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SyndicateRoom delivers fertile growth opportunity to investors

Equity crowdfunding experts at SyndicateRoom are offering investors a stake in Fertility Focus, the UK company behind an innovative home test device that delivers unprecedented 99% accuracy on exactly when to conceive - which no other product in the world can do. 

Unlike existing fertility predictor systems, OvuSense^TM uses real-time ovulation monitoring to take the guesswork out of when to try for a baby. It is unique in being able to precisely predict the onset of ovulation a day in advance and confirm the exact time and date when it occurs. 

Fertility Focus is seeking £275,000 in this round for a 6.32% equity stake, with investors being invited to invest a minimum of £1000 at £25 per share. By early 2016 it will seek a further £1m+ from an institutional investor, when it expects the price to exceed £35 per share.

The company predicts an exit value in excess of £60m from a current valuation of £4m, offering investors in this round a potential return worth ten times their investment. Fertility Focus Chairman, Steve Godber, said: "It is not a matter of whether Fertility Focus will deliver a return to shareholders, it is just a question of when and how much."

The investment could significantly benefit the 30% of all women who have ovulatory issues that are undetectable at home and often missed by doctors, as well as the 24 million women worldwide seeking online advice for fertility problems, such as those caused by polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). 

OvuSense is already on the market in Europe and the USA with all the necessary regulatory approvals. It has five clinical publications and a portfolio of six patents that confer compelling competitive advantages. 

The additional investment will enable Fertility Focus to accelerate the launch of its next generation OvuSense product at a much lower price point and extend international sales and marketing for its powerful multi-language, multi-currency e-commerce platform. 

Targeted digital marketing is already driving 9,000 new visitors a month to the OvuSense website. The extra investment is intended to boost visitor rates twentyfold and convert 300% more visits to sales via a more affordable monthly subscription model, in turn allowing rapid margin and EBIT growth.

Commenting, Goncalo De Vasconcelos, CEO at SyndicateRoom said: "This is a rare opportunity to invest in a proven product with strong sales traction and a robust global growth strategy. The team has world-class expertise in consumer digital marketing, high-volume medical devices, women's health and intellectual property development. The CEO, chairman and lead angel investor each have several successful sector exits behind them." 

This funding round for Fertility Focus will close at midnight on Sunday 5 July.

For more please go to www.syndicateroom.com/fertilityfocus 

For more about Fertility Focus and OvuSense go to: http://www.fertility-focus.com 

Russell Bedford expands in UK with leading Manchester accountants Hallidays

Stockport chartered accountants Hallidays joins Russell Bedford International as a key step in expansion of regional network

Russell Bedford, the global professional services network, has added its first-ever English firm outside of London, with award-winning Stockport accounting and consulting firm Hallidays joining as the network's Manchester-area member.

Within the British Isles, Hallidays joins alongside existing members Lubbock Fine (London), Cooney Carey (Dublin) and SMP Partners (Isle of Man).

Hallidays can trace its origins to a firm founded in central Manchester by Charles Halliday in 1843. The founder subsequently entered into partnership with William Welch Deloitte (founder of what has become Deloitte) and the firm traded as Deloitte Halliday until 1887.  Today, based in Stockport in the Greater Manchester conurbation, Hallidays is one of the leading professional services firms in the north-west of England, having developed through a series of mergers and acquisitions.

The recipient of numerous industry awards, Hallidays offers a broad range of professional services including accounting, audit, tax compliance and consulting, business consulting, HR consultancy, recruitment and payroll, IT consulting and wealth management.

Reflecting its roots supporting the wealth creators and institutions of mid-19th-century Manchester, the firm has built a reputation advising owner-managed businesses, academies, charities, credit unions, property companies, solicitors and health sector consultants. 

Russell Bedford International CEO Alan Bezzant commented: "The addition of Hallidays marks a major step in establishing the Russell Bedford network in key business locations throughout the British Isles.  With our existing presence in London, the Republic of Ireland and the Isle of Man, we are delighted to welcome one of the foremost accounting firms in north-west England."

Hallidays' managing director Nigel Bennett added: "Having established ourselves as one of the leading independents in the north-west, we were keen to become part of an organisation that would allow us to support our clients as they expand their operations throughout the UK and abroad.  Russell Bedford is one of the few true accounting networks that would allow us to do this while retaining the valued independent brand identity we have built over the years."

Hat-trick of national BVCA awards for Anesco

The senior team at Anesco is celebrating after being named BVCA management team of the year for a third year running - an achievement never before seen in the history of the awards.

The team has been named mid-market private equity-backed management team of the year, as part of the BVCA Management Team Awards 2015. The awards recognise those who have made an outstanding contribution to the growth and development of their company.

Reading-based energy efficiency solutions provider, Anesco, works with businesses, local authorities, housing associations and homeowners to reduce their carbon emissions. The company is recognised by Sunday Times Fast Track as the UK's fastest growing private company, achieving growth of 375% in its latest three years.

In the last financial year, Anesco increased sales by a further 50%, generating a turnover of £160.2million and an EBITDA of £21million. The company's workforce has also grown to in excess of 150 permanent members of staff, with up to 600 contractors and 103 supply chain partners and logistics staff employed at any one time.

CEO of Anesco, Adrian Pike, said: "As a company, Anesco continues to grow and to drive the energy efficiency sector forward, exceeding all expectations. This is down to our focus on innovation, our strong relationship with customers and suppliers and the expert team we have pulled together. Winning the title of management team of the year twice was an amazing achievement but to retain the title for a third time is just phenomenal."

Ian Moore, partner at CBPE Capital, said: "We're delighted the team at Anesco has again been recognised on a national stage for their dedication, hard work and outstanding achievements. The team continues to deliver amazing results and this award is really well deserved."

The British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (BVCA) is the industry body and public policy advocate for the private equity and venture capital industry in the UK. The BVCA Awards, produced in partnership with Clearwater Corporate Finance, are a year-long process of nominations and judging established to celebrate the achievements of private equity and venture capital-backed companies. For more details visit www.bvca.co.uk.

For more details about Anesco visit www.anesco.co.uk.