As you may have read in our Grants and other Funding Update Newsletters, the funding landscape, specifically for grants, has been referred to as a revolving door. The latest entrants include various EISF calls, the South West Growth Fund & Innovation 4 Growth. We thought it opportune to run through the latest position on non-bank funding for SMEs, with a particular focus on the grant funding in your LEP area.
5. www.francisclark.co.uk
Appetite and Leverage: national
• Cash holdings continue to grow, reducing SME needs for
bank finance. Deposit levels are growing by 9% annually
and significantly exceed SME borrowing, by around £59
billion.
• For those SMEs applying for bank finance, approval rates
are around 80% for smaller businesses and 90%
for medium-sized. The second quarter saw 31,500 loans
approved for SMEs.
• Medium businesses in particular are seeing an improving
trend in new loans
https://www.bba.org.uk/news/statistics/sme-statistics/bank-support-for-smes-2nd-quarter-2015/#.VhJLG1Jwapp
8
6. www.francisclark.co.uk
Appetite and Leverage: local
• Increasing flexibility in face of a competitive market
• Relationship focused
• Re-organised – greater emphasis on the SME / MME
market (Good news for South West)
• Significant variation in approach/process (credit v local)
• Depends on the nature and structure of a transaction –
expansion/acquisition/MBO
• 2.5 - 3X EBITDA upper end for SMEs
• Competition will drive up
8
8. www.francisclark.co.uk
Rates and Terms
• Likely to go up – but not by much for a while
• Rates – consensus from economists of base rate being
c2% by 2019
• Fixed rates / interest rate protection – back on the
agenda though will require mutual agreement and
borrower sign
11
9. www.francisclark.co.uk
Rates and Terms
• Lending documentation continuing to grow
• Bank’s relaxing terms / covenants on their
documentation?
• SME negotiating position generally weak – but can
to look to very “standard terms” (side letter?)
• Personal guarantees - easy to give, hard to get
back (build in their release to offer letters?)
• FRS102…
• Make sure your projections satisfy the covenants
with headroom (say 20% on operational covenants)
• For strong businesses / proposals – ability to
negotiate terms
11
10. www.francisclark.co.uk
“Challenge to the Status Quo” - UK
Challenger Banks
Phrase coined by Vince Cable
Big 4 (HSBC, LBG, RBS, Barclays) plus Santander and Handlesbanken
Metro bank – first new banking licence for more than 100 years
Other challengers – Virgin, Paragon, Aldermore*, Shawbrook*, OneSavings*
Interestingly (*) are Private Equity owned. A number of 2016 flotations planned
Can they “challenge” the Big 4. Time will tell
Flexible
Speed of response
Impact of a downturn?
Critical mass? More consolidation?!!
11. www.francisclark.co.uk
Funding Landscape (Non-bank)
• https://www.gov.uk/business-finance-support-finder
• 557 schemes (down from 630 schemes)
• Main sources of grants, include
• EU/ESIF funds (ERDF, ESF & EAFRD)
• Regional Growth Fund
• City Deals
• Growth Fund
• Innovate UK (Technology Strategy Board)
• Big Lottery – Coastal Community Fund (post 2017?)
• Health Lottery – Community based
(https://www.healthlottery.co.uk/about-us)?
12. www.francisclark.co.uk
External Grant Funds – The Sources
Regional Growth Fund
• Monies left behind on dissolution of RDA’s
• £2.4bn
• 2011 to 2015
• Applications > £1m
• Competitive process
• Round 7?
• eRGF (International Mobility & Economic Shock and other funds
exhausted)?
• RGF funded schemes for SMEs
• Incl; PWGF1, PWGF 2, GGF+, ND+ UBI, SWGF and Assisted
Asset Purchase
• Not sector specific, criteria different for individual schemes
13. www.francisclark.co.uk
External Grant Funds – The Sources
EU/ESIF
• Convergence: Cornwall 2007 to 2013
• EU (announced June 2013)
Cornwall: €592.9 million (£507 million) between 2014-2020
Devon and Somerset:118 million euros (£100 million).
