• International investment readiness diagnostic and good practice model
• Model for selection and profiling of international business propositions
• Cross-border business valuation tool
• Due diligence checklist for transnational deal structuring
• Transnational deal tracking platform
• Quality standards framework

A Toolkit for supporting investment readiness and preparation of entrepreneurs, comprising a self-evaluation investment- readiness diagnostic tool; workshop and coaching programme
The Investment Readiness diagnostic tool helps to prepare entrepreneurs for international investment. It is based on a review of existing best practice models across Europe and takes into account key strategic aspects in four sections; company evaluation, financial matters, management team and market research.
In addition to the diagnostic, the EASY model outlines a framework for direct preparation for businesses in investment readiness to assist them to go forward to access international investment. This includes the core content and approach for the organisation of an investment readiness workshop and a model for supporting effective coaching and pitch presentation for presenting businesses to international investors.
The EASY Investment Readiness Toolkit has been developed by META Group and IBAN , the Italian Business Angel Network.

Selection process and profiling of relevant internationally focused companies to attend cross –border events and relevant documentation to support presentations to investors
The EASY Partners have developed a set of core criteria to identify the right businesses integrated into an executive summary proforma that offers the basis for selection of relevant business propositions, which are benchmarked against the core threshold criteria. The executive summary provides the framework for the presentation of consistent information to investors attending the cross-border events to enable the identification and analysis of business propositions that are of interest to them.
The agreed selection requirements for EASY cross-border events include sector, management, products/services, business model, market, investment and lead investor.
The development of the selection and profiling framework was led by HGP .

Toolkit for Valuation and new valuation model for businesses suitable for international investment (used by the entrepreneur and the intermediary)
The EASY Valuation tool allows the entrepreneur to identify the relevant factors and variables to ensure that the business can be effectively valued for the purpose of presenting the business in a credible and consistent way to investors. The tool is important in enabling investors to understand the business finances in the due diligence process. For investors this also provides confidence in evaluating a business proposition that is from a different country and market.

The tool consists of three modules for companies: build your financials, know your exit and valuation; in addition there is a section specifically for investors to understand the valuation process.

The design and development of the EASY Cross-border Valuation Tool has been carried out on behalf of the EASY partners by NESTA .

Due diligence framework and process to support effective international deal structuring and follow-up for cross-border investment for Fund managers and investors
The EASY due diligence framework enables investors, entrepreneurs and intermediaries to agree the core parameters for carrying out due diligence to support cross-border deal structuring, by providing a checklist that acts as a point of reference and includes corporate and organisational issues; legal; financial, technical and market analysis; competition and comparables. The due diligence process will be facilitated by the EASY investor deal tracking platform and will enable investors to interact with the entrepreneur and other investors to bring together core documentation to share information and views and to gain all relevant information from the entrepreneur. The due diligence checklist has been developed on behalf of the partners by GLE Growth Capital.

Transnational Deal Tracking Platform
An online platform, the EASY Investment Forum, has been established to assist with transnational deal tracking. It enables interaction between the investors and businesses, thus supports the ongoing due diligence process after events. Through the site investors are able to track the progress of the deals, share information on due diligence, view investor interest and put questions to the entrepreneurs.

The EASY Deal Tracking Platform has been developed by GLE Growth Capital with the technical support of Digital White.

Quality Standards Framework
A key area of interest for the EASY partnership is the creation of a quality framework for investment on a cross-border basis including the issue of syndication. Investors and intermediaries were surveyed with a view to identifying the challenges and barriers to effective cross-border investment and to identify models of good practice. These consultations have identified the key elements of a code of conduct, detailing the behaviour, actions and responsibilities between investors in relation to closing a cross-border deal.
The framework template is being produced by EBAN with support from Abreu Advogados.

The EASY toolkit is currently being BETA tested. If you would like more information or would like to participate in the testing please contact the relevant partner organisation or contact the project co-ordinator GLE.

Events

A programme of 6 cross – Border events is being organized during 2007-8, hosted by members of the EASY Partnership.
Locations include:

• Paris (4 April 2007);
• Helsinki ( 6-7 June 2007);
• Lisbon (11-12 September 2007);
• Milan (25-26 February 2008);
• Barcelona (22 April 2008);
• London (TBC)

A Tax Summit to present best practice will be held in 19th and 20th of Mary in Slovenia (during the EU Presidency), to promote best practice among member states in relation to taxation and other policies to stimulate the early stage investment market.