Most investors won’t have heard of BP Marsh (BPM:AIM), the specialist investor in early-stage financial services businesses.

Formed over 30 years ago by current chairman Brian Marsh, the firm takes an ‘eyes-on, hands-off approach’ to investing, taking small stakes in new businesses where it knows the owners and allowing them to run their companies their way.

‘Investors should think of us as a mini-Berkshire,’ says chief financial officer Dan Topping, referring to the Warren Buffett backed conglomerate which takes a similar approach and which is also heavily invested in the insurance sector.

Pre-tax profit for the year to January 2024 was up 58% to £43.6 million while NAV (net asset value) increased to just under £40 million or 629p per share thanks to a 36% increase in the value of the portfolio.

After a handful of highly successful exits in the last year the firm currently has a cash pile of £81.2 million, equivalent to more than 40% of its market value, which it will look to invest in new ventures, buy back shares or increase its dividend. 

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