Shawbrook Bank acquires development finance team and £167m loan portfolio from RateSetter

Source: Shawbrook Bank

Shawbrook Bank has enhanced its position in a key and growing market after it completed the strategic acquisition of RateSetter’s peer-to-peer funded development finance business.

Shawbrook, a specialist lender to UK SMEs, announced the completion of the deal today which includes the purchase of a development finance loan portfolio with facilities totalling £167m.

After continuing to fund new projects throughout 2020, despite the logistical challenges associated with Covid-19 measures, this acquisition of the team and portfolio from RateSetter increases both the scale and capacity of Shawbrook’s existing development finance business whilst sign-posting the Bank’s continued commitment to this important market.

Terry Woodley, Managing Director of the Development Finance business at Shawbrook said: “This is a fantastic acquisition and one that complements our existing development finance operations.

“Over the last four years, we have consistently responded to the funding needs of established regional property developers, enabling us to create a development finance business which has subsequently grown rapidly in size, reputation and confidence. Customers in this market require specialist fit-for-purpose funding products, delivered consistently and by experienced people who understand the dynamics of a build and the wider property market.

“The RateSetter business has been built by serving the needs of property developers in a key part of the market that remains underserved by traditional lenders. Naturally, this expands the market opportunity for the Bank, and we are thrilled to welcome the RateSetter Development Finance team and new customers to Shawbrook.”

Terry added: “Our ambition is to become the UK’s Specialist SME Lender of Choice. By applying our specialist lending principles and high levels of service to an immediately adjacent segment of the development finance market, where loan sizes typically start at £1m, we fully expect the acquisition of the RateSetter business to quickly deliver both scale and synergies.

“I’m looking forward to working with the team and to continue building Shawbrook’s reach and reputation within this vital sector.”

The addition of the RateSetter business including the associated loan portfolio will add more than 100 new active clients to Shawbrook’s existing Development Finance customer base.

The deal also increases the Bank’s capacity and distribution reach with an experienced team moving across from RateSetter.

Peter Behrens, RateSetter’s Chief Commercial Officer, said: “This transaction demonstrates the enduring quality of RateSetter’s loan assets.

“I am pleased that our property finance team can go to a new home where they will complement the Shawbrook team and continue to grow the franchise they have built.”

Shawbrook’s Development Finance business offers facilities from £1m to £30m to established developers seeking to fund residential and mixed-use schemes.

With a comprehensive product range and a focus on delivering exceptional support and service, the Bank has supported the development of thousands of new homes, hundreds of student accommodation units and many mixed-use projects since inception and expects to surpass £1bn of total development finance facilities early next year.

RateSetter is a UK peer-to-peer lender which was launched in 2010. It has delivered more than £500m of finance to property developers, helping improve the quality and quantity of the UK’s housing stock through the renovation and construction of 2,300 homes across the country.