General election 2015: Edison MD Fraser Thorne – I’m voting as…

Describing the Small Business Bill as a “good start”, Thorne is hoping for a government that will support his company’s recent growth over the next term of parliament.

Who are you and what does your business do?

I am Fraser Thorne, chairman and managing director of Edison, an international equity advisory firm which provides insight into the practises of the global investment community and supports them with their investment decisions. 

We give our corporate and investor clients insight into global investment trends, knowledge which is underpinned by a team of equity analysts and investment professionals with many decades of experience in capital markets and within industry.   

Our team of 120 equity analysts and investment professionals works with leading companies, worldwide, enabling them to achieve their capital markets objectives through combining access to capital markets, including blue chip fund institutional investors and wealth managers and the dissemination of equity research.

How has your business changed over the last five years?

Over the past five years, Edison has grown its client base from small-mid cap quoted firms to include FTSE 100 companies and now advises an increasing number of corporate finance and private equity houses, as well as institutional investors and wealth managers.  

We have also developed our distribution platforms which includes Bloomberg and Thomson Reuters, to ensure that our global investor audience can easily access our investment knowledge. 

Meanwhile, global expansion has transformed our business over the past five years, and we have opened offices in New York, Frankfurt, Sydney and Wellington.

What are your growth plans for the next five years?

We now have over 120 professionals across the company, and we want to continue to expand with new businesses and new services. We expect the global equities markets to undergo significant regulatory change and we aim to capitalise on opportunities as they arise.

What kind of government would you like to see elected?

With growth on the top of our agenda, a government that proposes strong business support will be very important for us.

Read other “I’m voting as…” features:

• DrPete Technology Experts CEO Peter Chadha
• Develop Training CEO Chris Wood
• OMS managing director Clive Ormerod

Do you think government in general is doing enough to support businesses of your size?

The government has done a good deal to support small businesses but to ensure they can continue to grow and invest, access to finance remains key. Last year’s Small Business Bill was a good start, as it puts SMEs at the heart of business policy, as is the late payments initiative.

Has the impending general election caused any uncertainty regarding how you run your company?

No, but uncertainty over the outcome does unsettle equity markets and this is something we will have to manage.

In one sentence, please finish this line: “I’m voting as…”

I am voting as the chairman and managing director of an equity advisory firm that wishes to further increase the business’ global presence over the next five years.

Read more from our general election coverage:

• Matthew Hancock: The facts should be checked before Labour starts to make wishes
• Chuka Umunna: “We have to stop gold plating European rules and regulations”
• What to expect in the upcoming 2015 general election

Do you agree with Fraser Thorne? Is there anything you’d like to add? Please let us know in the comments box below.

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