Join Fundamental Asset Management’s Co-Founders Chris Boxall & Stephen Drabwell on Tuesday 31st January at 3pm as they look at the risks and opportunities for AIM in 2023.

They will review 2022 and look into their crystal ball for 2023. What happened to AIM in terms of its size and overall performance? The webinar is titled What does 2023 have in store for AIM? This webinar is CPD eligible.

To register your spot and to be able to watch it after the event, please click here.

TOPICS TO BE COVERED:
– Brief introduction to AIM for Inheritance Tax (IHT) planning
– Recap on performance in 2022
– AIM IHT investing universe 2023
– Company valuations
– Results and updates January 2023
– Growth or Income AIM IHT portfolios?

For more information about reducing Inheritance Tax using Business Relief (also known as Business Property Relief) click here.

To find out more about the benefits of investing in AIM shares for IHT planning purposes, please get in touch via email at [email protected] or phone 01923 713 894

In this video interview, Chris Boxall, co-founder of AIM specialist investment manager Fundamental Asset Management, discusses the opportunities for income investors in AIM IHT ISA portfolios.

With AIM companies set to pay out just over £1.2 billion in dividends in 2022 there are plenty of high yielding AIM stocks to choose from, although prospective investors need to be wary of certain factors as Chris highlights.

You can watch the interview by clicking the image above.

The interview coincides with the launch of Fundamental’s new AIM IHT Income Portfolio service which was also covered in a recent webinar here.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE EXISTING AIM IHT GROWTH PORTFOLIO VS THE AIM IHT INCOME PORTFOLIO?

The existing AIM IHT Growth Portfolio is a discretionary investment management service where clients can obtain 100% mitigation from Inheritance Tax, benefit from the capital growth afforded by the AIM market and retain control of their assets. Fundamental has been managing this portfolio since inception in 2004.

The new AIM IHT Income Portfolio is designed for clients to still take advantage of the potential Inheritance Tax relief afforded by the AIM market and retain control of their assets, at the same time as providing a greater level of dividend income.

To find out more about the benefits of investing in AIM, or if you wish to discuss the current situation, please speak to our Business Development Manager, Jonathan Bramall, via email [email protected]  or phone 01923 713 894.

The pound is trading near its lowest level against the US dollar since 1985, a year which also saw Mikhail Gorbachev become the leader of the Soviet Union, Boris Becker become the youngest winner of the Wimbledon Men’s singles title and England win the Ashes.

The popular press is revelling in the current gloomy economic backdrop and while times are indeed challenging, notably from an energy and inflationary perspective, the UK’s weak currency could offer a terrific opportunity for UK exporters.

Thankfully there are plenty of these on AIM, with many having seen their share prices and valuations tumble over recent months, offering a compelling buying opportunity for patient investors, particularly with those with an eye on the Inheritance Tax planning benefits.

One of our long-term AIM portfolio holdings AB Dynamics has seen its shares fall substantially from 2021’s highs. With its headquarters in Bradford-on-Avon, near Bath, AB Dynamics is a manufacturer of advanced testing, simulation and measurement products for the global automotive sector – we covered this excellent company previously in a Blog here. AB Dynamics is a major beneficiary of the transition to electric vehicles, supporting nearly all the world’s car manufacturers. In 2021 over 90% of its revenue was derived from outside the UK, including 24% from North America and 50% from the Asia Pacific region. With its main manufacturing facilities in the UK, the weak pound could therefore be helpful to business.

AIM going cheap, especially for US buyers

The weak pound and tumbling share prices also make UK listed companies more appealing to overseas buyers and there have been several offers and recommended bids for UK Technology companies over the summer, including two on AIM.

This week brought news that GB Group, experts in digital location, identity verification and fraud software and one of our newer AIM portfolio holdings, is currently considering a possible cash offer from GTCR, a US-based private equity business.

Shares in GB Group hit a 5 year low in early July, despite not having had any operational issues and meeting the market’s expectations.

The share price of GB Group leaped in response to the latest news, but still remains well down on year highs, with many anticipating that rival bidders will emerge.

If share prices remain depressed, we anticipate that many other good quality UK listed AIM companies, will be snapped-up by cash rich overseas buyers.

As we commented in our previous Blog here, AIM’s well-established technology related companies, notably in the software arena, look particularly vulnerable to approaches, given their proven business models, cash generative attributes and largely debt-free balance sheets.

To find out more about the benefits of investing in AIM, please speak to our Business Development Manager Jonathan Bramall via email [email protected]  or phone 01923 713 894

Our Webinar here covered many of the key questions clients ask when considering investing in AIM shares for Inheritance Tax Planning purposes. You can watch a recorded version of the webinar from the link here.

This video presentation here also provides a brief introduction to the Fundamental AIM IHT portfolio service.