• Eligibility
Location, Displacement, Quality Jobs, Sector exclusions
14. www.francisclark.co.uk
“State aid”
Key phrases
• “De minimis” (< 200,000 euros over 3 fiscal
years)
• Block exemption
• Assisted Area
• Large Co, SME
Care
• Other grants
• R&D Tax Credits
• EIS/ SEIS
• Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme
15. www.francisclark.co.uk
Grants, Debt and Equity - Funds
RGF (& eRGF): Individual applications (> £1m)
• Quality projects
• Generate private sector investment and
create sustainable jobs.
• The level of grant is subject to State Aid
rules
• Robust need for grant argument.
• Maximum grant intervention rate c 30%:
• Some Francis Clark successes in previous
rounds and some being assessed now..
16. www.francisclark.co.uk
Grants, Debt and Equity – The Funds
South West Growth Fund (‘SWGF’)
• £8.7m RGF backed grant scheme
• Launched Sept 2015
• Wider South West, incl Cornwall
• Grants of £15k to £1m for capital projects
• Intervention rates vary on location and size of business (e.g.,
Cornwall 45% to 25%)
• Other support: MAS and SWW
• EOI (fee); full application (fee) to panel assessment
• Eligibility (target sectors v displacement)
• Cost/ job (£8.5k)
• Projects to complete by 31 March 2017
http://www.francisclark.co.uk/news-views/blog/south-west-growth-fund-swgf-more-details/
17. www.francisclark.co.uk
Grants, Debt and Equity – The Funds
North Devon Plus + Unlocking Business
Investment (‘ND+ UBI’)
• £4m RGF backed grant scheme (over £1.7m awarded to date)
• HoSW LEP area only
• Grants of £25k to £500k for capital projects
• Intervention rates vary depending on location and size of business
(10% to 30% under GBER)
• EOI (fee); full application to panel assessment
• Eligibility (target sectors v displacement)
• Cost/ job (£10k)
• Private sector investment
• Projects to complete by 31 March 2017
• Jobs to be created by 31 March 2019
http://www.francisclark.co.uk/news-views/blog/unlocking-business-investment-an-update/
19. www.francisclark.co.uk
Grants, Debt and Equity – The Funds
Cornwall Marine Capital Fund – Closed?
• Grant funding £50k - £500k for Cornish/ SW based businesses operating in
the marine sector;
• Intervention rate 10%-40% depending on value for money, size of business
and direct jobs created (large businesses can receive no more than 30%);
• Eligible costs are capital investment into equipment (new and modernisation),
premises (building new, modernisation, fit out and bringing old businesses
back into use) and marine renewable technology development;
• Allocation of funds to projects within the programme will only be made once
proof of match funding has been seen.
• Start with an online EOI
• http://www.cornwallmarine.net/52/about-cornwall-marine-network-6/rgf-
201/major-new-funding-opportunity-for-cmn-members-376.html
20. www.francisclark.co.uk
Grants, Debt and Equity – The Funds
• Assisted Asset Purchase Scheme
Grant contribution to deposit on Asset Purchase
Parameters depend on bank e.g., Lloyds
• Grants < £500k
• 20% for Small Co and 10% for Medium Co
• 1 job created or safeguarded for £15k grant
• No minimum deposit from own funds (?)
