The Advantage Early Growth Fund
For five years between 2004 and 2009 the Advantage Early Growth Fund was one of the most active investors in the UK making 111 investments in 61 West Midlands based companies totalling £8.79m. Because it was a "co-investment fund" each investment had to be at least matched by private investors at the same price per share so AEGF's capital was matched by £21.5m from 507 private investors and a further £7.6m of bank and other institutional loans. This means that AEGF brought a total of almost £40m to early stage businesses in the region.
The fund is now fully invested and has entered a period of 5-7 years in which it will be seeking profitable 'exits' from its investments so that it can achieve its main objective; to demonstrate that small venture capital investments can be profitable.
