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Brexit marks shift in risk appetite of UK investors

Some 2.21 million investors in the UK are entering the new financial year with a greater risk appetite and seeking fresh investment angles, according to a survey of 1,000 UK investors by IW Capital.

Nearly half (44 per cent) of British investors feel Brexit will have a positive impact on their investment strategy, with 22 per cent not expecting any effects over the coming 12 months.
 
Some 3.19 million investors feel the biggest investment opportunity in 2017 lies in private equity investment into the UK’s thriving private sector, while two in five Londoners consider private equity investment as the leading investment opportunity in 2017, and 17 per cent of millennials are looking to private equity investment over the coming 12 months.
 
One in four investors believe innovation and technology are the UK economy’s two greatest strengths in promoting economic growth, while 1.47 million investors will be using tax-efficient investment schemes such as the EIS in 2017. However, one in four investors hope more will be done to support investor interest by way of tax efficient investment schemes and income tax policy.
 
Luke Davis, CEO of IW Capital, says: “The performance of the UK economy since the EU referendum has been extremely impressive, driven in no small part by our country’s diverse collection of SMEs that account for 99.9 per cent of all private companies. This research demonstrates that the continuing growth of the private sector is attracting the interest of the nation’s investors, who are clearly embracing the future of Brand Britain and the undiscovered investment potential that lies ahead.
 
“With investors increasingly looking to tax-efficient investment schemes as a means of investing into the private sector in the new tax year, it is important the Government considers new reforms to ensure these schemes are both accessible to investors and targeting scaling businesses most in need of growth capital. Importantly, Brexit frees the UK from European state aid regulations, and the government should use this as an opportunity to expand initiatives such as EIS that has previously been limited by EU policies.”

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