BP Marsh eyes two bolt-on investments
VENTURE capital group BP Marsh & Partners yesterday said it was exploring two new investment opportunities in the UK and Finland to boost its asset portfolio.
The Aim-listed early stage investor in financial services firm, led by Brian Marsh, is eyeing the two businesses to take the number of firms it invests in from nine to 11.
The fund, which has £48m worth of investments, yesterday posted a 3.8 per cent increase in net asset value for the six months to 31 July. Its value increased 7.3 per cent over the 12 month period. The firm also posted profits of £2.2m, up from £2m in July.
BP Marsh is a niche investor taking equity stakes of between 15 and 45 per cent in start up companies across Europe, ranging from insurers to brokers to asset managers.
Despite the onslaught of European financial regulation, Marsh told City A.M. the need for financial service firms would still grow. “If you have a good global spread you should to be able to cope with geographical problems,” he said.
Analysts have speculated insurance firm Hyperion Group, 14 per cent owned by BP Marsh, will float in September 2013. At £31.1m, the stake is worth more than Marsh’s entire market cap of £25m.