Artwork for podcast The EIS & VC Navigator
129 Why the bear view of AIM is overdone with Oliver Bedford of Hargreave Hale**
Episode 12924th February 2026 • The EIS & VC Navigator • Brian Moretta, Hardman & Co
00:00:00 00:58:49

Share Episode

Shownotes

You don't need to look too hard to find negative views about AIM, but is it overdone? Oliver Bedford, Lead Manager of the Hargreave Hale AIM VCT certainly thinks so and in this episode we give him a chance to make his case.

Amongst other topics, we talk about:

  1. the challenges AIM has gone through
  2. how undervalued AIM is
  3. why Britain is not broken
  4. listing in London versus elsewhere
  5. the impact of private equity
  6. why IPOs are not a good goal in themselves
  7. why its the companies not the macro picture that will change
  8. how the valuation gap doesn't need to fully close to outperform
  9. the effect of the recent changes to VCT rules

Oliver has thought about the issues deeply and that shows in the very considered perspective that he brings. Enjoy!

00:50 Oliver introduces himself

03:00 When companies are better being private than public

07:50 The challenges that AIM has gone through

10:00 the undervaluation of AIM

13:30 Britain is not broken

15:10 Why quality matters more than quantity of AIM listed companies

20:00 Why list in London versus the US/NASDAQ

23:00 Impact of private equity

24:00 IPOs are not a goal in themselves

25:30 Is being bullish on AIM contrarian?

28:00 Is looking for a big macro change the wrong idea?

30:00 the recent better period for AIM

34:00 How only a partial rerating is needed

35:45 How the recent legislative changes affect VCTs and investing on AIM

43:00 A further change that would increase capital availability

46:00 favourite questions

Links

Hargreave Hale AIM VCT website: https://www.hargreaveaimvcts.co.uk/

Hargreave Hale AIM VCT on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hargreave-hale-aim-vct/?viewAsMember=true


Subscribe to the EIS Navigator podcast on most services here: https://the-eis-navigator.captivate.fm/listen


Suggested books and media

The Undoing Project by Michael Lewis

Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance


Bio

Oliver Bedford BSc MCSI, Lead Manager, Hargreave Hale AIM VCT

Oliver Bedford graduated from Durham University with a degree in chemistry. He served in the British Army for nine years before joining the Investment Manager in 2004. After initially working as an analyst in support of the VCT, Oliver was appointed as co-manager in 2011 and then lead manager in 2019.

Disclaimer

Please note this podcast/interview does not constitute a financial promotion and is provided for informational purposes and should not be construed as an invitation or offer to buy or sell any investments. Please be aware that investments into unquoted companies are high risk, long term and illiquid investments. Your capital is at risk. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Target returns are not guaranteed and forward looking statements are illustrative only and must not be relied upon. Investors should only invest on the basis of reading the full offer documentation.

Links

Chapters

Video

More from YouTube