Nicholas Lewis

Downing Corporate Finance was incorporated in 1986 and specialises in structuring, promoting and administering tax efficient products, which have raised more than £650 million over the period. During the early 1990s, Downing set up and administered a number of BES companies, raising a total of £130 million – all of which successfully exited. By 1997, Downing had launched its first Venture Capital Trust, Downing Protected VCT I, which raised £10 million. Since then, Downing has promoted more than 20 VCTs, raising more than £400 million – over £75 million of which has been invested in the Downing Protected VCTs. Downing also specialises in structuring and marketing Enterprise Investment Schemes, having raised approximately £40 million under Rathbones EIS Portfolio Service and over £7 million for Nu Nu plc, a children’s nurseries group. Downing’s property division structures and promotes a number of property schemes, including Enterprise Zone Trusts and Commercial Property Partnerships.