Shire Secures £25m Facility to Boost UK SME Financing
Funding | Feb 11, 2025 | British Business Investments
British Business Investments has announced a new £25 million facility for Shire, comprising Shire Leasing plc and Shire Securities Ltd, to enhance asset finance solutions for smaller UK businesses. This funding, part of the Structured Financial Institutions Solutions of the Banks Investment Programme, will facilitate Shire's ability to offer finance for vital asset acquisitions across various sectors, including agriculture, business services, manufacturing, and construction. Shire Leasing plc has a proven record as a dependable finance provider, having expanded its book portfolio significantly over a decade. This move is aligned with Shire's strategic growth, particularly following its acquisition of Shire Securities Ltd, which will potentially reinforce their lending capacity. Jonathan Marriott from British Business Bank expressed optimism about the potential for increased lending to UK smaller businesses as a result of this facility.
Sectors
- Financial Services
- Agriculture, Business Services, Manufacturing and Construction
Geography
- United Kingdom – All companies and business activities mentioned in the article are located in or focused on the UK market.
Industry
- Financial Services – This industry is relevant as the article discusses funding and lending facilities, highlighting asset finance solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
- Agriculture, Business Services, Manufacturing and Construction – These sectors are relevant as they are the primary beneficiaries of the asset finance facilitated by Shire, as mentioned in the article.
Financials
- £25 million – The funding facility provided by British Business Investments as part of the Banks Investment Programme.
- £225 million – The current size of Shire Leasing's book portfolio, indicative of their growth.
Participants
| Name | Role | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| British Business Investments | PE Firm | Company | A branch of the British Business Bank providing financial solutions to enhance SME financing. |
| Shire Leasing plc | Finance Provider | Company | An independent finance provider with a strong history of supporting UK smaller businesses. |
| Shire Securities Ltd | Commercial Finance Broker | Company | Recently acquired by Shire Leasing plc, providing loans and cash flow solutions. |
| British Business Bank | Supporting Organization | Company | An institution involved in providing structured financial solutions to partner companies. |