Our client an experienced company director and commercial property investor with a strong income profile and an established investment property portfolio.
Area: Commercial Property
Capital Raised: £1.75 Million
Our client an experienced company director and commercial property investor with a strong income profile and an established investment property portfolio.
They required urgent short-term funding to acquire a Popeyes fast-food restaurant, with the bridging facility secured against a petrol station. The transaction was time-sensitive, and failure to complete within the required deadline would have placed a substantial £180,000 deposit at risk.
The client had agreed the purchase of the Popeyes restaurant but was still awaiting completion of longer-term commercial finance.
A commercial bridging loan was therefore required to provide the immediate funds needed to complete the acquisition, protect the deposit and give the client sufficient time to arrange a permanent refinancing solution.
The client needed to:
The main challenge was the limited time available to complete the transaction.
Traditional commercial lenders were unable to deliver funding within the required timescale, creating a significant risk that the purchase could collapse and the client’s £180,000 deposit could be forfeited.
The case required a specialist lender that could assess the client’s financial position, the available security and the proposed exit strategy quickly, while still offering a suitable commercial structure.
Following a detailed assessment of the client’s income, investment portfolio, security and refinancing plans, we arranged a bespoke commercial bridging facility.
The facility included:
The relatively low loan-to-value ratio, combined with the client’s strong financial profile and credible exit strategy, enabled us to present a compelling application to a specialist commercial lender.
We managed the transaction from the initial assessment through to completion.
To help meet the tight deadline, the lender agreed to rely on the existing valuations rather than requiring new reports. This removed a potentially significant delay and allowed the application to progress more quickly.
We also coordinated closely with the lender, solicitors and other professional parties, proactively addressing outstanding requirements and maintaining clear communication throughout the process.
The client successfully completed the acquisition of the Popeyes restaurant and protected the £180,000 deposit.
The bridging facility also allowed the client to:
Conclusion:
This case demonstrates how commercial bridging finance can provide a fast and flexible solution for time-critical commercial acquisitions.
By working with a specialist lender willing to use existing valuations, we were able to reduce delays, protect a substantial deposit and help the client secure a valuable commercial opportunity while permanent finance was arranged.
