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Deal Complete - £44k Asset Finance for the Purchase of Machinery.

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 12:31:44 GMT

We were approached by a client to assist with the purchase of a new Edge Polishing Machine to be used in their busy Stone Masonry Factory.

Equinox Commercial Finance put into place a £44k asset finance agreement to facilitate the purchase at a competitive interest rate with manageable monthly repayments.

The business is now able to operate more efficiently with more effective updated machinery.

Deal Complete - £431k Commercial Owner Occupier Mortgage for Restaurant Business

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 10:44:06 GMT

We were approached by a client who had been operating successfully in the bar / restaurant sector for the past 9 years.

The client was given the opportunity to purchase the freehold title of the restaurant and initially employed the services of another commercial finance broker to raise the capital for the purchase.

The broker arranged a short term bridging loan combined with two other longer term loans for the client on the understanding that the client would be able to refinance onto a long term commercial mortgage post completion.

The broker was unable to deliver on his promise of refinancing the client's debt, leaving the client with significant debt at an average interest rate of 13.5%.

The client approached Equinox Commercial Finance and we were able to refinance the £430k debt onto a commercial owner occupier mortgage at a 5-year fixed interest rate of 8.31%.

Certified Practioner in Specialist Property Finance

Fri, 23 Feb 2024 11:01:07 GMT

We are pleased to announce that Simon Raper, Managing Director, has been accredited by the London Institute of Banking and Finance as a Certified Practitioner in Specialist Property Finance.

The programme was developed in conjunction with the Association of Short-Term Lenders (ASTL) and Financial Intermediaries and Brokers Association (FIBA). It is designed to build skills and knowledge of the specialist property finance sector, including bridging finance, buy to let lending, commercial mortgage lending, and development finance.

Key Skills Include:

Ability to apply understanding and identify most suitable product for customers
Understanding of exit strategies of financial products
Understanding of regulatory and processing requirements, and how each of them is underwritten
Understanding of the benefits and risks of different specialist finance products, to customers and lenders
Understanding of the different types of specialist property finance options.

Deal Complete - £100k Commercial Mortgage for Pub Refinance

183:781133919 (Simon Raper) — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 15:35:56 GMT

We were able to provide a commercial mortgage to a North Yorkshire landlord who had previously taken a two year bridging loan to secure the purchase of a pub.

The landlord was a new entrant to the leisure industry two years ago, having retired from his previous profession 12 months earlier. Therefore, The client had less than the 3 years of minimum experience required by commercial mortgage lenders operating in this sector at the time.

On this basis Equinox Commercial Finance were able to provide a 2 year Commercial Bridging Loan to the client, which enabled him to purchase the property. At the end of the 2 year term the client had enough experience to be able to re-finance onto a long-term commercial mortgage, although given the current climate most lenders had withdrawn their appetite to lend to the sector.

The client had implemented some impressive growth plans including increasing the size of the rear bar area, further

decorative improvements and development of the outside areas.

He had also made significant cost reductions, which helped his cash flow position.

On this basis Equinox Commercial Finance were able to provide a mid term Commercial Mortgage product to the client, with a view to refinancing again when the current turbulence in the lending market subsides and mainstream lenders are open to the leisure sector once again.

Asset Refinancing For Business

Mon, 16 Jan 2023 14:00:42 GMT

IF YOU’RE CONSIDERING HOW TO RAISE CASH FOR YOUR BUSINESS TO BOOST WORKING CAPITAL, RECRUIT STAFF, CONSOLIDATE DEBTS, INVEST IN MARKETING OR NEW EQUIPMENT, ASSET REFINANCING IS AN INCREASINGLY POPULAR METHOD TO RAISE BUSINESS FUNDING.

HOW DOES ASSET REFINANCING WORK?

Asset refinancing is a way of releasing cash from a business asset that your company already owns. Lots of businesses across all sectors have cash tied up in equipment, machinery and vehicles. The refinancing facility enables you to draw down on the value of one or more business assets, depending on the amount of funding required.

Refinancing is a relatively straightforward process and can be arranged for most types of business assets.

HOW MUCH CASH CAN I RELEASE?

Depending on the value of the asset or assets that you are refinancing, we can normally release up to 80% of their value.

IS ASSET REFINANCING SUITABLE FOR MY BUSINESS?

We will establish the most suitable solution for your individual circumstances. Refinancing solutions are typically ideal for businesses that are asset-rich and need to boost to their working capital. Asset refinancing does not affect existing banking facilities and is a tax efficient way of raising finance for your business, as it keeps the asset ‘off balance sheet’.

