Oxford Capital Partners named Venture Capital House of the Year

Specialist venture capital investment manager, Oxford Capital Partners, was named Venture Capital House of the Year at this week’s Unquote” Private Equity Awards ceremony in London. The award, sponsored by ICON Corporate Finance, recognised Oxford Capital Partners’ success in investing in and supporting high growth technology companies. Introducing the awards, Jeremy Vine of the BBC said: “the judges noted a clear focus and niche specialisation”. Oxford Capital Partners won this prestigious award against strong competition from many other firms in the venture market.

Oxford Capital Partners is focused on capturing value from outstanding innovative companies across the southern central area of the UK. Government research* has highlighted that the emergence of new businesses and the drivers for growth in this region is amongst the best in Europe. A professional portfolio approach increases the chance of catching some of the great winners of tomorrow whilst reducing risk. For example:

  • Oxonica, a spinout from Oxford University, and is now a European leader in the field of nanotechnology, commercialising applications in various fields including healthcare, communications, environmental protection and transport. It listed on AIM in June 2005;
  • Oxitec, based near Abingdon, is a world leader in organic science through its technologies to fight insect-borne crop pests and tropical diseases, and;
  • Hardide, with its headquarters near Oxford and operations also in Texas, is a world leader in surface engineering technology offering a unique combination of ultra-hardness, low friction and chemical resistance for use on components made from steel and other materials used, for example, in the oil & gas exploration industry.
  • Rostima, based in Maidenhead sells software to optimise labour resources and generate labour cost efficiency savings of up to 10% in large organisations.

Three companies in the Oxford Capital Partners’ portfolio have listed on AIM during 2005 which have increased the value of its funds.

David Mott, Investment Director, who collected the award, commented:

“We are delighted to win this prestigious award against strong competition from our peers in the venture market. Opportunity in this market is on the rise again, confirming vibrant health of venture investing in the UK. As one of the most active funds in the UK, we will have made 20 investments in just over 18 months. Three of these companies have already listed.”

Ted Mott, Chief Executive, said:

“Our location by the so-called ‘Silicon Spires’, puts us close to leading science and technology development across the south and central region of the UK. The fundamental drivers are strong and the investments we are making back the enterprise economy. We have a high quality investor base and have generated high returns from investments in some of the fastest growing companies in the UK.”

*DTI report: ‘Business Clusters in the UK’; and ‘Enterprise Britain’ – Local Futures Programme

About Oxford Capital Partners:

Oxford Capital Partners is a venture capital firm with over 12 years of experience of investing in and supporting science and technology businesses. Specialising in identifying exceptional companies with high growth potential, Oxford Capital Partners supports companies from an early stage through to IPO. Oxford Capital Partners manages the Oxford Gateway Fund No.1 (1999), the Oxford Gateway Fund No.2 (2003) and the Oxford Gateway Fund No.3 (2005) which together have made over 25 investments in technology and life science sectors. Oxford Capital Partners is an active supporter of the UK’s science and technology base.

For further information, please contact:

David Mott, Oxford Capital Partners
Tel: 01865 860 760
email: dmott@oxcp.com

1 December 2005

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