Last week Thompson Taraz were delighted to attend the annual EISA Awards held at the House of Lords.

We are delighted to announce that Thompson Taraz received a Commendation in the category of Best EIS/SEIS Regulatory or Legal Advisor at the Chairman’s House of Lords Awards Ceremony.

The EIS Association Chairman’s Annual Reception was held on Thursday 12th February at the House of Lords. The event, presided over by Chairman, Lord Flight, brought together all EISA members to discuss developments in the EIS industry and issues serving to inhibit further growth. In her welcome speech, Baroness O’Cathain, OBE, highlighted the problem of youth unemployment and asked each EIS Association member to consider employing just one young person in a bid to tackle it. Also touching on the UK’s socio-economic challenges, guest speaker, Mark Garnier, Member of the Treasury Select Committee, spoke about the continuing difficulty of small businesses in raising equity investment, and reiterated the negative effect of ongoing southeast centric investment.  He congratulated the EISA on its work helping to channel funds into the enterprise arena, and also for its work with other industry groups.

Speaking at the VCT and EIS Investor Forum on Tuesday 26th November, Lord Flight, Chair of the EIS Association (EISA) for the past eight years, has highlighted the need to improve the attractiveness of approved EIS funds – something he referred to as the "Cinderella" of the EIS world. Currently, HMRC approved EIS funds must invest 90% of monies raised across a minimum of four companies within 12 months of the investment opportunity closing in order for investors to benefit from the associated tax advantages. In addition, all investments have to be pro-rated across all investors. The advantage of an HMRC approved fund is that tax relief is given to the investor on investing into the fund but the consequences of missing one, or all of these conditions (and thus succumbing to 'clawback' and/or deferral of relief) means that few approved funds have ever been launched. The market is made up, therefore, largely of unapproved EIS funds. It will be interesting to see how HMRC, and the industry at large, responds to Lord Flight's call.

For those involved or interested in EIS, SEIS and other alternative investments, we are out and about next week at two major industry events. On Tuesday 26 November, we’ll be attending the VCT and EIS Investor Forum, held at 200 Aldersgate, St Paul’s and, the following day, Wednesday 27 November we’ll be at the Alternative Investment Summit 2013, at Central Hall in Westminster. For anyone that would like to meet us there for a chat about how we might be able to help you get your fund off the ground, please email Catherine Deptford, our Investment Manager: Catherine.Deptford@thompsontaraz.co.uk