Mercia in university partnership deal

MERCIA Technologies, the listed funder which acquired Enterprise Ventures in March, has secured four university partnerships in the north and Scotland.

Mercia said the four partnerships with Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh Napier University, the University of St Andrews in Scotland and Sheffield Hallam University will further enhance its ability to source promising investment opportunities in two of the group’s key target regions for expansion.

Mercia said its network of 18 university partners reflect the group’s regional presence in the Midlands (nine universities), the north  (four) and Scotland (five), in line with its strategy to be the “go-to” finance provider for high growth, innovative businesses in these regions.

The university partnerships provide the group with access to spin-out and early stage investment opportunities.

Mark Payton, chief executive of Mercia, said: “These new Scottish university partnerships via our office in Edinburgh, alongside our existing partners of Abertay and Strathclyde Universities reflect our strengthening presence in one of our target regions as we seek to become the go-to provider of finance for innovative Scottish companies.

“Meanwhile, following our recent acquisition of Enterprise Ventures, the partnership with Sheffield Hallam University will similarly continue to build our presence in the north of England alongside York, Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores universities.

“Providing approximately a third of all our investment activity, these additional partnerships support our continued ability to work with universities to identify investment opportunities.”

Manchester-headquartered Enterprise Ventures wass been bought by Mercia Technologies in an £11m deal back in March, which Mercia said will accelerate its plans to become a national technology investment business.

Close