Worcester Business Journal Special Editions

6 2015 Economic Forecast www.wbjournal.com Worcester Business Journal Do you have plans to expand in 2015? Will you raise capital in 2015? Do you plan to make a major investment in property, plant or equipment in 2015? But if they expand, many still don't know how they'll raise the necessary capital. ere's not much appetite to spend big on fixed assets. A few more businesses believe the climate is right for expansion. 2015 What method do you primarily plan to use to raise capital in 2015? ere's a little more sentiment to go public in 2015. * This answer choice was added in 2012. Yes, with new product lines 16% Yes, with expansion into new geographic territories .......... 13% Yes, with new or expanded facilities .........................................5% Yes, with a combination of some or all of the above .................. 17% No ............................................... 49% 2013 Yes, with new product lines 13% Yes, with expansion into new geographic territories .......... 15% Yes, with new or expanded facilities .........................................6% Yes, with a combination of some or all of the above .................. 18% No ............................................... 48% 2012 Yes, with new product lines 17% Yes, with expansion into new geographic territories .......... 11% Yes, with new or expanded facilities .........................................6% Yes, with a combination of some or all of the above .................. 17% No ............................................... 49% 2011 Private investment (including venture capital) ...................... 28% Micro investors, or "crowdfunding" * ......................0% Bank loans ................................ 28% Public markets ........................ 16% Other ......................................... 28% 2014 Private investment (including venture capital) ...................... 35% Micro investors, or "crowdfunding" * ......................0% Bank loans ................................ 32% Public markets ...........................3% Other ......................................... 32% 2013 Private investment (including venture capital) ...................... 26% Micro investors, or "crowdfunding" * ......................8% Bank loans ................................ 13% Public markets ........................ 11% Other ......................................... 42% 2012 Private investment (including venture capital) ...................... 42% Micro investors, or "crowdfunding" ......... (not asked) Bank loans ................................ 38% Public markets ...........................4% Other ......................................... 16% 2011 2014 Yes 18% No 60% Don't know 22% 2013 Yes 16% No 64% Don't know 20% 2012 Yes 17% No 54% Don't know 29% 2011 Yes 19% No 53% Don't know 28% 2014 Yes 26% No 57% Don't know 17% 2012 Yes 17% No 54% Don't know 29% 2011 Yes 19% No 53% Don't know 28% 2013 Yes 25% No 55% Don't know 20% 2014 Yes, with new product lines 14% Yes, with expansion into new geographic territories .......... 10% Yes, with new or expanded facilities .........................................9% Yes, with a combination of some or all of the above .................. 24% No ............................................... 43%

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