HOW LONG DOES AN ASSET REFINANCING ARRANGEMENT LAST FOR?

Asset finance arrangements are typically arranged over 5-7 years, but the period can usually be adjusted to suit the business’ needs.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF ASSET REFINANCING?

Your business is able to continue to use the asset as usual whilst releasing cash
A fixed finance agreement allows you to budget effectively
You continue to own the asset at the end of the arrangement
Funds are typically released within two weeks
A simple and straightforward solution

Call now on 01845 591488 for a no obligation initial consultation.

Deal Complete - £330k Commercial Mortgage for SSAS Pension Fund

Tue, 01 Nov 2022 10:41:09 GMT

We were approached by a local accountancy practice who were looking to refinance property within its existing SSAS Pension Fund to purchase a new office.

The client was looking to raise capital of £330k to complete the purchase.

Equinox Commercial Finance were able to place the client with a specialist lender that was able to offer 55% LTV over 25 years at 5.85% + BOE Base Rate.

Deal Complete - £684k Commercial Investment Mortgage for Industrial Unit Portfolio

183:781133919 (Simon Raper) — Tue, 04 Oct 2022 10:09:18 GMT

Commercial Investment Re-Finance for UK Ex-Pat

We were approached by a UK ex-pat currently living in Canada who wished to refinance a commercial investment mortgage to buy more property.

The client was looking for the maximum loan to value (LTV) available on his personally owned portfolio of three fully tenanted industrial units located in Surrey, valued at £1.15 million.

The limiting factor for the client was his current ex-pat status, which precluded him from offers of funding from all of the mainstream high street banks.

Equinox Commercial Finance were able to place the client with a specialist lender that was able to offer 60% LTV and a 5-year fixed rate.

Deal Complete - £110k Asset Finance for Purchase of CNC Machine

Mon, 25 Jul 2022 10:59:20 GMT

We were approached by a local business wishing to purchase a CNC Machine to improve the output and efficiency of their busy production line.

A CNC machine would allow for the automation and control of machine tools and can be used to perform precise cuts and other machining tasks, that would be difficult to do with the human hand.

CNC machines are also used on tasks that humans can do themselves, but which would take them much longer to complete.

We have access to a whole of market panel of lenders and were able to quickly secure hire purchase finance for the machine at a competitive rate of 5.3% over a 7-year term.

Demand for Office Space Bounces Back

183:781133919 (Simon Raper) — Mon, 02 May 2022 09:55:13 GMT

The start of 2022 saw a jump in new tenants looking to rent UK commercial property, with the uplift particularly prevalent in prime office space. Investor enquiries across all UK commercial property also continued to rise, according to the RICS.

Read the Full Report here>

The Benefits of Investing in Holiday Lettings

183:781133919 (Simon Raper) — Fri, 29 Apr 2022 10:56:33 GMT

The UK holiday let industry has been steadily growing in popularity among property investors and holiday goers alike and doesn’t look to be slowing down anytime soon!

The yields available on holiday let properties have rocketed, and it is no surprise to see well-maintained properties, in the right locations, producing yields over 12% per annum.

Holiday let properties offer some landlords an alternative tax-efficient investment vehicle, due to a more favourable treatment of loan interest.

This has been felt even more by landlords since the full loan-interest tax-relief restrictions came into force in April 2020. However, we advise that clients seek professional tax advice before making any decisions.

We have access to a wide pool of lenders offering holiday let mortgages. They typically offer:

A maximum loan to value (LTV) of 75%

Rates from 3.29% on a two-year fixed rate, through to 3.79% for a five-year fixed rate.

Mortgages are available to individuals, property holding companies, or trading limited companies (i.e. the client's current business operation).

If you are looking to diversify your property investment portfolio, or continuing to expand an existing holiday let portfolio please call us on 01845 591488.

Strong Opportunities for Commercial Owner-Occupiers

183:781133919 (Simon Raper) — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 11:28:55 GMT

We've recently seen an increase in enquiries from business owners looking to purchase property from which to run their company.

Often, their existing landlord has offered to sell them the property before putting it on the open market.

Others have found recently vacated property, which perfectly suits their businesses’ requirements.

For example, we recently placed a relocating Children's Day Care Nursey client with a lender who was able to offer a mortgage equal to 65% of the full going concern value of the nursery, which included the goodwill of the business at an interest rate of 3.92%, fixed for 10 years.

