Solving Origination Problems in a Small to Mid-Cap Investment Fund

As the manager of a small to mid-cap investment fund, you face many challenges day to day. From growing levels of competition in the industry to price squeezes that continue to shrink fees and put a strain on the bottom line to the ever present difficulty of attracting qualified leads and new capital, overcoming obstacles has become a way of life.

In this highly competitive environment, one of the most difficult, and until now most intractable, problems has been that of deal origination. In a world where a 0.5% to 1.0% hit ratio is considered good, finding a sufficient number of potential deals is a problem investment managers face every single day.

Think about it this way – in order to close a single deal for your small to mid-cap investment fund, you may have to vet between 100 and 200 potential ones. Every one of those unsuccessful deals represents a waste – of time, of talent, of resources and most importantly of money. If you want to make the most of your marketing budget and keep the steady flow of deals coming to your fund, you need to employ a more creative solution.

Finding that creative solution is what the AQCON deal sourcing platform is all about. Using a combination of algorithmic intelligence, machine learning and human expertise, our firm is able to solve what had previously felt like an unsolvable problem.

Without our platform and its innovative processes, investment managers had faced some significant problems, starting with things … READ MORE ...

Capital Funding Solutions

When evaluating capital funding solutions, companies should ask the right questions. They should consider options for internal and external growth. Growth options may include de-risking the company, pulling money out of the company, or concentrating the net worth of the company into equity value. A proper capital strategy can make all of these choices. Here are some factors to consider:

Mezzanine loans

Mezzanine loans offer investors the security of a secure return on their investment. Unlike equity lenders, mezzanine investors are not at the mercy of the market and are less likely to lose money if a company goes bankrupt. In return for their investment, mezzanine lenders perform due diligence and typically look for a business with a track record of profitability and a detailed plan for use of the funds.

Mezzanine financing provides businesses with the capital they need to grow. This type of capital is patient and allows companies to maximize the value of their stock by increasing the returns on equity. Because mezzanine lenders provide capital abundance, mezzanine loans are a viable option for many middle market companies. A mezzanine loan is an excellent choice for growth-stage businesses. Whether your business needs to build a larger facility, complete acquisitions, or expand sales, mezzanine loans are a great option.

Lines of credit

Banks have long offered lines of credit to businesses, but many individuals aren’t as familiar with them. In fact, banks rarely advertise these lines of credit, and most people aren’t aware of their benefits. One of … READ MORE ...

Capital Funding Examples

In order to determine if your project qualifies for capital funding, consider the equipment you plan to purchase. Some common items that qualify include copper vertical riser distribution cables and fiber optic cables, cable termination equipment, wiring closets on each floor, and the wire used to connect wire closet terminations to outlets. User equipment, which may not be considered common, includes video recorders, personal computers, and modems. You may also need to build a new building.

Working capital

When you’re looking for a line of credit or some other type of business financing, you may want to consider working capital funding examples. Working capital is a measure of your short-term financial strength, indicating your ability to meet your debt obligations and current liabilities within one year. Below you’ll find some examples of working capital funding options and their reasons for being a good choice. To begin, let’s define what a working capital cycle is.

A working capital line of credit is a form of financing that allows businesses to pay for day-to-day expenses. It is generally available as a line of credit from a bank or other lender. You can withdraw funds as needed to meet expenses. These loans are typically unsecured, meaning there’s no collateral involved. However, you must be able to prove that you’ll be able to repay the loan, and they often require that you’re generating revenue. Depending on the specific type of funding you’re seeking, the terms of your loan may be a little different than … READ MORE ...

Capital Funding Companies

Capital funding companies provide money to businesses for several purposes. Some may specialize in funding a specific industry, such as healthcare companies or assisted living facilities. Others may focus on certain stages of a business, such as startup, and provide long-term funding. Regardless of the funding source, capital funding is money given to a business by equity holders or lenders. These companies can help entrepreneurs finance their growth and achieve their goals. Let’s look at some of the different types of capital funding companies.

Venture capitalists

If you are looking for a startup loan, you might be wondering how venture capitalists do their deals. These companies pool their funds to invest in early-stage companies that have the potential to make a significant return. This type of investment is risky because most companies fail to reach profitability, but if the company is able to reach its target revenues, it may be worth pursuing. Venture capitalists at capital funding companies usually provide the capital in the form of convertible notes or preferred stock options.

The capital markets are structured in a way that allows the early-stage companies to raise large amounts of money without requiring substantial risk. These companies often lack access to bank loans, and people with innovative ideas have nowhere else to turn for funding. Furthermore, banks and other lending institutions are prohibited from charging interest rates higher than 1%, and many start-ups do not have this asset to provide collateral. Therefore, venture capitalists at capital funding companies can help … READ MORE ...

Government Funding – Operating, General Obligation Bonds, and the American Rescue Plan

This article discusses the three basic types of funding – operating, General Obligation Bonds, and the American Rescue Plan. Those are all forms of capital funding that the government uses to meet its operational and capital needs. We will look at each in turn. While operating funding is often cited as the primary source of funds, it is not the only one. General Obligation Bonds, which serve as another common source of funding, are also common sources.

Operating funding

Operating grants, also called unrestricted grants, are awarded to nonprofit organizations for the purpose of supporting their general mission and covering overhead expenses. These types of grants are highly competitive because they allow organizations to use the funds however they see fit. In order to get this type of funding, organizations must have a proven track record, have strong leadership and have a well-developed plan. In some cases, businesses may even have to pass an audit to receive a grant.

Reappropriations are commonly used for federally funded programs and capital projects. Typically, capital projects have an estimated cost for all phases of development, including land acquisition, design and construction. The funds that are allocated to each phase are disbursed to meet actual costs as each phase progresses. This process is repeated for each phase of the project. The difference between these two funding sources is the amount of money each phase will require.

General Obligation Bonds

General Obligation Bonds are debt securities issued by the government that are backed by the … READ MORE ...