Investors

The company has successfully completed two funding rounds since its inception, securing investment from a number of specialist funds. We work closely with our investors to maximise our shared potential and utilise the broad range of expertise available.

• Octopus Investments, founded in 2000, is a leading investment specialist. It offers innovative core and satellite investment solutions to UK investors, and a wide range of funding options for exceptional companies. Its core investments include a discretionary management service, multi-manager multi-asset OEICs, and single manager OEICs. These are complemented by a range of satellite solutions, including venture capital trusts, enterprise investment schemes and inheritance tax products. Each product has been designed to solve specific problems faced by financial advisers and their clients. Its funding solutions cover the entire capital structure, from equity through mezzanine to senior debt, and it seeks out outstanding management teams in unlisted companies with whom it can partner.

• OCAS Ventures manages an early stage investment fund, Finindus. The fund is backed by two solid long-term shareholders, ArcelorMittal and the Flemish Region. Finindus invests in high potential ideas from the materials’ world to build outstanding businesses, leveraging the advanced R&D competencies of OCAS, the state-of-the-art innovation center for steel applications and processing, based in Zelzate, Belgium.

• IP Group is a leading UK intellectual property commercialisation company, developing technology innovations primarily from its research intensive partner universities. The Group offers more than traditional venture capital, providing its companies with access to business building expertise, networks, recruitment and business support. The Company's portfolio comprises holdings in over 60 companies, includes early stage to mature businesses and has exposure to five main sectors. IP Group manages a number of third party funds, including the Finance for Business North East Technology Fund, which is an investor in ASL. For more information on IP Group, please visit our website at www.ipgroupplc.com. For information on the Technology Fund, please visit the fund website at www.thenortheasttechnologyfund.com

• Applied Superconductor Limited has received funding from the North East Co Investment Fund, which is backed by One North East and the European Regional Development Fund, and managed by Northstar Ventures. For more information visit www.northstarventures.co.uk.

• NEL Fund Managers Limited, is an independent fund management company which provides financial products to small and medium-sized businesses based in the North East of England. For more information visit www.nel.co.uk.