If purchasing your own business premises is something you’re looking to do, we can help.

What is the Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS)?

Tue, 02 Nov 2021 11:41:31 GMT

The Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS) launched on 6 April 2021 to help UK businesses access finance as they recover and grow following the Covid-19 pandemic. The scheme aims to help businesses affected by coronavirus and can be used for business purposes, such as managing cash flow, investment and growth.

A key aim of the scheme is to improve the terms on offer to businesses. Businesses who have taken out a Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS) or Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) facility are able to access the new scheme. The scheme will run until 31 December 2021, subject to review.

It is important to note that if you are approved for a Recovery loan, you will be liable to pay the RLS interest payments and fees from the outset. The guarantee is to the lender and not to the business.

Am I eligible for a Recovery loan?

To receive a loan under the Government’s Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS), you’ll need to meet the following criteria:

Business has been impacted by coronavirus

Minimum of 2 years’ trading history

Must be a limited company or limited liability partnership (LLP)

Business is trading in the UK

Loan is for business purposes (i.e. working capital or investment, and to support trading in the UK)

You Could Apply for a Recovery Loan to:

Access cash flow

Grow your business

Purchase equipment

Pay a one-off cost

Help with payroll

Invest in marketing

Please call us on 01845 591488 to make an enquiry.

Case Complete - £185k Commercial Mortgage for Relocation of a Childrens Nursey

Wed, 22 Sep 2021 13:31:49 GMT

Owner Occupier Re-Location to New Premises

We were approached by a West Yorkshire operator of a Children's Day Care Nursery who wished to move to larger premises to accommodate her rapidly expanding classes. The client had achieved a strong recent financial performance, even over the pandemic, and had received excellent Ofsted reports.

The target property was on the market for £230,000 and although the client was able to raise a 30% deposit for the purchase she needed to undertake minor refurbishment work to the premises.

The client was renting her current property and this meant that she could add her rental payments back in to her profits to improve her debt serviceability.

Equinox Commercial Finance were able to place this client with a major high street lender who was able to offer a mortgage equal to 65% of the full going concern value of the nursery, which included the goodwill of the business. This provided enough capital to purchase the new premises and undertake the required refurbishment work. Interest rate 3.92%, fixed for 10 years.

Case Complete - £108k Commercial Bridging Loan for Pub Purchase

183:781133919 (Simon Raper) — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 13:43:13 GMT

Leaseholder Acquisition of Pub Freehold

We were approached by a North Yorkshire landlord who was operating a profitable pub business on a leasehold basis.

The client had been given the opportunity to purchase the freehold of the business for £180k, which represented a significant below market valuation and he was able to offer the level of deposit required.

The landlord was a new entrant to the leisure industry, having retired from his previous profession 12 months ago.

The client had some impressive growth plans including increasing the size of the rear bar area, further
decorative improvements and development of the outside areas.

There were two obstacles to overcome in this particular case:

1. The client had less than the 3 years of minimum experience required by commercial mortgage lenders operating in this sector.

2. The effects of the Covid lockdowns on his previously successful business.

The client was able to demonstrate that he had managed to keep trading successfully by operating a take-away service throughout the pandemic. He had also made significant cost reductions, which helped his cash flow position. Also, by purchasing the property the client was able to stop paying rent. The rental payments were higher than the interest payments on the bridging facility.

On this basis Equinox Commercial Finance were able to provide a 2 year Commercial Bridging Loan to the client, which enabled him to purchase the property. At the end of the 2 year term the client will have enough experience to be able to re-finance onto a long-term commercial mortgage.

Case Complete - £750k Property Development Loan

websitebuilder@1and1.de — Wed, 03 Feb 2021 09:24:35 GMT

Five Luxury Homes in a North Yorkshire Village

We were approached by a local client who had obtained planning permission to build five luxury homes on land he already owned on the edge of an affluent North Yorkshire Village.

The client’s initial plan was to build out and sell the properties on a unit-by-unit basis. However, the client managed to sell 4 of the units ‘off plan’, resulting in him needing finance to satisfy the demand.

The client approached his existing bank and was declined finance.

However, as the client was able to offer additional security we were able to place the loan with a South East based capital investment company.

The client had no previous development experience. However, as he was using a recognised NHBC registered building contractor, with a strong CV of previous developments, we were able to assure the lender of the quality of the scheme.

We needed to act quickly for the client as he wanted to complete the sale of the properties before the end of the Stamp Duty Holiday on 31st March 2021.

