Michael Robinson BSc FCA
Age 69
Profile
Experienced Non Executive Director. Extensive knowledge of the challenges and opportunities facing SME's, family companies, investment companies, smaller listed companies and larger organisations. Currently Non Executive Chairman of a VCT.
25 years + expertise in private equity involvement in companies and all aspects of company financing, particularly realisations.
Former Member of FTSE 100 company CSR Committee.
Former Trustee of FTSE 100 company pension fund and private company pension fund.
Graduate Chartered Accountant.
Relevant Achievements
NEC of a quoted Venture Capital Trust (‘VCT’). Retired in August 2022 after 10 years as NEC of private family company with global reach in the medical simulation sector. NED and Pension Fund Trustee of a successful private company which was sold after 4 years returning a significant multiple to shareholders. Director of a number of 3i subsidiary companies. Involvement with literally hundreds of companies at Board level over 25 years, usually as an Observer rather than as a formally appointed NED due to 3i policy.
Between 1999 and 2008 the private equity asset management team of which I was a Director generated cash of over £1bn from assets which were initially thought to have a value of less than £500m.
Member of CSR Committee charged with implementing and monitoring best practice in social, ethical and environmental issues.
Director Trustee of the 3i Group Pension Plan. Holder of PMI Award in Pension Trusteeship Certificate (Defined Contribution and Defined Benefit Schemes).
2010 - present
Employment History
September 2012 - LImbs & Things Limited
August 2022 Non Executive Chairman
Limbs & Things (http://www.limbsandthings.com/uk/home/) designs, manufactures and promotes clinical and surgical skills training products. The Company is dedicated to improving patient care by supporting healthcare professionals in their training. The Company operates globally, manufacturing in the UK with sales subsidiaries in the USA, Australia and Sweden together with a worldwide network of distributors.
September 2010 - Downing THREE VCT plc
Present (formerly Downing Planned Exit VCT 3 plc)
Non Executive Chairman
A limited life VCT focusing on asset-backed investments. The Company (http://downing.co.uk/downing-three-vct-plc) has undertaken six fundraisings to date, each issuing a different class of shares. The Company is now winding down and realising investments as it returns funds to shareholders
Non Executive Director from September 2010 until December 2013 when appointed as Non Executive Chairman.
September 2010 - Downing Planned Exit VCT 2 plc
December 2013 (now Downing TWO VCT plc)
Non Executive Director
A limited life VCT focusing on asset-backed investments. The Company (http://downing.co.uk/content/downing-two-vct-plc) has undertaken five fundraisings to date, each issuing a different class of shares. Resigned to take up the post of Non Executive Chairman of Downing THREE VCT plc.
July 2008 - Hedgelane Limited
April 2012 Non Executive Director
Pension Fund Trustee
Hedgelane is the parent company of The Consortium (http://www.theconsortium.com), a £64m turnover profitable private company supplying customers in the Social Care, Education, Early Years and Training Sectors. The Consortium is the largest independent supplier of education resources in the UK.
Appointed as NED following a secondary bank financed MBO in March 2008. The company grew successfully in terms of both revenues and profits, and the management structure of the business was developed. Immediately following the acquisition of WMS from a consortium of 4 councils, the company was sold to Smiths News plc in April 2012 for £44m. The sale returned a significant cash multiple to shareholders.
December 2008 – The Una Group Limited
June 2009 Consultant
Advised and assisted the directors and other advisers on the raising of investment capital for Crumb Rubber (http://www.crumb-rubber.co.uk), a subsidiary involved with innovative rubber reprocessing technology. Following a demerger from The Una Group funds managed by the Foresight Group have completed (June 2009) a staged £4m investment in Crumb to fund a scaling up of operations.
February 1983 – 3i plc, Private Equity
March 2008
October 1999 – Director, Smaller Minority Investments Team
March 2008
Responsible for:
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A team of 17 investment and support staff in the UK and 7 investment staff in Germany
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Managing a portfolio of 500 smaller minority equity investments in the UK and 60 in Germany
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All aspects of 3i’s relationship with these investments
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Team staff development
Part of the UK management team of 3 for this segment of 3i’s portfolio (2/3 by number of the UK portfolio).
Director of Garden’s Pension Trustees Limited (June 1999 – June 2006). Effectively a member nominated Trustee of the £350m 3i Group plc pension fund (a defined benefit scheme).
Member of the 3i Group plc Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Committee (December 2005 – March 2008). This Committee, which reports to the 3i Group plc main board, is charged with ensuring that 3i is a leader in its industry group on a global basis in this area and maintains its position in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index.
September 1986 – Investment Director, 3i Bristol
September 1999
Responsible for:
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A team of investment staff
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Marketing, structuring, negotiation, documentation and monitoring investment by 3i
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Regional portfolio management
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3i’s larger transactions
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Bristol office in the absence of the Local Director
February 1983 – Investment Controller, 3i Birmingham
August 1986
Responsible for:
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Marketing, structuring, negotiation, documentation and monitoring of investments
Trained in all aspects of unquoted investment.
November 1981 – Smith Keen Cutler, Stockbrokers in Birmingham and London
January 1983 Research Analyst
Responsible for:
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Initiating and conducting financial and market research into public companies
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Presenting reports, both oral and written, to City institutions
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Specialising in the Leisure and Aerospace sectors
Additionally:
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Member of the Corporate Finance team – raising finance for companies, including stock market flotations (IPO’s)
September 1975 - Deloitte Haskins & Sells
August 1976 Chartered Accountants, Birmingham
August 1977 – Audit Senior
October 1981
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Supervised audits of major companies; activities included consumer products, construction, engineering and banking
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Prepared consolidated accounts for medium sized groups, together with tax computations
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Thorough training in all aspects of accountancy and taxation
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Practical experience of preparing all forms of accounts up to statutory level
2010 - present
Education
Academic Qualifications
1967 –1973 Bristol Grammar School
3 ‘A’ and 8 ‘O’ Level GCE passes
1973 – 1977 University of Aston in Birmingham
BSc in Administrative Science
Upper 2nd Hons, specialising in Accounting, Economics, Statistics and Law. Included a sandwich year with Deloitte Haskins & Sells.
Professional Qualifications
Admitted 1979 Chartered Accountant (FCA)
December 2006 PMI Award in Pension Trusteeship (Defined Contribution and Defined Benefit Schemes)