Mercia's business is the creation, funding, and development of technology businesses with an emphasis in the Midlands and the North of the UK. Mercia brings technology transfer, company formation, incubation, commercialisation and investment, to technology ventures. Mercia is focused on businesses which combine technology and service provision, are rich in intellectual property, are scalable and require relatively modest capital infusion. Mercia focuses on high growth sectors including advanced materials, engineering and specialised manufacturing; electronics and hardware; digital; and life sciences. Mercia has a flexible sourcing model which gives it access to a broad range of opportunities. The Company has collaborative relationships with nine universities in the UK (including the Universities of Birmingham and Warwick) which allow Mercia to access their flow of spinout and early stage investment opportunities as well as a broad professional network through its management and associates. Mercia's funding strategy is to provide early stage businesses with first pathfinder/seed capital from its third party funds under management and at a later stage development capital from its own resources. Mercia manages c. £22 million of third party funds through its wholly owned subsidiary Mercia Fund Management Limited ("MFM"). To date, MFM has invested circa £16 million and manages a portfolio of 38 businesses across a number of sectors at varying stages of development. At Admission Mercia will have direct investments in 11 operating companies. Investing Policy Mercia's investment objective is to generate capital growth for shareholders through the creation, funding and development of high-growth technology businesses. Investments are expected to be mainly in the form of equity. Mercia is an active investor, typically taking a board position on the investee company. Given the time frame to maximise the value of an investment, the Board expects that investments will be held for the medium to long term. The Directors intend to re-invest the proceeds of disposals in accordance with the Investing Policy unless, at the time, the Directors believe that there are no suitable investment opportunities, in which case they will consider returning the proceeds to shareholders in a tax efficient manner. In respect of direct investments the Directors will apply some or all of the following investing criteria: ● a pre-identified strong market potential and high opportunity for growth; ● the identification of likely exit opportunities, ● the technology team being recognised as leaders in their field; ● the existence of an underlying enabling and scalable technology, capable of addressing multiple applications; ● a defensible intellectual property; and ● the technology expected to be no more than two to three years away from demonstrating incremental value to third party investors or buyers or of generating revenues.

http://www.merciatechnologies.com/

Trading in Mercia’s shares is expected to start at 8.00am on Thursday 18 December 2014. (Ticker symbol MERC)

Mercia Technologies - Company update

click here

1.2m investment in Smart Antenna Technologies
RNS
RNS Number : 0366D
Mercia Technologies PLC
22 October 2015

22 October 2015



Mercia Technologies PLC



£1.2m of £1.5m investment in Smart Antenna Technologies



Mercia Technologies PLC (AIM: Merc, "Mercia"), a Midlands-based investment group building, funding and commercialising technology businesses across the UK, has completed a £1.2m follow on investment as part of a total funding syndicate of £1.5m into Smart Antenna Technologies ("SAT"), a spinout from the University of Birmingham. SAT has developed a global antenna system for devices with multiple wireless data connections, including smart phones, tablets and laptops.



Mercia's investment will be used to continue SAT's technology development alongside its ongoing discussions with several major mobile and laptop partners.



Based upon patented technology developed by founder Sampson Hu, SAT provides an efficient and low cost antenna solution to the mobile and portable device market. SAT's highly scalable technology has the potential to lower costs, reduce size, increase frequency range and offer much needed performance gains over existing designs and technologies.



The Executive Chairman of SAT is Colin Tucker, the former Orange CTO and COO for European business, and the founding CEO of 3, the first 3G operator in the UK.



Currently, mobile handsets typically use around six different antennas, but such devices are unable to achieve the desired antenna performance in a size that fits the cellular handset package at acceptable volume production costs. Mobile device manufacturers are now seeking an effective antenna solution for implementing the next generation of mobile communication technologies such as LTE (Long Term Evolution), or 4G.



The global antenna market was estimated to be worth $14.2bn in 2013 and $15.1bn in 2014. It is predicted to grow to $19.9bn by 2019, according to a report published in December 2014 by BCC Research. One billion devices are produced annually, with the portable device market forecast to be producing 2.96 billion units per year by 2017.



SAT is an "emerging star" from Mercia's wholly-owned subsidiary of third party funds, Mercia Fund Management.



Mark Payton, CEO, Mercia Technologies PLC, said:



"We are delighted to continue to support Smart Antenna Technologies, which has gained a great deal of market interest since Mercia Fund Management's initial investment, when it spun out of the University of Birmingham. SAT's technology has the potential to be a major component in the development of next generation mobile devices.



"SAT is a further example of our Complete Capital Solution, whereby we selectively invest to scale portfolio companies emanating from our third party managed funds.



"We look forward to supporting SAT further as it continues to build market opportunities and develops its ongoing discussions with a range of potential commercial partners."



Sampson Hu, founder of Smart Antenna Technologies, said:



"Smart phones are becoming ever more powerful, but as functionality increases more antennas are required. Our patented technology provides one powerful, multi-functional antenna system, with the potential to reduce production costs by up to 50% whilst potentially increasing the battery life of the device.



"Mercia's support has been invaluable since the business was launched in 2013, and we look forward to continuing a rewarding and productive relationship with the Mercia team, as we enter the next phase of our growth story."

MEET THE TECH SUPERSTARS OF TOMORROW

A 12-month share price performance of the companies that presented at the Innovators & Investors Forum last year included:

Elecosoft +42%
Idox +22%
Instem +34%
KBC Advanced +45%
XL Media +41%

The Innovators & Investors Forum, organised in partnership with Cenkos Securities and SHARES, is in its 4th year and is the UK's only technology investment show.