Equinox Commercial Finance was able to secure a £750,000 flexible development loan for the client over a 6 month term at an interest rate of 3%.

CBILS - Revolving Credit Facility

websitebuilder@1and1.de — Wed, 15 Apr 2020 10:48:20 GMT

The fourth in our series of five working capital guides will be answering the question: “What is a revolving credit facility?”.

Revolving credit facilities are a great alternative to a traditional overdraft provided by the high street banks. The funder agrees a line of credit with the business which can be drawn down and repaid during the agreed term.

Interest is often charged for the funds drawn, for the time they are drawn and dependent on the lender there is little to no charge for funds which aren’t drawn. When you combine that with often no set-up fee involved, this type of facility is often chosen as a ‘rainy day fund’.

How does a revolving credit facility work?
Revolving credit facilities are exactly that, they revolve. As apposed to a fixed business loan which runs for a term of say 3-5 years, a revolving facility is often a rolling agreement with the initial term either 12 or 24 months, with some facilities being structured on an ongoing rolling basis similar to that of a credit card.

Key Benefits

Quick – can be set up much quicker than a traditional overdraft or bank loan, often within a matter of days.
PG backed - no security tied to the debt and as a result no legal or valuation fees.
Flexibility – This product is perfect for businesses with seasonal need for working capital or growing businesses. Although they are often a more expensive option than a business loan, they do provide working capital for business which otherwise would be unlikely to be able to secure more traditional funding.

Eligibility

You must be a UK based company either registered as a sole-trader, partnership or limited company.
These types of facilities are available to start-up companies (often capped at a lower amount), as well as established businesses.
Home ownership is almost always a requirement.

Criteria

The amount a lender offers is typically calculated as either one month’s revenue or the average turnover of the last 3 months.
Credit profile personally & for the business must be fair.
As these facilities are Personal Guarantee backed, a lender will often apply a 2:1 equity ratio, essentially if the borrower is asking for £40,000, the lender will need to be able to see equity in personal assets of £80,000, covering the debt 2:1.

CBILS - Business Loans

websitebuilder@1and1.de — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 14:16:14 GMT

The third guide in our series is going to be answering the question: ‘What is a business loan?’.

A Business Loan is a common form of finance for businesses and one of the first options many S.M.Es consider when seeking funding. The lender provides money that the borrower pays back, with interest, over an agreed period. Many funders provide business loans in the UK, including high-street banks, challenger banks, peer-to-peer platforms and other alternative finance providers

The best option for your business will vary dependent on what amount of debt it can afford to repay and whether you meet the eligibility criteria, which varies from lender to lender. The main two variable terms of any business loan facility are the repayment period i.e. how long you’ll have to make repayments for and the interest rate charged.

Repayment Period
Your business loan will have a set duration, on average from 1 to 5 years, throughout which you’ll need to repay the amount you borrowed plus interest.
The lender may charge you for paying off your debt early as it will have already committed that money to your business. There are however lenders in the market which provide exit fee-free facilities, often these lenders insist on an arrangement fee at the outset.

Interest Rate
The interest rate is dependent on how risky the lender perceives the business as a potential borrower.
For example, if you have assets you are willing to offer as security and good personal and business credit ratings, you’ll be deemed less risky than someone who has poor credit and is no willing/able to pledge assets as security.

What documents would I be asked to provide when applying for a business loan?
For a business loan application to be shown in the best light to a prospective lender, you would need to be able to provide the following documents:

2 years full accounts (if you don’t yet have two or even your first set of accounts yet published, up to date reports including a profit and loss as well as a balance sheet would be required).
Last 3-6 months bank statements
A narrative detailing how your business has been impacted by COVID-19 (if applicable).

In addition to the above some lenders may also ask for:

Last 4 quarters of V.A.T returns
A detailed cashflow forecast (template can be provided for completion).

How long does it take to get a business loan from start to finish?
Speed is a key factor when searching the market for a business loan. Many ‘tier 1’ high street funders would take between 4-6 weeks to pay out this type of facility, where as a ‘tier 2’ or ‘tier 3’ peer to peer or alternative lender could take between 4 days – 3 weeks.

Often speed of funding comes hand in hand with cost. If the client requires funding quickly it is often the best route via a tier 2 or 3 lenders, as opposed to the Highstreet and as a result the cost of funding generally increases.

CBILS - Asset Finance

websitebuilder@1and1.de — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 12:16:57 GMT

We hope you enjoyed reading our last guide focusing on Invoice Finance.

The second guide in our series on business cashflow finance will be answering the following question: “Asset Finance - What is Leasing & Hire Purchase?”