Will your money help HMRC break another record?

HMRC’s latest figures released today show that Inheritance Tax (IHT) receipts for April 2022 to July 2022 are £2.4 billion; £0.3 billion higher than in the same period a year earlier.

Will your family have to pay IHT to HMRC after you have passed on? If this is something you wish to help your loved ones avoid, investing in qualifying AIM stocks could be for you.

If a client invests in certain AIM shares that qualify for Business Relief for 2 years and provided they are still held at death, the estate will not pay Inheritance Tax on them – a saving of 40%. Fundamental Asset Management’s AIM Inheritance Tax portfolio can help you plan for your family’s future.

Inheritance Tax mitigation

A Fundamental AIM Inheritance Tax portfolio achieves 100% mitigation from Inheritance Tax after only two years. Not seven years as is the case through a gifting or trust approach.

Existing ISAs can also be transferred to Fundamental providing greater potential savings for your loved ones.

This video presentation here provides a brief introduction to the Fundamental AIM IHT portfolio service, while our webinar here reviews the second quarter of the year and discusses our ESG and PRI developments.

To find out more about the benefits of investing in AIM for Inheritance Tax planning purposes, where sustainability is also a key consideration, please speak to our Business Development Manager Jonathan Bramall via email [email protected]  or phone 01923 713 894.

Fundamental Asset Management
www.fundamentalasset.com

No initial fee for advised clients who invest Direct

To further support advisers, from Monday 27th June, advised clients who directly invest in Fundamental Asset Management’s AIM IHT Portfolio Service will no longer be charged an initial fee.

The scrapping of any initial fee is part of our ongoing commitment to support advisers and aligns with our fee structure for portfolios managed through wrap platforms (Eg Abrdn Elevate & Wrap, Funds Network, Nucleus, Standard Life, Transact etc.).

If you would like an illustration, please contact our Business Development Manager Jonathan Bramall via email [email protected] or phone 01923 713 894.

For more information about reducing Inheritance Tax by using Business Relief (also known as Business Property Relief) click here.

Fundamental Asset Management
www.fundamentalasset.com

In the eighth of our series – The Fundamentals – about going back to the basics of investing in AIM shares for Inheritance Tax (IHT) planning purposes, we look at the Fundamental Asset Management Investment Team.

Since 2004, Fundamental Asset Management portfolios have been managed by our two founders Chris Boxall and Stephen Drabwell.

Chris and Stephen are experienced investment managers who have been managing the portfolios in-house since inception. Chris and Stephen conduct all research supported by external analysts (former fund managers, private investors and business people).

STEPHEN DRABWELL

STEPHEN DRABWELL

Stephen Drabwell is a co-founder, major shareholder and director of Fundamental Asset Management. Stephen oversees the trading, asset allocation and operational aspects of managing the many AIM IHT portfolios that the company oversees. Prior to founding Fundamental, Stephen started his career at the investment bank, UBS in 1990. Following 9 successful years at UBS, which saw him progress to becoming a sales trader on the European portfolio trading desk, Stephen joined Washington Asset Management where he was senior trader for a US Long/short hedge fund. Stephen helped grow the fund from $30m to $250m before leaving in 2004 to start Fundamental.

CHRIS BOXALL

CHRIS BOXALL

Chris Boxall is a co-founder, major shareholder and director of Fundamental Asset Management. Chris qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1989 and has primary responsibility at Fundamental for company research and portfolio management for the firm’s equity portfolios, with particular focus on AIM. Prior to Fundamental Chris oversaw activities at the Washington Financial Group, where he was a key member of the investment management team of the Washington US Fund Ltd, a successful equity fund.

For more information about reducing Inheritance Tax by using Business Relief (also known as Business Property Relief) click here.

If you have any questions or would like to speak with Stephen or Chris, please do not hesitate to contact our Business Development Manager Jonathan Bramall via email [email protected] or phone 01923 713 894.

The Fundamentals Series

• Introducing The Fundamentals series
• The Fundamentals #2: How to use ISAs for Inheritance Tax (IHT) planning?
• The Fundamental #3: The perils of exit fees & support for a client’s estate
• The Fundamentals #4 – What is the Fundamental AIM Inheritance Tax Portfolio?
• The Fundamentals #5 – How to use AIM to stop HMRC taking money from your family?
• The Fundamentals #6: How long do you need to hold a qualifying stock for to receive IHT relief?
• The Fundamentals #7 – 10 reasons to invest with Fundamental Asset Management

Our Educational Webinars also provide plenty of further information.

Fundamental Asset Management
www.fundamentalasset.com

In the seventh of our series – The Fundamentals – about going back to the basics of investing in AIM shares for Inheritance Tax (IHT) planning purposes, we look at  reasons to invest with Fundamental Asset Management.

