Shawbrook Bank, the specialist lending and savings bank, has been named the UK’s top debt provider for merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions in Q1 2021.
In an industry leading report carried out by Experian MarketIQ – Experian’s business market intelligence and research platform – Shawbrook secured top spot through the successful funding of 13 transactions in the period.
Shawbrook topped the list for the very first time, one year after being named fastest growing debt provider in the same study.
Neil Rudge, Managing Director for Shawbrook’s Business Finance business, said:
“This is a fabulous achievement by the team who, over the last year or so, have continually managed to find the resilience, determination and focus to deliver for our clients despite the conditions caused by Covid-19.
“With specialist leveraged debt products to support business acquisitions, including sponsor-backed transactions, we’ve continued to support investors and company owners in executing M&A deals to take their businesses to the next level.
“We knew we had enjoyed a strong start to the year, but to have our collective hard work and achievements recognised by Experian MarketIQ in this report is the icing on the cake and a huge incentive for us to continue our strong first quarter performance into the rest of 2021.”
As well as topping the list across the UK, Shawbrook also led the way in several key regions.
The bank was the leading debt provider in London thanks to the provision of funds for four deals, meanwhile it supported a further five transactions in the South East to become its regional lender of choice.
The bank also ranked number one across the Midlands, supporting a total of six deals. Meanwhile in Scotland, it shared top spot with Clydesdale Bank and Ares Management.
Across Yorkshire and The Humber, Shawbrook supported two deals, narrowly behind European SME growth specialist and recent Shawbrook partner Caple.
Neil added:
“Our success across the UK can also be attributed to our close relationships and reputation within the UK’s advisory and financial sponsor communities, particularly across London, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow.
“Our ability to move quickly as a business in providing finance – nurturing close relationships and developing a deep understanding of client businesses – enables us to provide debt to support M&A transactions across a number of sectors from energy to engineering, manufacturing and technology, including MBOs, company-to-company take-overs and sponsor-backed acquisitions.
“As the UK continues to open up and pent up demand in some of the sectors worse hit by the pandemic translates into deal activity, Shawbrook will be on hand to support UK’s economic recovery as and where we can.”