Leasing and Hire Purchase are two of the most popular forms of finance in the UK, behind only bank overdrafts and credit cards in terms of S.M.E use.

They allow businesses to obtain equipment, machinery or other business assets without large upfront costs that can put a strain on cashflow and working capital.
Hire Purchase contracts usually involve a deposit and fixed payments over an agreed term.

A Lease (either a Finance or Operating Lease) allows the business to use the asset in exchange for rental payments, which may include an advanced rental, over an agreed period.

What is Hire Purchase?

Hire Purchase is where the borrower agrees to purchase an asset from the lender over a specified period. You own the item at the end of the contract. Usually, there is a small fee at the end of the contract to secure title to the asset.

What is Leasing?

A Finance Lease works as a rental agreement. The business will agree to a fixed or minimum term rental period for an asset and make regular rental payments for the duration of the lease contract. At the end of the agreement, the business may have an opportunity to continue renting or to return or possibly exchange the asset.

94% of Asset Finance applications are successful.
(British Business Bank Small Business Finance Markets report, 2017)

If you’d like to arrange a no obligation exploratory call to discuss, please get in touch.

Invoice Finance

websitebuilder@1and1.de — Tue, 07 Apr 2020 14:11:18 GMT

The effects of COVID-19 on S.M.E businesses across the UK has been profound, so let’s be clear, if you’re a business owner worrying about how the market uncertainty is impacting on your business already, or may in the future, you are not alone!

We’ve been assisting lots of clients new and old, who are confused about what funding is available to their business. We thought putting together a series of summaries around the various financial products available to businesses would be a fantastic way to give something back.

This article focuses on Invoice Finance, you may be aware of how these facilities work. If not, we’ll help answer the question; “What is Invoice Finance?”.

Invoice Financiers use unpaid invoices as security for providing funding. Approved businesses access a percentage of an invoice’s value, typically 85 or 90% and quickly; sometimes within 24 hours. The amount of funding given is based on the risk appetite of the Finance Provider.

Invoice Finance is growing in popularity among UK SMEs, particularly those with long cash collection cycles like construction, manufacturing and recruitment.

If you’re in the business-to-business (B2B) sector you will probably be raising invoices for your goods or services and normally you’ll be waiting 30 to 60 days to be paid for those invoices.

So, how do you improve your cash flow when your customers are struggling to pay their bills?’

There are two main types of Invoice Finance, Factoring and Invoice Discounting:

Factoring allows businesses to generate money against unpaid invoices. The finance provider will lend you up to 90% of the value of your invoices. It will also manage your sales ledger and collect payment for your invoices directly from your customers, hence the term ‘disclosed invoice finance’. They will then deduct the costs of the factoring service, before paying you the remaining balance.
Invoice Discounting works similarly to Factoring but as a business, you retain control of customer payments, hence the term ‘undisclosed invoice finance’. Your business pays a fee and a 'discount charge' (similar to interest) if the funding is utilised, similar to a standard Overdraft.

There are also a few different ways you can finance your debtor book within the two above structures, as illustrated below.

Selective or Spot Factoring essentially means only funding a select few or single debtor. For example, as a business you may only have one customer who you supply on terms, the rest may pay as soon as the invoice is raised. In this scenario, you would only need to finance that customer's invoice, for which a selective invoice finance line would work.
Whole Ledger Finance is used when all of your customers pay on terms, and as a result, you require your whole debtor ledger to be funded, not just a select one or few.

A question to ask yourself is “How much cash have I got stuck in my debtor book, could having access to 85% or 90% of that capital help my business in the current situation?”

Invoice Finance is also available for qualifying business's via the Government's CBILS support scheme.

If you’d like to arrange a no obligation exploratory call to discuss, please get in touch on 01845 591488

Small Businesses Upbeat About the Year Ahead

Tue, 25 Feb 2020 09:19:14 GMT

Barclaycard’s inaugural Small Business Barometer has found SMEs across the UK are optimistic about the year ahead, forecasting a 6.3% rise in revenue over the next 12 months. Businesses in the North East, Yorkshire and The Humber were the most upbeat - forecasting quarterly revenue growth of 5.3%, and an annual uplift of 7.9%. Additionally, 10% of those surveyed said they intended to start trading internationally in 2020. https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/national/18258448.small-uk-firms-grow-optimism-strong-final-q...

