£5.5m semi-commercial refinance supports high-net-worth portfolio expansion

"This was a case where the underlying position was strong, but the borrower needed to take a more structured approach before it could move forward"
- Wes Baker - Hampshire Trust Bank

Hampshire Trust Bank (HTB) has completed a £5.5m semi-commercial refinance for a high-net-worth entrepreneur expanding a mixed-asset property portfolio in the North West of England.

The borrower, an established business owner, sought to release capital from a combination of residential and semi-commercial assets to fund further acquisitions and formalise a longer-term investment strategy. The transaction marked the borrower's first move into leveraged funding at this scale, and involved multiple securities across a mixed-use portfolio.

The case was introduced by Maxim Cohen, group CEO at The UK Adviser Group, and led on behalf of HTB by Wes Baker, regional account director, specialist mortgages. Significant preparation was required before submission, with the broker working closely with the client to organise financials and implement appropriate lease structures.

HTB assessed the application across multiple securities, progressing it through valuation, legal and structural stages, with pricing and structure reflecting the complexity of the portfolio. The facility was delivered using HTB's panel solicitors, Arch Law, with title insurance used to reduce overall transaction costs compared with a traditional external legal approach. Melanie Franks, completions officer, and Stephen Mettler, underwriter, at HTB supported the transaction through to completion.

"This was a case where the underlying position was strong, but the borrower needed to take a more structured approach before it could move forward," said Wes Baker (pictured).

"Moving into leveraged funding at this scale brings additional requirements around how the portfolio is presented and assessed, and getting that right early on was key to progressing the transaction with confidence."

Cohen reflected on the groundwork required before the deal could proceed. "This was a complex case, both in terms of the portfolio and getting the client into a position where the deal could actually proceed," he said.

"A big part of our role was making sure everything was properly structured and presented so it could move forward in the right way. Once that was in place, HTB engaged closely with the detail. They worked through the issues with us and approached it as a partner, which made a real difference to the outcome for the client."

Alex Upton, managing director, specialist mortgages and bridging finance at HTB, drew out the broader lesson for borrowers looking to expand strategically. "Cases like this are less about complexity on paper and more about getting the structure right from the outset," She said. 

"For borrowers looking to expand more strategically, that often means taking a step back, working through the details early and making sure the funding is aligned to what they are trying to achieve over the longer term. When that process is done properly, it gives both the broker and the client the confidence to move forward and build on that position."