• Balance of funds (min £100k) from Lloyds TSB
Lloyds TSB closed. HSBC AAP is closed. Nat West/ RBS is
closed. Close Bros and Ignition Credit are open
RGF Funded – limited availability
21. www.francisclark.co.uk
Creative Businesses
Creative England Funding:
• Creative Cities Growth Programme -
http://www.creativeengland.co.uk/business/creative-cities-growth-
programme
• Business Loans (interest free) -
http://www.creativeengland.co.uk/business/business-loans
• Equity Investment Programme -
http://www.creativeengland.co.uk/business/equity-investment-
programme
• All Business related support -
http://www.creativeengland.co.uk/business
Arts Council:
• Funding information - http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/funding/
22. www.francisclark.co.uk
Previously known as “Grant for R&D”
Science, Engineering and Technology: New Products and Services
Grant support for SMEs:
• Proof of market (9 months, £25k, 60%)
• Proof on concept (18 months, £100k, 60%)
• Development of prototype (2 years, £250k, 35% / 45%)
Competitive / Batch Applications
Smart v R&D Tax Credits - cannot have both for same project
Grants, Debt and Equity – The Funds
SMART
23. www.francisclark.co.uk
Innovate UK
Suite of funds:
• https://interact.innovateuk.org/
• Some more feasibility study based
• Some more generally relevant to SMEs, e.g. Innovation Vouchers
24. www.francisclark.co.uk
Grants, Debt and Equity – The Funds
Innovation 4 Growth
• £4m RGF backed grant scheme
• Reopened September 2015
• South West businesses with R&D plans
• “Experimental development”
• Grants of £25k to c£150k for R&D projects
• Intervention rate of 35%
• Start with 50 word summary of market and technology that project
covers
http://www.francisclark.co.uk/news-views/blog/innovation-4-growth-is-back-and-aimed-experimental-
development-projects/
Applications closed 14
October 2015. May
reopen in 2016
25. www.francisclark.co.uk
Grants, Debt and Equity – The Funds
ESIF and EARDF Growth Programme(s)
• EU funding: EAFRD, ERDF and ESF
• “Calls” – National
• Cornwall - http://www.francisclark.co.uk/news-views/blog/future-visibility-on-cornwall-and-isles-
of-scilly-esif-calls/
• Heart of SW (EAFRD) - http://www.francisclark.co.uk/news-views/blog/heart-of-the-sw-eafrd-
allocation-detailed-acronym-heavy-but-useful-guidance-on-pages-5-and-6/
• Open calls - include one for F&D producers in Cornwall and Isles
of Scilly and one in each of Heart of SW LEP and Dorset LEP for
“tourism” - http://www.francisclark.co.uk/news-views/blog/calls-for-tourism-projects-one-in-heart-of-south-west-lep-area-
and-one-for-dorset-lep-area/
• To view current ‘calls’ visit https://www.gov.uk/european-
structural-investment-funds then tick Location: South West,
• Timings…!
26. www.francisclark.co.uk
Grants, Debt and Equity – The Funds
LEADER, funding delivered through LAGs (Local Action Groups)
• General
• Cover “rural areas”
• Wider scope than Agri-food sectors
• Cornwall
• £3.65m/ £7.3m allocated to: Improvements in farm and forestry
productivity; SME competitiveness and Farm diversification
• Grants of between £2.5k and £35k to fund up to 50% of project costs.
• Now Open!
• Devon
• https://new.devon.gov.uk/fundingnews/fund/eu-leader-programme-local-action-groups/
27. www.francisclark.co.uk
Grants
Factors contributing to a successful application…
1. Project
2. Eligibility (Priority Sectors v Ineligible. “Displacement”)
3. Robust Business Case
4. Business Plan (and Financial Projections)
5. Dialogue with fund holders
6. Understanding their requirements: strategic and operational
7. Need for grant
8. Patience/ Completeness
9. Understanding timelines
10. Match funding – seldom 100% intervention and seldom pay in
advance of defrayal
29. www.francisclark.co.uk
Grants, Debt and Equity – The Funds?