2 year fixed rates grow in popularity among BTL landlords

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 12:57:47 GMT

The percentage of landlords opting for two-year fixed rate buy-to-let mortgage products has reached a 12-month high with more landlords choosing shorter-term products compared to Q4 2018, according to Mortgages for Business.

The percentage of landlords opting for two-year fixed rate buy-to-let mortgage products has reached a 12-month high with more landlords choosing shorter-term products compared to Q4 2018, according to an article by Mortgages for Business in Business Money .

In Q4 2019, the proportion of landlords choosing two-year fixed rates had risen to 26% from just 8% in the previous year. The growing number of landlords opting for shorter-term rates has been fuelled by the shorter Early Repayment Charge (ERC) periods, which are typically attached to these types of products. Shorter ERC periods allow landlords to refinance sooner without occurring a penalty – an option which became more popular in the uncertain political climate at the back end of last year.

However, despite the majority of landlords (95%) choosing fixed rates over a variable product (down slightly from 97% in the previous quarter) five-year fixed rate products remain the most popular term chosen by 68% of landlords (down from 70% in Q3 and 72% in Q2 2019). This is mainly because lenders are still applying less rigorous stress tests to five-year products than to shorter-term products which, in effect, means landlords can borrow more using them than with their two or three-year counterparts.

There has been an increase in the popularity of the tracker and discounted rate products, up from 2% in Q3 to 4% in Q4 2019 as landlords respond to increased speculation that the Bank Rate could be cut in the near future.

Commenting on the findings, Steve Olejnik, managing director of Mortgages for Business said: “Recent political uncertainty has led more landlords to opt for 2-year fixed rates over longer-term fixed rate products. Landlords are drawn to the shorter Early Repayment Charge periods associated with these types of products, which provide greater flexibility. Given we now have more certainty in the political system, we forecast that landlords may start to look at longer term fixes again in the future.”

Rates available to landlords borrowing via a limited company on average were 0.7% points higher than those available to landlords borrowing personally – up from 0.6% points in the previous quarter. In addition, the number of products available to limited companies for both two-year (288) and five-year fixed rates (322) grew in Q4 2019.

Steve Olejnik said: “More landlords are expanding their portfolios through a limited company which has proven to be a more effective borrowing vehicle both from a tax perspective and financially. Lenders have responded to that and demand has fuelled an increase in the number of products available.

The number of buy-to-let mortgage products available increased by 72 to 1,981 in Q4 2019 up from 1,909 in the previous quarter. In addition, the number of buy-to-let products available to limited companies increased by 51 to 738 up from 687 in Q3 2019.

Steve Olejnik said: “The increase in the number of products available to limited companies gives landlords more choice. Since Brexit was assured by the clear general election result in December, British house prices have risen at their fastest rate since 2002, according to Rightmove. Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) continued to produce the most substantial yields for landlords handling more complex portfolios, in at 9.2% Q4 2019.”

Asset finance market reaches record level in UK during 2019

Fri, 14 Feb 2020 13:38:12 GMT

The UK asset finance market reached record levels last year as demand grew 6%, according to the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA).

Latest FLA figures show that total asset finance new business (primarily leasing and hire purchase) reached a record level of £35.7 billion.

In the final month of the year, business only grew by 1% compared to December 2018, but the record was secured by strong performances earlier in the year.

During December 2019, the IT equipment finance sector continued to report double-digit growth as new business increased by 10% compared with the same month in 2018.

By contrast, the commercial vehicle finance and plant and machinery finance sectors reported falls in new business of 2% and 22% respectively, over the same period, potentially reflecting uncertainty as companies waited for the results of a general election and future clarity on Brexit.

In 2019 as a whole, the commercial vehicle finance and plant and machinery finance sectors reported the strongest growth rates, with new business up by 9% and 5% respectively, compared with 2018.

Geraldine Kilkelly, head of research and chief economist at the FLA, said: “The asset finance industry reached a record level of new business in 2019, despite continued weakness in business investment. Within the overall total, more than £20 billion went to SMEs to fund investment in machinery and equipment, 4% higher than in 2018.

“Key industry sectors benefited from using asset finance last year, with double-digit growth in new finance provided for construction and manufacturing equipment.”

30% of UK SME's are looking to move to larger business premises.

Tue, 11 Feb 2020 12:13:30 GMT

Research by finance specialist Together shows nearly six out of ten SMEs (58%) – nearly 3.4 million across the UK – say a boost in business is driving a need to move or extend their existing site for additional staff and equipment as well as space for storage. https://www.business-money.com/announcements/business-property-boom-is-on-the-way/?utm_source=sendin...

