A CROSS-Channel ferry operator is looking for investors with at least £50,000 to spare.

SpeedFerries chief executive Curt Stavis said many customers had asked for shares in the company, which runs a ferry between Dover and Boulogne.

He said: "Speedferries is legally prevented from issuing shares save to certain categories of investor. We are accordingly updating our records to establish whether any of our customers fall within any of the permitted categories of investor."

These are a high net worth individual, a sophisticated investor or a self certified sophisticated investor.

A high net worth individual must have an annual income to the value of £100,000 or more or hold net assets to the value of £250,000 or more (excluding for these purposes the primary residence, any loans secured on the primary residence, and all pensions benefits) and sign a confirmatory certificate in the required format.

A certified sophisticated investor is a person who has a current certificate in writing in the required format signed by a person authorised by the Financial Services Authority to the effect that he or she is sufficiently knowledgeable to understand the risks associated with investments in an unlisted company.

A self-certified sophisticated investor is a person who is a member of a network or syndicate of business angels and has been for at least the last six months before the date of the certificate, or who has made more than one investment in an unlisted company in the two years before that date, or is working, or has worked in the two years before that date, in a professional capacity in the private equity sector, or in the provision of finance for small or medium enterprises, or is currently, or has been in the two years before that date, a director of a company with an annual turnover of at least £1million.

"Anyone who falls within any of these categories and would be interested in investing in ordinary shares of SpeedFerries, should send an email to shares@speedferries.com indicating which category they fall in. We will then be able to check the paperwork.

"People should note that the minimum investment will be £50,000."