If you or your client already invests with us, we hope you don’t mind us reminding you what makes us different.

10 Reasons to invest with Fundamental

1. Same portfolio managers since founding in 2004.

2. Our in-depth research seeks out the best investment opportunities on AIM.

3. Experience and expertise, gained through several stock market cycles, along with our outstanding customer service, makes Fundamental Asset Management one of the most successful AIM managers for tax efficient investing in the UK.

4. Personal service with resources such as market insights and direct contact with our portfolio managers.

5. “Core and Satellite” investing approach provides exposure to larger AIM stocks as well as smaller companies with higher growth potential.

6. Excellent value for our clients; a fully tailored portfolio service.

7. Client retains access – assets remain in client’s own name – so no loss of control and client has freedom to redeem part or all if needed.

8. Significantly outperformed the AIM market since inception in 2004, but monthly returns have exhibited less volatility.

9. Support to estates after a client has passed away. At a difficult time, we provide the information HMRC requires at no additional charge.

10. One of the most competitively priced products in the market providing excellent value.

For more information about reducing Inheritance Tax by using Business Relief (also know as Business Property Relief) click here.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our Business Development Manager Jonathan Bramall via email [email protected] or phone 01923 713 894

The Fundamentals Series

• Introducing The Fundamentals series
• The Fundamentals #2: How to use ISAs for Inheritance Tax (IHT) planning?
• The Fundamental #3: The perils of exit fees & support for a client’s estate
• The Fundamentals #4 – What is the Fundamental AIM Inheritance Tax Portfolio?
• The Fundamentals #5 – How to use AIM to stop HMRC taking money from your family?
• The Fundamentals #6: How long do you need to hold a qualifying stock for to receive IHT relief?

Our Educational Webinars also provide plenty of further information.

Fundamental Asset Management
www.fundamentalasset.com

The recent stock market sell-off has resulted in several private equity groups taking a close interest in AIM quoted companies. We aren’t surprised given the quality on offer from AIM’s proven performers, nearly all of which are now trading at significantly lower valuations than they were a few months ago.

At the end of April, Baring Private Equity Asia (‘BPEA’), confirmed that it was in the preliminary stages of considering a possible offer for RWS Holdings, one of AIM’s largest companies, valued at over £1.5 billion.

RWS has not received any formal approach from BPEA, which may never materialise, but we aren’t surprised they have made a move given RWS’ declining share price over recent months and the highly cash generative nature of this world-leading provider of technology-enabled language, content and intellectual property services.

BPEA is required, by not later than the close of business 19 May 2022, to either, announce a firm intention to make an offer, or announce that it does not intend to make an offer. The deadline may be extended with the consent of the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers.

Matters have progressed even further with Ideagen, a provider of compliance software for regulated industries. In the middle of April, private equity group Cinven confirmed that it was in the early stages of considering a possible offer for the Company. While Cinven subsequently pulled out, two other private equity groups, Astorg and Hg, then stepped in.

Hg has now offered to pay up to 350 pence per share, a premium of about 52% to Ideagen’s closing price on April 11, valuing Ideagen at just over £1 billion..

Shares in Ideagen currently site at 352 pence, above Hg’s offer price, suggesting that investors are expecting a counter bid from French rival suitor Astorg.

UK-based Ideagen is a leader in the +$30 billion regulatory and compliance software market, serving highly regulated industries such as life sciences, healthcare, banking and finance and insurance. More than 8,000 customers use Ideagen’s software, including 9 of the top 10 UK accounting firms, all of the top aerospace and defence companies and 75% of leading pharmaceutical firms.

Ideagen’s board plans to unanimously recommend the Hg deal to shareholders, considering that it “represents value for shareholders”.

Since moving to AIM from Plus Markets in July 2012, when its market capitalisation was only £11m, Ideagen has been a strong performer on AIM, acquiring a large number of businesses along the way. Given the recent de-rating of technology stocks, the acquisition multiple of 48x adjusted forecast earnings for the year to April 2022 looks quite full to us, so we aren’t surprised the board are enthusiastic supporters of the deal.

Not only will we be sad to see another high-quality AIM company leave the junior market, but, if share prices of AIM companies continue to languish, we fear that cash-rich private equity buyers will acquire several other AIM companies by the time the year is out.

AIM’s well-established technology related companies, notably in the software arena, look particularly vulnerable to approaches, given their proven business models, cash generative attributes and largely debt-free balance sheets.

To find out more about the benefits of investing in AIM, please speak to our Business Development Manager Jonathan Bramall via email [email protected]  or phone 01923 713 894

Our recent Webinar covered many of the key questions clients ask when considering investing in AIM shares for Inheritance Tax Planning purposes. You can watch a recorded version of the webinar from the link here.