If you are considering purchasing larger premises please call us on 01845 591488 to discuss your commercial property mortgage requirements.

Commercial Brokers helped back £15bn of lending in 2019

Fri, 24 Jan 2020 17:05:55 GMT

Commercial Finance Brokers helped originate almost £15bn of lending last year, with most coming from new borrowers, according to an analysis from the NACFB. The association’s members helped arrange £14.9bn of loans in 2019, of which 65% were new business and 35% were from clients seeking to refinance. The research found brokers choose lenders based on a variety of factors but 37% value a low rate, 18% go by previous experience, 16% by best fit and 6% by speed.

Report Shows Recovery in Small Business Health

Wed, 11 Dec 2019 09:36:17 GMT

The latest SME Health Check Index from Virgin Money UK shows business confidence is stable despite the uncertainty around Brexit and the general election.

The Virgin report showed that in Q3, the index rose 7.5 points to 49.0 across eight indicators: measuring business costs, GDP, employment, revenue, capacity, confidence, lending and net business creation. However, employment growth saw a minor decline and late payments continued to hamper SMEs.

Gavin Opperman, group customer banking director, at Virgin Money UK, said: “The Q3 SME Health Check results show cause for optimism. After a challenging start to the year, UK SMEs are showing definite signs of recovery. There are undoubtedly challenges to navigate, and political uncertainty remains a thorn in our economy’s side.”

Does Your Business Need a Short Term Cash Flow Solution Over the Xmas Period?

Mon, 25 Nov 2019 14:27:34 GMT

As we know this time of year can be a difficult trading period getting that balance between outlay and sales is imperative to avoid major cash flow concerns. This is where one of our lenders may be able to help.

Especially applicable for businesses that have been trading for less than 3 years who tend to have very limited or zero overdraft facilities. Some of these businesses tend to take out longer-term finance which they then use for working capital/cashflow as they aren't fully aware of all the options available, why fund something over 5 years when you only need a few months worth of help.

The Revolving Credit Facility is a flexible credit line and works in the same way as an overdraft facility. The key points are :

Limits from £10,000 to £500,000
Draw as little or as much as required (Subject to facility limits)
Funds can be paid back and re-drawn
An interest-only facility where capital is repaid when affordable
Fixed interest rate
Reviewed every 12 months and can be renewed
Available to businesses trading less than 12 months

Call now on 01845 591488 for more information.

SMEs seeking £250k more funding on average than at the start of 2019

Tue, 01 Oct 2019 11:16:13 GMT

Growth and funding ambitions have strengthened amongst SMEs over the course of 2019, according to the latest report by Independent Growth Finance (IGF).

Seventy-three per cent expect to see their revenues climb in the next 12 months, compared to 69% at the start of the year. Of those seeking to raise funds to support growth, the average amount has also increased by 22%, or £250,000.

New Reduced Autumn Rates on Buy to Let Mortgages

Fri, 13 Sep 2019 17:09:21 GMT

New Reduced Autumn Rates on Buy to Let Mortgages are Available Now!

2 Year Fixed Rate from 1.99%
5 Year Fixed Rate from 2.99%

Call Us Now on 01845 591488 for more details.

Younger SMEs look to alternative finance

Fri, 09 Aug 2019 11:40:11 GMT

A study by lender ThinCats shows that newer SMEs are increasingly looking to alternative financing, with just 31% of smaller businesses that are under a decade old likely to approach their bank first when seeking funding. This compares to 61% of firms between 10 and 20 years old and 71% among firms established at least 35 years. Some 22% of younger SMEs said they would opt for an alternative finance platform to raise funding, compared with just 4% of the longest running SMEs. The analysis by ThinCats also found that at least 70% of the deals it funds are based on cash flow rather than hard assets.

Peer2Peer Finance News

Lack of available funding holds back a fifth of UK SMEs

Tue, 06 Aug 2019 10:56:33 GMT

The latest Aldermore Future Attitudes study reveals that nearly a fifth (19%) of UK SMEs have missed a new opportunity in the past 12 months due to a lack of available funding.

Medium-sized businesses are worst hit, with over a quarter (28%) saying they have been affected. The report, which surveyed over a thousand business decision-makers across the UK, found that those impacted are missing out on income worth an average of £76,888 each year.

Regionally, businesses based in London are losing out on the most additional income due to missed business opportunities, £135,791 on average annually. This is followed by those based in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland (£67,380 per year).

