Investing Policy

Tern’s investment policy is to invest principally, but not exclusively, in the information technology sector within Europe. The Directors believe that the Company can invest in and acquire information technology businesses, improve them by a combination of new management and investment, and realise the value created which will be returned to shareholders. The Company may be either an active investor and acquire control of a single company or it may acquire non-controlling shareholdings. Once a target has been identified, additional funds may need to be raised by the Company to complete a transaction.

The Directors see IT as having considerable growth potential for the foreseeable future and many of the prospects they have identified are in this sector. The Company has invested in six investee companies, four of which comprise the principal portfolio companies and the Directors believe there are further opportunities to invest in and acquire established IT businesses which have good technology, marquee customers and could better exploit their assets with the injection of experienced management and new funds with the intention of creating value for shareholders.

Although the main focus of the investment policy has been on the exploitation of IT businesses, which the Directors intend to continue; this will not preclude the Company from considering an investment in suitable projects in other sectors where the Directors believe that there are high-growth opportunities.

The Directors believe the main driver of success for the Company is the expertise that can be provided by the Directors to the management involved in its investee companies and the value creation that the team of people is capable of realising. The Company is, and intends to continue to be, an active investor. Accordingly, it has sought and may seek in future investments, representation on the board of investee companies.

The new capital available to the Company will be used to support and assist its investee companies to grow, where appropriate, and used to locate, evaluate and select investment opportunities that offer satisfactory potential capital returns for shareholders. The Company may require further funds in order to invest further in its principal portfolio companies and take up these opportunities. It is the intention of the Directors to undertake further fundraising if such an opportunity should arise. The Company’s investments may take the form of equity, debt, or convertible instruments. Investments may be made in all types of assets falling within the remit of the Investing Policy and there will be no investment restrictions.

The Directors may consider it appropriate to take an equity interest in any proposed investment which may range from a minority position to 100 percent ownership. Proposed investments may be made in either quoted or unquoted companies and structured as a direct acquisition, joint venture or as a direct interest in a project.

The Company has made investments and will seek further investment opportunities that can be developed through the investment of capital or where part of or all of the consideration could be satisfied by the issue of new Ordinary Shares or other securities in the Company. The investments the Company has made and any new opportunities have, or would generally have, some or all of the following characteristics, namely:

  • a majority of their revenue derived from IT or the use of IT, and strongly positioned to benefit from market growth;
  • a trading history which reflects past profitability or potential for significant capital growth going forward; and
  • where all or part of the consideration could be satisfied by the issue of new Ordinary Shares or other securities in the Company.

The Company will identify and assess potential investment targets and where it believes further investigation is required, intends to appoint appropriately qualified advisers to assist.

The Company proposes to carry out a comprehensive and thorough project review process in which all material aspects of any potential investment will be subject to rigorous due diligence, as appropriate. It is likely that the Company’s financial resources will be invested in a small number of projects or investments.