Encouraged by the emergence of ex-AIM boss Simon Brickles as chief executive of the private share market and its recent £3 million fundraising, Nash Fitzwilliams has joined Ofex as a corporate adviser and ‘hopes to play an integral part in the resurgence of London’s small cap market’.

Nash Fitzwilliams, housed in elegant premises in London’s West End, is already considering several potential candidates to float on Ofex. ‘Our watchword will be quality,’ promises John Bridges, battle-hardened small company specialist and a new recruit to the Nash Fitzwilliams team.

The introduction of competing market makers to Ofex was another deciding factor for Nash Fitzwilliams, which has been busy elsewhere of late. Deals completed in the last six months include £5 million raised for Eden Biopharm, £1 million for Advanced Power Conversion, £1.4 million for software group Insignia Solutions and £1.5 million for polymer specialist Biomer Technology.

Duncan Fitzwilliams, governor of his old school Harrow, brings to Ofex a range of experience, including 17 years on the board of Foreign & Colonial Investment Trust. ‘I have a lot of scars on my back from backing small companies: it may be a trite old statement, but it really is all about management and people.’

His colleague Alan Nash knows the investment game on both sides of the Atlantic, as a past director of Wall Street house Paine Webber and later a specialist in private equity and convertible placings in the UK and Europe for US issuers. Adrian Pritchard and Stephane Haddad, the firm’s mergers and acquisitions duo, come from JP Morgan Chase.