Hitachi Capital Invoice Finance: Half of UK business owners regret naive attitude towards cashflow

183:781133919 (Simon Raper) — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 11:24:13 GMT

Nearly half of business owners fear they’ve held back their business by having a naive attitude towards cashflow during their company’s infancy. Almost two-thirds (64%) of those who identified cashflow naivety as their largest regret suggested that they overspent before gaining any profit, ultimately leaving them in larger debt than they could manage. The study conducted by Hitachi Capital Invoice Finance gathered data on 1,000 business owners to identify what UK SME’s view to be their biggest financial mistakes.

Smaller Size Development Funding from 5.04% per annum Now Available

Wed, 12 Jun 2019 10:46:19 GMT

A lender with an appetite at present for projects in areas of low conurbation has made development funding available from 5.04%.

The product is not intended for city centre builds but for the barn conversion/village single unit development this could be an inexpensive funding route.

T he lender may work from a desk top valuation report for the smaller deals (below £750,000) and we are told there are no tranche release fees / QS / Monitoring surveyor fees which can save the client a great deal. This lender will work from personal site visits or invoices.

Please contact us for more details.

PLEASE MAKE BORROWING DECISIONS CAREFULLY, PROPERTY OR OTHER ASSETS OFFERED AS SECURITY MAY BE AT RISK IF YOU CANNOT KEEP UP WITH REPAYMENTS.

UK SME Sector Outperforms Larger Firms with Mergers and Acquisitions

Wed, 05 Jun 2019 09:58:44 GMT

The SME sector outperformed larger firms when it came to mergers and acquisitions in the first quarter of the year according to City AM.

Mark Collings, chief commercial officer at Code Investing, said SMEs saw Brexit uncertainty as an opportunity for growth and M&A in the sector fared better than larger corporate firms.

Daniel Domberger, partner at Livingstone, added: "M&A volumes are holding up quite nicely in this area as investors look to fulfil long-term strategic goals, and business leaders demonstrate clear growth trajectories."

Yorkshire Businesses Most Confident in the UK

Fri, 31 May 2019 09:04:08 GMT

Confidence Rises 5 Points to 23%

Businesses in Yorkshire and the Humber are the most confident in the UK this month according to www.businessdesk.com . Bucking the national trend, confidence among firms in the region rose five points to 23 per cent, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking. Yorkshire’s companies report higher confidence in their business prospects, up six points to 26 per cent, and greater economic optimism, which rose two points to 19 per cent.

Location remains vital for landlords

Fri, 10 May 2019 09:30:38 GMT

According to Financial Reporter , location, location, location has long been a major factor in the decision-making process of property buyers everywhere, and this is certainly no different when it comes to landlords.

Interesting data is emerging as to where, how and why some landlords may be looking further afield or diversifying their portfolios to capitalise on shifting regional trends, stronger yields and tenant demand.

Your Move’s England and Wales Rental Tracker found that investor landlords in the Southern regions are looking North for higher returns, as properties in Northern areas continue to outstrip rival regions. In the North East the typical property returned a 5 per cent yield, while in the North West that figure was said to be 4.8 per cent. This contrasts with an average yield of just 3.2 per cent in London and 3.3 per cent in both the South East and South West.

Focusing on the more professional end of the landlord spectrum, data from Leeds Building Society revealed that landlords investing in houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) are continuing to benefit from the highest rental yields. It found that the typical rental yield for HMOs was 6.9 per cent, higher than the average rental yield of 5.8 per cent across all property types. Location is also highly relevant for landlords incorporating this property type into their portfolios, a cost factor also evident from a tenant perspective.

Equinox Commercial Finance have access to specialist finance providers for HMO’s, please get in touch for more details.

7 in 10 landlords used an adviser to arrange their most recent mortgage.

Fri, 10 May 2019 00:00:00 GMT

According to Financial Reporter , the majority of landlords will purchase their next property through a limited company, according to research from Foundation Home Loans.

The research also shows that portfolio landlords are even more likely to purchase via a limited company, with almost seven in 10 of landlords with more than 11 properties in a portfolio intending to do so in this way.

Just over a quarter of landlords intend to remortgage in the next year, although this rises to one in three for portfolio landlords. 29% of all landlords took out a new remortgage in the last year.

The use of mortgage advisers by landlords to secure their property finance also remains strong, with the research revealing that seven in 10 landlords used an adviser to arrange their most recent mortgage.

Equinox Commercial Finance can provide a broad range of buy to let mortgage products on both fixed and variable interest rates, please contact us for more details.