Boutique advisory firm Strand Hanson sets up Strand Ventures
CORPORATE advisory firm Strand Hanson unveiled today it has launched Strand Ventures, a new division that will target early stage businesses across sectors from natural resources to healthcare.
The firm has poached Iek van Cruyningen and Naiem Hussain, industry veterans from rival boutique firm Silverwind Securities, to lead the London- based venture.
Strand Hanson said the new division which “will advise and source funds ranging from £5m to £100m-plus in both debt and equity” for young businesses and private sector companies that are not yet ready to undergo a stock market listing.
“This is a logical extension of our business, since we currently see a substantial number of excellent companies who are ideal candidates for the types of funding that Strand Ventures can provide,” said Simon Raggett, chief executive of Strand.
“We already have the deal flow and can also provide further value-add advisory services as investee companies develop,” he added.
Cruyningen was previously head of Libertas Americas before joining Silverwind in 2011 while Hussain’s prior roles include director of corporate finance at FinnCap.
The group said while some funding will be sourced from Strand Hanson’s own balance sheet, the majority will come from “major external funders, with which Iek and Naiem have strong, long-term relationships”.
Founded in 1993, Strand Hanson is a leading oil and gas adviser to the Alternative Investment Market and has been involved in around £5bn of deals in the past five years.