www.francisclark.co.uk
The Readiness Process
• When, why and what funding is needed
• Communicating the business proposition -
Business plan and projections
• Viable plan and credible management
• Building the relationship
37. www.francisclark.co.uk
The Business Plan – A Guide
• Executive summary
• The Business –history and present: Where you are now, including
historic financials, ownership, awards, accreditations etc.
• The market and the opportunity
• Future strategy/ plans/ risks
• Operations (changes + practicalities)
• Financial – summary of projections
• Finance required
• The team
• Environment, Equal Opp and Local Economy etc - Depending on the
type of finance sought may have to consider these issues
The opportunity and how you
will exploit it. Why you will
succeed.
Financial implications
and finance required.
38. www.francisclark.co.uk
Projections – “How to”
• Excel and/ or Sage Winforecast (other programmes)
• Approach
• Annual P&L to Monthly P&L
• Cash flow assumptions
• Capital expenditure (profile)
• Other non-P&L items e.g., loans
• Opening balances
39. www.francisclark.co.uk
Investment ready – general housekeeping
• Compliance and Legal
- Licences / contracts/ legal title?
- IPR ownership in the company?
- Statutory Accounts/management accounts
- VAT, PAYE/NI, Books and records in order?
40. www.francisclark.co.uk
Requirements: Equity
• Exit route and returns to the investor
• Investors expertise vs. loss of
independence?
• Be prepared to discuss valuation
• Emotional!
• Be aware of FSMA regulations
• SEIS/ EIS
41. www.francisclark.co.uk
Why are SEIS and EIS important?
Important to the Investor
• De-risks an investment
• Improves ROI
Important to you
• As above
“Businesses raised £1,017
million through EIS in the
year to 31 March 2012, up
from £545 million raised in
2010-11”
“More than 2,000
companies have raised
around £2 billion in
equity cash from
investors, according to
HM Revenue &
Customs (HMRC),
which monitors SEIS.”
42. www.francisclark.co.uk
Enterprise Investment Scheme
• Rate of income tax relief – 30% up to maximum per investor of
£1m per year
• Capital Gains tax relief – Hold Over relief. Exemption for gains
on EIS investment if income tax claimed
• Mandatory investment period – 3 years
• Qualifying investment
• Cash for Ordinary shares in unlisted company
• < 250 employees
• Net Assets < £15 million
• Carrying out permitted activity
• Not controlled by another company
43. www.francisclark.co.uk
Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme
• Rate of income tax relief – 50% up to maximum per investor of
£100k per year
• Capital Gains tax relief – 50% relief on capital gains realised on
asset disposals used to make SEIS investment. Exemption for
gains on SEIS investment if tax relief income tax relief claimed
• Mandatory investment period – 3 years
• Qualifying investment
• Cash for ordinary shares in unlisted company
• < 25 employees
• Net Assets < £200k
• Carrying out permitted activity
• Not controlled by another company
• Trade < 2 years old
44. www.francisclark.co.uk
SEIS/ EIS Qualifying activities
Trade carried on on a commercial basis with a view to profit
Not permitted activities include:
• Dealing in land, shares and other financial instruments
• Banking and other financial activities
• Dealing in goods, other than ordinary retail or wholesale activity
• Letting or leasing assets on hire
• Legal and accountancy services
45. www.francisclark.co.uk
SEIS/ EIS: Practicalities – pre investment
Get HMRC clearance re “permitted activities”
Non-employees (Directors deemed not be employees)
State aid – interaction with grants
Forms/ paperwork to HMRC within set deadlines
Amount raised - limits
46. www.francisclark.co.uk
SEIS/ EIS: Practicalities – post investment
Maintain qualifying company status for 3 years
• Holding Company
• Control of all subsidiaries
• Permitted activity
Investor returns and control – care
47. www.francisclark.co.uk
Investor Ready - Conclusions
• Appropriate funding /
understand the funder
• Business Case
• Plan B?
• Know the ‘deal breakers’ – due
diligence
• Build in extra time
48. www.francisclark.co.uk
Business support
Growth Accelerator
- Mentoring / 7 days coaching
- Companies with 1-4 employees – £600 plus £700 VAT
- Companies with 5-49 employees – £1500 plus £700 VAT
- Companies with 50-250 – employees - £3000 plus £700 VAT
- Leadership (subsidised assistance with projections for example, £2k per member of
management team)
Growth vouchers
- 50% subsidy up to £2k for advice on:
- Managing cashflow, late payments and negotiating finance
- Developing skills and taking on staff
- Improving Leadership and Management
- Marketing, attracting and keeping customers
- Making the most of digital technology
Get Set for Growth
49. www.francisclark.co.uk
Upcoming events
• “Equity for SMEs – An investors perspective” on 11 February
2015
• “Secured non-bank lending” on 11 March 2015
• Finance in South West (Exeter Racecourse) – 25 February 2015
• Finance in Cornwall (Newquay Cinema) – 12 May 2015
50. www.francisclark.co.uk
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Disclaimer & copyright
Notas del editor
Revenue streams
Demonstrated ability (i.e. their branding, video, traction to date, pitch text quality etc)
Relevant industry experience or business experience
Can you deliver what you say will? Most people can write a business plan & financials but can YOU execute those plans and DELIVER an EXIT?
As the quality of the founders rated as the most vital factor, our findings align with angel and venture capital literature.
Entrepreneurs should put more effort into positively framing their own experience and leadership ability as investors value these attributes very highly.
- For any skills that the entrepreneur personally lacks, emphasis should be drawn to the skills of the team to show how other members fill the gap.
Product factors ranked second aligning with the work of Muzyka et al. (1996) and Riquelme & Rickards (1992), who both found this was the case for venture capitalists.
Growing market is vital, very hard to create value and exit in a shrinking market
Traction within the market is vital either via sales, number of customers or users in tech co’s, testimonials etc
Surveys are OK however nothing shows traction like customers parting with their money for your product
Talk about innocent smoothies
The financial calibre of the business is ultimately made up by the other factors
Exit strategy and plan for how investment will be made liquid is vital
Ideally 5 years and 10x return, i.e. £1m now will be £10m in 5 years but ultimately all investors are looking for that ‘unicorn’ 100X return (FB, UBER, Whatsapp etc)
- first full fledged exit will be coming soon
-Our study found that crowd investors’ preferred exit strategy is via trade sale, followed by IPO exit, share buyback and dividend payouts.
-entrepreneurs must show evidence of market research, what kind of company would buy the venture and why; providing examples where possible.
It was found that the average expected time to see a return was 4.11 years. The vast majority of the crowd want to realise the return on their investment within 5 years
Entrepreneurs should plan their exit strategy to offer an investment horizon within 5 years, trying to tie crowd investors into the venture for longer than this is likely to significantly hinder fundraising success.
2
Have the correct box’s been ticked?
Records stand up to scrutiny?
IP in correct co or still in entrepreneurs name? has IP been registered?
Licences correctly executed and legal – do some informal arrangements need to be formalised?
Is there a plan B?
Be aware of what funder is looking at and why so you can be prepared when questions arise
Often take time – grant panel meetings, debt credit committee, etc – build this into plans
However, this decline has been greatly exaggerated by the press and, despite the cries that the bank lending has, for want of a better phrase, died a death;
In December 2012 lending to UK non-financial corporate businesses was at £475bn;
With the Treasury estimating that the Top 5 high street banks accounted for some 92% of this.
This does represent a decline of around 23% since the peak of 2008, but I think that the majority of us would agree that the levels of debt we saw back then were unsustainable.