GROWTH FUNDS
• CIOS LEP anticipating a further round and will bid
• Looking for a project pipeline
• Minimum grant £100k
• Projects to support the objectives of existing CIOS Strategic
Economic Plan
• Capital projects ready to start in 2016/17
• Can include GP surgeries
• http://www.francisclark.co.uk/news-views/blog/have-you-got-an-economic-growth-project-of-tomorrow-for-
cornwall-isles-of-scilly/
30. www.francisclark.co.uk
• South West Loans Fund
Up to £50k
Viable growth businesses with funding gap
Maximum 5 year term
PGs required
Commercial rates (6% to 10%)
Across the South West
Grants, Debt and Equity – The Funds
SWIG administered, includes
31. www.francisclark.co.uk
Grants, Debt and Equity – The Funds
• £1.2 million loan fund
• Funded by RGF
• Aimed at South West micro, small and medium sized businesses, with growth
potential, which are unable to secure all the funding they need (i.e. from the
bank);
• Available to most sectors, including those ineligible for European Funding;
• Loans £10,000 - £100,000 (average £30,000)
• Maximum term 3 years
• 10% fixed annual interest rate
• Arrangement fee of 2% of loan amount payable on loan draw down
• Businesses must demonstrate investment will create or safeguard jobs
• Available to start up and existing businesses
• application process starts by completing an eligibility form
• http://www.francisclark.co.uk/news-views/blog/south-west-investment-group-
swig-add-new-loan-to-their-arsenal/
SWIG administered, includes
32. www.francisclark.co.uk
Grants, Debt and Equity – The Funds
SWIG administered, includes
• Start Up Loans
Trading for < 12 months (can be extended to 24 months)
Loans between £500 and £9,900 @ low interest rate (6%)
Average loan of £6k
Fully funded business advice putting together business plan
Fully funded support from a business mentor for a year
http://swigstartups.co.uk/what-we-do/
33. www.francisclark.co.uk
Grants, Debt and Equity – The Funds
The Banks…including
• Santander’s Breakthrough fund
£200m for SMEs (turnover < £25m)
Mezzanine Loan
Interest only: 5% over LIBOR paid quarterly, further 5% rolling
up
No set limits on sums borrowed but c £500k to £3m
Not for start-ups
Track record of profitable and cash generative growth (20% pa)
34. www.francisclark.co.uk
Grants, Debt and Equity – The Funds
Others
• Energy Efficiency Financing Scheme
Siemens Financial Services and Carbon Trust
Business trading > 36 months
Investment in energy efficient equipment (and renewable energy
generation?)
Loan e.g., Interest rate c 9% for a 7 year term loan repayable in monthly
instalments.
• ReEnergise SmartEnergy Finance
Investment in renewable energy and energy efficient projects
£5m fund
SMEs – loans of £25k to £250k on commercial terms
Target sectors incl manufacturing, leisure and hospitality
35. www.francisclark.co.uk
Grants, Debt and Equity
Background
• “UK needs Long Term Finance”
• Small Cap equity finance – Regional stock exchanges
(ie Germany)
• Long term equity – Business Growth Fund?
• Corbynomics - Investment Bank targeted at SME long
term funding
Believe it or not the UK used to have one – eventually became 3i
36. www.francisclark.co.uk
Grants, Debt and Equity – The Funds
Routes to Equity
• “Friends, Families and Fools”
Include related businesses?
• Networks e.g., SWAIN, OXIN
• Conduits e.g., UEC Enterprises, GAIN?
• Virtual Networks e.g., Crowdcube
• Venture capitalists and Private Equity e.g., Piper
Private Equity, Altitude Partners LLP, Longwall
Venture Partners, LDC or Dunedin
37. www.francisclark.co.uk
Grants, Debt and Equity – The Funds
Routes to equity – government led interventions
• Business Growth Fund
Commercial Fund
Bank financed
Investments of b/w £2m and £10m
Minority stakes
Relaxed on sectors – but no property or financial services
T/over > £5m (but will speak to clients earlier)
38. www.francisclark.co.uk
Grants, Debt and Equity – The Funds
Routes to equity – government led interventions
• Angel CoFund (RGF)
Initial Equity Investments
£100k to £1m
Alongside syndicates of Business Angels
Upper limit of 49% of any investment round
No direct applications by SME
39. www.francisclark.co.uk
The funds…
Crowdsourcing
• Equity e.g.,
• Crowdcube - http://www.crowdcube.com/
• BrewDog - http://www.brewdog.com/equityforpunks
• Debt e.g.,
• Funding Circle https://www.fundingcircle.com/ and http://www.francisclark.co.uk/news-
views/blog/francis-clark-brokers-over-1m-in-funding-for-south-west-businesses/
• Folk 2 Folk http://www.folk-folk.com/
• Rewards e.g.,
