£6M Refinance and Equity Release for £20M Commercial Property Portfolio

A father-and-son property investment team with a £20M mixed residential and commercial portfolio sought to refinance and release equity for ongoing and future projects. Their long-term bank relationship had become costly, and securing a better rate was the top priority.

By leveraging the portfolio rather than pursuing a bridging loan, Clifton Private Finance secured a £6M facility at a market-leading rate, with the arrangement fee waived. This gave the client both immediate capital and long-term savings.

The Scenario

Our clients, a father-and-son team, had built an impressive £20M mixed residential and commercial property investment portfolio over many years, including several Grade II listed buildings. The presence of these listed properties meant that pursuing a bridging finance solution would have proved more difficult due to their protected nature.

They had enjoyed a long-standing relationship with Handelsbanken, but rising costs meant they wanted to explore the open market for more competitive financing options.

Their goal was to refinance and release £2.2M in equity to fund ongoing and future development projects. The client had a strong focus on securing the best possible rate, and we knew it was unsuitable to rely on more expensive bridging loan products.

The portfolio’s low leverage position and strong rental income gave them a wide range of options, as well as helping them secure the best possible interest rates on a term loan. This was good news for the client, for whom rate sensitivity was the key driver.

The Solution

We approached the market to source highly competitive terms and secured an offer for the full £6M, bettering their rate expectations and obtaining a deal that involved no lender arrangement fee.

When Handelsbanken attempted to retain the business with an improved offer, we negotiated even further, securing £6M at the same interest rate and with the arrangement fee waived.

This not only delivered the competitive pricing the clients were looking for, but also gave them additional capital to accelerate their future development plans.

The Outcome

The deal provided a premium solution that took the business to the next stage of growth, while highlighting a wider industry trend: as traditional in-person banking relationships decline, businesses are turning to specialist firms to deliver the tailored, personal service that’s often missing from traditional banks.