This video presentation here also provides a brief introduction to the Fundamental AIM IHT portfolio service. 

Fundamental Asset Management
www.fundamentalasset.com

In the sixth of our series – The Fundamentals – about going back to the basics of investing in AIM shares for Inheritance Tax (IHT) planning purposes, we look at How long do you need to hold a qualifying stock for it to receive IHT relief?

We recently ran a webinar for financial advisers where we answered questions on How to use AIM for Inheritance Tax Planning? We received a number of questions regarding the length of time shares must be held to benefit from IHT relief. With the risk warning that we are not tax advisers as well as that tax benefits depend on circumstances and tax rules can change, we have put our understanding of the rules below.

What is the length of time a Business Relief (BR) qualifying stock must be held so a client’s estate does not need to pay Inheritance Tax?

• A share (and any replacements) must have been held for at least a total of 2 years and still be held on death.
• The company must still qualify for Business Relief at the time of the investor’s death.

Does the overall AIM portfolio need to be held for 2 years to claim BR or is it on a share by share basis?

• It is on a share by share basis.

If a qualifying stock is sold and new qualifying stocks are purchased, does that reset the clock?

• As long as the whole of the money from the sale of the stock is reinvested, the calendar does not reset.

Does HMRC publish a list of qualifying AIM stocks which, if held for 2 years, would qualify for IHT relief?

• No, HMRC doesn’t produce a list but this is where using experts such as Fundamental Asset Management comes into play. Not only do we select stocks based on the qualifying criteria but we also keep them under review in case their Business Relief qualifying status changes. It is also worth noting that as well as the potential of saving 40% on IHT, our AIM for IHT portfolio service has seen historical growth that has outstripped other indices and competitors over many years.

For more information about reducing Inheritance Tax by using Business Relief click here.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our Business Development Manager Jonathan Bramall via email [email protected] or phone 01923 713 894

The Fundamentals Series

• Introducing The Fundamentals series
• The Fundamentals #2: How to use ISAs for Inheritance Tax (IHT) planning?
• The Fundamental #3: The perils of exit fees & support for a client’s estate
• The Fundamentals #4 – What is the Fundamental AIM Inheritance Tax Portfolio?
• The Fundamentals #5 – How to use AIM to stop HMRC taking money from your family?

Our Educational Webinars also provide plenty of further information.

Fundamental Asset Management
www.fundamentalasset.com

In the fifth of our series – The Fundamentals – about going back to the basics of investing in AIM shares for Inheritance Tax (IHT) planning purposes, we look at: How to use AIM to stop HMRC taking money from your family.

Figures released yesterday by HMRC showed they took £6.1 billion in Inheritance Tax for March – up by £0.7 billion on last year. How can clients use AIM  to reduce the amount their family pays after they pass away?

One way is for a client to invest in certain AIM shares that qualify for Business Relief for 2 years and provided they are still held at death, the estate will not pay Inheritance Tax on them.

What is Business Relief?

Business Property Relief or BPR (now known as Business Relief) was first introduced in 1976 to allow family businesses to be passed down through generations free of IHT. Its scope subsequently widened and since 1996 it was made available for a range of assets, including limited companies. This means if you buy and hold shares in such companies you could potentially pass on those shares IHT free provided that:

• the shares are held for at least two years and are still held on death
• the company still qualifies for BPR at the time of the investor’s death

You could buy as few or as many shares as you wish. There is no upper limit or allowance. Provided the above conditions are met, the whole value of the investment – be it £10,000 or £10 million – should attract 100% IHT relief.

Please note, tax benefits depend on circumstances and tax rules can change.

Inheritance Tax mitigation

A Fundamental AIM Inheritance Tax portfolio achieves 100% mitigation from Inheritance Tax after only two years. Not seven years as is the case through a gifting or trust approach.

Upcoming webinar: How to use AIM for Inheritance Tax Planning? Your Questions Answered

Join Fundamental Asset Management’s Co-Founders Chris Boxall & Stephen Drabwell on Wednesday 4th May at 3pm 2022 as they answer your questions on using AIM for Inheritance Tax Planning. To register for the webinar click here.

What Would You Like To Know?

Now is the time to ask us and we will endeavour to cover it in the webinar.
Send your questions to: [email protected]

The Fundamentals Series

• Introducing The Fundamentals series
• The Fundamentals #2: How to use ISAs for Inheritance Tax (IHT) planning?
• The Fundamental #3: The perils of exit fees & support for a client’s estate
• The Fundamentals #4 – What is the Fundamental AIM Inheritance Tax Portfolio?

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our Business Development Manager Jonathan Bramall via email [email protected] or phone 01923 713 894

Our Educational Webinars also provide plenty of further information.

Fundamental Asset Management
www.fundamentalasset.com