• Crowdfunder http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/
40. www.francisclark.co.uk
Grants, Debt and Equity – Support
Business Growth Service, includes
• Growth Accelerator
Coaching, Access to Finance or Growth Through Innovation
(subsidised)
Leadership and Management (subsidised £2k per manager)
• Manufacturing Advisory Service (“MAS”)
• UK Trade and Investment (“UKTI”)
41. www.francisclark.co.uk
Grants, Debt and Equity – Support
British Business Bank
• Not a provider of funds directly to SMEs, but a
provider of funds to 80 finance partners, including
SWIG and Funding Circle
• British Business Bank programmes include:
• Angel Co Fund
• Enterprise Capital Funds
• Help to Grow Growth Loans
• Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme
• Start Up Loans
42. www.francisclark.co.uk
Grants, Debt and Equity – Support
Growth Hub
• Cornwall & Isles of Scilly LEP - interim
• http://www.ciosgrowthhub.com/
• Heart of SW LEP – EOI closes 30 October 2015
• Dorset LEP - http://www.dorsetgrowthhub.co.uk/
• West of England LEP – launches December 2015
43. www.francisclark.co.uk
Grants, Debt and Equity – Support
Keeping up to date… Francis Clark
• Finance in Cornwall and Finance in South West
factsheet
• 2 monthly e-news letters
• Blog
• Richard or Dave (grants); plus other Corporate
Finance colleagues (debt and equity)
• Finance in South West event – 23 February 2016
44. www.francisclark.co.uk
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Editor's Notes
Notes:
Variations between Banks and within Banks and some new ‘challenger’ Banks [Julian Hodge Bank, Metro Bank] emerging with local presence.
Not all sectors have similar attractions.
Local lending discretion has all but gone – years gone by Bank Directors in the region could sanction multimillion pound lending on their own account.
Reputational risk will be considered not only when assessing turnarounds – concern re moral issues if a deal appears ‘too good’ for the customer.
Notes:
Variations between Banks and within Banks and some new ‘challenger’ Banks [Julian Hodge Bank, Metro Bank] emerging with local presence.
Not all sectors have similar attractions.
Local lending discretion has all but gone – years gone by Bank Directors in the region could sanction multimillion pound lending on their own account.
Reputational risk will be considered not only when assessing turnarounds – concern re moral issues if a deal appears ‘too good’ for the customer.
Notes:
Variations between Banks and within Banks and some new ‘challenger’ Banks [Julian Hodge Bank, Metro Bank] emerging with local presence.
Not all sectors have similar attractions.
Local lending discretion has all but gone – years gone by Bank Directors in the region could sanction multimillion pound lending on their own account.
Reputational risk will be considered not only when assessing turnarounds – concern re moral issues if a deal appears ‘too good’ for the customer.
Notes:
There is no doubt that competition will drive down rates
Some borrowing still at historic rates e.g. - 0.75% above Libor!
Watch if these are replaced as part of a refinancing.
MBO – down to sub 1.5% and 0.5% fee
Watch what the margin is in relation to – Base, Libor or the Banks own rate (normally substantially higher than both)
Projections continue to show that rates will go up next year (but they have shown this for many years now!)
In the meantime the volume of paperwork/loan documentation has significantly gone up and Bank and client lawyers involved in many facility terms.
Covenants – run them - still often breach under base case – try and get 20% headroom on operational covenants.
FRS102 – do they take this into account?
If they wont change the ‘standard’ terms – try getting a side letter agreed.
PG’s – try and get released when certain security levels have been achieved or debt levels have reduced below a certain level.
Projections continue to show that rates will go up next year (but they have shown this for many years now!)
In the meantime the volume of paperwork/loan documentation has significantly gone up and Bank and client lawyers involved in many facility terms.
Covenants – run them - still often breach under base case – try and get 20% headroom on operational covenants.
FRS102 – do they take this into account?
If they wont change the ‘standard’ terms – try getting a side letter agreed.
PG’s – try and get released when certain security levels have been achieved or debt levels have reduced below a certain level.