VC firm Forward Partners takes first steps towards listing on AIM

The VC firm marks the fourth fintech-related listing in as many months here in London.

Finally, the promised fintech listing spree is here! 

In the last few months, we’ve seen PensionBee and Wise list on the London Stock Exchange and LendInvest reignite its IPO dream, filing its paperwork to list on AIM. Now, it’s the turn of VC firm Forward Partners.

The London-based firm has today submitted its application to begin trading its shares on AIM, with plans to raise £36.5m.

Forward Partners will also strike up a deal with PrimaryBid to give ordinary retail investors the chance to take part in its listing.

“It’s fantastic to see the strong demand from both institutional and retail investors, who support our vision of democratising access to venture capital, and specifically high growth, UK based technology start-ups,” Nic Brisbourne, CEO of Forward Partners, said.

When it lists, Forward Partners’ portfolio will comprise of 46 equity investments in early-stage, high growth UK companies, including a number of fintechs like Zopa, CountingUp and Koyo Loans.

“Through our listing, which was oversubscribed, we can take a longer-term approach to building stronger businesses. That is essential to developing solutions to the world’s problems and driving the UK’s economic recovery post-pandemic.”

Based on the price of its shares, Forward Partners has been valued at around £134.6m, of which BlackRock owns 70.4 per cent and senior management owning just 0.8 per cent.

Shares in Forward Partners are expected to begin trading at 8 am on 19 July 2021.