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British Business Investments announces a £15m follow-on investment into Universal Leasing Limited

Press release 08 September 2023

British Business Investments today announces a £15m follow-on investment into North-West based Universal Leasing Limited. The investment, which follows an earlier £12m commitment made to Universal Leasing in 2018, allows the company to further increase its support for smaller businesses. The transaction will be structured as a block discounting facility that will allow Universal Leasing to provide funding support to smaller businesses looking to acquire business-critical assets to accelerate their growth. Over the last 10 years, Universal Leasing has provided funding in excess of £150 million to support more than 6,000 customers in the SME sector.

British Business Investments, a wholly-owned commercial subsidiary of the British Business Bank, aims to increase the supply and diversity of finance for smaller businesses across the UK by boosting the lending capacity of a range of finance providers. Since it was established in 2014, British Business Investments has committed more than £3.3 billion to providers of finance to UK smaller businesses.

Following our earlier commitment of £12m to Universal Leasing in 2018, we are pleased to be making a £15m follow-on investment. This investment will allow Universal Leasing to further expand their support for smaller businesses across the UK. - Judith Hartley CEO, British Business Investments
We are delighted that British Business Investments have further extended and increased their facility with Universal Leasing and that the longstanding relationship we have with them will continue to grow over the next few years as a result. With its help, we now have approximately £50 million of lease/loan receivables outstanding to UK SMEs. The increased facility provided will help to increase our funding available to UK SMEs to acquire much needed assets for growth. - Michael Hughes Managing Director, Universal Leasing Limited

Further Information

Notes to editors

About British Business Investments

British Business Investments Limited is a wholly owned commercial subsidiary of British Business Bank plc, the UK government’s economic development bank.  British Business Investments aims to earn a commercial return by investing – through finance providers – in smaller businesses and small mid-caps, pursuing investments on a fully commercial basis without receiving any economic advantage from the government. Find out more at bbinv.co.uk.

The Bank and its subsidiary entities are not banking institutions and do not operate as such.  They are not authorised or regulated by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) or the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). A complete legal structure chart for British Business Bank plc and its subsidiaries can be found on the British Business Bank plc website.

The transaction described above does not constitute or imply any endorsement, warranty or recommendation by the UK government, the British Business Bank plc or its subsidiaries or any other party in respect of Universal Leasing Limited or its products or services.

About Universal Leasing Limited

Universal Leasing Ltd, is an independent asset finance specialist, providing small ticket equipment leasing through approved suppliers and brokers.

Trading as Admiral Leasing & Loans, we have been providing equipment finance solutions for over 28 years through a network of equipment suppliers and brokers.

With a solid reputation in the UK market, based upon excellent customer service levels and wide industry knowledge, we provide equipment leasing across all industry sectors. To find out more visit
admiral-leasing.co.uk.

Universal Leasing Limited trading as Admiral Leasing and Loans, a company registered in England, Company number 05389929.

Registered Company Address: Suite 1, 3rd Floor, 11-12, St James’s Square, London, SW1Y 4LB. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, FRN 700142.

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