REGISTER NOW

Thousands of investors have attended our previous shows, attendees will also benefit from:

Learning from industry experts and influencers about the markets, the technology sector and individual companies
Find out from fund managers how they view the future in 2016
Meet the directors of up to 30 listed technology focused companies
Listen to our expert team of SHARES journalists

The event is supported with an extensive conference program
Keynote Speakers:

Daniel Coatsworth, Editor - Shares
Mark Dunne, Growth Companies Reporter - SHARES
Steven Frazer, Online Editor - SHARES
Russ Mould, Investment Director - AJ Bell
Richard Penny, Senior Fund Manager - Legal & General UK Alpha Trust
Simon Strong, Head of Research, Growth Companies - Cenkos Securities
Gervais Williams, MD - Miton Group

Further speakers to be announced soon.

Meet the teams and talk directly to CEOs and Directors from:


Abzena
Advanced Oncotherapy
ANGLE
Brady
Cyan
Eckoh
eg solutions
Flowgroup
Harriman House
Ilika
Instem
Kromek
Lombard Risk
Mercia Technologies 
Mirada
Plastics Capital
Quantum Pharma
ReNeuron
Rosslyn Data Technologies
Selftrade
SHARES
Strat Aero
TP Group
TyraTech
XLMedia


Further companies to be announced soon.




Date: 2nd February 2016

Venue: Business Design Centre, London


Event timings

Registration: from 09:00
Conference: 09:45 - 17:00
Exhibition: 09:00 - 18:00



REGISTER NOW

REGISTER NOW



The Growth and Innovation Forum is the UK's only growth and technology focussed investment show.


About the show

Do you want to find the next stock market star performer?

Interested in growth and technology focused companies?

Do you want to know how investing really works?

Are you looking to build your wealth through capital growth and income?

Want to take an active role in managing your money?


Come to the Growth and Innovation Forum and connect with top experts who will share their in-depth knowledge of investing and meet directors from fast-growing and technology led London listed companies.

Some of last year's showcased companies gave investors brilliant returns (31/1/17 to 1/12/17).

Bioventix up 78%

Wandisco up 66%

LoopUp up 51%


The show is brought to you by the team at Shares Magazine and AJ Bell in partnership with Cenkos Securities.


Why you should attend


Hear from more than 30 speakers, including top investment experts, fund managers, company executives and renowned journalists from the Shares team

Meet directors of listed firms, fund managers, savings and investment experts

Learn about investment topics suited to a range of investors from novice to expert

Discover more about the most important market issues and strategies for 2018


REGISTER NOW



FREE GIFTS


Get a Growth and Innovation Forum goody bag worth over £140 when you attend!

Goody bag includes:


1) A one year subscription to Shares Magazine digital. Each week you will receive the latest Shares digital weekly magazine where our team of experts will give you a multitude of investment ideas for income and capital growth. You will also gain access to the Shares investor toolkit with live news, LIVE share prices, fund prices, portfolio and research tools (value £120)

2) Volt Power Bank Charger (2200mAh), boosts your device when you're out and about, by simply connecting it with the USB cable. Approximate charging time is 3-4 hours.

3) The new DIY Investor digital e-book written by Andy Bell, CEO of AJ Bell (RRP £17.99)

PLUS all attendees will be entered into free prize draws for:

An all-new Amazon Echo (2nd generation) which connects to Alexa,a cloud-based voice service, to play music, make calls, set alarms and timers, ask questions, check your calendar, weather, traffic and sports scores, manage to-do and shopping lists, control compatible smart home devices, and more.

A Fitbit Alta fitness wrist band, a customisable fitness tracker designed to fit your personal style. Stay motivated by tracking all-day activity – steps, distance, calories burned and active minutes.

A Wired Magazine subscription (one year Print and Digital). WIRED is the magazine about what's next – bringing you the people, the trends and the big ideas that will change our lives. Each month, through thought-provoking features and stunning photography, they explore the next big ideas in science, culture, and business – wherever innovation and new thinking are reshaping our world.

A Design Museum one year pass. The Design Museum is the world's leading museum devoted to contemporary design in every form from architecture and fashion to graphics, product and industrial design. Design Museum members enjoy free unlimited entry to all the museum’s exhibitions and other benefits besides


The Growth and Innovation Forum is free to attend; you simply need to register in advance to secure your ticket. Please click here to order your ticket and tell your friends to come along to the event which is being held on Tuesday 30 January 2018 between 09.00 and 17.30 at the Business Design Centre, 52 Upper Street, Islington, London, N1 0QH. It is well served by public transport with several tube stations on its doorstep.


Hear From

Companies at this event include:

AJ Bell
Cambridge Cognition
Cloudcall
CML Microsystems
Collagen Solutions
Corero Network Security
Creo Medical
CyanConnode
Duke Royalty
EU Supply
FairFX
Getech
Jaywing
Medaphor
Medherant
Mercia Technologies
nDreams
Plastics Capital
PrimaryBid
RedT energy
Smart Metering Systems
Totally
YU Group

+ more companies to be announced


Guest Speakers

Oliver Brown, Investment Director, R.C. Brown Investment Management

Daniel Coatsworth, Editor, Shares Magazine

Steve Frazer, News Editor, Shares Magazine

Russ Mould, Investment Director, AJ Bell

Richard Penny, Fund Manager, Legal & General UK Alpha Trust

Tom Selby, Senior Analyst, AJ Bell

Gervais Williams, Director and Fund Manager, Miton Group


Event timings

Registration: from 09:00
Conference: 09:45 - 17:00
Exhibition: 09:00 - 17:30

REGISTER NOW