Chelverton Asset Management has confirmed that it has appointed Richard Bucknell as Investment Director in its unquoted equities team, which is responsible for sourcing and executing quality investment opportunities in private UK companies for a range of High Net Worth (‘HNW’) investors and private investment offices.

Bucknell, a highly experienced private equity investor, has been working with CAM as a consultant since September last year, and will report to CAM’s Managing Director, David Horner in his new role.

Prior to CAM, Bucknell led more than 20 new investments in small and medium-sized enterprises, and has previously held senior investment management positions with Barclays Ventures, ISIS Equity Partners and Catapult Venture Managers.

Bucknell joins CAM at an exciting moment in its evolution. The Company launched the Chelverton Investor Club, an exclusive private members club for HNW individuals, only last year. Since launching the Club, CAM has seen a significant uplift in unquoted investment activity. Bucknell will lead transactions of equity investment of between £500,000 and £3m on behalf of Investor Club members, and will also help to identify and transact larger equity investments on behalf of those amongst CAM’s unquoted equity clients requiring bespoke investment solutions.

Commenting on his appointment, Bucknell said: “It’s a really exciting time to be joining Chelverton, with the equity gap under-served by the more established private equity community. It’s also an area of the market where investors recognise that good returns can be delivered, with business valuations at sensible levels and company growth prospects looking better than for some years. HNW individuals can access these opportunities through the Investor Club, and we’re seeing strong levels of new investor interest.”

Bucknell boasts a highly developed network of Corporate Finance contacts, in the Midlands and the South West in particular, and as part of the Company’s unquoted equity team, will be based in the Bath office.