Eligibility

• are classed as SMEs (small to medium sized enterprise)
• are unquoted (meaning they are not listed on any form of exchange, for example, the London Stock Exchange or Alternative Investment Market)
• meet one or more of the following criteria with regard to their location:-
• have (or will have) their principal place of business within an eligible coalfield ward
• employ (or will employ) a significant proportion of their workforce from an eligible coalfield ward
• bring (or will bring) material economic benefit to an eligible coalfield ward
• do not operate in any of the excluded sectors
• are able to produce a commercial return to the Funds on their investment

Ordinary shares

• A minority shareholding of 5 to 30%
• Annual dividend linked to profitability

Preference shares

• Dividend usually payable six monthly
• Redemption typically annually over 5 years, although capital redemption holidays are available where appropriate

Loan

• Interest rate at similar levels to bank borrowing, with flexible payment arrangements
• Unsecured
• Repayment typically quarterly over five years although capital repayment holidays are available where appropriate

Or, a combination of the above

The Fund Manager is able to put together financial packages to meet your company's current and future funding requirements

Where the Funds invest below £500,000, they will usually do so alongside other funding providers, for instance banks, invoice discounting companies and other venture capital funds. At this level of investment, the Funds are able to invest up to 50% of the total funding requirement, with the balance being any other form of finance, including all forms of equity and debt.

Coalfields investment wins Deal of the Year

The Funds’ investment in Nottingham-based Trekmates wins Deal of the Year award

Trekmates set for growth

The Coalfields Funds invest in Nottingham-based Trekmates as part of a £8.7million funding package