Business
Four New University Partnerships
Four New University Partnerships.
About this update from Mercia Asset Management Plc
[{"type":"text","content":"\n \nRNS Number : 6067B Mercia Technologies PLC 20 June 2016 \n\n\n\n\n\nFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\n\n20 June 2016\n\n\n\n\n \nMercia Technologies PLC\n\"Mercia\" or \"the Group\"\n \nFour New University Partnerships in Scotland and the North of England\nCreates one of the largest networks of University Partnerships in the UK\n \nMercia Technologies PLC (AIM: MERC), which is focused on the creation, funding and scaling of innovative technology businesses with high growth potential from the UK regions, is pleased to announce that it has secured four new university partnerships in the North of England and Scotland. The four new partnerships with Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh Napier University, the University of St Andrews in Scotland and Sheffield Hallam University in the North of England, will further enhance Mercia's ability to source promising investment opportunities in two of the Group's key target regions for expansion. \n \nMercia now benefits from a significant network of 18 university partners which reflect the Group's regional presence in the Midlands (nine universities), the North of England (four) and Scotland (five), in line with its strategy to be the \"go-to\" finance provider for high growth, innovative businesses in these regions.\n \nThese collaborative university partnerships provide the Group with access to an excellent flow of spin-out and early stage investment opportunities. Together with the professional network of Mercia's technology transfer team, the university partnerships provide Mercia with a compelling ability to source new investments. This is central to Mercia's strategy to create shareholder value by nurturing and providing funding continuity to innovative businesses from an early stage via its third party funds through to maturity via its own balance sheet cash resources.\n \n \nMark Payton, Chief Executive Officer of Mercia, commented:\n \n\"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 Universi...