Puma Investments has officially launched the Puma AIM VCT on the London Stock Exchange (LSE).
This is the first new Alternative Investment Market (AIM) focused VCT to launch on the LSE in 18 years.
The launch of this Venture Capital Trusts (VCT) came after “strong demand” from the financial adviser and wealth management community.
Puma said: “The Puma AIM VCT aims to deliver compelling returns through investments in companies that are traded on AIM, while delivering the full range of VCT tax reliefs.”
VCTs are investment vehicles that were set up to promote investment in small UK businesses that meet certain criteria.
To encourage support for these businesses, the government offer generous tax benefits.
Collectively, Puma’s investment team has over 50 years’ experience of investing in AIM.
The AIM was launched in 1995 and has helped more than 3,988 companies raise over £130bn.
The AIM is a sub-market of the LSE that is designed to help smaller companies access capital from the public market.
The Puma AIM VCT has already made its first investment in Quantum Base, the quantum science company focused on creating a new global standard in authentication.
The business was founded in 2013 as a spin-out from Lancaster University, through which Professor Robert Young’s discoveries in the field of quantum physics could be commercialised.
LSE head of UK primary markets & AIM Marcus Stuttard said: “We are delighted to welcome the listing of the Puma AIM VCT to the London Stock Exchange.
“Venture Capital Trusts play a vital role in supporting scaling businesses so that they can continue to innovate, create jobs and scale. The PUMA AIM VCT will provide welcome additional investment into growth companies admitted to AIM.”
Puma Investments CEO David Kaye added: “We are proud of the long track record we have in supporting so many SMEs’ growth journeys and investing in AIM has formed an important part of that.
“Feedback from the adviser community has been excellent and we look forward to building on the strong start to Puma AIM VCT, the first new AIM VCT in 18 years.”